England. I live in Switzerland now."
"Swisserland Europe not Europe?"
"Europe. I mean, yes, Switzerland is part of Europe."
"We live there. You take me?"
"I thought I already had, several times."
Hypatia frowns, then smiles.
"Ah, you funny man. Make joke. Now I revenge, take you." Her fingertips slide down his belly; her tongue follows. Linehan wonders about renting a bigger flat in Geneva, until sensation overpowers all thought.
The World Football Association has its headquarters in a dazzling new building erected in record time, despite using the best materials, on the site of the defunct International Organisation for Employment, whose 20th Century rabbit warren it demolished, also in record time. Norris and Linehan stand in the basement mausoleum, looking down at the serene perpetual-holograph features of their leader beamed up from the cryonics vault below. The money man is in a good mood.
"The Committee thinks you deserve a rise, after the success of the SplattaDome opening. Not to mention compensation for your ordeal in our service."
"That's very kind. Really, all I need is a holiday, time to recover. If anyone deserves a rise, it's Lim Sa-Choi. He took over and saw everything through. He was cool, calm and competence personified."
"OK, I'll give him the rise instead, but I've no intention of selling you short, Sean. I'm going to push to have you co-opted on to the Committee."
Linehan is speechless. Norris continues.
"Of course the Committee's only in charge until the cryonics people get Franz resuscitated, but even a few years of running the world's richest organisation can be fun, believe me. For the moment, take as much time off as you like."
Linehan calls Hypatia to pass on the good news of his promotion. He also wants to tell her about the house he has viewed in the hills that overlook the city. He feels certain she will love the pool and the clean air. A familiar male voice answers.
"Wayne?"
"Hiya, Sean! You all right, mate? I'm just putting Hypatia through her paces. Keeping her in trim for you, like. Here, she wants to speak to you."
But the phone has slipped from Linehan's fingers. He can hear hysterical shouting from the other end, but makes no move to pick the receiver up. It spins slowly at the end of its antique cord. Eventually the line goes dead. Linehan bends, clutches the phone and beats the mouthpiece repeatedly against the hard wood floor, until it smashes into more pieces than there are islands in the Hong Kong archipelago.
*****
About the author:
Bryan Murphy travelled extensively as a teacher of English as a foreign language before settling in Italy, where he worked as a translator for a United Nations agency. He now concentrates on his own words.
Murphy's stories have gained an international following, and his poetry has appeared in places ranging from the Venice Biennale to the Brighton Evening Argus, as well as a multitude of literary magazines. His first novel, Revolution Number One, set in Portugal in the 1970s, is to be released in 2015.
To discover new work by Bryan Murphy, sign up for his newsletter: https://eepurl.com/YursT
Other e-books by Bryan Murphy
Goodbye, Padania: https://bit.ly/14fPbt6
Linehan's Trip: https://bit.ly/1cFHk1e
Linehan Saves: https://bit.ly/17K0JqV
Angels versus Virgins: https://bit.ly/1D8WZBM
Murder By Suicide: https://bit.ly/172F90N
Houlihan's Wake: https://bit.ly/181pc0r
Madeleine's Drug: https://bit.ly/19HeUAo
Heresy: https://bit.ly/159ppdQ
Breakaway: https://bit.ly/1bzeL1z
Postcards from Italy (poetry): https://booksonblogtm.blogspot.it/search/label/Bryan%20Murphy
Connect with Bryan Murphy on-line
Website: https://www.bryanmurphy.eu
Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/bryan-murphy-6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6439905.Bryan_Murphy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMZMurphy
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The Write Room: https://www.thewriteroomblog.com/
Thanks a million! Bryan Murphy
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