Legacy of a Mad Scientist Read Online Free PDF

about two years
after my interview, well...
    “I changed my major to education because of Jen's
example. I was more impressed with what she did than I ever was by
any dancer. A perfect pirouette is nothing compared to that. What
do you even call that?
    "Anyhow, that’s what sets someone apart from the
crowd. That's what they mean when they say we're not all born with
the same gifts. Anyone can dance.”
    “Does your friend still dance?”
    “Oh yeah. She’s married now, goes by Jennifer
Klinefir. Her shows are sold out a year in advance.”
    “I know who she is. She’s famous.”
    “Well, it’s not for her dancing. It’s what she
represents. Director Marks was famous for her harsh severity. Jenny
changed that program forever. Director Marks retired a while ago,
but the dancers from Wellstone are better every year. Of course,
it’s all back to being secret again, but the published work is
still out there.”
    "Why are you telling me this?" Ashley asked.
    "It's unnatural to forgive someone small and petty,
like Rebecca, but life is about lifting each other up, and both of
you would be better for it."
    Ashley blinked. "And Steven?" she asked.
    "Don't worry about the boys. Most of them are a lost
cause, and the rest can take care of themselves."
    "I want to live on an island," Ash said, looking at
her feet.
    "Do you have one?" Alison asked.
    "No."
    "Then you have to work with people until you do."
    After a pause, she asked, "Steve and his friends,
they were beating up Ted, weren't they?”
    "Yes," Ashley answered.
    "And if you hadn't stepped in; Ted might have ended
up bleeding?"
    "Probably."
    "That was pretty ballsy, breaking it up like
that."
    Ash remained quiet.
    "All's well that ends well." Alison smiled. "But try
to think about what I said. Becca is going to be here everyday.
Maybe you could practice in here, with the rest of them, instead of
in the theatre?”
    Ashley looked up, frowning and frustrated to have her
secret so suddenly exposed.
    “I know, it's a tough lesson, but all of life is
about this one lesson. Learn it soon. You can meet a Judith Marks
anywhere."
     
    Ashley’s Journal, June 22, 2308, Monday
Afternoon
    Mrs. Rabier told me she knows Jennifer Klinefir.
Seemed as if she’s been waiting years to tell that story. And she
gave me a lecture about frenemies like Rebecca Tavington.
    Turn the other cheek, etcetera, etcetera.
    Rebecca is a brat. She’s clumsy and arrogant, and I’m
not helping her. And Mrs. Rabier had the chance to go to Wellstone,
and she passed it up! What can I possibly learn from her?
    I can’t believe I have a chance to go to their summer
program, and my dad is not letting me! He keeps saying next
summer.
    I broke Steve Shepard’s nose this morning. He and his
buddies were picking on one of Geoff’s friends, three seventh
graders against a fourth grader. He got what he deserved.
    Maybe Kung Fu Camp won’t be so bad, but I still don’t
want to go. My Dad is being a jerk about it.

Chapter 3 – Project Epsilon
     
    It was the thought that did it. The concept consumed
him, drenched him in sweat and had driven him from his office. Fox
walked, going anywhere, almost running, sprinting. His mouth was
dry, breath coming in great gasps.
    Where was he going? The garage!
    Dr. Fox climbed into the transport, panicked. His
head pounded, each heartbeat shooting pain into his skull. He
strapped himself in as the cruiser lifted off from the rooftop of
the massive research facility.
    Fox felt constrained, strapped into the chair, but if
he unbuckled the belt during liftoff, the alarms would be too much
to handle. He focused on relaxing his breathing. His heart rate
decreased. He relaxed the muscles of his face, his neck, shoulders
and hands. Fox swallowed.
    The Project Epsilon buildings covered several square
miles, and provided everything necessary to sustain the thirty-five
thousand test subjects and four thousand scientists in residence.
Anchored low, they hovered only a dozen feet