Chewing the Cud

We woke mid-morning, sharing the same spongy breakfast as I had eaten the day before. Robbie chattered away happily, spooning the bready stuff down, while I was in a bit of a trance. Dreams still clung to me from the night before – shadowy dreams of my father. He was telling me he was disappointed in me…

“Adem? Hello!!”

I jumped out of my head. “Ah – sorry.”

“Chill, bud. Care to share?” I shook my head. “Oh, that’s cool man, whenever and whatever. What’s the plan for today?”

I chewed more sponge. “I want to know what’s going on in the world, without the telly. I don’t wanna sit around here binge-watching how amazing I’m supposed to be.”

“Man, I wish I was you.” Do you really?

“Very happy to trade. So…”

I told him about Stephanie. “Is she single, man? Is she cute?”

“Not my basket.”

“Yeah, your heart is spoken for!” I shot him a venomous look: not in the mood. “Okay I’m sorry,” he quickly relented. “Holocall her…please!”

I did. A young blonde with thick bangs and frizzy hair appeared in view, with a sandwich laid out in front of her.

“Hey! Nice to hear from you again, Adem!”

Robbie pushed in, breathlessly. “Hi there! I’m Adem’s friend, Robbie. It’s nice to meet you! It’s so cool you work in TV! You must know lots of famous people as well I’m kind of famous too well not much but you could do a piece on me!” I noticed him blushing, something I hadn’t seen before.

I grabbed the holophone back. “Apologies Stephanie, Robbie’s running on high voltage this morning.” She was taken aback but recovered quickly. “Hahaha…well, that was fun.”

“What’s your schedule like for today, because we – oww!” Robbie, pushing in to see, ended up butting my head. “Knock it off.” I entered the lounge, shutting the door, sliding down it to block Robbie’s entrance.

“…Ah, I see you’re making new friends quickly.”

“I must have a very questionable taste in people. Robbie’s going to help me out for a bit. I was wondering if you could, too – I was hoping to meet up with you today and get your journalist's take on things.”

Stephanie pouted thoughtfully. “I’m on the morning stint. I’ll be free mid-afternoon onwards. You’re bringing him with you?”

I felt a banging on the door behind me. “I’m scared to leave him here by himself! If you don’t mind”.

“Sure, the more, the merrier.”

“Great, I’ll find a place suitable to meet, and it won’t be out of your way.”

“I’ll make a suggestion if you don’t mind? There’s a deli-café called Amigos and Amigas and it’s great, it serves lovely pate and cold cuts. Halfway between here and Diamond Park.”

“Spotty dog. I’ll see you there.”

The door was being banged off its hinges. I moved aside, letting Robbie stumble into the room.

“What’s with you?”

He has a starry look in his eyes. “She’s a babe!”

I sighed, giving him a friendly clip. “Go have a cold shower. The youth of today!”

We both got ready, I holo’d up as usual while Robbie stole some of my clothes, then spent  fixing too long fixing his hair. The autotaxi arrived. It was another scorching New City day, and the sun streamed into my eyes as I soaked in the amazing surroundings.

We came down on some mini-mall in the Northern Quarter, close to where Day and Night was. It was funky, but not quite on the scale of the one we’d been to yesterday. A robot goose came up to me. A five-foot-tall robotic goose.

With antlers.

“Honk grunt. I am –”

“– It’s okay man, we’re good.” Robbie promptly steered me away.

We spent the next hour wandering through the mall, just enjoying window shopping and happily chatting to passers-by. I had told Robbie this was something I needed to do a lot more of.

I was amazed just by how open people were, and how willing they were to take time for me. How much more so if I deactivated the holomask…

I wish I could be just me.

Presently, we came across a tall dark cylinder. It was shimmering black and purple. As we approached, I felt a deep foreboding. Robbie noticed my face. “Aha – you haven’t seen one of these before! It’s a mini-teleporter. They could be everywhere, but we only have them in a few places, so people are encouraged to get their exercise.”

