Page 6 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire

Prologue

very similar, if you reject my proposition. These misunderstood and
despised people shall have their ideas put to the test of
implementation: I will provide the funds through a series of
foundations and shell corporations—none easily traceable to me—
and you shall be my agent, the facilitator enabling realization of
theories no one else takes seriously enough to underwrite. To do this
you will assume an identity appropriate to the circumstances and be
given study material in advance to support your credibility. I cannot
predict how long the job may last; you and I—via the front
organizations I create to engage your services—have the right to
terminate the association if either party is dissatisfied, simply by not
offering or accepting the next contract. To retain your services until
the entire series of twelve is completed I have back-loaded the
compensation.”
Ah! At last an unambiguous word; and this had to be the time to
ask questions. “I see,” said I, as casually as possible, “and how exactly
would that work out?”
Magnus looked me straight in the eye. “The payment will be in
seventy-eight units of one hundred thousand dollars, increasing by
one unit from one unit for the first job to twelve units for the last;
that is, each succeeding assignment will pay one hundred thousand
more than the previous. That increment is intended to reward your
increasing skill as well induce your retention. The total amount,
therefore, is seven million eight hundred thousand dollars. You will,
as an independent contractor, be responsible for non-reimbursed
expenses and taxes. I advise you to buy a good medical policy
immediately; you will be advanced half the first fee upon signing the
initial contract.”
I blinked. This was rapidly spinning beyond the altitude of my
wildest flights of imagination. But I remained outwardly calm; my
college drama classes had taught me to unmetamorphose butterflies
to caterpillars.
“That is certainly an interesting proposal,” I finally uttered, when
it became clear it was my turn to say something. “Quite unlike any
other job description I’ve come across recently. You seem to have
worked this out in great detail, Mr. Magnus, and it will certainly cost
you a good deal.”
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