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"Sorry."
"Okay, okay. C'mon, let's go."
"Where ?"
"Outside, to meet some sponsors."
"But what about the rest of the business ?"
"That's it. The important stuff is over until this afternoon. Here take a look at this."
Nowinski opened his jacket. On his t-shirt was a picture of a group of saltire-faced people
riding a rollercoaster. Below him was the legend BRAVEHEARTLAND. A Gibson
Corporation/SNP Co-production.
"America, that's where the big money is. Who do you want to meet first ? Disney or
Pepsi ?"
"I'm not sure.
"Nowinski shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We'll have a bidding war. H.I.C.,eh ? Maybe
we'll get some drink companies interested, a Japanese whisky firm."
Murdoch smiled, allowing Nowinski to steer him out of the chamber. Everyone was
on their feet, getting ready to leave, except for the government clones. They sat, waiting,
as someone went round, removing their control caps. Outside, he looked for Moira. There
were several metallic bodies walking about, wearing human faces whenever they looked
his way.
"Over here, kid !"
Nowinski was standing at a section of wall that was covered in names. Company
names. Ellese, Pepsi, Ford, Kodak, Microsoft. The names went on and on.
"This is the sponsors board," Nowinski told him. "You only give interviews in front of
that board. Try and mention one of the products behind you. That guarantees a little extra
in your bank account."
"I thought I was earning enough."
"Hey, champions of democracy can never earn enough. Here's your Moira."
How can you tell, Murdoch wondered.
"Greetings, Donald. I trust your first morning as a MSP went well ?"
First morning ? He glanced at his watch. It wasn't even eleven yet. "I didn't know
what item 001 was about."
"That is unfortunate, but there is only one other item of business today."
"Let me guess," said Murdoch. "Item 002, MSP holidays."
"Correct."
"Hey, Donald !" Nowinski was sipping an Irn Bru tube in front of the sponsor's
board. Two reporters were next to him, one held up a finger camera.
"Let me introduce you guys to the fourth independent MSP. He flew all the way
here in a giant whisky bottle. This is Donald Murdoch from H.I.C."
The reporters looked at him. He looked at the reporters, and could tell by their
faces that they didn't know what to ask him. He took the Irn Bru tube Nowinski offered and
smiled as broadly as his holographic miniature on his name badge.
"Cheers, gentlemen," he said, as he was shuffled to the correct point in front of the
sponsors board, eager for the chance to earn some more money. He could put it to good
use back home, help the villages stand up against the Free Kirk, and break free of
their anti-technology shackles. Any second now he would think of something quote
worthy, displaying his grasp of the democratic process that had led him here, and how it
linked to the drinking of Irn Bru.
Any second now.
"Cheers," he said, raising the drink again, waiting for that second to arrive. |
