2206 : Window Onto A New World
IX. Careful With That Axe, Eugene
the financial crisis ? Could I have done something against overpopulation ? What if the climate change isn't merely an imaginative fiction of the environmentalists ? Was it necessary to resort to the creation of artificial states to protect our majority ? Was I really in danger of destitution ? } he wondered in shock. The scary ordeal had pierced another breach in the bunker, it had removed another brick in the wall, it had dug out another channel for turmoil to get in. Luckily, the balding world leader had recently found his way to deal with turmoil. All things considered, the upsetting questions were only more answers. The troubling disturbances were only more motivations to hurry ahead. If there were one matter he could ponder in peace, one oh-so-soothing zone of relief, one area where only a few minor issues threatened balance, that was definitely the future he was preparing for himself. « Call Bruno Gray... stealth mode » the notable instructed the gadget he still carried in his right hand, peering around to figure out how deeply into the desolate neighbourhood his musings had taken him. The elected official wasn't certain he recognized the district which had obviously undergone many modifications since the last time he had set foot in it. He halted, tucked his cane under his left arm, and momentarily took the universal device in his left hand. He fished in the inside pocket of his raincoat with the right, this time aiming for a miniaturized headset. He was strongly tempted to grab his flask of scotch, but in light of where he was going, he ultimately resisted. – –
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« Good morning Mister Chancellor ! » the voice of the president of the CSS sounded after the few seconds it took for him to accept the videoless communication. « Hello Bruno » mechanically greeted the politician, struggling to position the tiny object on his right ear, « sorry I couldn't take your call earlier on » he apologized as he finally inserted the earphone, « we were having a strategic meeting » he justified, resuming his progress as he muted his uDev put it back inside his garment. « I can only imagine how exacting your life must be these days, Richard ! » exclaimed the public worker, manifestly in a good mood, and slightly surprised at how his own remark had come out. « You have no idea ! » the federalist confirmed with amusement, { if only you knew ! } he reflected, recalling the attack as his interlocutor let out a chuckle. « Well, I used to » retorted Gray, « but then I was hired in the civil service ! » he joked, apparently deeming the line very funny. « Listen, I'm in a hurry right now, can we get to the point ? » Ramsay abruptly demanded after a chortle, « you had something you wanted to discuss with me ? » he immediately inquired. « Oh... yes, sure ! » replied the quinquagenarian, recollecting his thoughts, embarrassed at his own lack of seriousness given who he was talking to, « okay... first, I submitted your generous offer to the discretion of our advisory board » he announced in a more solemn
The Threshold
103
Christopher Stewart