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. He was, I feel certain, annoyed. But so was I.
Forty minutes later, feeling better although still sleepy, and after a
rewarding chat with Xia over coffee and jelly doughnuts, I presented myself at
the office of the Honorable Jefferson Mao, Moderator of the Council of Selectmen
of the Sovereign City of Hong Kong Luna-so it said on the door. I wondered what
the Congress of Luna Free State thought about this use of the word "sovereign"
but it was none of my business.
A brisk woman with slant eyes and red hair (interesting genes, I guess)
said, "Name, please?"
"Richard Johnson. The Moderator wants to see me."
She glanced at her monitor. "You're late for your appointment; you'll have
to wait. You may sit down."
"And I may not. I said that the Moderator wants to see me;
I did not say that I want to see the Moderator. Punch up that box and let
him know that I am here."
"I can't possibly fit you in for at least two hours."
'Tell him I am here. If he won't see me now, I'm leaving."
"Very well, return in two hours."
"You misunderstand me. I'm leaving. Leaving Kong. I won't be back." I was
bluffing as I said it and as I said it, I learned that I was not bluffing. My
plans, as yet inchoate, had included an indefinite stay in Kong. Now I suddenly
realized that I would not remain in a city that had sunk so far in the qualities
that constitute civilization that a cop would break into a citizen's bedroom
merely because some officious official decides to summon him
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