Let Not Man Put Asunder: The Enoch Chronicles

By G.D. Kessler

Danny and Donny Ronson, identical twins from an Asian Mother and African-American Father, were never closer than when they attended Stanford University together. They may not have been the best students but they did know how to party, and they did know how to pass tests. Their ability to share their thoughts and communicate sub-vocally was a great help. Owing a large sum of money to one of the campus drug pushers, they volunteer to take a test that pays for participation. It is a study designed to reveal and measure telepathic ability. They are the only candidates to ace the test. The CIA is notified and sends a team to kidnap them. The CIA have their own agenda. And thus starts the Ronson twins’ strange and harrowing journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Feb 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781483477312

Book preview

KESSLER

Copyright © 2018 G.D. Kessler.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7732-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7731-2 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 01/29/2018

Let Not Man Put Asunder

When the experiment began the twin in Room A would start the application and watch the monitor. As each playing card was displayed the volunteer only had to think of the card and attempt to transmit his/her impressions/thoughts of the identity of the card to his/her identical twin in the other room.

In Room B, the other twin’s job was to ‘listen’ for the thoughts from his/her identical twin and then press the keycode combination associated with the identity of the card he/she thought had been transmitted from his/her twin in Room A. After the test was completed the history of both computer runs was downloaded onto a USB thumb drive. The information would then be loaded onto a separate laptop supplied by The American Fidelity Association.

The Fidelity software correlated the results compiled and generated a complex graphing readout of how many correct determinations had been made versus the amount of time it had taken for each determination. The results indicated very simply whether or not the test subjects possessed the ability to transmit real world information through the power of thought. In other words, did the twins possess telepathic powers and were they able to use them effectively.

The Enoch Chronicles

While He Is Near

Hell, I’m No Angel

FOUNDED

I AM ZOMBIE

Coming Soon

droLmAI

Just A Girl

Waffle House

Poetry

Tears in the House of Mirth

To read a synopsis of these books,

Go to:

www.theenochchronicles.org

Let Not Man Put Asunder

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew 19:6 KJV

Chapter 1

The 14 kt. gold plated butane lighter, its bright flame hungrily dancing upward, drew close to the red and green bud in the bowl of the bong. The powerful inhalation at the mouth of the small ornate water pipe sucked the fire to the weed burning it into a hallucinogenic stream of smoke fit for human consumption. Once drawn into the lungs its effect was almost immediate.

Donny Ronson inhaled until he could take no more, his lungs bursting—filled to capacity as the sweet, pungent fumes expanded. His eyes blinking and watering at the effort to hold his breath for as long as possible, he coughed explosively emptying his lungs of the hit. Feeling the rush of the THC as it sped to his brain his body relaxed even as a hand pounded on his back jolting him into breathing once more.

Man that was a good one! exclaimed his brother Danny. My turn, bro, he asserted, grabbing the bong to load the bowl and at the same time handing his brother an ice-cold beer.

It was another Saturday night in the Pi-Delta-Theta fraternity house located on the Stanford University Campus in Palo Alto, California. Danny and Donny Ronson were nineteen-year-old identical twins just starting their sophomore year. Although just mediocre students in high school, they had both broken the Nation’s high score record on the SAT’s and been awarded four year all expenses paid scholarships to the prestigious school.

Their performance since entering the University had dropped back to their high school levels, high C to low and mid-range B. The school counselors couldn’t understand it. Of course if they’d had a chance to witness the vast quantities of marijuana consumed on a daily basis in the frat house they would have. Both boys were majoring in engineering, with minors in philosophy.

Dude, this is some good shit! Danny said, exhaling the pungent smoke. He leaned back setting the bong aside, staring at the Jimi Hendrix poster on the wall of the frat house community room. The poster had to be 40 years old, was beer stained and had a couple of rips in it that had been poorly patched with scotch tape, old school scotch tape of the kind that yellowed with age. There were a number of squashed dead flies on the wall next to it. Cleanliness was not a big priority in the fraternity.

