Secret Service Training - 1870

"Why are there circles and ovals painted on the floor?" Vila asked.

"This is the training area for fencing," Don Diego replied. "I designed it to mimic the room in which I was trained. This is more complex, however. There are additional obstacles and impediments- The furnishings, ropes, and stumbling blocks will be rearranged into differing formations as your training progresses. Pains will be taken to ensure that you do not become accustomed to any object remaining in a set pattern. I am happy that you noticed the circles. You will begin in the outermost, largest circle. As you advance into ever smaller ones, you will find your movements more restricted. But each smaller circle also has the effect of bringing your opponent closer to you."

"I'm not a bad swordsman now, sir. Not in your league," said Vila. "Though I've managed to stay alive through a great many battles. However, I am not arrogant enough to believe that there is nothing left for me to learn."

"That is good, young man." Don Diego said. "Realizing that one does not know everything is the first step to learning anything. Marshal Reid informs me that you are an excellent marksman, but there are many things he can teach you concerning that art, as well. From your military record, I know you have had some basic skill in hand-to-hand combat. There is an Oriental gentleman here that will tutor you in ways to improve upon that skill. In fact, you will find that there are many teachers here who will be instrumental in imparting the level of skills you will need to stay alive in this business."

"If I may ask, what else is involved in this assignment? Fighting, shooting, fencing... That's all very well and good-"

"But there must be more to secret service work than that?" Don Diego said. "Indeed. The art of disguise, code-breaking, stealth by day and by night, skill at seeing through lies and deceptions, acting, disguising your voice, intercepting message traffic by wireless, telegraph or messenger, forgery of documents, reading and making maps- Some of these skills you already have, more will be totally new to you. You will find your time here quite full; I assure you."

"Half of those sound illegal," said Vila.

"This job is illegal, in the strictest sense," Don Diego said. "What part of becoming a spy did you not understand?" The duke smiled, as if to take the sting out of his words. "Once your tutors are satisfied that you can perform well enough to return alive, you will be given various missions. You will return here between those for more lessons. Once I am satisfied with your training, you will be given a transfer back to the Airship Service that you love so much. But that will only be a cover for your continued duties in the Secret Service. Occasionally, you will be required to absent yourself from your airship to carry out your other duties. This school will prepare you for that. You will be given special equipment. You will be allowed to requisition even more, highly specialized equipment. You will also be given a new sort of uniform, several new alternate identities, and access to the most advanced means of transport the Confederation can devise. If you fail in even one mission, you will most likely die. No, not by our hands, but by those enemies you were sent out against. It is my hope that you will live long enough to retire, in the fullness of time. But life expectancy for an agent is notoriously short. You will have to excel at everything we can teach you if you are to survive to a ripe old age."

"I see," said Vila.

"I rather doubt that" replied Don Diego. "But you will come to a fuller understanding of the dangers, in time. Now, we are due to meet the clothiers for you to be measured for various outfits. Once your clothing has been made and your new weapons are issued to you, your training will begin in earnest. Until you have exercise clothing, I recommend that you make use of the standardized, overlarge garments you will find in the wardrobe in your rooms. Once you have been issued your weapons, you will be required to go armed at all times. Part of your training will be in flexibility of the mind. You will develop the ability to switch from one task to another without advanced warning. Eventually, you will develop the ability to perform several different tasks at the same time. Come, the clothiers are this way."

"This place is laid out like a maze," said Vila. "I'll be hard put to find my way 'round."

"Indeed," Don Diego replied. "That is why your first training exercise will be to learn to navigate the school. There are even secret passageways from some of the rooms to others. Once you can find your way in daylight, you will begin again in total darkness. Master that, and we will have you begin yet again, blindfolded. You have two days to make use of the guides we will provide. After that time, you will be given a limited number of persons that you will be allowed to ask for directions. And the number of questions you will be allowed to put to them will become limited as well. By the end of your first week, I will expect you to be able to go where you are told, without needing any help whatsoever. Remember, this is not harsh or arbitrary, nor is it even a matter of establishing discipline. This is the quickest way we can find to impart the training you will need to stay alive."

Dan L. Hollifield is the Senior Editor and Publisher of Aphelion Webzine. Best known for his Mare Inebrium spaceport bar shared universe and his Adventures Of Tom Darby stories, he is also a music composer, artist, and raconteur.

Find more by Dan L. Hollifield in the Author Index.

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