00040

Osmo Martin splashed through the puddles dotting the track during his warm-up of several laps. The sun never came out this morning. Security Leader Clyden watched him from the sidelines, under the comfort of an umbrella. Torrents of rain poured from the grey-green sky.

It must be a mess at the beach today, Osmo Martin thought. Not that I have any time for that these days.

He completed his last lap and braked near Sec. Ldr. Clyden to await further sadistical orders which constituted his training to become a Security Agent. Yep, sadistical is the right word, Osmo told himself.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden pointed to the top of the high post firmly planted in the ground. A platform perched atop the pole, forty feet above, with the only way to reach it by the dangling rope hanging from the platform. Sec. Ldr. Clyden said, "Up. Let's see how long it takes you, punk."

Osmo Martin saw how the roost, whipped by the rain, illuminated by the bright lightning flashes, swayed in the heavy wind. He hesitated, narrowing his eyes when he studied Tretl Clyden's face to determine if he was serious. What's up with this guy, anyway? he wondered silently. Surely, he can't still be taking it out on me because of the parking spot incident...

“Well, come on, let's go!" snapped the Security Leader. "Are you waiting for the bus?"

"Is that wise to climb up there, Sec. Ldr. Clyden, considering all this lightning?"

Clyden huddled under his umbrella, not offering to share it. He gripped it tightly against the gale. "I think the local Enviro-Gen is on the blink again. I hope they get it fixed by the end of the day. But a good Security Agent doesn't let a bit of rain and thunder frighten him and keep him from doing his job. Sure, the weather is pretty intense today, but don't let that stop you. A Security Agent doesn't shy away from danger!"

"Yes, Sir, you're right, Sir,” Osmo Martin agreed unenthusiastically.

And so, up he scurried, the cold rain blasting his face and running into his eyes with a stinging ferocity- up, up toward the platform atop the pole. Below, shielded from the rain by his umbrella, Clyden checked his stopwatch.

A small grounds cart pulled up to Sec. Ldr. Clyden as Osmo’s climb neared the top. Also under an umbrella held by a robot, Gov. Bright and Sheila exited the cart, wearing comfortable rain gear.

Clyden turned to them and greeted Gov. Bright.

The Governor glanced up at Osmo Martin, struggling to clamber onto the overhead platform, slipping but not falling. Finally the young man stood up on the wet, slippery platform in victory. He gave a whoop and did a little dance.

Clyden nodded and put his watch away. "Not bad, punk. Now stop dancing and come back down before you get zapped, you fool!"

"I see you are bearing up with this weather very well," the Governor commented.

“Yes, Sir," Clyden acknowledged.

Sheila Bright complained, "Don't you see how the lightning is so bad today, Sec. Ldr. Clyden?! Do you want Osmo to get electrocuted on that aluminum platform?"

"Sheila, if Osmo is going to make it as a Security Agent, he must be prepared and willing to face danger," Sec. Ldr. Clyden told her.

Gov. Bright nodded. "True, very true. A thunderstorm is no reason to skip training for the day."

Osmo slid back down the rope to the ground.

Gov. Bright asked Osmo, “You don’t think the weather is too inclement for training, do you?”

“No, Gov. Bright," Osmo Martin replied, not as sincere as he sounded. "I have no problem with this weather-" At that moment, a terrible peal of thunder boomed, making them all jump.

Gov. Xavier Bright smiled. "You keep a good attitude, Osmo. I didn't make a mistake asking you to join our Security Team."

"Thank you, Gov. Bright,. No, you did not make a mistake," Osmo assured him. Inside, he felt a bit guilty, wondering if Gov. Bright actually had made a mistake. He felt guilty for not telling about that strange black communications device he had found the other day- the one Mrs. McCleer had used to speak with Earth behind the Governor’s back... Whatever happened to that representative the folks back on Earth said they would send? Did the Earth Leaders change their minds? It seemed nothing came of the matter, anyway, so why should he feel bad about it, as if he had betrayed Gov. Bright?

The Governor’s niece worried about the bad weather. "Well, at least take care, Osmo, and try not to get hit by any lightning."

