Book 5: Another Way
Episode 27
© by William Arthur Holmes“You keep saying I’m a Communist,” Dobie continued, folding his arms, suddenly aware he didn’t have a lectern to lean on. “But me being a Communist is the furthest thing from the truth.” He threw his hands out as he spoke.
Charonne’s eyes flicked toward the gun.
“I don’t want anyone getting anything for free,” Dobie went on, slipping into familiar territory. “Everything has to come as a reward for individual effort. Isn’t that the true spirit of capitalism? The difference in my system is that it’s cooperative. Remove the profit motive — probably the most corrupting force the world has ever seen — and suddenly there’s not so much greed. It’s simple. Simplicity is the essence of intelligence, which is why it goes right over your head.”
Back at SaynCorp, Markeesha slapped a hand over her mouth. Dobie? Talking to the CEO like this? It felt like watching a hometown kid get called up to the majors and hit a home run on national TV.
The CEO smiled coolly. Dobie thinks he’s in a debate. Charonne knows it’s more like a hostage situation.
He picked up the gun.
Dobie’s stomach tightened. Maybe he’d pushed too far. He wished — again — that he had that gun Watson promised, but there was no telling what happened to it. Either way, this constant wishing-for-his-gun thing needed to stop.