I miss mom, Donny commiserated, eyes closed.

Yeah, me too bro, Danny agreed.

Both boys were of average height, just under six feet, and weighed about 170 pounds; short light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion completed the ensemble. They took after their mother who had died a year before from breast cancer. The cancer had been discovered late, had already spread to the lymph nodes, and try as the doctors might no amount of radical therapy worked to reverse the fatal disease.

Their father, a failure analysis engineer at Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, had died when they had been five years old. He had been intricately involved in working out the bugs in a new type of turbo fan jet engine destined for a prototype next generation spy plane. While doing some diagnostic work on a model of the engine at JPL, next door to Moffett Air Field, the engine had come apart fan blades tearing through the casing and ripping into the young engineer’s body. He bled out before EMT’s arrived at the scene.

How long do you think we’re going to be able to keep this up? asked Donny.

As long as we need to, Danny answered, as long as we need to.

Reaching over to turn off the stereo playing loudly in the background, both boys were silent. You know, spoke Donny finally, I never feel right anymore; it just seems all wrong, you know?

Danny looked at his brother. This never bothered you before. All through high school we handled our business. I help you, you help me. We’re good together.

Yeah, Donny responded, looking up and smiling. Nobody cheats like we do.

I wouldn’t call it cheating; after all, we are identical twins. It’s only a fluke that there are two of us instead of just one.

Well, I don’t think it was a fluke; I think it was God. Everybody else is studying their asses off to pass their classes.

Not Yetta, Danny reminded his brother. Yetta Blane was a 20-year-old Swedish exchange student in their philosophy class. The Stanford Facebook page had her ranked as the sexiest girl at the University.

Yeah, not Yetta, Donny reiterated. She’s beautiful, and she’s smart. They were both in love with the tall, lithe blond.

You ready for tomorrow?

Sure thing. We got this! Donny turned to give his brother a high five which was returned enthusiastically.

The door opened and in walked Lester and Huey. Lester was Asian, a Junior, and a straight A student. Huey was Indian, his parents had emigrated from India. He was a sophomore and worked hard pulling a steady 3.2 GPA. His parents wanted something better for him than ending up owning a neighborhood convenience store. He, of course, wished for nothing better than to be like his hero Super Producer Sully on the Lamont & Tonelli radio show.

Where’s the beer? inquired Lester.

Where’s the KGB (killer green bud)? asked Huey.

Danny and Donny laughed. It was good to have friends. While Danny tossed their frat brothers beers, Donny packed the bowl and held the bong out to Huey.

As Huey held the bong Donny placed the lighter flame next to the packed bowl. Huey inhaled mightily sucking in a huge volume of smoke. He managed to hold the hit in for just a moment before coughing it all out. He was coughing so hard Donny had to grab the bong lest it get dropped.

Everyone in the room laughed as Huey, eyes watering, coughed his lungs out. He always reminded them of Kumar from the Harold and Kumar movies. It was funny also because Huey was pre-med.

Looks like all my fellas be having a great time this evening, came the unannounced voice in the room, on my dime. Leonardo the very large Hawaiian and resident campus hemp dealer had walked into the frat house. Beside him stood two bigger, if it were possible, Samoan students; Seniors and offensive linemen on the Stanford football team. Every year he managed to recruit two hungry islanders willing to do enforcement work for the extra dollars.

Hey Leo, good stuff man! Danny exclaimed.

Leonardo who hated to be called Leo, probably because he claimed to be related to Leonardo da Vinci the great 15th century artist of the Renaissance, pointed to the outspoken and stoned young man and said, Him!

Fear entered Danny’s eyes as the two brute Samoans strode across the room and grabbed him lifting him to his feet. Donny jumped up and went to his brother’s aid grabbing onto one of the Samoan’s arms. The Samoan, unmoved, turned towards the new threat and kneed the boy in the groin dropping him to the floor.

