Page 85 - Demo

8 4 JAGGEDEDGE
“Having no choice, leaves no options.”
“Very good,” Corin ended, as both men turned and started heading in the opposite direction.
“Sir,” said Tom, “just so you know, we will have little time to work out the bugs before I show it to you online, which is going to be pushing it.”
“My whole operation is at a virtual standstill until that sys- tem goes online. So just make it as bug free as possible prior to teaching me the ropes.”
“Yes, Sir. And I have one more concern. The guys who helped me with this project are my friends and there is no way the amount of work we did could be done in that time frame without them. I will kill them if I have to, but I would like to know if there is another alternative.”
“I am about to dismantle this organization in less than half a year. What am I going to do with them? Okay. I understand your concern, and maybe they can fit into the organization. In the meantime, if I don’t tell you specifically what to do with them by the completion of the project, there should be no questions.”
“I don’t apologize. “I had to ask.”
“It’s no problem. Just remember, the train runs its course if I can’t come up with an option. Any other concerns before I leave?” Tom shook his head negatively suddenly nauseated at the prospects of his comrades. “You’re a good man,” Tom,” said Corin,
looking him square in the eye. “I’ll be in touch.”
He shook Tom’s hand and got into his car.
Tom walked toward the door of the car feeling the all too
familiar weight of the universe on his shoulders.
“How in hell am I going to save my friends.” he wondered.
“Waiting until the end of the week means everyone’s time is up. I don’t even know if I am trusted. And the way these damn guards act, my fate may be the same as my friends. I’m convinced that one set of disks means disaster for all of us. If Corin is cutting loose ends, he seems to be thinking of it all the time. Further- more, what the hell is he going to have me doing after he learns