The Brave New World - 126 Beggars and Barbarians

Irina wanted them to leave their bikes on the bike racks by the entrance. Li Yang and Jake objected, and an argument developed. Olga didn’t seem to mind. She squatted to lock her bike to the rack, then straightened up and said:

“Don’t be so fucking backward, Jake. No one is going to steal your precious bike.”

“You mean awkward,” corrected Jake.

“I mean both backward and awkward.”

“You’re not bringing bicycles into the hotel,” Irina said crossly. “It is forbidden. You understand? Or is my English too bad?”

Sulking, they left their bicycles in the racks, and followed Irina and Olga into the hotel. Irina led Olga to her room first; she was to share Irina’s. Jake and Li Yang followed at a distance, sulking even more deeply than before.

This was because they were both stunned by the hotel’s opulent interior. It made them feel like beggars. Li Yang was especially affected: he’d never seen riches like this before in his entire life. He had no idea luxuries like that existed! Each of the gleaming leather armchairs in the lobby looked as if it cost more money than Li Yang spent on all of his needs in an entire year. Each of the wall lamps in their gold-plated mountings cost more than he spent in a month! He felt like a poor barbarian on his first visit to a wealthy, civilized city.

He waited with Jake out in the hallway as Irina helped Olga settle in; they didn’t even dare to look inside Irina’s room. But a pleasant surprise awaited them. Irina showed them into a large room with a bathroom that featured a jacuzzi, and told them it was theirs for the night! She was pleased by the awe on their faces, and smiled before saying:

“You’ll have to share the bed. It’s big enough. I hope you don’t mind.” The bed was gigantic; Li Yang estimated his whole family – mother, sister, himself – would have fit in comfortably.

“Sure,” said Jake. “Thank you so much. This is great.”

“Two things. First, don’t use the jacuzzi. We are conserving water. Two, I’m coming back for you in half an hour to take you to see mister Morello. He’s the boss here. If he doesn’t like you, he can tell you to leave right away, and you must obey, you understand? So make sure you’re clean and presentable.”

“Of course,” said Jake. Both him and Li Yang were practically standing at attention.

“And don’t forget to clean your fingernails,” said Irina. “Mr. Morello pays a lot of attention to people’s hands.”

They both involuntarily glanced at their fingernails.

“Mine look so bad I’ll just have to rip them out,” Jake said. “But I guess Mr. Morello doesn’t want me dripping blood on his carpet.”

“You guess right,” said Irina, and left.

When she returned to fetch them for their meeting with the mysterious Mr. Morello, she wasn’t happy with their efforts.

“You still look like two vagabonds,” she told them. “I guess it can’t be helped. Follow me.”

“The elevators aren’t working,” Irina explained, as they began the long climb to the sixth floor.

“That’s okay,” said Jake. “We kind of expected that.”

The top floor of the building was taken up by penthouse-style apartments with access to the rooftop garden. Li Yang and Jake followed Irina down a white -walled hallway, newly awed: the silvery grey carpeting felt as if they were walking on air.

Irina stopped and knocked on a door adorned by a burnished metal plaque that announced Terence Morello, Director, was the person behind that door.

“Come in, come in,” sang out a pleasant baritone. Li Yang felt his spirits lift a little: the owner of that voice, presumably Mr. Morello, seemed to be in a good mood.

Irina opened the door and said, without stepping in:

“Terry, I’ve brought the two guys I told you about.”

“Friends of your friend Olga? Bring them in,” the baritone declared, “”I’m ready to face the worst.”

Irina glanced at Li Yang and Jake and beckoned them to follow before stepping inside.

“Close the door behind you,” she said without looking at them.

Jake closed the door while Li Yang stood still and did his best to keep his mouth from falling open. He was in a room so futuristic it only lacked a couple of shining robots to complete the picture. Everything was white or black or shining steel or glass. The only item of remotely earthly origins was a huge zebra hide that hung on the wall behind Terence Morello, Director.

