Chapter Four
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Jimmy drops from his tiptoes and bounces forward, moving towards Desmond. A few stragglers linger around Desmond, including an old white haired man in a ratty sports coat. The man is talking non stop at Desmond, rambling about time and space and meaning and the nature of thought and how one thought only exists to create the next thought and how it never arrives at any conclusion, just thoughts creating thoughts because time is just an illusion and fear is our way of trying to control this process-
Jimmy cuts in with a hand across Desmond's chest. "Allrighty folks, we wanna thank you for coming out, but Mister Roberts has a long flight ahead of him…"
The old crank lifts his finger, wanting to continue his point, and Jimmy steps directly in front of Desmond, lifting his hands before the crowd. "And for those of you that live anywhere around the Hamilton area, we'll be holding a new seminar with new information at the Hamilton Civic Centre on February 18th. Thank you all again."
Congratulations and thank you’s are extended as the last of the audience walks away. The crank orbits listlessly nearby, eyes rheumy and hopeful. Jimmy turns his back on him and claps Desmond on the shoulder.
"Great show Desi. Excellent turnout."
Desmond watches the people as they leave, a smile plastered across his face. Soon everyone, even the old crank, has moved a respectable distance away. Then Desmond drops the smile and spins his face directly towards Jimmy.
"Cut the shit Jimmy. You said there were going to be some real scientists here tonight!"
Jimmy steps back and scans the distant crowd. "I’m pretty sure there were some Science Majors out there…"
Just then, so fast that Wendy doesn't even see it, Desmond grabs hold of Jimmy's arm.
"I don’t want fucking students, Jimmy! I want someone with some real credibility to take what I’m saying here seriously!"
Wendy steps forward, partly in a half hearted attempt to intervene, but also in the hopes of blocking the altercation from anyone else's view. She looks around to check if anyone is noticing, then looks back at the two men.
Jimmy is making a slow and deliberate show of looking directly at his arm where Desmond has grabbed him. After a moment, Desmond releases Jimmy. Jimmy straightens his jacket, then leans in and looks Desmond directly in the eye.
"The first thing you need to do - if you want to be taken seriously - is behave like an adult, Desmond…"
She has to admit it. Jimmy is holding his own, even as Desmond - a man considerably larger and more aggressive - stares back at him with barely controlled fury. It would seem that Jimmy has been in these types of situations before.
Then Jimmy relaxes, reaching up and placing a hand on Desmond's shoulder.
"These things take time, Desi. I mean, trying to impress scientists is a little out of my purview as an agent, you know?"
Jimmy smiles winningly at Desmond. Desmond crosses his arms and looks away.
Jimmy cuts in with a hand across Desmond's chest. "Allrighty folks, we wanna thank you for coming out, but Mister Roberts has a long flight ahead of him…"
The old crank lifts his finger, wanting to continue his point, and Jimmy steps directly in front of Desmond, lifting his hands before the crowd. "And for those of you that live anywhere around the Hamilton area, we'll be holding a new seminar with new information at the Hamilton Civic Centre on February 18th. Thank you all again."
Congratulations and thank you’s are extended as the last of the audience walks away. The crank orbits listlessly nearby, eyes rheumy and hopeful. Jimmy turns his back on him and claps Desmond on the shoulder.
"Great show Desi. Excellent turnout."
Desmond watches the people as they leave, a smile plastered across his face. Soon everyone, even the old crank, has moved a respectable distance away. Then Desmond drops the smile and spins his face directly towards Jimmy.
"Cut the shit Jimmy. You said there were going to be some real scientists here tonight!"
Jimmy steps back and scans the distant crowd. "I’m pretty sure there were some Science Majors out there…"
Just then, so fast that Wendy doesn't even see it, Desmond grabs hold of Jimmy's arm.
"I don’t want fucking students, Jimmy! I want someone with some real credibility to take what I’m saying here seriously!"
Wendy steps forward, partly in a half hearted attempt to intervene, but also in the hopes of blocking the altercation from anyone else's view. She looks around to check if anyone is noticing, then looks back at the two men.
Jimmy is making a slow and deliberate show of looking directly at his arm where Desmond has grabbed him. After a moment, Desmond releases Jimmy. Jimmy straightens his jacket, then leans in and looks Desmond directly in the eye.
"The first thing you need to do - if you want to be taken seriously - is behave like an adult, Desmond…"
She has to admit it. Jimmy is holding his own, even as Desmond - a man considerably larger and more aggressive - stares back at him with barely controlled fury. It would seem that Jimmy has been in these types of situations before.
Then Jimmy relaxes, reaching up and placing a hand on Desmond's shoulder.
"These things take time, Desi. I mean, trying to impress scientists is a little out of my purview as an agent, you know?"
Jimmy smiles winningly at Desmond. Desmond crosses his arms and looks away.
DESMOND CHAPTER FOUR