Book 5: Another Way

Episode 28

© by William Arthur Holmes

Crissie walked up to the wet bar and poured herself a drink. It occurred to her she might want to get properly dressed, but why bother at this point?

“If you had read my book more slowly,” Dobie picked up where he’d left off, “giving it time to sink in, it would be clear I’m not promoting Communism. It’s called Sortition. Look it up. And the discoverers and inventors whose technology is deemed required for the benefit of society will be handsomely rewarded and recognized. When it comes right down to it, reward and recognition – not to mention the challenge and exhilaration of discovery and accomplishment – are what drives most explorers and inventors.

“Marx is the complete opposite of my hero. An intellectually lazy person like you might think I’m a Communist, but the last thing I want is for anyone to have absolute control over anything. The government would also be required to prove that it’s not squandering the aforementioned discoveries and inventions.”

Charonne scoffed, his jaw flexing. The kind of tic that both colleagues and adversaries knew to watch out for.