Do it! Leonardo commanded. While one of the big islanders held the struggling boy the other punched him once, twice, three times in the gut. Danny dropped to the floor as the other islander released him.

A thousand dollars you owe me, boys, Leonardo asserted. The weed he sold was straight from the island of Maui and sold for $200 an eighth ounce. It only took one hit to have you seeing trails.

We’ll get the money to you, gasped Danny. You didn’t have to do this.

Oh, this is just a little interest, Leonardo said in an amused tone, as a reminder, and for calling me Leo. You know how I hate to be called Leo.

Yeah, we know, Leo, Donny managed to say, his hands cupping his bruised testicles as he lay on the floor in a fetal position.

Kick ‘em in the head, ordered Leonardo in a bored voice.

No, please, he didn’t mean it, Danny screamed, grabbing onto the uplifted leg of the islander before he followed through.

But when is your brother ever gonna learn respect? Leonardo asked. The Samoan tried to shake off the clinging student.

I got a hundred dollars for you! Just give him a chance! Danny pleaded, still hanging onto the thick leg.

Hold up, Ju! Leonardo commanded the Samoan, who had just managed to shake the brother off. Then turning his attention to Danny he said, You have 30 seconds, get it!

Scrambling to his feet Danny made his way to the faux Tiffany lamp on the table in the corner. Turning the lamp upside down he quickly tore off the felt cover on the bottom of the fixture revealing a small hollow where the lamp’s wires nestled. He pulled out a small roll of 5 and 10-dollar bills wrapped in a single rubber band. Here! he said tossing the bundle to Leonardo.

He caught it one handed and removed the band and counted out the money. One hundred fifteen dollars, he muttered to himself. He looked up at Danny. You could have averted all this, this, he waved his hand indicating the brothers, pain you’ve caused yourselves if you’d only kept in contact with me. Folding the money he tucked it into his pocket. You have one more week. This is for my trouble; you still owe me an even thousand.

Hey, that’s not right! Danny exclaimed.

Hey! Leonardo announced loudly, I’m not a bank, I’m an entrepreneur. I make money the old fashioned way.

What? With a printing press? Lester’s voice came from the couch. His hand flew to his mouth, castigating himself for reminding the wannabe drug lord of his existence.

Always a wise ass wherever you are, remarked Leonardo. Let’s go, boys, he waved to the Samoans, turned to the door and walked out followed by his enforcers.

I’m glad they’re gone, Huey mumbled.

Man, that was my last cash. I was saving it to bet on the game. Danny was also well known for betting on Stanford sports teams. If not a good judge of potential, at least he was loyal.

I wish I’d thought to search that lamp, remarked their resident Kumar.

Where are we going to get a thousand dollars in a week? Danny bemoaned.

Check this out! Donny said, rolling to the side on the floor uncovering a copy of the University school paper that he’d collapsed on. He held it up to his brother.

Check what out? Danny asked.

The Behavioral Sciences ad, his brother replied with hope.

Grabbing the paper from his brother’s out flung arm Danny glanced in the Want Ads section. There were always little jobs on or near the campus that energetic students could work at to pick up spending money. The money was never much and the jobs did not require any special skills or extensive training. This ad leapt off the page at him.

– IDENTICAL TWINS NEEDED! Government sponsored Communications and Intelligence Tests. MUST BE IDENTICAL TWINS! $1000/ 2 hour testing time. Follow-ups possible. Check in at Stanford Behavioral Science Building at Jordan Hall, Saturdays, 9-11 am. -—

Saturday was only a couple of days away. The two brothers smiled at each other. Life was sweet!

Chapter 2

At one time the basement area of the Behavioral Sciences building had been rebuilt to mimic a contemporary prison setting. Both ends of the building contained offices separated by one long hallway with small rooms on each side.

Some of the small rooms had contained bunks to simulate prison cells while others had been built to resemble guard posts and support offices. The groundbreaking guard/prisoner experiment had long been abandoned but the facilities built for them had been left in place.

