[b]Kangchai[/b]

The meal had been packed away and the food eaten. The smell lingered in the air with the soft melancholy notes of music. Mary had left, uncomfortably thanking the two executives for the meal, stealing off with a left over box Mobuntui Hou had insisted she take with her. And now even the identical servants had departed for elsewhere in the cavernous house to attend to other things. What these were Mi didn't claim to care about, neither did his superior.

Now the shades were pulled open to afford a view to the sinkhole city outside. With the lights dimmed they partook in watching the grand theater of the city outside from the comfort of the dining table, hot cups of steaming tea in hand, home made.

The multitude of stars that claimed the sky had largely disappeared in the wash of pearly white light that gleamed out of the city's crater. Streaks of white darted regularly into view and out again as night-time traffic took on a regular beat to and fro the lower quarters. Midway down the halcyon rainbow of neon lights glowed with a fierce fiery light as the party districts of the middle quarter burned with night life. By now the flow of new-world vodka and experimental wines would be flowing for the working class and the affluent people like a boozy river. And though muted by the orchestral workings of Chopin the electrical beat and hard industrial rhythms of modern popular music would no doubt by audible this high up, if it weren't for the thick glass that separated the two officers from the world outside.

“So do you think she'll stick to it?” Mi asked, sipping his glass. He watched the city outside with an indifferent expression on his face. He noted the intricate dance of the lights. And the thin golden and sapphire sheen that cooked off the night-time atmosphere of Brahamapura gathering and refracting the delicate light of Epsilon Indi. In more rural environments he suspected the aural lights in the atmosphere would be magnificent tonight, multicolored ribbons of light pulled from Moses's own multicolored coat.

“Money talks.” Mobuntui said, “I no doubt she ignored the promise. I'm basically funding the next five years for her, at current levels.”

“But is it enough?” Mi asked.

Mobuntui shrugged, “Welfare's a drug.” in replied indifferently, “Once people get a taste of some new subside for their life they cling to it. They'll do whatever it takes to keep it. They cease to call their methods 'work' and instead opt for something more noble: crusading, petitioning, campaigning.

“If Kangchai were any different we'd have a lot more stronger special interest groups. No doubt about that.”

“Would we really?” his inferior asked.

“Look back at turn of the century America. When they finally got some shadow of national healthcare. That there created a whole demographic of single-issue voters. People who will only go to the polls to protect their dearest institution. It's all over the worldly democracies of the 20th and 21st century.

“Thing is, it's also why we are as we are: democracy as a workable institution is lazy. The people it relies to work on will never commit the whole way until there's an issue that deeply effects them: welfare for instance. They don't know anything else, and they're too lazy to fully understand.

“That's why you reinvest that all into those who do know what's going on. People who know the flow of money. It's not greed. It's simply refining the system and making it effective.”

“I understand, I'm part of it.” laughed Mi.

“That I fear is what a lot of people like to say. But I think the only other man who really understands is Hou Tsieng. He's more than old enough to have the scope of reference and of knowledge.

“But enough about political and philosophical musings, we have Mary Dullard in our pockets and for the most park the Tkrai Advocacy Foundation. So great drafter of this plan, what's your next move?”

“We move her out as soon as possible.” Cai Mi said, “We organize a research group - let her pick the researchers - and we guard them; we pick their guards. You no doubt know the right people better than I do.”

“Right. Cixi Xu. EO captain, old bastard like Tsieng, just as full of metal himself. I'll talk to him and get him to organize a party to go out and put him command. He'll love the action, hasn't seen any since The Listeners.”

“That'll move fast then.” Ci nodded, stroking his chin, “The pieces for that will fall into place when we're there. We'll worry about that when it comes.”

“And now the diplomatic aspect.” Hou interrupted, “Before you say anything on it I've made up my mind: you're the one to go in and do it.”

Ci leaned back in his chair, lowering his cup of tea as he looked next to him flabbergasted. “Why me?” he asked.

“Because you're the grand designer.” Hou laughed, “And I know you have extensive experience with the outside given your father's business. He operated with a lot of the manufacturers in the Southern Cities and if I remember you were his key salesman.”

The realization lit his eyes. He felt the brightness of where the Executive Officer shine like the moonlight of a clear night. “That's right.” he said, his voice heavy with remembrance. He could still have the old contacts. And he has a better knowledge of the surrounding city state's business law than anyone else in Kangchai.

“And there's another thing too.” Hou said with a stiffened tone, leaning on the table. He shifted over like he was to tell Mi a great secret. “I don't doubt there's a lot of jealousy here at home. It'd be advantageous here at home if you weren't present. It'd keep the play of the factions from reaching you. Dare you need reminded about the Kgosi family?

“And you can still operate your affairs from a distance. And there's nothing I'm sure that's illegal for an executive to work both for his own interests and that of The Directors at the same time. It's the sort of politics this city is built on.

“I have faith in you, Cai Mi.” Hou added, his tone was hard and heavy like a father's, “And you're a strong man. I'm giving you the chance to do two things at once: save yourself, and save the city. You game?”

Mi nodded, chewing on his lips, “I guess so.” he said nervously, “When do you want me to start?”

“Shortly.” he said, “I don't have full authority on this but I'll put it in for a meeting of the Directors to make the vote. I'll try to get Tsieng on it too, convince him somehow. If there's anyone in it stronger than I it's him; he can get away with murder if he wants.