Smartystan

Prompts for the various aptitude tests varied widely. In one case, the proctors examined farming techniques by corn-fed women with wide, childbearing hips. Another tested for the ability to sweep streets in case a synth couldn’t be replaced by another synth. Actually, all of the jobs performed by humans were not threatened by synths, but became enhanced.

It didn’t matter what someone had in their bank account. Wilmington Stock Exchange (WiSE) titans with sandy hair and blue eyes squared off in matches of squash to see who reigned superior. A man the color of cedar could remember a third of the pi value by memory. A man with the color of a paper bag and straight hair could name the stars of other galaxies.

These tests didn’t come cheap, however. Most people performed temporary services to be able to afford the thousand dollar exams. They repaired and restored synths. All of their efforts proved to be not in vain, though. One account of a seeing ability in the smallest of things showed up in a thirteen-year-old girl who could amass an online audience of tens of millions. She passed. In moments like this, Dr. Strong rejoiced. In his soul, he could sense what he had formed with Dr. Frampton, Go, and Belinda had been a success. Then, there came the horror stories.

“Like I was saying, they were tossing back the ‘G-word’ like it was water,” Dr. Strong said. He sighed. “They had this kid do mathematical computation with nothing but a pad and pencil. Then they stripped those away from him. They let him go for ten minutes solving calculus problems, all brain.”

“What happened?” Belinda asked, chomping on a salad. Go and Dr. Frampton both leaned in a bit.

“After the test, they took him aside and said ‘you’re too smart for the job you want, but not smart enough for the job you need.”

“Jesus,” Go mentioned.

“As it happened, the boy went back out into the rest of the country and founded his own company.”

“Is that how the story ends?” Dr. Frampton asked.

“Sadly, no. He went a few years making millions then the tax collectors came and carted a huge chunk of his earnings away and he had just enough money to be broke. They found his body swinging in his hotel room soon after that.”

The looks on all their faces seemed grave. “Yes, the story of Gillis Jonesberg. It gets me right here,” He pointed to his head. “It’s locked in my memory and will never leave, even if I can’t articulate or fully express it. Even if I can’t form the words to show that this thing actually happened, it will forever mark me.”

“Who gave the test?” Belinda said, finishing her food.

“I did.”

Their eyebrows raised. Dr. Strong sighed again. “It was before we had measures in place to better serve the individuals who wanted to take the tests. This was right about the time that we all formed this country-state based on our own brains. But it was people like Gillis that suffered the most because he was a genius. He had the proper attributes which would make up someone with that kind of status. He was textbook. I mean there are tests for all kinds of physical acumen on the field, court, and ice, but he was that classic mathematical prodigy. He either met or surpassed the various quizzes and brought up his own creative way of solving the problems and puzzles.”

“How are we just hearing about this?” Go asked.

“I didn’t want to bring it up at all. It’s too negative. It doesn’t bode well for the other competitors vying to be part of this place.” They didn’t say anything, but they understood. Their sense of what was wrong and right registered in their minds.

“So, we had this genius who offed himself because he was ousted from our program. This is something that we shall always keep close to our spirits, as you have, Covey,” Dr. Frampton said. She brushed aside some hair swept over her eye.

“That’s right. We’re going to ensure that something like that never happens again,” Belinda declared. “What I think is the most powerful lesson in all of this is that even when merit is prized so much, it often goes unnoticed and banished from memory. Now that we know, we must work smarter to keep the men and women of this land in our thoughts and fully appreciate their efforts.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing for over a decade,” Dr. Strong announced. “I’d hate to see a repeat of Gillis. He had the extraordinary ability to see the world and craft it in his image. The only thing was, the heavens became too heavy for him and he faltered and ultimately fell.”

The room grew silent again. It was like a requiem for the human mind. Their solemnity seemed to bear the ideal of holding a mass for the legacy of Gillis Jonesberg. He knew that he could have done nothing to save himself from his inevitable failure. They knew it as well.

“We’re supposed to nurture and continue down the pathway for righteousness for these selfish individuals. We’re supposed to encourage them to be masters of their own fate, not victims of it. Once we discover the right way to do something, we must not depart from it,” Dr. Strong stated.

Go looked at his watch. It showed that he had just earned fifty-three million dollars. He gave no indication of this, but he felt excited nevertheless. He just didn’t show it.

“So,” Go added to the conversation, “All we have to do is get better test makers and allow for the takers to excel. It’s clear cut like a diamond.”

“I think you have it there, Vestin,” Belinda acknowledged. “We are tasked with bringing the best minds to this region and not sacrificing anyone for anything. Oh, how the outside press loves to say we’re narcissistic and altruistic in the same token. We’re neither. We’re selfish egoists out for a coin based on the abilities of others.”

“Absolutely,” Dr. Strong agreed.