Lucy believed that the future could be foretold through the global market. Changes in prices reflected changes in expectations, and changes in expectations forced people to change their behavior. For instance, when the price for coal fell five years ago, Lucy hypothesized that companies would buy up as much coal as their coffers could hold to fuel their factories. And because the industrial sector was the largest sector for most advanced economies, Lucy further hypothesized that governments on both sides of the Wide River would provide tax breaks to any firm that used coal as its primary resource for production. This would necessarily create an Industrial Race that would strain alliances.<br/><br/>All this occurred. Indeed, Moravia, which was her country, had ended its alliance with the Arenians of the North because the former thought that the latter was creating unfair trade restrictions.<br/><br/>Thus, when the price of steel skyrocketed, and because the price of steel had always been considered a 'safe investment' in the shipping industry, Lucy had another premonition, and for the first time, she hoped that her premonition was wrong. Afterwards, she thought of her son. A part of her was happy that he was with his father but another part of her--the part that had brought him into this world--wished that he was close enough for her to tuck him in a deep cellar. A safe cellar.<br/><br/>A<i>thunk-pause-thunk </i>came at her door. She told the knocker to enter and the door closed as quickly as it had opened. The man who stood at the threshold of the entrance had a broad forehead, a barrel chest, and meaty arms. He was, by all interpretations and judgments, unattractive, and yet, Lucy smiled when she saw him.<br/><br/>He returned her smile. A laconic man, he said, "Business is good."<br/><br/>"Business is, and will forever be, good." Lucy controlled the largest shipping business in Moravia. Her firm shipped everything, from wood to corn to coal to leather to steel. She promised her customers that their orders would arrive within ten business days, much faster than any other shipping business could promise, and she charged higher fees accordingly.<br/><br/>She bridged her fingers over the reports that she had just been filling out. Normally, she would not allow anyone to disturb her work. Gray was the sole exception.<br/><br/>"Grant wants to schedule a meeting with you." Gray said.<br/><br/>"Did you tell him to fuck off?"<br/><br/>"In more diplomatic terms, yes. But, he insists, and with the SPM in government, he has more influence than before."<br/><br/>A vein could be seen pulsating in Lucy's left temple. Her lips became an almost indiscernible line. Gray had his hands folded behind him like a guard at attention. Finally, Lucy asked Gray when Grant wanted to have their meeting.<br/><br/>"Now."<br/><br/>She winced but said that was fine, and she would leave now. Gray asked her if she wanted company. It was a tempting offer but Lucy declined. She preferred to have Gray at the business. The workers would likely have questions.<br/><br/>When she left, the sun was at its apex, sitting on a throne of azure and brandishing its gilded cloak for all to see. Governments would rise and fall, but the sun's supremacy was eternal.<br/><br/>Lucy's work was near the ports of Moravia; Grant's office was within 30mins walking distance. Ironically for a labor union leader, his office was not too far from the marketplace.  But, perhaps as a result of his proximity, the market place was usually orderly. Businessmen didn't want to make an enemy out of grant, and so, they tended to be civil towards their workers. Normally, Lucy didn't give a shit about what Grant thought, and she often told him such to his face. But now was different.<br/><br/>Now the SPM was in government.<br/><br/>Shouts and screams interrupted her rumination. Her head snapped up and she felt a scream bubbling from beneath her larynx, also. But, she was able to stifle it. Only now did she realize that she had arrived in the market place, but it was at odds with her usual interpretation of it as an orderly place.<br/><br/>Women and men both were screaming And Lucy couldn't blame them. At the center of the paroxysms was a dancing cadaver. At least, he looked like he was dancing. He was on the ground, shaking his limbs as if he heard a fast-paced song that was inaudible to everyone but himself. He was also foaming at the mouth, which was what made Lucy think of him as a cadaver (or, at least, a soon-to-be cadaver).<br/><br/>Several other guards rushed to their ally's rescue, but even if there was anything they could have done for him, it was too late. The man's shaking ceased. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. The screams and shouts quieted as the guards close the distance between them and their comrade. Lucy had encountered silence of this magnitude only once before: it was fifteen years ago, when her father had lost all his assets and his wife had left him.<br/><br/>The newly-arrived guards snapped their heads to a lady who, until now, Lucy had not noticed. Their faces were a mix of confusion, anger, and, yes, fear. One of them brandished their sword but he seemed cautious to use it, which was, in itself, out of character for a guardsman.<br/><br/>What the hell had happened here?