Another eevil empire arises. I always missed brinkmanship with the Soviets. Nice to see it's back again. I wonder how much favoured trading status allowed them to build their new fearsome missile capability. I probably had a hand in it. I bought two Made in China kitchen knives the other day for 1.69. And of course there are those ubiquitous no-name can't-get-drivers computer boards made by Bad Attitude Prison Slave Factory 23 on the lower mainland of the Yellow River. Gotta look for that Made in Taiwan label a tad more from now on. No sense in allowing them to get their guidance systems honed to perfection too easily. Better a near miss, than a direct hit. At least it gives you a few days dying agony to reflect and radio information to luckier ones. Also if any of your enemies are left alive, you can go around and strangle them with impunity, if you have the strength.
I have often looked at some no-name Chinese modem and tried to get a picture of "inspector 11" on some sprawling dimly-lit production line somewhere in the interior of China. Everywhere skinny guys in tank tops and railroad caps sit at wooden benches, huddled over soldering irons and magnifying glasses, occasionally taking furtive drags on a roll-your-own. Prowling the aisles is an army officer who fakes a grin at the work efforts of male and female alike.
"You are showing a better attitude comrade Wen." the officer intones, "Soon you will be able to atone for your vicious crime of pride for having too many sofas on your front porch and drinking on Mao's birthday."
A look of sterness crosses the cadre's face, he strokes his riding crop. "In ten years your will be allowed a visit from your family. And perhaps a promotion to Western Virus Programmer will be in order, if you keep your nose to the grindstone. Virus programmers are allowed daily walks in the people's garden and may be visted by their families once every 4 months. You would like that Comrade Wen, wouldn't you?"
Inspector 11 nods robotically. If they are still alive after the yearly purges, he thinks to himself. Someday he will escape to America. Wen is lost in a
an improbable dream. Perhaps by volunteering as a spy or saboteur he can escape this dreary existence. He had technical college qualifications. They want spies with those abilities. He will make suggestions to the commissar at next orientation class. America would be nice, Wen muses. Maybe then he could work on a General Motors assembly line and boss white men who buy these damned silly boards.
EC<:-} |
