The 2084 Precept

The 2084 Precept by Anthony D. Thompson Read Free Book Online

Book: The 2084 Precept by Anthony D. Thompson Read Free Book Online
Authors: Anthony D. Thompson
Tags: philosophical mystery
really aren't going to believe a word of what I
say…impossible I would think…although, as I've said, I hope that
you will by the time we part company today. First of all, let me
tell you that I own this company and all of its subsidiaries. What
they do is unimportant, but I would be happy to explain them to you
on another occasion, should you be interested. At the same time, I
am a student. I am performing research for my doctorate. I have to
write a dissertation. And part of the research for the dissertation
is required to be supported by interviewee input. And this,
hopefully, is where you will be able to be of some considerable
assistance to me."
    "Exactly what will I be doing? That is a
large amount of money you're offering, Mr. Parker, you know." Play
the game, play the game.
    "Yes, I do know. And as I obliquely
indicated to you yesterday, you don't have to do that much to earn
it. In fact, all you have to do is to answer certain questions I
will be putting to you in a series of meetings over the next three
months—perhaps even less than three months depending on how we
progress. A maximum of twelve meetings, perhaps fewer. That is all.
Nothing else."
    "So why pay such a large amount? You could
get someone else for a fraction of that kind of money, no
problem."
    "Yes, I know I could. Obviously. But only if
the subject of the thesis were a normal one. Which it isn't. And I
also have a need for a person of a certain level of intelligence, a
requirement you so far appear to fulfill by the way. At the same
time, the problem with a person of a certain level of intelligence
is that he will be convinced there is something fraudulent about
this whole scenario. Not that he would be able to determine what,
or how, or in which way, but he would definitely be of that
opinion. And, in addition, he could also classify me as being a
person in dire need of psychiatric assistance."
    Repeating himself. Boring. And no way is it
going to increase his chances of reeling me in to whatever this
peculiar scheme turns out to be.
    "And," he continued, "even if he
started—after all, the chance of another €400,000 without a risk is
not to be sniffed at—it is less than likely that he would continue
for the whole program unless…unless, that is…the sum of money
waiting for him at the end were large enough to constitute an
adequate enticement."
    "Well Mr. Parker, that obviously provokes my
next question. May I know the subject of your thesis, and could you
please elaborate as to why it is apparently so crazy that you are
prepared to pay a small fortune for what sounds like some
relatively simple assistance?"
    He took a sip of water, and paused for a
moment. And then he said "The subject of my thesis is the Earth.
The planet. This planet."
    "Well…O.K…but I still don't understand. I
mean, exactly what is the overall subject involved, and what
academic area are you working in? Which university are you
attending, what is the big mystery in all of this? And why for that
matter are you a student anyway—at your age and owning what seems
to be a reasonably well-established group of companies?"
    "Ah," he said with that agreeable smile of
his, "a lot of questions, only to be expected of course from a
person such as yourself, and presumably you will have several more
in that vein. So…allow me to get straight to the point." He
coughed. "I am an alien."
    "You are an alien? Immigrant or just
visiting? Which country? Legal or illegal?"
    "I note that you are thinking in U.S. terms
regarding the common usage of that word. Indeed, the dictionary
itself describes the word alien as 'foreigner' or 'foreign'. Which
indeed, I am, but not quite as you think. I am, to be more precise,
an extraterrestrial."
    Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. So it's not a
fraud after all, he's just insane, nutty as a fruitcake, totally
bonkers, off his rocker. That is not to say that I have any major
complaints, after all I was after a bit of fun and now I'm
certainly getting

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