Special Forces 01 by Honor Raconteur Page A

mistakes. So all of that scribbling had a purpose? They were actually writing down what he said? So much for his powers of observation.
    Sara put a hand over her mouth, but Rys could tell from her sparkling eyes that she was amused, and trying desperately to hide it. “I’m beginning to see the misunderstanding. But I’m afraid, Mr. Blake, that the real problem is that you are unfamiliar with Arystair. Allow me to illustrate my point. Arystair.” She turned to look at him, dropping her hand, which indeed revealed a crooked smile. “Please recite the first thirty seconds of Mr. Blake’s class.”
    “Would you like that from the start of class, or of his lecture?” Rys asked uncertainly. The first thirty seconds, the man had only called roll.
    “The lecture should be fine.”
    “Yes ma’am.” Rys called up that file, stood next to Sara, and started to recite, “All right, everyone, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. We were covering Sharratt’s Regime, but that period didn’t last more than ten years. In 2674, you will need to remember that year, the Regime collapsed when Sharratt was assassinated. There has never been a definitive conclusion as to who was involved with his murder. He ruled with an iron fist, and his death created a power vacuum, plunging the government into chaos. All control was lost, and there was a long period of power struggles and jockeying for position, before a new coalition could be formed.”
    Mr. Blake dissolved into a coughing fit at that point, eyes as big as saucers.
    “Guardians, that sounds like he recited that verbatim!”
    “He did,” Sara assured him calmly. “Mr. Blake, Principal Holland, Arystair has both a photographic and audio graphic memory. He doesn’t need to take notes. He can remember anything that he has seen or heard, with perfect clarity.”
    Principal Holland turned slowly to Rys, her expression no longer icy and disapproving. Now she just looked incredulous. “Young man, if you have the ability to do that, why on earth are you enrolled in high school?”
    Rys gave her a crooked smile in return. “Ma’am, respectfully, I’m not here to learn the academic disciplines. I’m here to learn about people, and how to interact with them successfully.”
    Holland sat forward slightly, her eyes locked on his face. “I’m afraid I’m not entirely following you, Mr. Savar.”
    “I’m from Fourth Colony, ma’am.” He paused when she involuntarily sucked in a shocked breath of understanding. Blake just went very, very still, as if not wanting to draw attention to himself. “As I’m sure you can ascertain, your culture is very different from the one I grew up in. You would not believe how much different,” he added ruefully. “I’m here to learn how to live in your culture. I believe attending high school will facilitate that goal more rapidly than any other method at my disposal.”
    “I see,” Holland murmured. And she looked as if she did understand part of his reasoning. “Well. You do realize that college would achieve the same thing? You could certainly pass the classes there because of your remarkable memory.”
    “I honestly don’t think I should attempt college just yet, ma’am,” he answered after a moment of thought. “High school is foreign enough, no offense intended,” he assured her hastily. “I think it would be more advantageous for me to be immersed with students from my own age group.”
    “No offense taken, and I can appreciate your desire to be with your peers.” Now she just looked amused. “Well. Mr. Blake, I assume that you have no other complaints or issues?”
    “None at all, Mrs. Holland. I’m sorry, Mr. Savar, for jumping to the wrong conclusions today.”
    Rys shook his head, smiling to put his instructor at ease. “It’s quite all right, sir. I can see how the mistake was made. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong, impression, because I didn’t understand how things were done. I was paying attention,