The University hierarchy had made the decision to not remodel. The tenured department professors had since used the basement rooms in a variety of ways converting some into private offices and keeping others for all manner of experiments. Small budgets had been approved and all the rooms were fully interconnected with Cat-5 Ethernet cabling and connections to enable the use of the most up-to-date computer technology. The building had its own LAN, (local area network), as well as access to Stanford’s Wi-Fi.

The current experiment being run had been going on for over six months. Representatives from The American Fidelity Association had contacted Professor Nivens, head of the Parapsychology Department, and engaged him to run the experiment. The University had fully cooperated with the outside entity because they had donated a substantial amount of money to the school and had paid for everything including the professors’ time, their student aids and volunteers, and even supplied the equipment.

The criterion for the volunteers was stringent, so much so that the scope of the selection pool had had to be widened to allow non-students to apply because so few seemed to fit. Although acceptance criterion was strict it was not excessive. There were only two basic requirements: that the volunteers be adults, and that they be identical twins. It had turned out that even in the Bay Area with a population in excess of two million there were not that many identical twins, and of these even less were willing to participate.

Shelly and Lillian Trinsigg, identical twins, 18 years old, blond, blue eyed, were currently being run through the experiment. They were both from San Jose and enrolled in San Jose City College. The ad had been pointed out to them by their father who was not that well off and looked for any means to help with his only daughters’ school expenses. To get his twins to go along with the experiment he had promised them half of the money. He knew shopping was an inducement they would understand.

In rooms at opposite ends of the basement corridor each girl sat. The rooms they occupied were 8X8 foot drab featureless boxes with no windows and a solid door. Extra soundproofing had been installed. The only furniture in each room was a simple chair in front of a small desk with a stand-alone laptop computer sitting on top.

The experiment was simple in the extreme. In one room, Room A, when the experiment was started on the laptop’s monitor would appear the front of a playing card chosen at random from a standard deck. The view of the card would stay on the monitor for 10 seconds and then the next card chosen at random would appear. This would continue until an entire 52-card deck was gone through. No card would be used twice.

In the other room, Room B, the laptop monitor showed all 52 cards of a standard deck. Underneath each card was a keycode combination that would designate that particular card and remove it from the display while at the same time recording the chosen card and the time lapse between each successive card.

When the experiment began the twin in Room A would start the application and watch the monitor. As each playing card was displayed the volunteer only had to think of the card and attempt to transmit his/her impressions/thoughts of the identity of the card to his/her identical twin in the other room.

In Room B, the other twin’s job was to ‘listen’ for the thoughts from his/her identical twin and then press the keycode combination associated with the identity of the card he/she thought had been transmitted from his/her twin in Room A. After the test was completed the history of both computer runs was downloaded onto a USB thumb drive. The information would then be loaded onto a separate laptop supplied by The American Fidelity Association.

The Fidelity software compiled the results and generated a complex graphing readout of how many correct determinations had been made versus the amount of time it had taken for each determination. The results indicated very simply whether or not the test subjects seemed to possess the ability to transmit real world information through the power of thought. In other words, did they possess telepathic powers and were they able to use them effectively.

The first test had concluded about twelve minutes before. In it Shelley had transmitted and Lillian had received. Now Lillian was transmitting and Shelley was receiving. The last couple of cards appeared on the monitor and the test was over. Professor Nivens stood out in the corridor arms folded in front of him, the toe of one foot tapping the floor, head glancing to the left, then right and back to the left again. Dr. Ross, head of the Behavioral Sciences Department, stood next to him arms held behind her back. She was a hard science researcher and had degrees in psychology and neurology.

Fifteen pairs of twins tested, the Trinsigg girls make sixteen, and so far not a single exciting result. Dr. Ross sounded thoroughly dejected.

