O l i v e r B e n j a m i n
captured. Enough for us to make a final judgment, anyway. We are
sorry that you will not have the opportunity to witness it.”
There was an outbreak of panic amongst the audience members.
“No, no. You will have the opportunity to witness the judgment.
It is Mr. Hopkins’ adventures that you will not be able to see.”
Playing the staging out in a manner which he had gleaned from
numerous awards shows, Zarathustra turned and asked Moses for
the envelope. He peeled it open and solemnly read the verdict.
“He was successful. You are free to continue living as you choose.
Congratulations.”
As he heard this, a rivulet of surrender escaped from Gareth’s
eye, poured down his face and neck and mixed with the blood that
would soon stop flowing from his chest. For the first and only time in
his career on this earth, Gareth rested.
Following the announcement, the screen went blank and
everyone jumped wildly up and down in celebration and relief. The
audience members hugged the Millennial Liberation Front terrorists,
and Muchoman and Bob hugged each other. Besides Gareth, who
was dead, Vlad was the only unhappy one there. He was furious that
his chance to be a hero had seemingly gone so wrong. Jewel had
remained behind to tend to his wounds and console him.
In the entire studio, only Barth remained unperturbed. It was
unlike him to show any excitement, even now that he had inherited a
good part of the earth.
By the time Doug and Melinda arrived at the studio, the party was
already in full swing, and the sky was falling. The Millennial
Liberation front were allowing the audience members to test-fire
their machine guns in the air in celebration, causing small bits of the
ceiling to rain down into the cups of champagne that everyone was
toasting with.
Some had gone straight home to be with their families, but as the
cameras were still rolling, many stayed, hoping that the additional
exposure on prime time television might afford them their big break.
The mood was jubilant. Everyone was so relieved that Armageddon
was over that they forgot they had witnessed a gruesome murder that
evening. However, in the grand scheme of things, Schlechtmann’s
death didn’t seem that grave. Even Florence Henderson seemed to be
having fun.
“Wow! Big partying! I love the nightlife I got to boogie! Where is
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