[Audio]

[sincenewyork]

[The first sound is of someone clearing his throat -- and it comes from every smartphone on the island as they all switch on.]

Mass broadcast function, okay, here goes. Good phone design, by the way, very intuitive. Especially the overrides.

[The volume scales up for a moment, until it echoes off building faces.]

If I could have everybody's attention for just a minute -

[Volume back to normal.]

Why is there a big building in the middle of town with my name on it? Usually I sign papers for those. Maybe draw up plans... the point is, I should have heard about it, and I didn't. Where am I now, Hong Kong? This looks like Lantau Island. Lantau Island? Everybody from Lantau Island, hands in the air.

Okay, now put your hands down and let me know where I am. I can't see you, I'm broadcasting.

Comments

[Video]

[librariansheart]

Yes, sir, but it wasn't Chief Beifong, if that's what you mean. It was the government!

Oh, that's easy, Sir, you put map and voice search functions into the mobile phones! But hold on a moment... There! You should have everything now. Though, um, I'd probably avoid... this, this and this one. But that first one in particular. The police aren't positive, but they think it's some sort of illicit drug den.

[Video]

[sincenewyork]

Fantastic. You're promoted. If you can't find me to deliver those reports in the morning, good news! You know right where to start the search.

[Video]

[librariansheart]

Ah... I'm not sure that you can promote me, Sir, since I was the only person you hired when you were here last, but I don't mind. I'll have those reports to you in the morning and see if I can come up with a partial list of the sorts of research you were doing before you left and it was confiscated. I can't remember all of it, or the specifics - a lot of it went right over my head, I'm afraid - but I'll do my best.

[Video]

[sincenewyork]

Don't argue, I'm in charge, I can always promote you. Chief Executive... Secretary. Your new title. Raise to follow shortly. What was I paying you before?

[Video]

[librariansheart]

Ah... Y-yes, Sir, of course. Thank you, Sir. You really paid me far too much last time as it was... But, um...

[She looks down and away, bites her lip, and names a figure, flushing.]

You've only just arrived and, um, I'm not sure the bank will allow you to resume control of that account, so really, it's far too much.

[Video]

[sincenewyork]

That's my problem. And if you're complaining about it being too much, it clearly wasn't enough. My employees get salaries that make them want to shut up about them in case I realize I put in an extra zero. At least, they do if they're any good.

[Video]

[librariansheart]

[She blinks at him, taken aback. How precisely does one respond to that? Finally she ducks her head in a sort of curtsy.]

Ah... Yes, Sir, of course. Shall I push the files directly through to your phone when I've finished them, or make up a disc for you? I need to get back to dispatching, but I'm fairly good at multitasking when it doesn't involve reading.