Chapter Three: Eighteen Catches and an Invoice from the Future

Maintain half of tonight’s production, and you will become a very rich young man.” After the room cleared, Mara blocked the entrance to the medical suite. “You’re getting tested.” “My ribs are bruised. That’s all.” “I’m not testing your ribs.” She seated him before a neural-response monitor. Two graphs overlapped on the screen, one from before the game and one from after. Lin’s visual response had improved by eleven percent, but activity associated with auditory discrimination had fallen off a cliff for no explainable reason. Mara played five notes. “Name them.” Lin could not name one. “Your previous medical file says you have absolute pitch.” She turned the chair toward him. “Your concussion screen is negative. Your hearing is normal.