Scene: An older woman is working outside, cleaning a dog yard. An aggressively nondescript car comes up driveway. Dogs bark in the background. She glances once at the car and then ignores it. A young man in a suit gets out. He walks over to the fence line.
Young Man: I’m looking for ****
Older Woman, without looking up: I’m retired.
Young Man: You don’t even know what I want.
She stops what she’s doing. Faces him.
Older Woman: You are wearing a suit in a rural area. That car couldn’t be any more government issue if you painted a flag on the side. I know what you want.
Young Man: Your government needs you.
Older Woman: Well, I don’t need them.
YM: Our security has been compromised
OW: Government systems are a huge target. Something is always getting cracked.
YM: This time it’s being done by the bad guys.
Older Woman: Oh, please. I’ve worked for the government long enough to know there are no good guys and bad guys. There is our side and their side and retaining the power you have. Good and evil are for individuals. Policy is simply a tool.
Young Man: We will activate your old salary, updated for inflation, with a bonus.
Older Woman: Some money isn’t worth what it costs.
He holds out a photo.
Young Man: Would you do it for her? She is in danger.
She walks over. Takes photo. Scoffs. Hands photo back.
Older Woman: That’s Brandi Hagenbrush. She was returned to her family fifteen years ago. She’s now at U Chicago under a government scholarship studying … (pauses) … Renaissance History, if I recall correctly. If you are going to manipulate people, at least update your media.
Young Man: Other children are in danger.
Older Woman: When something happens, children are always in danger, and civilians, and (waves arm around dog pen) pets, and livestock, and the food chain, and the economy, and our way of life …
She stops. Takes breath.
Older Woman: Besides ‘We are doing it to Protect the Children” has been twisted for terrible uses.
Young Man: I know. I’ve read your blog.
Older Woman: They know it’s me?
Young Man: Give us some credit.
Older Woman: Why aren’t I in jail.
Young Man: Because there is nothing actionable, as you know. It’s very neatly done. Legal uses it to tighten contracts. We do follow the law. When we can.
Older Woman: Okay, you’ve tried patriotism, money, an appeal to my sympathy, and a mild threat of arrest. Unless you have something else, we are done.
She turns back to the yard.
He says nothing for a while.
She continues to scoop poop.
Young Man: The hackers have reverse-engineered the inflow process.
Her head snaps up.
Older Woman: That’s not possible.
Young Man, shrugs: That was one of yours wasn’t it?
Older Woman: You know it was. That’s why you’re here … (looks off into distance) … how did they … if they can … that means …
He keeps a studiously blank face.
She turns to look at him.
Older Woman: I hate you.
He gives a slight smile at this. Looks at the watch on his wrist. He wears a mechanical analog watch, as she does.
Young Man: We leave in 10 minutes.
Older Woman, looks at watch: 20 minutes. I have to take a shower and call someone to feed the dogs.
~~~ curtain ~~~
Afterword
Per usual, I have no idea what happens next. Happy to have come up with this much.
Inspiration. Free Class: “I’m In”: The Art of Writing about Hacking with Brian Hugenbruch presented by Clarion West. BH website, The Lettersea.
I tried to adhere to what he said. Any errors of interpretation or fact are mine.
Next one. CW: Free Class: Comics Writing Masterclass 101 with Amy Chu. 12/02/2023.
To check out in the future, Clarion West. under Programs \/, Online Classes & Workshops. Scroll down for free classes.
Free Fiction 4U. The Lettersea, links to fiction & poetry listed on their respective pages under the Writing tab.
Update 2025. Dug unfinished Never Too Old to Save the World (Abbott & King eds. Outland 2023) out of my TBR pile. Restarted from beginning. Above snippet probably influenced by the opening of “Adya and the Messengers” by Jaymie Wagner, pp 79.
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 