按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'How？' said Mungo； when he was finally able to make himself heard。
'In the simplest terms available； we pick upon a popular character of the time； allow him to view the future； his own in particular； and offer him another chance。'
'Go on。'
'Well；' said Fergus； 'back in the 1950s there was a certain Elvis Presley。 Perhaps you recall him？'
'Big fat Northern Irish fellow； always shouting 〃down with the pope〃。'
'No；' Fergus shook his head； 'that was someone else entirely。'
'Sorry； they all look the same after a while。'
'This Elvis Presley was a leader of the nation's youth。 In 1958 he joined the American Army。 Many historians agree that this was the downfall of his career。 The expression 〃sold out〃 was one in popular use at the time。 However； in my new scenario； Elvis refuses to take the draft。 He is arrested and spends a short time in prison。 But the outcry from the teenage population is so great； that he is soon released。 He bees a figure in American politics and in 1963 bees president of the USA。'
'I know this Presley；' Garstang pipped in； 'he was a wally； by any account。'
'I have no wish to be flippant；' Fergus replied； 'but I hardly see why that should affect him being president。'
Mungo chuckled。 'Sounds like a president in the grand tradition to me。 But I don't see how this Presley can be held responsible for the events in the latter part of the twentieth century。'
'Simple politics；' Fergus said。 'If Presley had never joined up； nor would half a generation of the nation's youth。 There would have been no war in Vietnam； the Americans being unable to raise an Army。 You can't fight a really decent war without conscripts。'
'It still sounds a bit iffy； even if it was possible； I can't see how we are going to get away with it。'
Fergus did a bit of smiling。 'Back in the eighties there was a soap opera on Earth。 It was very big indeed； but the producers made a grave mistake by killing off one of its most popular characters。 In order to revive viewing figures they did likewise to him a series or two later； by simply having him turn up in the shower one morning as if nothing had happened。 It was then revealed that the last umpteen episodes had just been his wife's bad dream。'
Looks of disbelief were passed around the table。 Someone said； 'e on now。'
'As true as I'm standing here；' said Fergus； 'I won't mention the name of the series； but the Earthers are still watching it now。 Although it is presently set in a millionaire's bunker and has only three characters left。 My plan is a case of life imitating art。 After all the viewers consider The Earthers to be a real…life drama。'
'Which it is；' said Mungo Madoc。
'And so there you have it。 Presley for president； the Nuclear Holocaust Event postponed for another hundred years； the Armageddon Sequence for another thousand。 I'm not saying that this Presley is the all…round good guy； on the contrary； his reign as president will be a colourful affair。 Plenty of sex and drugs and rock and roll。'
Wisten grinned enthusiastically。 'Sounds good to me。'
'Sounds good to me；' Mungo agreed。 'But I foresee certain small flaws in the scheme。 Firstly； as we all know； the Earthers are a contrary bunch。 One can never rely on them to carry the plot。 We e up with all kinds of grand scenarios but they inevitably cock it up。 Sometimes I wonder who is running this show； them or us。'
'There are no absolutes in this business； I agree； but I have done my research； and barring some； dare I say it； act of God； I'm certain that it will work。 I have all the facts and figures right here。 You are all wele to look them over。'
'As indeed we will。' Mungo stroked the table…top with a wan digit。 'But there is one minor point that I should like to raise。 It's a small matter； but one which I think shouldn't be overlooked。'
'Oh yes；' said Fergus； 'and that is？'
'That is the simple matter that time travel is an impossibility； you craven buffoon！'
Fergus shook his head。 He was still smiling。 'Not any more；' said he； winking lewdly。 'Not with the latest miracle of modern horticulture。'
He dug into his trouser pocket and brought out a spherical green object； which he reverently laid before him on the table。
'Gentlemen； please allow me to introduce you to THE time sprout！'
'Pleased to be here；' said the vegetable in question。
A stairway to oblivion is better than no stairway at all。 The Suburban Book of the Dead
The interview with Ms Vrillium went remarkably well； all things considered。 Rex put this down to the element of surprise。 He had evidently earned some big kudos in getting past the receptionist。 Now he listened with growing interest as the nature of his post was outlined to him。
'Religious affairs correspondent；' said Ms Vrillium。 'As you are no doubt well aware； Buddhavision is the biggest of the Big Three stations。 We are a religious organisation； linked to Buddha Biological and Buddha Wholefoods International。 It is our duty to bring enlightenment to the…masses。 This we do by providing superior entertainment； embodying elements of theological doctrine couched in terms that the layman can understand。 Am I making myself clear？'
'Absolutely；' said Rex。 What an ugly woman； he thought。
'You are practising； aren't you？'
'I'm trying my hardest。' Their eyes met。 'Ah； I see； a practising Buddhist。 Yes； cross my heart。'
'Adherence to doctrine must forever be uppermost in your。。。 mind。'
It was only a slight pause； but Rex got the message。
'Clear as a temple bell；' said he。 What an exceedingly ugly woman； he thought。
'Unfounded accusations have been levelled at us by the other channels； that we pander to the lowest instincts of the vox pop。'
Rex tut…tutted and shook his head； 'Get away。'
'It has been suggested that Nemesis； hosted by…'
Ms Vrillium's gaze wandered towards the ceiling； Rex followed it with his own； but couldn't see what the attraction was；'…hosted by our divine holiness； the one hundred and fifty…third reincarnation； the Dalai Lama。'
'God bless him；' said Rex。 'The man is a saint。'
'It has been suggested that the high mortality rate amongst contestants on the Nemesis show and the explicit sex between the presenter。。。' Ms Vrillium's gaze went skyward once more； but Rex gave it a miss '。。。the Dalai Lama and his hostess is in some way immoral。'
'Sounds like religious bigotry to me。 That new lady Pope on the Auto…da…fe show is hardly reticent when it es to putting the torch about。'
Ms Vrillium made an even more unpleasant face。 'And look at the way she does her hair。 And those vestments； do they； or do they not； clash with the set？'
'I've never watched it；' said Rex； who had no intention of being caught out that easily。 'But they do say it's a man in drag。'
Ms Vrillium didn't smile。 'As I was saying； by demonstrating the joys of pure love and the punishment of sin； within the boundaries of a single show； Nemesis provides the viewer with an experience which is ecstatic； cathartic and instructional。 That is the essence of good television。'
'It certainly is；' Rex agreed。 'Now； about the job？'
'You will