"Alright. Your results were close to that of an eighth grader. Not quite enough to round up to a ninth grade level."
Dan flushed. "Are you sure? I mean, most of the answers seemed right to me."
The woman smiled. "Don't feel bad. You did quite well compared to many of our applicants. The math and language questions were your main trouble spots, which is quite common. When you don't use advanced math and foreign language, you tend to forget."
"So I don't even measure up to the average 14 year-old?" Dan was really embarrassed. "I guess I don't qualify. Sorry to have wasted your time."
"Nonsense!" The woman smiled broadly. "As long as you are still willing to go through our adjustment program, the job is yours." She pulled up his contract on her laptop. "All I need is your thumbprint here, and here." She showed him two spots to sign, and he eagerly complied without reading what it was. "Excellent!" She looked over the forma nd hit Save, then pointed to a door to the right. |If you will go through there, we'll start your in-processing."
"Um, so quick?" Dan was surprised. "I didn't tell anyone I'd be here long." Then he shrugged, missing the flash of concern on the woman; face. "Not that I tell anyone where I am anyway. OK. Thanks!"
Dan stood and headed over to the door, which opened onto a short, plain hallway that had a door at the other end. He entered and heard the door close behind him with a thud and click. His anticipation turned to confusion when he found that the far door was locked. As he jiggled the handle, jets of warm liquid suddenly hit him from the walls and ceiling. He shouted and scrambled back, slipping on the now-slick floor and landing with a splash. "Hey! What's going on? I'm in here!" He felt dizzy and confused, and almost before he realized what was happening, fell asleep.