Joe Nivens had been working in Parapsychology for a couple of decades. His favorite radio show, on late nights, was Coast-to-Coast and he never missed an episode if he could help it. Ghost hunting, remote viewing, astral projection, talking with the dead, Fortune Tellers, UFO’s, crop circles, the show covered it all. His entire life’s work was aimed at proving absolutely that one of the paranormal talents existed. He had been trying to prove Telepathy existed for about two years. You have to give it time, Tabitha, he responded, his stare locking on the Room A door as it opened and Lillian walked out. Moments later the Room B door opened and Shelley walked out. The twins walked up to the two professors.

C’mon girls, let’s go to my office, Dr. Ross told them, glancing from one to the other. From her pocket she removed a thumb drive and held it out to Nivens.

Accepting the small memory media he said, I’ll get the data and meet you in your office. He turned and walked down the corridor to Room B first. Room A was next to Tabitha’s office.

The twins followed dutifully behind Ross as she led the way. In her office she sat down at her desk and pulled a check ledger out of the center drawer. She began filling out a check for the girls.

Shelley and Lillian sat down in the two folding chairs across from the desk. Their eyes followed the pen in Dr. Ross’s hand. Is that our money, Dr. Ross? Shelly asked.

Did we pass? is that why you’re giving it to us? Lillian inquired.

It didn’t feel like we passed. I couldn’t pick up anything, Shelley muttered.

I know I aced it; I can tell the future, exclaimed Lillian, and added, sometimes.

Ross’s head came up and glanced from one twin to the other. Zip it, girls! Just zip it! I don’t have the data yet, so we don’t know how well you did or did not do. She returned to filling out the ledger then put the pen down and carefully ripped the check out, setting it down on the desk.

Nivens walked in at that moment and held out the thumb drive to Ross who took it from him. He sat down in a chair next to Ross’s desk facing the twins while Ross plugged the thumb drive into her laptop. It only took seconds for the data to download, and then about a minute for the analyses program to run. The results displayed in large font, which Nivens could easily read from where he sat nest to Ross. Turning to the twins he said, Thank you for your time and your participation in the experiment. He grabbed the check and held it out to the twins.

Yes, we really do appreciate it, iterated Ross, her eyes never leaving the computer screen, disappointment written across her face.

The twins looked at each other and Lillian grabbed the check and then said, Aren’t you gonna tell us the results? Like, how good we did?

Nivens winced at the girls’ mangling of the English language. Nevertheless he chose to humor them. After all, they were blondes. You both failed miserably. You, Lillian, he said, staring at the twin seated to his left, made two correct picks, total guesses I’m sure from the time consumed in your making the choices. Now Nivens turned his attention to the twin on his right. And you Shelley, you made four correct picks.

At least we got some right, responded Lillian, wanting to salvage something for her self-esteem.

Yeah, and I got more than her! Shelley retorted, smiling at the two professors and then at her sister.

Ross cleared her throat loudly. You can leave now, girls. She emphasized the word-now. The twins got up and without a backward glance walked out.

The two professors sat back exhausted and dejected. The office was silent except for the air conditioner. Finally Ross spoke. Do we have anybody else signed up?

Nivens just looked at her and shook his head in the negative. Then they both heard it. The twins had left a couple of minutes before and they had both heard the door to the stairwell open and close indicating their departure. Of all the doors in the basement complex only one had this unique sound. Now there it was again. And then they heard footsteps approaching the office. As the footsteps got louder it became readily apparent they were made by two people. The professors waited in anticipation and hope.

Chapter 3

Professor Shreat watched the students file into his Philosophy class. Because he was tenured and had seniority he had demanded and obtained the use of one of the amphitheater type classrooms. A one hundred and forty degree arc of stadium seating faced his podium. He wanted at all times to ensure that the students’ attention was on him when he spoke. He felt his teaching would help bring in the new order.

He was highly involved in both the Progressive Education Association and Students for a Democratic Society. He firmly believed in the tenets of Karl Marx and was an ardent foe of organized religion, especially Christianity. He felt that religion was one of the basic motivators for war and all the other world’s ills, and it seemed to only lead mankind into deeper animosity with itself. If civilization could somehow be managed so the planet’s resources could be utilized more effectively by all, there would then be no need to fight over resources and territory. Everyone could live happily ever after.

