Oliver Benjamin
CHAPTER 22
Here’s the ship’s navel, this doubloon here, and they
are all on fire to unscrew it. But unscrew your navel,
and what’s the consequence?
HERMAN MELVILLE,Moby Dick
When the ambrosia fails, the Immortals go too.
GUSTAVE FLAUBERT, The Temptation of St. Anthony
1. No Cigar
Paul Partment and his minions were holed up at the Bidden
mansion. Leona had provided a safe haven for them and airline
tickets out of the country. The flight was in four hours. A van was
scheduled to take them to the airport.
The press conference had been organized by Biddenbrooks.
Everyone expected the standard post-apocalyptic fare: righteous
indignation, promises to catch the perpetrators, commiseration with
the victims. This is what they got, and much more.
“A sinister force is a work in our city,” a company spokesperson
announced. “There are people out there who are threatening our
freedom to live in safety and peace, and if they think they can take
that liberty away they are sadly mistaken.”
Paul watched the briefing from the comfort of Bidden’s plush
easy chair. The others had already torn into the considerable stock of
liquor in his bar. They were drinking even more heavily than usual.
The company spokesman declared: “They will surely pay. The
check is on the table. The security guard is at the gate. Their thievery
will be foiled.”
“Listen to these dolts,” Partment said, “How can they make
snappy commercial metaphors like that at a time like this? After this
tragedy.”
“What tragedy?” Bean complained, “Isn’t this is what we
wanted?”
“Sure. It’s exactly what we wanted. To shake things up a bit.
From great mayhem, little maybes grow. Look what Jesus did to the
Romans. He liberated Europe. Tragedy plus time equals perspective.
We’re doing everyone a great service.”
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