Chapter I – The release
Adebisi is released from prison, and he says to the warden, "Please let me stay, Leo, I've nowhere to go!" The warden puffs his cigar, and says, "This is no hotel, sonny", his gold-toothed grin lighting up the office. Adebisi leaves the prison grounds, and the great metal gate of doom closes up behind him. He glances back at the gate, and reminisces about his stay in the prison. Tears fill his eyes, but he decides that it is time to go.
A broken man, Adebisi slowly makes his way to the closest town. It starts to rain, and he seeks shelter at a bus stop. He sits down on a bench and sighs. He reminisces about a very good friend he had in prison. He was a very intelligent man named Omar White, who always told him anecdotes about theoretical physics and other natural sciences.
There's another man sitting beside him, reading the newspaper. The man asks Adebisi, "Why so gloomy, stranger?" Adebisi looks at the man. He has no hair, nor any eyebrows, and he tilts his head to the side. His facial expression is very neutral, as if this bald man were incapable of emotion.
Adebisi looks down on the wet ground beneath his feet, and says, "I am a grown man, but I don't have a job, a home. I have no girlfriend. And I was just released from prison!"
The man pats Adebisi on the head, and says, "Haven't you heard? They are hiring a lab assistant at Harvard university! In fact, I'm heading there now. We just have to wait for the bus."
Adebisi smiles. A job! At a university! Adebisi has always known he wants to be a lab assistant. "Yes, that would be interesting! Do you think I'll get the job?" – "Yes, in fact, I know that you will."
The bus arrives and they both get on. Adebisi says he has no money, but the bus driver says that he can pay at a later date. Adebisi and the man sit down in the back of the bus. Adebisi tells the man about his friends from prison. Beecher, Schillinger, Busmalis, all of them. The man listens attentively, and says, "You have a new friend now, me!"
The bus driver says cheerfully, "Next stop: Harvard university!" The bald man and Adebisi get off the bus. The man says to Adebisi, "I have to run a few errands, but we could meet up here after your job interview. Don't worry, you'll get the job, I am sure of it." They kiss each other on the cheeks, and wave goodbye.
Adebisi goes to the laboratory. A sign on the door says, "Job applicants, knock on this door and take a seat." Adebisi knocks on the door, and sits down.