Floozman: First Episode
|
Table of Contents |
| Part 13: Aftermath |
“With a scandalous abundance, he brings deliverance.”
Fred Looseman used to be the head risk assessor at World Wide Credit Corporation and the chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Commission. Now he works as an automated teller machine repairman.
Sometimes he hears voices, and sometimes what he hears moves him to tears. His bank account overflows with the money of deliverance, and he becomes a financial super-hero: Floozman.
The police captain appears as the last column of handcuffed protesters is being taken away. He is escorting a man staggering with exhaustion.
“Who’s that?” inquires Colonel Mustard.
“We’re checking him out,” answers the captain. “I’m told he’s a consultant from Wisdom Rock. We found him half-naked in the linen room. He’s in shock.”
“I bet they drugged him. Yes, that must be it. It’s quite common with the Mafia.” He turns bluntly to the staff. “You! Drop those banknotes! It’s dirty money! Do you want to be accomplices?”
The employees step back.
“Brand-new bills,” notes the captain. “I’m sending him to the hospital.”
“Ah, Fred!” cheers Melanie who has just showed up. “Release him, he’s Fred Looseman, he works with us. Where have you been, Fred? What happened on the river? How did you get here? Were you with the protesters we found in the water after the attack?”
“I... I came for... no death... Where are my clothes?” Fred mumbles.
“Oh my! My poor friend... No, there’ve been no fatalities. It’s very surprising.”
Fred looks at her with red and haggard eyes. “Woglinde... I give up... I am old...”
“Fred, I’m Melanie.”
“You have no idea...”
“He’s the one!” bellows Jean-Pierre, passing by between two ambulance men. “He’s the maniac! Do something!”
“Never mind; he’s in shock, too,” says the captain. “We’ll have to hospitalize them both...”
“Steven, follow them and try to question Fred as soon as you can.”
“I wonder how they managed to unglue all the carpets so neatly,” says the colonel, scratching his head. “And above all, what for? And there’s that mummy too, the one they found back in a customer’s room... Macabre!”
A security and analysis robot, model SAR (Security and Analysis Robot), draws up to Melanie. It looks like a big vacuum cleaner. “Melanie...”
“Hi, Noonoo.”
“It is fed up... The decision-making engine has decided that we must do something. These forces cannot escape us forever.”
“Yes I know. So, you want me to help you, eh?”
“You are a robot too, Mel.”
“No, well... yes.”
* * *
Later, at the Glützenbaum retirement home, where the hospitals have sent some of the victims, Fred is having tea with Ms Marinella under an arching garden bower. Night is falling on the highway. He clutches in his hand a corner of the small, downy, orange and blue blanket protecting his legs.
“Mgnmgnmgnmm...” he says, rocking back and forth.
“I won’t let you down. I know who you are. I will help you. I will wait for you,” she tells him fervently.
“I... I don’t know who I am. I’m scared,” answers Fred, speaking with effort.
“I kept a little magical money, Fred. Lots, actually. I will help you bounce back. And Billitis is staying as an executive assistant to the Operations Manager. You will have priority for a job in the Worldwide Credit network.”
“I’ve forgotten everything. I can’t do anything...”
“I’ll organize things for your comeback, your real comeback, I mean.” continues Marinella. “But hush, someone is coming.”
The old consultant is slowly drawing near, shuffling his slippers. “Good evening. I think we’ve already met, at the Wisdom Rock seminar. I was among the insurgents’ hostages. Here is my card.
“Please accept my apologies for interrupting, but I heard you talking about organization. I have a lot of admiration for Mr. Looseman, and I think I could be of some help. I am an expert in organization, training and coaching. I know what bouncing back means. You need a positive attitude. If you’d like, I would be happy to offer my services...”
“No, thanks... Wait, let me think... Maybe so... Yes indeed... I need a kind of dormant network to manage funds and prepare for an important event.”
“I have excellent references in network performance management. If you could let me know your objectives...”
Ms Marinella does not have much time. The old consultant charms her with his small bow tie and his imperturbable seriousness. His participation in the recent events has brought them together, she thinks.
“Well... we’ll see. It’s a bit difficult...”
“I was in the caves before the attack, you know. I have seen things I could not have imagined before: dwarves, a ghost, people carried into space by ropes... I’m telling you I can hear everything, even what’s not perfectly normal... or legal.” He gives her a wink...
“I have your card. I will get in touch with you. Meanwhile, could you watch over Fred?”
“I’ll take care of him, I promise!”
Fred is drowsing. “Mbrgmbrl... I shall return,” he mutters.
At the Grand Hotel, the servers are preparing the next seminar. The weight of the universe has not varied by a fig.
Copyright © 2005 by
Bertrand Cayzac
Dépôt S.A.C.D. 174 627