Terence Morello, Director, was reclining in a black-leather-and-chromed-steel revolving armchair that properly belonged on a science fiction movie set. He was a long, lanky man, with curly black hair that showed streaks of silver here and there. He had a thick handlebar mustache and wore green teardrop sunglasses in gold frames and a cream silk suit over a cream silk shirt. His sockless feet, shod in gleaming tan loafers, were resting on the glass top of his spaceship-commander desk. He was enjoying a large cigar and an orange-colored cocktail that featured several maraschino cherries. It was pretty clear he was in a benevolent mood.

“More stray orphans,” he said. “Come a little bit closer. Tell me your names. You first.” He pointed at Li Yang.

They recited their names. Unexpectedly Mr. Morello grinned, revealing big white closely packed teeth. Li Yang had the thought they were the teeth of a predator. Mr. Morello said:

“Don’t be so fucking scared. Relax. So, what’s your story and your plan?”

“We’re from New York,” Jake said quickly. “We came down here to find a place where we can live in peace and do some farming and launch a colony in the New World.”

“Oh,” said Terence Morello, visibly becoming less benevolent: his forehead creased. “You want to start a colony from here?”

“Maybe not exactly here. Somewhere nearby.”

“And you’re saying you’re looking for a place to stay? You can’t stay here.”

So that’s it, Li Yang thought. He felt very sad. He’d been looking forward to sleeping in that bed.

“As for your colony plans,” said Morello. “I must tell you the governor issues licenses only to people from our community. In other words, you won’t be able to start a colony in his district. And from what I know, that’s pretty much the case everywhere. Lots of people are very eager to give the New World a try. And everyone’s got to to have enough space, enough land to grow a colony. I, personally, need a lot of space.”

He grinned at them, and continued:

“Because I’m a soft-hearted schmuck, I’ll let you stay here tonight and get some rest. But you must be gone by noon tomorrow. Olga can stay,” he added, looking at Irina. “Olga’s okay. I can find a use for Olga.”

“But Terry,” said Irina, “Those guys are so fucking stupid. They didn’t tell you the most important thing. They want to start a mint.”

“So does everyone else.”

“They’ve got gold.”

“What?”

“They’ve brought metals with them. Gold, silver, and some copper. Correct?” she said, giving Li Yang and Jake a scornful look.

“Yes,” Jake said. Li Yang didn’t dare look at him or Irina or Morello. He stared at the zebra hide on the wall.

Morello noticed.

“Hey, relax,” he said to Li Yang. “It’s plastic. Owning the real thing has been forbidden since forever. Irina says you got precious metals and that you want to start a mint here. Is that right?”

“Yes,” said Li Yang.

“Yes,” said Jake.

“What have you got?”

“Just a couple of kilos of gold and silver,” said Jake, “And ten kilos of pure copper. That’s all we could carry. We know where to get more, though.”

It took a great effort for Li Yang not to show any surprise when he heard that. Jake had told him the metal he’d brought was all that he had.

“I suppose you wouldn’t want to tell me where you get it from,” said Morello.

“We wouldn’t,” said Jake.

Morello nodded.

“That changes things,” he said. “Or maybe not. We shall see. You’re in luck. John Hardin is coming round for a drink with me tonight. He is our mayor in Cambridge and governor of our district. He really needs that drink, he’s going to have a hell of a day tomorrow.”

“First of March,” said Jake.

“First of March,” agreed Morello. “Okay, this is what we will do. You two jokers show up here again at eight thirty. Irina, can you make sure they’re here?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Mr. Hardin will look you over, ask a few questions, and decide whether he wants you to pollute Cambridge with your presence. Got it?”

Yes, sir,” Li Yang and Jake said in unison.

“And now kindly fuck off,” said Morello. “Not you, Irina. I need you to look at something.” He grinned at her.

“You’ll find your way back? Good,” said Irina, without meeting their eyes or waiting for an answer. She added:

“I’ll see you around a quarter past eight.”

They left with their heads hung low.

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