He was of the opinion that what he taught was of the utmost importance. How one viewed the world pretty much framed one’s view of mankind. If one’s worldview were out of balance, so would be the importance attributed to the varying components that made up the social order. This would cause the interconnectedness of everything to be skewed by unbalance and the value imputed to the object of one’s desires would be weighted accordingly, thus leading to inner strife and frustration, and an external disregard for other’s individual rights and the well being of the world at large.

Shreat glanced at the Rolex on his wrist noting it was two minutes to 9 am. Glancing up he did a quick head count. All but two of his students were present. Of course it was always the same two students that were late, the Ronson twins. They rushed in at the last minute making a clatter and drawing everyone’s attention to themselves. How he hated them, the epitome of the American loser in action. All right class! he addressed them all. Settle down, please. I know you’re all excited to have the Ronson twins grace us with their presence. I’m sure they’ll be glad to give you an autograph after class is over. His comments produced sporadic laughter.

Too right, dude! Yours ain’t worth squat! The voice was heard above the last few whispers as the class quieted down. There were a few snickers at the disrespectful comments.

It definitely sounded like one of the Ronson boys. As his eyes passed over them they just sat there, slight smiles chiseled on their visages. He couldn’t tell if one of them had actually spoken. Well, no matter now. Better not to focus on it than to legitimize the remark by making it a major issue.

Picking his briefcase up from the floor he set it down on the desk next to him and opened it. He pulled out a sheaf of papers and held them out toward Denise Collins, the black haired beauty sitting in the first row at the corner desk closest to him. Take yours and pass the rest on, would you please Miss Collins?

The young girl dutifully got up, walked to the podium and took the pile of mid-term papers. She waited until she had returned to her seat before going through them in search of her own.

I must say, I am pleased with most of you. Shreat had put emphasis on the word most. Plagiarism is never, ever right or condoned. I don’t know how you expect to get ahead in the world by using someone else’s thoughts, ideas or words and then presenting them as your own.

Attempts are made all the time out there. Shreat waved his arm in a sweeping gesture broadly indicating all of reality outside the classroom. Didn’t you think I would notice two papers that were virtually the same? Out there, again he indicated the wide, external world, if you had chosen from the less famous and popular of works it might have gone unrecognized, or at least might have been unfamiliar enough to allow you to get away with copying it and not have someone call you on your misdeed. But here? In my class? He stopped for a moment and then said, I’m not an idiot you know.

You think? came the remark from the back of the class in the same voice as the previous one. There was another round of muffled laughter.

By this time Danny and Donny had gotten their papers. They always sat next to each other during lectures but also made it a point to sit apart during tests. And this was the reason why. As they stared at their returned papers, big fat F’s and red markings all over their essays, they couldn’t help but notice how they were almost word for word copies. This had been a classroom exercise. If they had sat apart how could their papers be copies?

Even in high school they had found that their minds would ‘synch’ together during stressful or testing times. They would each think along similar lines and then write out almost the same words. This wasn’t too bad when the tests were multiple choice or math intensive but when they were essay type answers, well, there was no hiding it. Of course that was how they had scored the highest in the nation on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests; they had just pooled their knowledge. They each only had to study for half the test. Together they had then known most of the answers.

This faculty began much earlier in their lives. Even when they had been babies their parents had noticed how they mimicked each other. Beginning to speak they would finish sentences for each other. It soon grew to the point where if one boy were watching a television show the other would not only know what show he was watching but also know the entire plot.

Finally as the last tests were dispersed quiet descended on the classroom as each student examined his or her paper. Shreat waited a few moments then spoke. Mr. Ronson? and Mr. Ronson? Do either of you have a reasonable explanation for your papers? Something believable, I hope? The huge grin on Shreat’s face spoke volumes.