He laughed. "I'll do my best, Sheila.”

Sec. Ldr. Clyden asked the Governor, "Such weather- Am I correct to suppose there is a defunct Enviro-Gen that needs fixing?"

"Yes. The techs are working like mad to find what is the problem and to get things back on track."

"Another typical day on the World of Hope- some important system amiss, as usual ," Sheila Bright sighed. "Osmo, I hope your Dad can persuade the Council to send some much-needed equipment to keep the generators running more smoothly."

Sec. Ldr. Clyden focused his attention back on Osmo. "You go run more laps, while I am busy here.”

“Yes, Sir." And off he went to jog some more around the wet track, Sheila watching.

Tretl Clyden asked, "Then you came by to get my report on Generator S112?"

"Why yes, very good, Sec. Ldr. Clyden. I did. I want to see who to demote because of this matter. Maybe I will even send somebody to one of the Enviro-Gens on the farthest fringe of our Earth-type zone."

"Report’s in my office. I'll go get it.”

“Oh, you already have it prepared, eh, Sec. Ldr. Clyden?"

"A good leader is always prepared. Isn't that what you always tell me, Gov. Xavier?" Sec. Ldr. Clyden began heading toward track office building across the field. Gov. Bright with Sheila followed. The robot kept pace, still holding the umbrella over the Brights

Sheila Bright found it surprising when she saw that Mita Morgan waited in the Security Leader’s office. Mita had been standing by the window, watching Sec. Ldr. Clyden training Osmo.

“Hi, Sheila, Gov. Bright,” Mita Morgan greeted.

Tretl Clyden self-consciously explained, "Mita was kind enough to bring me my lunch today. I asked her to wait in here until I got here for lunchtime, instead of out there in the rain."

Gov. Bright raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You are a lucky man today. It seems you shall have a good, warm meal on this messy day." The Governor took the report which the Security Leader handed him. Gov. Bright opened the door to leave. "Thank you, Sec. Ldr. Clyden. We need to get to work immediately checking over these files. I hope you will help me in this matter, please, Sheila."

"Of course, Uncle.”

“And one more thing, Sec. Ldr. Clyden," said the Governor.

"Yes, Gov. Xavier?"

"When you go back outside to resume Osmo's training for today, lead by example."

"I always do," bragged Clyden.

"Good. Then, give me your umbrella."

"Um, okay." He handed it over to the Governor, who gave it to his robot to carry. He and his niece went out and returned to the cart, the robot continuing to keep them as dry as possible with its original umbrella that it carried.

Still in the dry office, Mita Morgan shook her head, unbelieving. "You just gave him your umbrella, no questions asked, without even arguing, so that you can stand around in the rain watching Osnmo training?"

"Yeah, like I'm gonna argue with Gov. Xavier."

"Why not? You should've told him, Rank has its privileges. You are the Security Leader! Did you notice his robot carried an umbrella for him- He doesn't want to get wet! Tretl, I think I am beginning to see why he hasn't made you his Lt. Governor yet."

"Yeah? And you can just stuff it! I'm not his Lt. Governor yet because I didn't ask him yet. And I didn't ask him yet, because I am still warming him up to the idea, and the time just isn't right yet. Unfortunately, I don't get much time to even work on him about it these days, what with my regular duties, and now I am stuck with training this Martin punk. And Gov. Xavier is so melancholy these days, I hardly ever get a private moment with him anymore. Him and his dumb crush on some college sweetheart!”

Mita Morgan pointed out, "There will never be a right time! But whatever kind of time and opportunity you do have is fast slipping away. The way he likes Osmo, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes him his second-in-command by the end of the week!"

"Aw, knock it off!"

She peeked out the window once more. "Osmo's still doing laps. I presume you told him to do those until you return. You better hurry back, before he falls down already from exhaustion.”

Clyden opened the door. She stopped him. "Wait, don't forget this." She gave him her own umbrella. He took it and went outside.

Mita Morgan watched through the window and giggled as Tretl Clyden continued his taxing training for Osmo Matin out there in the downpour.

(c) 2012 drk