DUALITY /#Wattys 2021

Chapter 5

Sannah kicked and babbled, and Ridley shushed her.

"Good news this Christmas for PanChaine employees. They're all finding literally thousands of dollars extra in their paychecks."

The scene shifted to a near mob at a banking terminal halfway across the Confederation.

"And here you were all worried that news would not travel among the people fast enough," said Greebles, in a soft Punjabi lilt. "And here it is, already on the news."

"The only news that travels faster than murder is money," said Selway, and they all laughed.

An on-location reporter, bundled against the cold, interviewed a grinning older woman who kept staring down at her paycheck card.

"And how much extra is in your paycheck today?"

"Um, about eight thousand," said the woman, looking shyly up at the camera.

"And are you worried this is some kind of mistake?"

"I think it's our back pay. I think they've finally given us our back pay! This is exactly what I was owed. I know I'm going to have to pay taxes on it, but this is going to be such  a merry Christmas!" The woman made a little excited jump up and down.

"Are other people finding the same in their paychecks?"

"Well, my daughter did, and her fiancé did, too, so this has been wonderful. Just wonderful."

The reporter pushed his microphone closer to her face. "And how is the scene out here? Have you witnessed any violence, with all these people trying to get to the terminal?"

"Oh, great, just give people the idea," said Inari.

"Fools," said Selway, and everyone else murmured in agreement. Alana walked back and forth, passing out bowls of buttered popcorn.

"Um, no," said the woman. "It's cold out, but we just waited our turn."

The scene changed back to the studio, where the newscaster detailed the controversy over the back pay issue, and said, "PanChaine executives are unavailable for comment."

"I'll bet!" said Ridley, and everyone laughed.

"A toast!" shouted Johann and seven glasses of sweet milk rose into the air. Everyone clapped and cheered.

"Here's to the biggest raid ever," said Boynton, "and thousands of people having a way better Christmas and a way better winter." He raised his glass to Ridley. "Ridley Faircloth," he said.

Everyone clapped. Ridley didn't know what to do and ducked her face behind Sannah's head. She heard clapping behind her and turned to find her mother beaming at her.

"This calls for wine," said Reb, with a touch of gravel in his baritone. "Only I haven't got any."

After a chorus of "Aww"s and an "Oh, come on, Reb," he added, "But, I do have scotch!"

Everyone cheered again and Boynton clapped, loud as a series of gunshots. Sannah began to cry, and Ridley shushed her, jouncing her up and down.

"How can you have scotch instead of shine?" said Johann.

"I brought it with me when I moved. From Midgarde. And I was saving it for something special. So I'm going to go and get that, and I'll be right back."