The Society revealed

"The society is very old." the man continued, "We lost some vital records in a fire in the seventeenth century, but we are almost sure we were founded in the middle of the fourteenth."

"After telecommunication became possible we grew fast, and today we have almost six million members across the world."

The man took a sip of water and continued: "You probably don't know this, but the country in the world that has the highest per capita income is Luxembourg. Each citizen there produces around 66,000 dollars each year In the US it is slightly less than 45,000. We are proud to say that within the Society our per capita income is almost half a million dollars each year— or something like seven and a half times what Luxembourg produces."

Jim broke in "Does that mean that you are loaded?"

The man chuckled softly, "Yes you could say that. The organization earns a lot, and we are very good at keeping tabs on our expenses."

The man continued: "But money is not the only resource we have. We also control large portions of critical industries — from paper bags to software to military hardware. But our biggest advantage is... you!"

Jim looked at him suspiciously, "Me?"

"Well not you specifically, but our people. We select the best, we make sure they have no real problems in their life, we give them the best education in the world, we keep tabs on them, we try to keep them happy, and we make sure they have the maximal opportunities to make an impact."

Jim shot forward his chest and mouthed "bla bla bla..."

The man looked at him, puzzled, and then laughed, "Ahh, I see, you don't buy our little presentation... alright."

The man grabbed some papers under his chair and looked shortly in them. Then he looked back at Jim.

"Let's see, your birthday is in six weeks and it will be your fifteenth. Next year, you will be admitted to the local high school and afterwards, if you are persistent and lucky, you will get a bachelors degree and perhaps a masters or a PhD. You will then finish as a specialist within one area, at the very latest when you are 26 given you don't waste any time.

If you sign up with us, you will start what we call "Society High," which is really a bad name, because only the first year is high school level. When you leave, you will have skills comparable to a bachelor — but not as specialized, it will emphasize mathematics, economy, politics, psychology, medicine, engineering, and software development. Really what we call the basics of the Society and the society.

You will not have the same skill in these fields as real bachelors in them, but you will be close.

Then you will start in our college. You will be there for a minimum of eight years. You will spend the first four getting quickly up to the equivalence of a master's degree in all of these areas. At that point, when you are 26, only other society members can match your skill and education level.

Then there will be a four year period where you study part time in two or three chosen subjects and work part-time for the society.

Based on your physical test, chances are that you will go into the SIS (Society Intelligence Service). For that you will get an education on practical jobs that resemble a veteran police investigator and any of the three letter agencies.

Your mission in SIS is vastly different of course, as the main mission for SIS is to make sure that the society is safe and undetected.

Based on your physical skills, you may also join the SAF —Society Action Forces — which are our military branch. Or should I say "Special Forces" branch, as all society members get basic military training.

SAF and SIS combined are also our internal police, and let me put it like this: No one has ever lived to quit the Society, and no one has ever lived after trying to commit treason to the society. If you are in, you are in — that is it.

And don't kid yourself, even with this extraordinary education, you are still just a pawn in the really big game — like all six million of us are, no matter our rank in the Society. If we are asked to do something, we are expected to do it, no matter how stupid it seems compared to our education, rank or wealth level"

The man sighed and looked at Jim. Jim was unsure what to say or do. The whole thing still sounded so unbelievable.

He decided a down to earth question might break the ice, "What will my salary be eventually?"