“Teleportation?” I was wowed. “Tell me about it!”

“Skipping the science, the basics are: it’s the best way to travel – we have replaced airports with big Telepods for local and international travel. These tend to be in shopping centres and government buildings. But using them too often isn’t good for you, it makes your guts inflamed. Or something like that. So, once a day is pretty much the limit, as a precaution.”

I noticed a tiny glassy console appear by it, hanging in mid-air. “Just punch your destination in there.” We located a Telepod close to the TV studios, selected it and – I stared at the dark column, nervously.

“I just walk in?”

“Yeh, just walk in.”

“Like that?”

“Yeh, just like that.”

I didn’t want to. Then, I heard Robbie shouting “Revenge!” and felt him pushing me in.

A flash of colour and lights blinded me. I felt terror that surely would have debilitated me months ago.

Robbie tapped me on the shoulder. “You okay? We’re here. It’s instant.”

I came out. I suddenly felt panic – had it fried my chameleonwear? No, all was good.

People were looking at me with confusion as to why I seemed so stressed.

Robbie whispered, “Just chill or you’ll give the game away.”

I found a bench and sat down, taking deep breaths. Thankfully, I came to my senses quickly.

Time was passing rapidly and Robbie made it clear that he hated being late, especially for a young lady, so he dragged me through the foyer and out amongst the orderly streets, towards where Amigos and Amigas would be: a bottom floor of a restaurant block serving every variety of food you could think of.

The building came into sight, tastefully decorated in red and yellow stripes on the canopy and signage. Tables were outside and young to middle-aged professionals were cheerfully chatting.

We sat down and ordered simple milk tea.

Stephanie soon came in, with an excited smile, noticing Robbie first. “Hi! So is this –”

“– Adem in disguise”.

She eyed me. “Making yourself uglier, how humble of you!” I hoped she wouldn’t treat me as being on a pedestal. Suddenly, I was very glad Robbie was there with me.

“Guy is so ugly he breaks mirrors. He only hangs around me so he can pick up more fluff!”

“That’s not –” But Stephanie and Robbie were laughing already. Hmmm.

Stephanie pointed out the specialities on the menu, and the food quickly arrived. It was really good. The pâté was out of this world. It reminded me…of something I ate in this Belfast deli once, not far from the football ground. It was just Da and me. We were going to…to –

“– Hello! He’s gone again!” Robbie exclaimed. Stephanie laughed immediately, her eyes sparkling. She was playing with her hair and slightly leaning towards Robbie. I caught her eye with a knowing smile. She blushed instantly.

“Will you two get off my case? I’m just chewing the cud here.”

They went blank. Then they looked at each other and burst out laughing again. Flip's sake.

I asked Stephanie for the low-down.

“Everything points to your continued support from the media and people. Articles are very positive in the wider press and straw polls show massive approval for you. However, there are fears about the Sect, especially in Zone 1. The Sect have upped their rhetoric, ranging from mildly cordial to openly hostile in tone. For instance, I recall them saying that you are a ‘chance to go back to who we are’ and ‘a puppet of the fake, by the fake and for the fake’.

She went quiet before resuming.

“I think – it’s funny, I prefer seeing you like this…I know it’s the holoyou, but I can concentrate on what you say and I…”

“You don’t get lost in the Miracle thing?”

“Exactly."

The hope and the hype. All rolled into one.

Robbie shrugged. “I don’t care. You’re the same to me, either way. I’m not into appearances.”

“Ha, really?” The way he had smartened himself up, and the way he was still eyeing up Stephanie suggested otherwise. Thankfully I’m not the only hypocrite around!

I digressed. “You think the Sect will step things up?”

“I think so. We are being told different things by different members. My sources say that a power struggle might be beginning between moderates and radicals. There’s only one way the radicals can assert themselves.”

She looked directly at me.

“Power lies in power over you, Adem.”