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Breakfast


The plane glided slowly over a bed of clouds lit brightly by the full moon. She heard a voice that sounded like wind... How high will you fly?


She woke up at 5:30 AM. She had set her alarm for 6:00 AM, so she turned it off. There was plenty of time to finish unpacking her suitcases and to arrange everything in her room.


The university was a ten minute walk from the hotel. A breakfast with Madame Chartier was scheduled for 8:00 AM.


There was a park with a garden between the hotel and the Polytechnique, with a clock made with flowers, with hands that moved.


She arrived at 7:30 AM, expecting to be one of the first students there. Well, she was, but in a few minutes there were thirty two students in the lobby, and the last letter had said there were thirty five students in the program.


A few minutes later Madame Chartier walked out into the lobby.


"I see almost everyone is here. We have twenty more minutes, but I'm glad you all came early, because we are going to start early, and in a friendly, humorous sort of way, we are going to make this a lesson to the others." She smiled.


"We can use an early start because there is much to do, but first, I think we should feed you. Let's go into the dining room and enjoy the buffet breakfast. You will need to show your identification to Harold, our security person, at the door."


Biscuits and gravy. Scrambled eggs and cheese sauce. Bacon. Sausage. Toast and marmalade. Sliced peaches, pineapples, and melons. Granola. Milk. Orange juice. Grape juice. Apple juice. A drink of blended bananas and strawberries. Apparently it was Madame Chartier's favorite. Madame Chartier drank three glasses of it.


When everyone had a full plate, she walked over to the podium and took the microphone.


"When you received your invitation to join our research program, you were told you would have the opportunity to participate in frontier research. We couldn't tell you then the nature of the work then. Already, each of you has signed a form to acknowledge the confidential nature of the work. However, those who financially support this work would like for you to sign one more form before we disclose the nature of our research. Forms will be brought around for you to read, take your time, and then sign."


When everyone had a form she continued.


"You will notice that these forms state specifically that you may not disclose the nature of your work to anyone at any time in the future. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you do not discuss your work with outsiders. The people who have provided the financial resources for this program have been more than generous in providing for your wellbeing. Every coin has two sides. I would not want to speculate what they would do to someone who violated their trust. Think carefully. Do you understand what I am saying? If someone offers you a large sum of money for information, you should say nothing to them, and report the incident to Harold as soon as possible. Please accept my apology for the need to speak this candid with you. I believe this program is going to work for the benefit of everyone here. When you are through with the form, you may set your pen on it and continue with your breakfast."


The food was good. Harold walked around and collected the forms.


Madame Chartier walked back up to the podium.


"Everyone signed the forms. Congratulations! You are now a part of our team. I have a surprise announcement that I think will delight all of you. Each year you will be given eight weeks total of vacation time, and we will pay for up to six trips between here and home. In addition, your original contract stated five years of study. We have extended that to seven to reduce the number of classes that you need per semester. This is not only to give you more time for your research, but to also to provide you with additional leisure time to enjoy your stay here in Paris. I would now like to take you to see the laboratories."


One person started clapping, and then the whole room applauded. Madame Chartier smiled.




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