"Joseph Lancaster?"

"That's me. Who's you?"

"Ross Merphy, sir. You're here for the Wiggin kid, aren't you?"

"Yes. Peter Wiggin, 4 years old, son of John and Theresa Wiggin, brother of Valentine Wiggin, one of the smartest children in the country. I'm taking over for James Trombley. What happened to him, anyways? Anderson never told me."

"He died, sir."

"I'm just entering a world of rainbows and sugar, aren't I? What, killed off because he knew too much?"

"Sir, I believe he was in a car accident."

"Ah, the oldest cover-up in the book. Well, no use dwelling on the past. What have you got for me?"

"Here's his connection, sir."

"Anderson told me that Trombley was good at writing regular reports on the kid. Do you have those around anywhere?"

"In that cabinet, sir. He, ah, wrote a lot of them, so it might take you a while to get through them all."

"Jesus Christ! This thing is half a foot thick; I'll never read it all! Here, kid, what do you know about this Peter? Might as well get the short version first."

"Most of the Monitor Personnel talk about their assignments in the lounge room. Trombley used to boast, sir, about Peter. Saying that he would be the one that would save us all. Trombley was a bit of a, ah-"

"Snot?"

"I wouldn't really know, sir. I'm just an assistant. I hear lots of things, but I don't really know the people."

"People generally don't notice an assistant much, hmm? Must be an advantage sometimes. Merphy, you must have heard more things about Peter. Did Trombley talk about anything wrong with him that would prevent him from being accepted?"

"Not really, sir, though sometimes he said the kid could be a little violent. It was why the parents were asked to have a girl after Peter. Just to be safe, in case the boy didn't pan out."

"Thank you Merphy, you've been a great help. I think I'll skim over these reports for a minute before I hook up to this kid's brain."

"Very well, sir."

Subject: Peter Wiggin

Subject Profile-

Age 1

Birthday- March 3, 2057

I.Q. - 185

First Child of John and Theresa Wiggin

Subject's Family-

Father: John Paul Wiggin changed from John Paul Wieczorek. Catholic. Came from a noncompliant family of 11. High I.Q.

Mother: Theresa Young Wiggin. Mormon. From a noncompliant family of nine. High I.Q.

Parents have kept no contact with other family members. Evidence suggests that they are ashamed of the fact that their families are noncompliant.

Date: May 5, 2058

The subject Peter Wiggin P was outfitted with a monitor today. He feels excited, and smug. He is desperate to prove himself. Smug satisfaction is felt towards a classmate, Theodore Prentiss TP, who has not been given a monitor. P feels that they are competitors. Note: Subject Peter competes, feels the need to excel and win. P is bored. Doesn't feel challenged. He misses parents, but tries to conceal it. Feels that emotions are weaknesses. P is-

"He may have been regular about his reports, but they are wicked boring. Come on, what else you got…"

Date: February 10, 2059

TP called P a bugger-loving turd, and P felt angry. P attacked TP, fought him. P pleased at winning, proud. Note: not afraid to stick up for self, even do violence. TP left with a broken wrist, bloody nose, and numerous bruises. TP is a good judging scale of P's character against foes. P is very independent, not many friends. Good at knowing what to do. Discover what people he is compatible with-

Date: June 8, 2059

TW and JW told Peter that he was going to have a sister today. P pretended to be happy, but was furious inside. P doesn't want to have attention taken away from him. Note: a little too self-centered? Recording of Monitor connection in is Cabinet E, Drawer 4, labeled Baby Sister News. Later that day, P shamed his teacher. He-

"Okay, let's check this out…Cabinet E…Drawer 4...Baby Sister News…here we go…"

"Monitor Connection Recording: Peter Wiggin. June 8th, 2059. Searching…connection complete. Recording on."

'Mom looks happy…what's going on? Dad's got his big-news look on…I hope it really is good. Pause A sister? I'm going to have a sister? How could they! I can't believe they would do this to me…why do they need someone else, they have me! I'm perfect! Calm, calm. Can't let them know. Smile, that's right. Exclaim. You're happy. Don't let them know. Hide it, you know how. That look, the one that has just enough mild depth to fool anyone. I hate them. Hate them, because they must hate me to do this to me. Pause Valentine? Of all the stupid names…I hate her, hate them. It's all ruined! Arghh!'