[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]

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.