Chapter 49

The morning had been so hectic for Maria, Brenda, Ken, and their helpers it was two thirty before they could break for lunch. Bill Bryce headed for the airport about forty-five minutes earlier. Before he left he’d worked just as diligently as Dawn, Lee, and the two Bright Feather brothers in getting people to fill out employee applications, gathering other preliminary information, and assigning the applicants to designated interview rooms. The scheduling of more detailed interviews would follow based upon the applicant’s area of expertise, and his level of experience.

While the group enjoyed the deli sandwiches delivered by Sol, they discussed their current manner of processing the applicants. Brenda and Maria listened to the suggestions, and, to everyone’s satisfaction, made some procedural changes to help streamline their task. Then, as the meal begin to ‘wind-down, ‘ Maria asked, “Well, what do you think of our candidates? Are there any that stand out to you?”

Joaquin Bright Feather answered, “I was very impressed with Mark Angry Bear. I can’t believe someplace like Cal-Tech could string him along like that. Five years he’s been trying to complete his PhD, and they keep changing requirements, advisers, and even disapproving his dissertation topic.”

“I’ve heard of dissertation topics being rejected all the time,” stated Maria. “What’s so surprising about his being rejected?”

“It wasn’t they rejected it. They disapproved it, after it was approved sixteen months earlier.”

“That’s rough,” responded Brenda. “What’s his specialty, and where is he working at the moment?”

“Brenda, he seems to know more about ceramics than anyone I’ve ever met, and Cal-Tech has him teaching introductory chemistry classes and acting as a lab assistant to several of the professors.”

“I like the sound of what you’re saying, but I’m suspicious of things that sound ‘too good.’“

Ken interjected, “I’m the same way. Brenda, would you like to have one of Joel’s people check out his story?”

Brenda looked toward her ‘sister, ‘ and asked, “What do you think?”

“I’m sure Hawk will be making the final decision on some of these people, but I’d feel better knowing the actual facts. Yes, Ken, please ask Joel to have someone check out Angry Bear’s story.”

“I’ll talk to Joel as soon as we finish eating. Can someone bring me this guy’s folder?”

“I’ll be glad to,” replied Joaquin. “I’ve got it set aside at my table.”

“Maria, after looking at the kind of people we’re interviewing I think it would help me to understand where this thing is headed. It seems we’ve gathered a montage of bright and generally highly educated people who are unappreciated and underutilized in their current jobs, yet we don’t seem to be looking for people to fill specific spots within the company.”

“Ken, that’s a good point. If my husband was here he could do a better job of explain the overall plan, but as I understand the situation we’re acquiring or starting several businesses during a very short period of time. To accommodate our potential needs we’re looking for the kind of key people who can help this new conglomerate to explode onto the scene. By looking at these particular candidates we feel we can find some extremely bright and loyal employees who believe in the company and its goals, rather than seeing it as just another job.”

“I can see that happening, especially after listening to some of those I’ve interviewed. If half the things I’ve heard today are true, then these people would almost kill for a chance to rise above the humiliation they’ve endured and live with their heads held high. I’ll have to be honest, I’d no idea this kind of prejudice and discrimination existed here in California, even in dealing with Hispanics.”

Lee responded, “Ken, I honestly think part of it stems from the belief we’re ignorant savages, just slightly above the monkey on the evolutionary scale. A lot of the people who act this way would never consider themselves prejudiced or racist. The problem is they can’t get beyond the images from the western movies they saw as children. Also, we’re not that many years removed from our bloody past, and a lot of people lost ancestors to the Indians during their struggle to cross this nation in order to settle here in California. Moreover, while many Anglos don’t have a lot of respect for the poor Hispanics who’ve slipped into this country searching for a better life they still don’t have a history of bloodshed with them the way they do with us. Unfortunately, with all the gangs and the random shootings that difference is likely going to change in the near future, much to the detriment of the innocent hardworking Hispanics who’ll be caught in the backlash.”

“Thanks, Lee for the insight, though it still doesn’t answer my original question. What exactly are we looking for when it comes to these people?”

“Ken, I don’t know Hawk’s total plan, but it seems much of what he does will be determined by the people we hire, and the skills and knowledge they bring to the table. I believe, with a few exceptions, we’ll be building the companies around these people, rather than designing a company and filling the positions needed to implement that design.”

“Now, that puts this whole process into perspective, and though it’s a rather radical idea, it does make sense.”

Maria responded, “Then I’m glad our conversation has helped, but we need to get this show back on the road. We’ve got a lot more people to process today, with more coming later in the week.”

Hawk slowly opened his eyes and noticed the room’s light was rather muted. Much less disoriented this time he saw Raj and Benji sitting across the room. They were holding hands and talking very softly to each other. It warmed Hawk’s heart to see the love they expressed for each other in their touches and smiles. I hope I’ve been showing that kind of love to Brenda and Maria, Hawk thought to himself.

Somehow Raj sensed Hawk was awake and came to check on him, giving her husband a quick kiss on the way. When she got beside his bed she realized Hawk was trying to say something, but his mouth was too dry. The way he’d been snoring it really didn’t surprise her. Placing a spoonful of ice chips on his tongue she said, “That should help your dry mouth. Slowly let it melt and move it around in your mouth. You should be able to talk in a moment.”

