Wormbender's Circus
Chapter 5

When Sebastian arrived back on Earth, he was surprised to replace a huge crowd gathered at the shuttle terminal. They were mostly media people, and that they were waiting for him. They were asking him the same questions again.

“Mr. Wormbender, what do you intend to do with your new-found wealth?”

“Mr. Wormbender, what took you to the moon?”

“Mr. Wormbender, now you’ve taken over your great-uncle’s businesses, are you planning any sweeping changes?”

Sebastian pushed his way through the seething mass of reporters mumbling, “No comment, no comment,” and threw himself into the back of a taxi. Cameras followed as it swept away into the traffic. It was only when Sebastian had collected his thoughts a little that he realized that some of those journalists back there were now in his employ. He made a mental note to talk to his managers about it. A dignified studio interview, that was okay, but he wasn’t into being accosted in public. And this was certainly one occasion when his own people could be guaranteed an exclusive, leaving the opposition well out in the cold.

Sebastian’s thoughts on this line were interrupted by the taxi driver. “You got some friends meeting you?” he asked.

“No, why?” asked Sebastian, suddenly on his guard.

“Big car been following us since we left the terminal.”

Sebastian spun round in his seat. Not far behind the taxi was indeed an enormous black limousine. He had feared momentarily that some zealous pressmen might be following him, but whoever this was, it was certainly no mere hack on his trail.

The taxi reached Sebastian’s apartment building. As it stopped, so did the limousine. Sebastian paid the driver and got out. As the taxi moved away, Sebastian stooped to pick up his bag. Over his shoulder he watched the limousine sweep up, stopping centimetres from him. The driver’s door swung upwards, gullwing-style, and a large man stepped out.

“Mr. Lichinsky would like a word with you, please, Mr. Wormbender.” The words were uttered in a tone which indicated that rejection of the request was not an option.

Mr. Lichinsky. Karel J. Lichinsky was Great Uncle Harry’s arch-rival, essentially the owner of everything in galacticasting that wasn’t owned by Great Uncle Harry, or - now - Sebastian. Lichinsky’s background was of humble upbringing in an indeterminate area of Eastern Europe. He had entered the media business at the lowliest level, but his animal cunning in showing his superiors what they wanted to see, and an intuitive understanding of what at least some sections of the general public wanted, had led to a rapid rise through the ranks. With every elevation to new heights he had exploited his power ruthlessly, putting an end to the careers of not a few people who stood in his way. There were even rumours that two or three mysterious deaths of senior people in the industry were in fact attributable to Lichinsky, but by using skilled but essentially corrupt lawyers, and by bribing or otherwise silencing witnesses, he had been able to ensure that no charge against him was ever made to stick. Lichinsky was made out, not least by his own PR department, to be something of a working people’s hero because of his rise from modest beginnings. Lichinsky’s popularity was largely on account of his style of galacticasting, which featured near-naked presenters - exclusively female at first, but then also including some men when his women viewers threatened a mass boycott of his stations - and focussed on gossip and stories with some lewd or salacious angle to them. Lichinsky was widely known for personally examining his female presenters in great detail in the privacy of his sumptuous office complex in the heart of the city.

It had only been a matter of time before Lichinsky became powerful enough to consider taking on the Benedict empire. Harry Benedict’s stations were generally considered to be purveyors of “serious” news, his journalists were highly respected, and Harry himself had an enviable reputation for straight dealing. It was not merely the power of a near-monopoly that enticed Lichinsky, it was the much coveted respectability of the Benedict product. He had made several bids during Harry’s lifetime, all of which had been soundly repulsed by Harry, his staff and his shareholders, to the applause and general relief of his viewers. But now Harry was dead, and Lichinsky clearly thought he saw his opportunity. It certainly did not require much insight to guess what he might want of Sebastian.

With a nonchalant shrug, Sebastian got into the car. It was fitted with an environmental visual filter unit, so that from the inside it appeared to be a convertible, yet it retained the creature comforts of a sedan.

Lichinsky was as gross physically as he was reputed to be morally. He was an enormously fat man with a taste for ostentatious cigars. Sebastian eyed him suspiciously as he took a seat facing him. For Sebastian, who had as a child overheard many tales of Lichinsky at family functions, it was not hard to imagine him in a voluminous black cape, twirling the end of a lacquered moustache and strutting with a cane.

Lichinsky adopted an avuncular tone which ill suited him. “Wormbender, my boy, allow me to offer my condolences on the sad loss of your great-uncle, and in the same breath to offer my congratulations on your, ah, material elevation. I’m sure you won’t take offence, as I understand you weren’t exactly close to the old man.”

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably in his seat. In one sense, what the man said was undeniably true. But he didn’t want Lichinsky scoring any points, however small. “We’re family,” he said. “And as a family we share certain values. Certain moral values.”

Lichinsky ignored the inference. He cleared his throat. “I’ll come straight to the point. I’m sure you know why I’m here. Your great-uncle and I were in the same line of business. Old Harry built up quite an empire, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

“That empire has now passed to me, Mr. Lichinsky, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

“My point exactly. I feel sure your great-uncle would have wished to see his empire pass into, ah, experienced hands. You have no experience in the galacticasting business, so I understand?”

Sebastian stiffened. “My great-uncle would rather have seen his empire pass into the hands of a chimpanzee than into your greedy clutches, Mr. Lichinsky, and well you know it.”

Sebastian was already getting out of the car. A small crowd had gathered around it. This was one of the poorer parts of town, and such a machine was not seen in its streets every day.

“Look, boy, I’m not out to rob you.” Lichinsky gestured with his cigar. “We can offer you a damn good price.”

Sebastian was out of the car. “The answer is no.”

“You haven’t heard the last of me yet, boy, not by a long shot.” Lichinsky looked around at the growing crowd. “I’ll catch up with you again some place where there aren’t so many witnesses.”

Sebastian watched as the car moved slowly away. Some children chased it to the corner of the street. He felt a chill of apprehension at Lichinsky’s parting words and hurried inside the building.