The Replicant,the Mole & the Impostor, Part 31
Part 2—the conclusion—of a duology where a reality event held in a refugee camp on a Greek island unfolds in an utterly unexpected manner. There will be 50 parts. Chapter 9: April.
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They head into the village for lunch, taking the attention of the locals and the tourists in good stride.
“Let’s walk through the camp, not working or helping out this time,” Kristel says, “but just looking around. Maybe that can give us some ideas.”
“Why not?” Akama says. “It’s been quite a while since all ten of us were at the same place inside the camp.”
“Make that all nine of you,” Dewi says. “I really must make that phone call. And prepare my next demonstration lesson in the playground.”
“Make that eight,” Rahman says. “I need to check our finances.”
“Finances?” Omar says. “I thought we’d spent everything our crowdfunding raked in?”
“Well, there’s Agnetha’s shared patent for the whatsitsname, cleansing doorway?” Rahman says. “Oh, yeah, Novo-Portal. And the donation buttons on our social media accounts that Agnetha set up for everybody.”
“On top of that, a big chunk of e-cash from VanderPol Excel,” Agnetha says, double-checking via her AR-gear. “Which I can now finally announce.”
“We got extra money from our producers?” Piotr says. “How did that happen?”
“Not us personally,” Agnetha hastens to explain, “but the account we use for improving the refugee camp—which was actually moving into the red.”
“I warned you two,” Rahman says, meaning Dewi and Agnetha, “but you kept on spending, even on things that were just being developed.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Dewi says. “It would be shameful not to spend everything.”
“And the latter was an investment in Novo-Portals,” Agnetha says. “That’s already paying itself back. Anyway, as to the e-cash from our masters; every month when our audience votes, they have to pay a voting fee, similar to the way it works for the Eurovision Song Contest. However, our show attracts more than ten times the number of viewers, which—with voting charges differing from twenty cents to one euro fifty—amounts to hundreds of millions of euros per month. We, I can now finally say, negotiated a small part of that pie.”
“Excellent negotiation tactics,” Piotr says. “But how come nobody noticed? Aren’t we also live on candid camera in the residence?”
“Dewi and I performed all the negotiations in AR-space, silently,” Agnetha says. “Everybody thought we were goofing off.”
“Or flirting,” Dewi says, her cheeks turning red.
“We didn’t need AR-space for that,” Agnetha says. “Anyway, we’re back in black.”
“What if we’re still in the black at the end of the show?” Akama says. “I get to buy that new tractor?”
“Not really, Akama,” Dewi says. “We pledged to spend it on the refugee situation.”
“I know that,” Akama says. “I was joking. But what happens?”
“I say we pledge any surplus to installing infrastructure and neo-homesteads in other camps,” Agnetha says. “As much as possible.”
Nine hands rise in agreement.
“That’s settled, then,” Dewi says. “I’ll add a note in our semi-official statutes.”
“So the remaining eight of us can go to the camp?” Esteban says. “I don’t know about you, but I need to walk off that sumptuous lunch.”
“After we can convince the owner of this place that we really want to pay,” Agnetha says. “She steadfastly refuses to accept payment.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have offered her Bitcoins,” Esteban says.
—In the Camp—
The eight of them have passed through the Middle Eastern section of the camp quite uneventfully. Since it’s Ramadan, the candidates don’t wish to disturb the Muslim refugees as the Muslims are careful not to overextend themselves, as the days last well over thirteen hours this time in April. While several people greet them and engage in small talk, the general feeling is that today is not the day for huge activities.
The moment they enter the African section, they see some unexpected activity. A group of people who are clearly tourists—over the months, the candidates have developed a sharp eye for them—are being led around by an African refugee. Omar recognizes him.
“Absko Nesha? Weren’t you working with Jean-Pierre and Yannick,” Omar says, “over in Chorió?”
