tapping him to draw his attention.
“If , for any reason, you want to talk to someone, let me know immediately. Your experience is unusual—moving in and out of time so quickly can disturb your brain’s understanding of the present state.”
Vin nodded as if he understood. Chief Smiley looked at him and sighed.
“ The brain takes time to process change—you can quickly slip into Post Travel Syndrome. We call it PTS. Don’t think I haven’t seen it before. If you exhibit signs of disorientation, confusion or depression, I’ll lock you up in a mental institution quicker than you can say uncle.”
“Yes ,” Director Hay repeated, nodding his head but looking as if he had checked out of the conversation.
“ After one rather catastrophic lawsuit which involved several inspectors, the Directorate had to make some changes,” Chief Smiley explained. “The first was to limit the amount of travel to different locations. Jumping around too quickly can jar the mind,” he noted.
Vin knew what they were referring to—the analysts talked of it nonstop. Some prominent inspectors had been committed—all due to PTS. Even now, he could feel the change. He was gone from the present moment for two years, the revelation made him want to throw up.
“Well? How do you feel?” Director Hay asked, looking up at Vin.
Vin pushed the feelings away. He was a different person now. Not a naive analyst, but a confident inspector—so talented, he had just saved Kanon Hay from imminent doom.
“ I’m fine, Director Hay. And I’m happy to report that your daughter is perfectly safe, back at training camp.”
“Why is she at training camp? I want to see her,” Director Hay said, ignoring the ringing of his reading pane.
For a moment, Vin wasn’t sure how to answer, before Chief Smiley saved him.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, I didn’t think it was prudent to bring her back, sir,” Chief Smiley responded.
“Why the hell not?” Director Hay asked.
Chief Smiley adjusted his wire frames. He could easily have his eyesight fixed. Vin assumed he kept them for another reason, perhaps to make himself look formidable.
“Julius Arnold is clearly aware that Kanon is your daughter. And certain details of the investigation put her at risk should she return to headquarters,” Chief Smiley said.
“Have I been briefed on these details?” Director Hay barked.
“Yes, sir, but I’m happy to . . . ”
“No, no. I remember now,” Director Hay responded, gazing at his reading pane.
Vin felt he did not remember, but was too proud to admit it. Without thinking, he joined the conversation.
“Sir, my next assignment is to track down Julius Arnold, I should be briefed as well.”
“ Absolutely not,” Chief Smiley quipped, “How dare you . . . ”
“No, he has a point ,” Director Hay responded, smiling at Vin for the first time. “The rumor is you were in and out of training faster than any previous recruit, how long did it take you, one year?”
“Just over two , sir.”
“Hmm , that might tie someone else’s personal best.” Director Hay looked pointedly at Chief Smiley before continuing, “I’m impressed with you, Vin. I think it’s prudent that you work the Arnold case as hard as possible.”
“But , sir,” Chief Smiley began, shifting in his chair nervously. “The law strictly prohibits the deployment of inspectors for purposes of . . . ”
“I thought you told me Vin is exempt from that particular clause?” Director Hay asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
Vin had never seen Chief Smiley bested in the game of logic with Director Hay.
“Yes, sir,” Chief Smiley stammered , a painful look on his face. “The same loophole still applies.”
“ Make sure you formalize his status as an inspector once this budget deadlock is figured out,” Director Hay commanded, turning to smile at Vin. “Until then, update him on the situation, I have a budget meeting.”
Chief Smiley rose to hasten their exit, but
“If , for any reason, you want to talk to someone, let me know immediately. Your experience is unusual—moving in and out of time so quickly can disturb your brain’s understanding of the present state.”
Vin nodded as if he understood. Chief Smiley looked at him and sighed.
“ The brain takes time to process change—you can quickly slip into Post Travel Syndrome. We call it PTS. Don’t think I haven’t seen it before. If you exhibit signs of disorientation, confusion or depression, I’ll lock you up in a mental institution quicker than you can say uncle.”
“Yes ,” Director Hay repeated, nodding his head but looking as if he had checked out of the conversation.
“ After one rather catastrophic lawsuit which involved several inspectors, the Directorate had to make some changes,” Chief Smiley explained. “The first was to limit the amount of travel to different locations. Jumping around too quickly can jar the mind,” he noted.
Vin knew what they were referring to—the analysts talked of it nonstop. Some prominent inspectors had been committed—all due to PTS. Even now, he could feel the change. He was gone from the present moment for two years, the revelation made him want to throw up.
“Well? How do you feel?” Director Hay asked, looking up at Vin.
Vin pushed the feelings away. He was a different person now. Not a naive analyst, but a confident inspector—so talented, he had just saved Kanon Hay from imminent doom.
“ I’m fine, Director Hay. And I’m happy to report that your daughter is perfectly safe, back at training camp.”
“Why is she at training camp? I want to see her,” Director Hay said, ignoring the ringing of his reading pane.
For a moment, Vin wasn’t sure how to answer, before Chief Smiley saved him.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, I didn’t think it was prudent to bring her back, sir,” Chief Smiley responded.
“Why the hell not?” Director Hay asked.
Chief Smiley adjusted his wire frames. He could easily have his eyesight fixed. Vin assumed he kept them for another reason, perhaps to make himself look formidable.
“Julius Arnold is clearly aware that Kanon is your daughter. And certain details of the investigation put her at risk should she return to headquarters,” Chief Smiley said.
“Have I been briefed on these details?” Director Hay barked.
“Yes, sir, but I’m happy to . . . ”
“No, no. I remember now,” Director Hay responded, gazing at his reading pane.
Vin felt he did not remember, but was too proud to admit it. Without thinking, he joined the conversation.
“Sir, my next assignment is to track down Julius Arnold, I should be briefed as well.”
“ Absolutely not,” Chief Smiley quipped, “How dare you . . . ”
“No, he has a point ,” Director Hay responded, smiling at Vin for the first time. “The rumor is you were in and out of training faster than any previous recruit, how long did it take you, one year?”
“Just over two , sir.”
“Hmm , that might tie someone else’s personal best.” Director Hay looked pointedly at Chief Smiley before continuing, “I’m impressed with you, Vin. I think it’s prudent that you work the Arnold case as hard as possible.”
“But , sir,” Chief Smiley began, shifting in his chair nervously. “The law strictly prohibits the deployment of inspectors for purposes of . . . ”
“I thought you told me Vin is exempt from that particular clause?” Director Hay asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
Vin had never seen Chief Smiley bested in the game of logic with Director Hay.
“Yes, sir,” Chief Smiley stammered , a painful look on his face. “The same loophole still applies.”
“ Make sure you formalize his status as an inspector once this budget deadlock is figured out,” Director Hay commanded, turning to smile at Vin. “Until then, update him on the situation, I have a budget meeting.”
Chief Smiley rose to hasten their exit, but
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