SPLICED LIFE /
ISSUE 05
BOOK CHAPTER EXCERPT / IDEA WAR
He wiped his brow and stretched out a hand to snap on
the aircon. It was scorching today, far too hot for this time
of year. Almost four in the afternoon, middle of July and he
was still sweating. The 2050s would be remembered as a hot
decade.
Suddenly he was bathed in shadow as a Propaganda
blimp passed overhead. Surresh glanced up briefly.
***
Yes, third floor. Third floor’s nice. Great views of the
blimps, sweet breezes through the broken windows and all
the signal interference you could ever need. Let’s see how
your fancy tech stands up to that!
***
On the blimp’s screen was a greyscale photograph –
archive footage – by now familiar to anyone who spent
much time in central Joburg these days. Below the image
ran the usual red text:
“Understanding that, in your country,”
The image changed now, something else dredged from the
archive files.
“you have a hatred of violence”
The toes of a police boot and the shadow of a gun faded in.
The text crawled on:
“and thick-handed policing,”
Surresh snorted, sending the smoke in crazy spirals. He
wondered how this ‘Government’ could hope to understand
anything at all. The blimp and its flashing screen passed and
sunlight returned. Baking sunlight. Surresh groaned and
boosted the aircon.
***
What’s behind door number one? Oh look, a whole lot of
nothing. Not so sharp without your satellite linked optic
feed huh.
***
The retreating airship now flashed the message:
“But please do remember that THINGS HAVE CHANGED.”
Well, at least they’d got that right. Since they’d pushed the