Donny and Danny glanced at each other. A quick exchange passed between them. With a slight shake of his head, Donny stood up. I’m sorry, Professor Shreat. It’s all my fault. My brother wasn’t feeling well, and neither was I. I filled out both tests. I can assure you it will never happen again.

The professor looked from one to the other of the good looking, athletically trim, American specimens of this ages’ young adults. I don’t know how you managed to pass your tests back and forth. I keep a sharp eye out in my class and I didn’t see it happen. He thought for a moment and then said, As a matter of fact I did notice you two weren’t even sitting together; you were on opposite sides of the classroom. Letting his last statement stand he stared at the twins.

Yeah, well, Danny thinking quickly began his explanation, I took two copies of the test when they were passed out. I figured that would be the easiest way to get it done.

Shreat thought about this answer and then responded, I must admit, it might have been easier and the more honorable thing to do if you had just admitted to not feeling well. I’m sure we could have worked something out.

Sitting down again Danny looked at his brother raising his eyes and sending, Do you believe this crap? They both knew what a hardass Shreat was. You appeared and participated on scheduled test days at scheduled times or you failed. The only acceptable excuse was a death in the family or hospitalization. The professor was just being politic and trying to sound caring and nice and supportive. The class knew better; to them he just sounded disingenuous.

I suppose, continued Shreat, that because you owned up to your cheating and you turned to honesty and admitted your mistake that I should allow you the chance to retest?

Sure, Donny responded quickly, why not?

The Professor stared at them both before replying. I could do that, but it would be patently unfair to the rest of your classmates. Suppose I let them decide?

Danny looked at Donny. He didn’t even need a sending to know his brother’s thoughts on this. We’ll abide by their decision, Danny responded.

How nice of you, Shreat said. But this isn’t a democracy. That’s not how a classroom is run, especially my classroom. He thought a moment. Just to show you I’m a fair man I’ll let you submit a 10 page report, with footnotes, on the origins of plagiarism and its prevalence in today’s society. You can both work on it. If I accept it, I’ll credit you with half the points this test you failed is worth. In this case half is better than nothing, don’t you think?

Donny was about to blurt out something when Danny elbowed him in the side. Danny didn’t even need to connect with his brother’s mind to know what he was going to say. We’ll be glad to do it. Thank you for the chance to atone somewhat for our mistake Danny even managed to sound contrite.

With the test matter taken care of the class settled down. Shreat began a long boring monologue on the history of modern philosophy and the major schools of thought that prevailed in both American and foreign school systems. He soon steered his teaching to his favorite subjects and most of the remaining class time he spent talking about eugenics, Planned Parenthood and the Humanist Manifestos I and II and how they related to each other. Class seemed to last forever.

I’m glad that’s over with, muttered Donny, as they both stood out in front of the classroom building.

You’re glad class is over? Danny exclaimed. I was the one that took all the flack! I still can’t believe that we pulled something so stupid. We haven’t done anything like that in years.

Hey! Don’t be so quick to fall on your sword, bro. Once you close that mouth of yours we look the same, you know? Donny sounded vastly amused. They began walking.

At least I know why it happened, commented Danny.

The boys hadn’t really given much thought to their current destination. Today was a relatively light class day, nothing again until 2:30 pm. Their feet seemed to have a mind of their own.

Why? inquired Donny.

Two things. One, we were stoned so we lost control of our minds.

Yeah, I still miss my mind, reminisced Donny, amused at his own joke.

Danny promptly punched his brother in the arm. Get serious! he admonished him.

I am, I am, Donny asserted. What’s the other reason?

You know, Danny replied, smiling. Denise Collins.

Wow! That jumper she was wearing today, and her hair. She was so sexy it made my eyes hurt. Donny sounded infatuated. What she wore, that shouldn’t be allowed.

You know it bro, you know it! They stopped walking, looked at each other and gave a high five. Then they noticed where they were. They were standing in front of the Behavioral Sciences building. Glancing at each other, then at the building and then back again Danny spoke first. Shall we?

