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    Survival Mode
    Survival Mode
    Survival Mode
    Ebook37 pages34 minutes

    Survival Mode

    By R. Richard

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    About this ebook

    Annette says, “Yes, that’s how it should play out. It appears that you’ll be a big winner.”
    “Yeah, a big winner, at the cost of loss of the only place that I ever lived, the only people that I ever really knew, the car that I built and the house that I owned.”
    Annette says, “You sold the car and the house.”
    “I had no real choice in the matter. Matt wasn’t gonna let me stay in town. I had to sell the house. I’m looking to use the equity to buy a little place, elsewhere. I sold the car to get some traveling money.”
    Annette laughs, “You got out of the house, just in time. I’m surprised that you were able to find another house where you’re gonna move, for even less money.”
    I look at Annette, registering some surprise. “It would appear that the powers that be are watching me very carefully.”
    Annette says, “Yes. They have to find out who robbed the company. The financial affairs of the whole town are at risk.”
    I laugh, “I wish them well. Myself, I’m in survival mode. It may be that Matt has lost his power, but I’m not sure of that. I have maybe a week’s more work, maybe a few more days past a week, then I’m history here. The local police are concerned about me, but not about Matt.”
    Annette says, “Matt is a vicious, no talent man. He will step on anyone who gets in his way. He somehow built a little political kingdom. How, I have no idea. Once he got his little kingdom built, he could see that he needed to grow or eventually he would die. If he could reduce you to slave, he could sell your talents cheap and win contracts. The effect on you was not a concern fro Matt.”
    I snort, “The effect of Matt’s bullying on me was not a concern to Matt. It was a big concern to me.”
    Annette asks, “Jason, if you did steal the money, what would you do?”
    I laugh, “I would hop a boat, for some place where they don’t have an extradition treaty with the United States. I would then buy a fortress mansion and prepare to fend off the drug dealers.”
    Annette says, “Instead, you’re going to relocate to a city, some distance from here, and do what you did, when you worked for the company.”
    I look hard at Annette and ask, “Annette, are you going to sell me out?”
    Annette says, “No, I would gain nothing from Matt and possibly get myself involved in some sort of Matt revenge scheme.”
    I lecture, “Annette, I have a job lined up. A job doing what I did, before Matt fired me. I’ll go to work each work day and do my best. I’ll live low and invest my money. One day, I’ll have enough money so that another Matt can’t get at me. For now, I’m in survival mode.”
    Annette says, “If your lawyer does what he’s supposed to, you could wind up with a couple of million dollars.”
    “That would be nice. But I suspect that an insurance company would first try to starve me out.”
    Annette says, “So, you live on what you earn and not on what you might get.”
    “I’m in survival mode. I don’t need fancies to live. Later, I might spend a bit of a windfall, to maybe buy another fancy car. I really liked that car.”
    Annette then leaves.
    I fix lunch and do some work on a computer programming problem. I solve the problem and send the code to my temp employer.
    That evening, I ride my bike down to the gym. I get dressed and start a workout.
    Greg wanders over. “Jason, did you hear about work?”
    (Puff, pant.) “The police talked to me about a burglary from work.”
    Greg says, “Yeah. I got my two weeks notice today. I’m looking for another job.”
    (I finish my last bench press set. Puff, puff) “I got a temp job, quite some distance from here. I got to hide my new job from Matt.”
    Greg says, “I’m talking with some headhunters, but I sure hate to leave here.”
    (I move to an abs rack and inhale to start my first set.) “I was born here, grew up here. I hate to leave here, but I’m in survival mode. I was a pole vaulter, back in school. I could do a hand stand, with just the pole for support.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherR. Richard
    Release dateMar 25, 2018
    ISBN9781370461660
    Survival Mode
    Author