“Naisiae,” Absko Naisiae says “You’re mixing up my last name with that of Jonny Nesha, my colleague.”
“Sorry,” Omar says, “my mistake. Another misattribution, my perfect recall slipping up. But you were in Chorió, right?”
“I was, until a few days ago,” Absko Naisiae says, “but I developed RSI in my wrists from the gestures I use to interface with AR-space. So, while I’m recovering and teaching myself more ergonomic gestures, I’m showing these people around.”
“You’re showing tourists around?” Akama says. “Since when has this become Venice?”
“Don’t act surprised, Akama,” Kristel says. “You know where the curiosity comes from.” She points in the direction of their drones.
“I can see that,” Akama says. “But weren’t tourists—and fangirls and boys—forbidden to enter the camp, after all the nuisance they caused?”
“We made a deal with the UN and the Greek authorities,” Naisiae says, “allowing small groups to enter under our guidance. We show them around—”
“And they pay for the privilege,” Kristel says. “We should have seen that coming.”
“And they pay quite well,” Naisiae says. “We were surprised at how much they’re willing to pay.”
“Makes sense,” Kristel says. “Limited access to a popular spot—prices go up.”
“So you’re making a killing,” Akama says.
“Not quite,” Naisiae says. “The Greek authorities demand a cut, and we have to pay the local tour companies—with which we collaborate, and who transport the tourists to the camp—as well. But we’re doing fine.”
“By overcrowding an already overcrowded camp,” Akama says. “The ways of humanity are surely strange.”
“Nothing’s as overcrowded as a really popular tourist spot,” Naisiae says. “Have you ever really been to Venice?”
“Yeah, once,” Akama says, “during the COVID-19 crisis, otherwise it’s way too busy. I see your point.”
“The march of progress,” Esteban says. “First you get innovation, then application and refinement. And the moment you want to sit back and enjoy the fruits of all your hard labor, you get tourists.”
“It’s true,” Katja says. “Sometimes I think the first aliens we see will be their version of tourists.”
“Kinda makes sense,” Esteban says. “If they’re truly more advanced, then the only thing we have to offer is strange local habits.”
“Fortunately,” Omar says, “we have a lot of those. So let them come.”
“Says Captain Kirk as he eyes the alien females,” Esteban says.
“They’re safe,” Omar says. “I’ve barely started with the local ones.”
“Aren’t we lucky,” Olga says as she rolls her eyes.
“Nevertheless, I would be interested to see the new community center,” Piotr says. “Can we arrange a tour one of these days?”
“But we worked on it,” Akama says, “with the others. Quite a bit.”
“Only on the building itself,” Piotr says, “not the interior. Like the Middle Easterners, they wanted to do that by themselves.”
“True,” Akama says. “I remember now. I agree. Can we get a tour?”
“No problem,” Naisiae says. “I can fit you in tomorrow morning at ten. Will that work?”
Omar looks around, and as nobody shakes their head, he says, “Fine. How much will that be?”
“You people are not paying,” Naisiae says. “After all you did? No way.”
“It’s like a contagion,” Esteban says. “The lady in the village also refused our money.”
“I don’t think the world is ready for the next pandemic,” Olga says, “with COVID-19 still fresh in their minds.”
“Even if it’s benevolent?” Esteban says. “Especially for us.”
“Would you take the risk,” Olga says, “if you were not us?”
“Your seriousness takes all the fun out of my fantasies,” Esteban says. “Buzzkill.”
“Don’t mind our friendly banter,” Omar says to Naisiae. “We’re like a dysfunctional family. See you tomorrow.”
“We follow you, like everybody else,” Naisiae says, “and you almost feel like family to many of us. Happy to show you around tomorrow.”
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Author’s note: stupidly busy last week and this week. Yet things should settle down from early December onwards, meaning more regular posts. Nevertheless, I had a great time yesterday, of which more tomorrow.
Welcome to another new subscriber, many thanks for reading and stay tuned!