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'What does it do？' Jason asked。
'In short it ties up a lot of loose ends。'
'A McGuffin；' Jason suggested。
Mungo Madoc shook his head。 'You are a moron；' he said。 'Now just stay where you are and watch this carefully。'
Mungo took up the glowing sphere； popped it into his mouth and swallowed。 The board members looked on in wonder。 The possibilities were endless。 There was a long and ponderous moment； during which nothing happened。 Then； with a suddenness of trouser…filling intensity； everything did。 Mungo's head bulged hideously。 His fingers extended。 Like so many pink serpents they darted through the air to attach themselves to the walls and ceiling。 Then they began to pulsate。 The Goldenwood table sank into the floor and the tufted carpeting swept in from all sides to cover its departure。 A great cone of light sprang up and an impossible pressure popped ears and gritted teeth。 The room quivered and shook as the living thing it was。
And then it was done。 The room became still。 The pressure ceased。 Mungo's fingers returned to their natural proportions； his head shrank。 The cone of light remained； glittering about the edges。 Mungo whistled； shook his head and flexed his fingers。 'Yes indeedy；' he said。 No…one dared to ask。
Two menials in station fatigues carried the Dalai's portrait from the room。 At Gloria's elbow； one of a dozen telephones purred。 She picked it up。 The voice on the other end of the line was unknown to her。 It was shouting。 Gloria held the receiver at arm's length and regarded it with distaste。
'Shall I； dear？' asked Ms Vrillium。
'Please do。' Ms Vrillium placed the thing to her head and listened for a moment。 She then shouted； 'Fuck off；' before slamming it down。
'Who was that？'
'Artemis Scargill dear； chief convenor for the food and medico workers' union。 He says that unless the long…running dispute between management and the shop floor is settled at once； his members will be forced to place a vote of No Confidence in you。 And that just to be on the safe side； they are preparing for an all…out strike。'
'They didn't waste a lot of time； did they？'
The telephone purred again。 Ms Vrillium tore the plug from the socket and hurled the wicked messenger into a far corner。 The lights momentarily dimmed。
'That would no doubt be the electrical union letting you know that they are preparing to offer their support。'
Gloria made a pensive face。 'What about the technicians and the production teams？'
'Different unions again； dear。 Although Dan never did get around to sorting out all their separate grievances。 So I suppose it's just possible。。。'
Gloria slumped on to Dan's settee and tinkered distractedly with the holophon headset。 'This is something of a pain in the butt。'
The fat woman's eyes lit up。 'Would you like me to 。。。' 'Not at present； thank you。 What am I going to do？' 'Hardly for me to say；' Ms Vrillium replied tartly。 'Dan always kept them under control。 It's down to you now。' Gloria made sulks。 'How's the war going？' she asked； brightening。
'The Fundamentalists currently have the upper hand。 Several of Joanie's transmitters are already in purgatory。' 'Jolly good。 Then once both stations go off the air。。。' 'The victory would appear to be ours； yes。' 'Yes。' For Gloria it was all really starting to sink in。 When the victory was hers； what then？ What was she going to do with it？ She discarded the headset and rose from the settee。 Crossing the floor she paused to regard the sky through one of the great sloping walls of glass。 Gazing down from it； she viewed the turmoil of foul brown cloud。 Beneath this were thousands of people； huddled in bunkers and now relying on her for their survival。 Gloria was capable of being dispassionate along with the best of them； but on such a scale？ Dan had talked about his new tomorrow。 Wafting away the clouds； opening up the land。 A madman's dream of Utopia？ Gloria made inward groans。 Perhaps the cloud cover couldn't be lifted。 Perhaps all of it was lies。 All in all it was a bit of a mess。 And all in all she was very much to blame。
Gloria Mundi suddenly began to miss Dalai Dan very much indeed。
There was a fair amount of slurping and slopping going on down in the bowels of the Earth。 Elvis dragged Rex clear of the quagmire and hastened to the aid of Fergus Shaman。 'These magic boots were one hell of a smart move； green buddy。'
Fergus slumped upon dry land。 'Thanks；' he gasped。
'No sweat。 Rex； give me back my electronic doodad。' Rex delved into his sodden suit and fished it out。 Elvis tinkered with it but got no response。 'Doesn't work down here。 Look at my trouser cuffs。 Good guy or not； I shall do for the father…raper as soon as we catch him up。'
Rex shook himself； but it did no good。 The Dalai had really been saving himself for that one。 From a detached point of view； it really was a remarkably clever trick； although it was hard to be detached when you smelt the way Rex did。 But it was a bit of a mystery。 Why had Dan chosen to dump them there； rather than over some precipice； where they might have plunged to oblivion？ Perhaps he had just been strapped for time； or maybe it simply hadn't occurred to him。 Mercy certainly would not have numbered amongst his reasons。
Fergus plucked gingerly at his knees。 He had three things on his mind。 Well； one； if you discarded the two amazing nipples； which he was somewhat loath to do。 This one was that with him down here and out of the picture； what terrible wheels of chaos would Mungo Madoc be setting into motion？ Without Fergus to guide him； Mungo's inpetence would be given its full head。 'Oh dear； oh dear； oh dear；' mumbled the unhappy Phnaarg。
32
。。。 and so it has e to this。 A hundred men went dawn there。 They knew which ducts to enter。 How to penetrate the building。 Where to find the carbon。 But none returned。 And now he will e looking for me。 He must have known they were ing。 Someone must have talked。 Been made to talk。 When they have you in there you talk and you talk。 So now I pass the Book on to Rex。 He must continue the search。 I will sit it out and wait。 It won't be long。
The Suburban Book of the Dead
They e from a far country； from the end of Heaven。 Even the Lord and the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land。
Isaiah 13：5
'You are probably wondering what all that palaver was all about。' Mungo adjusted his cuffs and snorted upon a lapel blossom。 Heads bobbed in the affirmative manner。 'Something of a point of no return。 The sphere contained the final programme。 It's now interfaced with the corporate entity which is this building。 All systems are now on stand…by and all channels feed directly through me。 A little failsafe device employed by the backers to insure that no。。。' 'Improvisation should occur？' Jason Morgawr found his voice。 'So whose programme is it running； ours or theirs？'
'As the visual scenario stands； ours。 In terms of theological over…structure； theirs。 Do I make myself clear？' 'No；' replied Jason。 'In all candour you don't。' 'The success of any show depends to a large part upon giving the public what they want。 But not necessarily in the way they expect it。 The Armageddon s