    R. Richard

    I'm the co-author, with Sunset Thomas, of Anatomy of An Adult Film.I have 48 novels and over 299 short stories currently published.I spent my early years in the part of Los Angeles known as the South Central. I was known as Whi' Boy, which was sufficient to identify me in that place. I'm a skilled Kung Fu player, using a system that I learned from a Korean I knew only as 'Pak.' It would be easier to tell you the places that Pak wasn't wanted by the police, rather than the places where he was wanted by the police. Pak's Kung Fu system, augmented by some bits and pieces from some Chinese practitioners is quick and effective, or I wouldn't be alive today.My early education was mostly obtained by stealing books from the public library (I always returned them and the Librarian even began to provide me with reading lists.) I did go to high schools, but I never really learned anything there. I eventually graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA, with a degree in mathematics.I work as a Systems Analyst and also make a part of my living as a professional gambler (legal in Nevada.) I write science fiction and erotica. My published novels are:Anatomy of An Adult Film (With Sunset Thomas)1. Second Chance: God Killer2. Second Chance: Sky Pirate3. Second Chance: Scroll Seeker4. Second Chance: King of The Islands5. Second Chance: King of Zaya6. Second Chance: Duke of Averon7. Second Chance: King of Golomon8. Second Chance: King Of The Sky9. Second Chance: Warlord of Ifrequeh10. Second Chance: King of Ariby11. Second Chance: King of Mesodania12. Second Chance: King of Avuls13. Second Chance: King of Kemet14. Second Chance: King of Zorran15. Second Chance: King of Two Worlds16. Second Chance: King of Averon17. Second Chance: King's Duties18. Second Chance: King of The New WorldAdventurer: Simulation ProblemAdventurer: Pannar ProblemA Programmer's GambitAmateur StripperBeach MurdersBondage HouseCorporate Sex SlavesFriday NightGo Naked In The SoftwareGrasshopper WinterInvoluntary NudeLayoffNot A HeroPirates of The KeysSummer of SexThe LakeThe Last Moon DanceThe Nude Adventures of Plain JaneThe Secret Life of Wanda WilsonTails of the Pussycat LoungeTo Keep A JobTopless RestaurantToy WhoresVix: The MarineWayward BoyShort Stories:A Christmas Visit

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      Book preview

      Survival Mode - R. Richard

      Survival Mode

      By R. Richard ©

      Published by R. Richard at Smashwords

      Copyright 2021 R. Richard

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Survival Mode

      By R. Richard © 2021

      Chapter 1: Leaving Town

      As is my custom, I hit the farmer’s market early Friday morning. I get some potatoes, some tomatoes, some sweet potatoes, some trout and some bananas. I’m on my way out, when I meet Debbie.

      Debbie says, You’re still here, Jason?

      I look at the girl and say, As you must know, I have a local temp consulting contract. It was supposed to be up two weeks ago, but they found a few more problems and I still have work to do and pay to earn here.

      Debbie asks, What then?

      I sigh, As you must know, Matt doesn’t want me to have work, here in town. If it weren’t for the emergency work that I have found, I would be long gone. I’ll keep working and saving for the move that I soon will have to make.

      Debbie says, Someone robbed the company headquarters last week. They got a lot of money, cash money.

      I reply, Yes. The police came after me, apparently shortly after the robbery. Fortunately, I was working, that night and I had a few software deliveries during the time when the robbery apparently went down. What I was working on was top level screens for an application, non-classified stuff. I wouldn’t normally work Friday night, but I do need to finance my relocation and I gotta get it while the gettin’ is good.

      Debbie sneers, I hope that you learned your lesson about bucking Matt.

      I tell the girl, Matt wanted to demote me to junior programmer, at a pay rate just below the night janitor. I refused and he fired me. I got a lawyer and my firing was then changed to laid off. My lawyer is now pursuing legal action against Matt, as you must know. I’m not allowed to discuss the matter.

      Debbie sneers, You might have been better off, letting Matt have his little victory.

      I sigh, "Matt fired me, from a job where I was doing well. He then tried to make it impossible for me to get another job, here in town. I was born in this town, went to school in

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