Grand Theft Planetary & other stories

  ***

  Frances could do nothing but stare at the Shareholder. There was only one – Paulie had said that the Shareholders liked to travel in a trio – but even one was enough. The large board room seemed incredibly claustrophobic with the Shareholder in the room. Even the pair of armed guards shifted uncomfortably in the presence of this blank-faced outsider. Frances felt his legs shaking - and the meeting had only just started.

  “My clients would like to know what the problem is,” said the Shareholder’s representative, a pale-faced man known to the company as The Link. He was the Shareholder’s spokesperson, but no-one knew anything else about him. He looked perpetually frightened, and with good reason, Frances thought. “Even without reading the latest public reports, we knew something was wrong.” The Link glanced at both Paulie and Frances. “The last batch of product was tainted with the virus, affecting all who consumed it.”

  Silently, the Shareholder turned to face Frances, his huge dark eyes and pale oval face causing Frances’s very soul to recoil in terror. The silence lasted forever, and Frances was about to cry out when Paulie broke the spell. “Well, Mr Frances Flanigan here has briefed me – and all of us – on the virus and its progress. We are hoping on an antidote from our RAND department imminently, which should eradicate the infection and return the livestock to near-normal levels. We apologise for any issues this temporary setback has caused.”

  “How long before the virus is destroyed?” asked The Link.

  Paulie looked at Frances, who panicked and yelped, “A month?!”

  The Link paused, staring above their heads, then focused back on the quivering Frances. “Unacceptable. This virus threatens the long-standing agreement between the Shareholders and,” he drifted off again, “this company. The Shareholders demand swift action, or they will take action themselves. You don’t want that.”

  Paulie stiffened. “Any interference by the Shareholders will invalidate our 60 year-old agreement, and will be met with significant opposition.”

  “It is irrelevant what you do if the Shareholders decide to intervene. You know that.” Without any other words, The Link and the Shareholder stood and left through the security door behind them. The two guards visibly relaxed as the door clicked shut, as did they all.

  Paulie patted Frances on the leg, then wiped the dampness on the chair. “I thought you were going to lose it back then. Well done though – you kept it together.”

  “Did I?” Frances held out his trembling hands. “I pissed myself!”

  “Just take the compliment, son. Let’s go get a drink.”