“Hoooow ammmm Iiiii doooing?”

“Actually, you’re doing somewhat better than expected. The surgery went well, and you now look identical to the masked and made-up face you wore in here. Of course you’ll be tender and sore for a few days, but most of that’s related to the swelling, which is already going down due to the cold packs we used while you were sedated.”

“Thaat sounnnds gooood. Whaaat aaabooout fooood?”

“Are you nauseated?”

“Noooo, jusssst hunnngrry.”

“Then let me take your vitals, and I’ll check with Benji about some broth. Oh, were you expecting a couple of Marines?”

“Yesss.”

“Good. I wasn’t sure when they showed up about thirty minutes ago. One of them changed his clothes and left, but the other is sitting in the lobby staring at the entrance door.”

“Seeecuurriiity,” answered Hawk.

“That explains why he has a backpack in his lap with his hand inside. He probably has a gun in his hand pointed at the door.”

“Mossst likellly,” responded Hawk.

“You lead a dangerous life, young man.”

“Beeeleeive meee, iiit is nooot by intention. I would prefer toooo quietly design and write software.”

Raj was so surprised at Hawk’s response she almost missed the gradual improvement in his speech. She did note it on his chart, however, along with his blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, and the oxygen levels in his blood. “Everything is looking excellent. Let me check with Benji about giving you some broth.”

Alyson Rogers looked at the emotionally broken Clark brothers. Though they’d received better than they deserved she still felt a little sad for them, as well as for the unfulfilled dreams of their father. In fact, she suspected his shielding his sons from the business caused much of this. Spoiled and given everything they ever wanted his kids had no training or experience involving this business, or any business. Now they’d reap the result of their early life, as they were basically broke with no usable education and few job opportunities. Turning to Dan she asked, “Where should we go from here?”

“I guess we should get all these agreements prepared and signed. Beyond that we need to get a title search going regarding the building and set a date for the closing. Oh, and I want the agreements to be short and sweet, not sixty-five pages of legalese.”

“Don’t like lawyers, huh?” she teased.

“Actually,” Dan replied, “I am a lawyer, among other things, but I only have one client. I just don’t have the patience to read a long legal document when the facts are as ‘cut and dried’ as this.”

Surprised at Dan’s statement she replied, “I can’t disagree, I was just a bit amazed at your choice of words. As for the closing, how quickly can you access the money?”

Looking at his watch Dan answered, “The banks are still open in the Caribbean, so I could have twenty million transferred to an account here within thirty minutes.”

“Then let’s get your account opened, and while you make the transfer I’ll talk to the judge. Julian, if we get their attorney over here could you work with him to prepare the necessary agreements?”

“Sure, but what about the title search?”

“We’ve been keeping tabs as to anything that happens with that property, so I’d feel confident in having the bank guarantee the title. Do you or Dan have a problem with that?”

“No, but why the rush? It sounds like you want to complete this today.”

“I do, and for two very good reasons, though one of them may be selfish on my part. Tomorrow there’s to be a meeting with several of the company’s biggest customers, and I believe the change in ownership and the commitment of the new owners will go a long way toward reassuring them West Coast Wire will be able to continue meeting their needs.”

“And the second reason?” Dan asked.

“Tomorrow closes our quarter and if these two notes are off our books at that time it’ll have a very positive effect with our board, as well as the Feds and others.”

“I agree,” Dan responded, “those are two excellent reasons to push this through today. So, if someone will get me the bank routing information and an account number, I’ll get the transfer made.”

After directing his men regarding their need to be invisible, Jason took a radio unit from one of them and sent them back into the woods. As the four headed away from the cabin, Jason placed the appropriate piece in his ear, and around his throat. He clipped the actual transmitter to his partially opened flight suit. “Radio test - CP.”

“One - five by five.”

“Two - ditto.”

“Three - same.”

“Four - me too.”

“We’ll test again in one five minutes. That should give everyone time to get in place. Remember, if you see anyone, stay invisible and warn us.”

“CP - One. What about the monitoring equipment we found?”

“Was it Government Issue, and was it directed inward or outward?”

“Yes, and outward.”

“Then it’s part of the security of this place and can be monitored from inside.”

“Ten-four.”

Admiral Burke led Jason and Andy into the cabin and into the dining room. Here, he pressed four hidden buttons in a specific order, and the entire floor descended to an open area, about ten feet below the normal floor level. From there, a downward sloping tunnel led them underneath the rocky crag that helped hide the cabin from the air. They walked though an area that looked to be a large open office, and finally stopped in front of another elevator. Here, the automated security system scanned the Admiral’s hand-print, matched his voice-print, and analyzed it for abnormal stress. Even after all this it still took the swipe of a key card before the door would open. Jason and Andy followed Admiral Burke into the elevator, where they descended to the lowest level. When the doors opened there were numerous computer stations, and a large conference table placed in front of large interactive wall maps showing the location and status of all US bases in the Pacific, as well as the current location of all US Navy ships in the western half of the world. There were also an obscene number of communication devices of all makes and types. Amazed, Andy asked, “Planning on starting a war, Admiral?”

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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