BOOK 3: DISCLOSURE / CH. 6:THE PRICE

WEDNESDAY 5PM

“Well Bob, that report would cause quite a stir if I let it through unedited.”

“We were promised controversy, Albert.”

“So, you've known about these Christian super thought-hearers a while?”

“Oh yes, since my first day there.”

“And you couldn't have even dropped a hint?”

“Would it have mattered?”

“I suppose not. They can't see the future, I suppose?”

“No.”

“And any more revelations coming after this one?”

“Not that I'm aware of.”

“So this could be it? Your last report?”

“If that's what it takes to get it broadcast unaltered, Albert. And let's face it, not much that can top that report, is there?”

“Not really.”

“So, I wouldn't mind going out on that broadcast. If that's what it takes.”

“Oh, I'm not asking for your head, Bob. You've broken the unwritten rule and you've done it good and proper, and normally that'd need a sacrifice. But actually, I think you make the whole thing a lot less scary for the rest of us, with all that talk of the loony preachers likely to cause division in your church. I mean, we know they're loony, but you didn't threaten civil disorder, or anything that's scary for most of us.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I did say some very serious things, Albert.”

“Yes, but to most of the audience the charge of blasphemy means there might be some shouting, but not many heads cracked open these days.”

“So, you don't want me to hang up my note book quite yet?”

“I want more, Bob. You've obviously got the inside track with these... what did you call them?”

“They call what they have ‘the gift,’ Albert.”

“OK, so you know about the gift, you know people with the gift, they talk to you, and you're familiar with all this stuff. There have been rumours of supernatural tip-offs in some high profile criminal cases recently. I'd like you to tell how those cases were solved. Were their ethical limits applied or not. That sort of thing.”

“I'll need to protect my sources, Albert.”

“I know, I know. But surely, you can talk more about this gift?”

“I'm sure I could, in the right context.”

“Good. Right. You want this to go out as is?” Bob nodded. “Then my price is this. You stay on. You put off your plans for retirement and stay around at least another year. You do more reports from inside the Institute, but you also widen your topics. You talk about every area this might have social and legal implications, you interview lawmakers, you host legal discussions, religious discussions, you visit this place where mind-reading is so normal. Basically you become our special reporter on all things thought-hearer related, and by the end of this you might know names, but our viewers know the rest of what's in your skull.”

“That's quite an interesting challenge, Albert. I accept, subject to medical advice, of course. I might need to delegate the roving reporter bit to someone else.”

“Of course. I don't want to kill you, Bob, but I don't want to loose you to retirement either.”

----------------------------------------

“So, he wants more? That's his price?” Kate checked, not really believing her ears.

“The insatiable appetite of the media,” Bob confirmed.

“Well, Bob,” Kate said, “I don't think that contract said anything about a time limit, and you're very welcome to stay until you're a hundred and fifty if you like.”

“Ah, I don't think my internal organs will keep working that long, Kate, but thanks for the offer.”

“Well, as long as you want to stay then.”

“Thank you.”