O l i v e r B e n j a m i n
informative programs like ours. Did you know that after the Iran-
Iraq war, more people died from the falling bullets after celebrating
civilians shot their guns in the air than in some of that war’s largest
battles? And did you know that women in our country are many
times more likely to fend off an attempted assault because of
programs that address the issues of rape, such as self-defense? We
are not going to fight real-world violence by ignoring it, Tom. We can
only moderate it by getting inside it, analyzing it, and offering a
substitute. That’s really all I’ve done. Call me a villain, a pusher,
whatever you like, Tom. I’m proud of VTV. And if there’s someone up
there judging me, I’d like to think that he—or she—is on my side.”
After the interview wrapped up, and the cameras turned off, Gareth
shook Brokaw’s hand and thanked him politely for his time.
“Let me ask you just one question, Mr. Schlechtmann,” said the
silver-haired TV journalist. “Do you really believe all of the things
you just said?”
“Well, not everything,” he replied. “I really don’t believe that
Henry Miller’s writings were so revolutionary. The Marquis de Sade
beat him to the punch by a century.”
“I see,” Brokaw said, “I guess the truth will come out in the wash,
as you said. One can’t fool all the people all the time.”
“Of course,” he replied, a tad miffed at the journalist’s
unwarranted cheekiness. Then he thought:
No, but a few hundred
million will be plenty.
CHAPTER 6
Melinda, Deaf Lemon’s new girlfriend and manager was working
overtime to procure a choice gig that could offer him tremendous
breakover potential. Namely, she wanted to get his records into the
lucrative and growing market of aging baby-boomers. Lemon was
still considered a novelty by most, a flash-in-the-pan, but she felt that
his unassuming manner and unique disability were extremely
saleable in these self conscious times and could help catapult him
quickly to mainstream media stardom. The right propaganda was
essential, however. Melinda was especially taken by the unfocused,
meditative aspect of Hopkins’ warbling. Recently, New Age spiritual
chanting groups had made a killing in the Boomer market, and she
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