Looking at his watch, Donny answered, Sure, why not? It’s barely 11 am. Let’s go find out what’s going on. If they let us sign up, we’re in! We can’t fail the way we test.

Chapter 4

It was quiet in the basement of the Behavioral Sciences building. There was one open door at the end of the corridor opposite the stairwell the Ronson twins had descended. As they approached the office at the end of the corridor they could hear the low murmur of voices but nothing distinct enough to be understood. Their own footsteps echoed through the length of the hallway. Getting close to the office the voices suddenly stopped.

Donny and Danny looked at each other and then entered the office stopping just inside. A man and a woman sat at a desk. The only thing on the desk was a laptop. The woman reached out and slowly closed the top her eyes never leaving the twins. The man just stared at them. After a decent interval of silence each sizing the other up, Danny said, We’re here about the ad in the school paper? For identical twins? he added unnecessarily.

I’m Dr. Ross, and this is my colleague Professor Nivens. Neither of the adults moved after Ross made the introductions. She continued to examine the boys.

The twins didn’t need to look at each other to know what the other was thinking. Finally Danny spoke. I’m Danny Ronson and this is my brother Donny. He didn’t feel it necessary to add the obvious but he didn’t want to waste their own or the professors’ time. We’re here for the thousand bucks.

Nivens suddenly catapulted into action, standing up, walking up to the boys and reaching out to shake their hands. Fine, fine, he announced. Come in, have a seat. You are over 18, aren’t you? he asked, ushering the twins towards the two chairs facing the desk that had so recently been vacated by the Trinsigg twins. The entire time Ross’s eyes followed the interaction.

Shaking hands and then sitting down, Danny responded taking the position of spokesman for the pair. Yes, nineteen actually.

Ross opened the laptop, touched a couple of keys and stopped, hands poised above the keyboard all business now. Names, please? she asked. It was obvious she was filling out some type of form. The twins’ answers came quick, first one and then the other answering, tag-teaming their responses.

Sophomores, Pi-Delta-Theta Fraternity.

Engineering.

Both dead.

Four year scholarships.

After the preliminary information had been recorded Nivens took over. He began to ask the twins a series of life experience questions. Again Dr. Ross recorded their answers. For a while Nivens focused on their SAT performance. By his questions it was evident he had a more than normal interest in this unique aspect of their school careers. Finally the questioning came to an end. Nivens gave a basic outline of what was involved in the test. Any questions? he asked at the end of his spiel.

Let me get this straight, Danny responded. Each test takes about 10 minutes. We take the test then switch places and take it again. After we’ve completed both phases of the test we get our money whether we pass or fail.

Essentially, yes, replied Nivens. Let me reiterate, this is not a pass/fail type of test. It will just measure, or more correctly indicate, whether or not you possess any ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) ability.

The twins looked at each other. So there’s no, like, bonus? for doing well? Donny inquired.

Now it was the adults’ turn to look at each other. It was Dr. Ross who answered. Actually, there is a performance bonus.

A performance bonus? Nivens uttered in a surprised tone. I wasn’t aware of any performance bonus.

We haven’t had anyone who qualified, Ross informed her colleague. I’m sorry if I forgot to inform you. I’m sure it was in the experiment protocols. You did get a copy, didn’t you?

Looking uncomfortable for a moment, not wanting to reveal he hadn’t read the protocols, Nivens replied, Yes, quite. It must have slipped my mind.

How much is this bonus? And just exactly how do we qualify? asked Danny.

Turning his attention to Ross, Nivens waited to hear her answer. The bonus is in the amount of $2000 and is earned if the entire first phase is completed with a score of 95% or better, and then the participants complete a second phase test.

And the second phase test consists of? Donny prompted.

The second phase test is run exactly like the first phase except the time limit has been decreased. Instead of having 10 seconds for each card, the time limit has been decreased to just 3 seconds. In theory each half of the second phase can be completed in just under 3 minutes. Ross smiled at them. "But