Page 114 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire
P. 114

Arbor Vitae Cortex

        toward Mr. Betzaroff. He and his pitch were shabby and forlorn, the
        poor relations of big-budget glitzy presentations audibly obvious just
        around the corner. There he sat on a folding chair behind a folding
        table without any folding money. A small pile of brochures probably
        had not started the day much larger. To his credit he straightened up
        and smiled as I approached, a considerable outlay of calories for a
        man so thin and pale. In front of him stood a placard.  “TREE OF
        LIFE  TONIC:  Your  Branching  Brain  Needs  Care  and  Feeding.”
        That was it, and I had arrived to supply all the care and feeding he
        could handle. He looked to be a bottomless pit.
          I  walked  right  up  to  him,  smiling,  with  my  hand  extended.  His
        situation  demanded  that  I  get  things  moving  on  a  positive  note:
        otherwise  I  would  have  had  to  lift  him  out  of  despair  before
        presenting  my  magnificent  offer,  and  I  knew  my  talents  did  not
        include that sort of patient coaxing.
          “Mr. Betzaroff? Very pleased to meet you, sir! I hope you haven’t
        sold any franchises yet: I was unable to get here any sooner.”
          His eyes popped and jaw dropped. He hastily stood up and shook
        my hand limply. I wondered if he had eaten that day, or had spent his
        allowance on the booth and brochures.
          “Ah, why, no, I haven’t. Won’t you have a seat?  It seems to be a
        quiet  time  of  day  at  the  expo,  so  perhaps  we  can  talk  without
        interruption.”
          “I  hope  so!”  said  I  fervently.  “I’m  Sol  Wise.  I  have  an  online
        business  starting  up,  and  have  just  gotten  some  venture  capital  to
        start  the  ball  rolling.  Anyway,  I  intend  to  open  with  a  big  splash,
        bringing a whole new line of nutriceuticals to market. None of the
        same old vitamins and herbs: those who want ‘em already got ‘em, I
        say,  and  I’m  not  going  to  start  a  price  war.  No,  I’m  looking  for
        something  new,  undiscovered  but  with  dynamite  potential.  And  I
        think you have it.”
          I gave him a card with an Internet URL address that didn’t exist
        two days earlier; all that this website showed now was a teaser screen
        promising stupendous revelations in the field of optimum health and
        vitality—soon. He laid the pasteboard in front of him but didn’t even
        look at it: he was held in my gaze like a stupefied rodent under the

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