“You wanna get a drink later?”
“No thanks.”
“Your loss, sweetie. You’ll come around. This bunker can be a lonely place.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Eduardo gripped his copy and walked toward the set. He found Valerie waiting near one of the cameras. “I need a new make-up artist.”
“Why? He does great work.”
“He also just came on to me.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It is for me, not to mention unprofessional and creepy.”
“You have something against gay people?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
“Be careful, Eddie. Talk like that can get you in a lot of trouble. We are required to report bigoted outbursts like the one you just made to the authorities, but I’ll let this one slide because it’s your first day.”
“Hey, I didn’t do anything wrong. He came on to me .”
“Don’t push it, Eddie. Not one more word. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” She nodded to the anchor’s desk. “Get to work.”
Eduardo took his seat in ‘the big chair,’ reviewing his copy one more time while a technician hooked up his microphone and got a sound check. The wall behind him was fashioned with flashy graphics and designs in the motif of the new American flag. These dressings framed a large, blank display screen centered just behind and above his head.
“Two minutes to air!” a voice called out.
A strangely familiar hymn sounded over the studio speakers. It was a sweeping, dramatic orchestral arrangement. Everyone on the set stopped what they were doing and faced Eduardo. He realized they were looking past him. He turned to see an image of a the new national flag waving on a slow motion wind.
Then the singing started.
Unbreakable Union of freeborn peoples,
The Party has welded forever to stand.
Created in struggle by will of the people,
United and mighty, our obedient land!
Sing to the Homeland, home of the free,
Bulwark of peoples in sustainability.
O Party of equity, the strength of the people,
To the collective triumph lead us on!
He finally remembered where he heard the tune before. It was the old Soviet National Anthem, but in English and with some words changed. It was America’s anthem now. Everyone in the studio, including Valerie, belted the lyrics with gusto, obviously knowing them by heart. Eduardo rolled his chair out of their eye line, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. The pang of his naked nightmare returned with the knowledge that he was the only one not singing along.
Only after the last note died did the studio return to business. Eduardo rolled back to his place at the center of the anchor’s desk and located the prompter as the five-second signal flashed.
“Good evening and welcome,” he began, “ to the People’s Patriotic News. I’m your anchor, Eduardo Garcia, America’s Newsman. We begin our maiden broadcast by informing our audience that in accordance with Executive Order number 10995, The People’s Patriotic News is the only State-approved news and information source. Any other outlets you may encounter are operating outside of government mandate. All unauthorized media operations are considered seditious. Purveyors of any such broadcast, print, or other communication medium are guilty of treason and subject to detainment and punishment to the fullest extent of the law. This penalty also applies to anyone aiding such activities or simply failing to report them.”
The view switched to another camera.
“President Tophet has also enacted several more executive orders due to the continuing state of emergency. Executive Orders 10990, 10998, 11003, and 11005, which mandate government control of all public and private land, sea, air, and rail transportation assets, are in immediate effect. Orders 10997, 10999, and 11001, which are also in effect, designate State control over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals as well as all food, food production,
“No thanks.”
“Your loss, sweetie. You’ll come around. This bunker can be a lonely place.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Eduardo gripped his copy and walked toward the set. He found Valerie waiting near one of the cameras. “I need a new make-up artist.”
“Why? He does great work.”
“He also just came on to me.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It is for me, not to mention unprofessional and creepy.”
“You have something against gay people?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
“Be careful, Eddie. Talk like that can get you in a lot of trouble. We are required to report bigoted outbursts like the one you just made to the authorities, but I’ll let this one slide because it’s your first day.”
“Hey, I didn’t do anything wrong. He came on to me .”
“Don’t push it, Eddie. Not one more word. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” She nodded to the anchor’s desk. “Get to work.”
Eduardo took his seat in ‘the big chair,’ reviewing his copy one more time while a technician hooked up his microphone and got a sound check. The wall behind him was fashioned with flashy graphics and designs in the motif of the new American flag. These dressings framed a large, blank display screen centered just behind and above his head.
“Two minutes to air!” a voice called out.
A strangely familiar hymn sounded over the studio speakers. It was a sweeping, dramatic orchestral arrangement. Everyone on the set stopped what they were doing and faced Eduardo. He realized they were looking past him. He turned to see an image of a the new national flag waving on a slow motion wind.
Then the singing started.
Unbreakable Union of freeborn peoples,
The Party has welded forever to stand.
Created in struggle by will of the people,
United and mighty, our obedient land!
Sing to the Homeland, home of the free,
Bulwark of peoples in sustainability.
O Party of equity, the strength of the people,
To the collective triumph lead us on!
He finally remembered where he heard the tune before. It was the old Soviet National Anthem, but in English and with some words changed. It was America’s anthem now. Everyone in the studio, including Valerie, belted the lyrics with gusto, obviously knowing them by heart. Eduardo rolled his chair out of their eye line, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. The pang of his naked nightmare returned with the knowledge that he was the only one not singing along.
Only after the last note died did the studio return to business. Eduardo rolled back to his place at the center of the anchor’s desk and located the prompter as the five-second signal flashed.
“Good evening and welcome,” he began, “ to the People’s Patriotic News. I’m your anchor, Eduardo Garcia, America’s Newsman. We begin our maiden broadcast by informing our audience that in accordance with Executive Order number 10995, The People’s Patriotic News is the only State-approved news and information source. Any other outlets you may encounter are operating outside of government mandate. All unauthorized media operations are considered seditious. Purveyors of any such broadcast, print, or other communication medium are guilty of treason and subject to detainment and punishment to the fullest extent of the law. This penalty also applies to anyone aiding such activities or simply failing to report them.”
The view switched to another camera.
“President Tophet has also enacted several more executive orders due to the continuing state of emergency. Executive Orders 10990, 10998, 11003, and 11005, which mandate government control of all public and private land, sea, air, and rail transportation assets, are in immediate effect. Orders 10997, 10999, and 11001, which are also in effect, designate State control over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals as well as all food, food production,
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