Computer security -- Fiction; Didactic fiction; Privacy, Right of -- Fiction; Records -- Access control -- Fiction
There was a self-imposed class structure between the "bugs",
those who worked in the subterranean chambers and the "air-heads"
who worked where the daylight shone. There was near total sepa-
ration between the two groups out of necessity; maintain isola-
tion between those with differing need-to-know criteria. The
most visible form of self-imposed isolation, and unintended
competitiveness was that each camp spent Happy Hour at different
bars. A line that was rarely crossed.
Unlike the mechanism of the Corporate Ladder, where the higher
floors are reserved for upper, top, elite management, the power
brokers, at the FBI the farther down into the ground you worked,
the more important you were. To the "airheads", "bugs" tried to
see how low they could sink in their acquisition of power while
rising up on the Government pay scale.
On level 5, descending from street level 1, Tyrone sat on the
edge of his large Government issue executive desk to answer his
ringing phone. It was Washington, Bob Burnsen, his Washington
based superior and family friend for years.
"No, really. Thanks," Ty smiled. "Bob, we've been through this
before. It's all very flattering, but no. I'm afraid not. And
you know why. We've been through this all . . ." He was being
cut off by his boss, so he shut up and listened.
"Bob . . .Bob . . .Bob," Tyrone was laughing as he tried to
interrupt the other end of the conversation. "OK, I'll give it
some more thought, but don't get your hopes up. It's just not in
my cards." He listened again.
"Bob, I'll speak to Arlene again, but she feels the same way I
do. We're both quite content and frankly, I don't need the
headaches." He looked around the room as he cocked the earpiece
away from his head. He was hearing the same argument again.
"Bob, I said I would. I'll call you next week." He paused.
"Right. If you don't hear from me, you'll call me. I understand.
Right. OK, Bob. All right, you too. Goodbye."
He hung up the phone in disbelief. They just won't leave me
alone. Let me be! He clasped his hands in mock prayer at the
ceiling.
* * * * *
Tyrone Duncan joined the FBI in 1968, immediately after graduat-
ing cum laude from Harvard Law. Statistically the odds were
against him ever being accepted into the elite National Police
Force. The virtually autonomous empire that J. Edgar Hoover had
created over 60 years and 12 presidents ago was very selective
about whom it admitted. Tyrone Duncan was black.
His distinguished pre-law training had him prepared to follow
into his father's footsteps, as a partner with one of Boston's
most prestigious law firms. Tyrone was a member of one of the
very few rich and influential black families in the North East.
His family was labeled "Liberal" when one wasn't ashamed of the
moniker.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account