Trafika Europe 6 - Arabesque

the physics of sorrow

reintroduced the people’s mi l i tia, par ty meetings, demonstrations. I invited those who had been secret service informers to get back to work. I also pay a few folks who used to grumble against the government to keep doing it. Those sorts of things create atmosphere. In short, you don’t do a damn thing, you loaf around all day and take home a paycheck in the end. Just like back then. But I’m merciless if someone breaks the rules, my gendarmes are like the ones back in the day. You got a f irst-hand taste of that, incidentally. People are happy. Do you have any idea how bad unemployment in the neighboring towns is? Rich clients come here and order themselves a demonstration or a party meeting. Everyone wants to

go back in time. I’ve built the ultimate time machine. I even have visitors from abroad. Come on now, cheers, and welcome back!” “Cheers. So what about the whiskey?” “From Corecom, the hard- currency store. Like I said, we’ve thought of everything.” “And why are you doing it? If it ’s for the money, there are more conventional ways of making a buck.” “I’ve got money, although I never turn it down. That ’s not the reason, though ...Let me be frank with you,” he refilled our glasses, “I don’t feel like living in modern times. Nothing but shit...” “There was plenty of shit back then, too.” “Maybe, but to me it smelled good. The world is already

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