Page 114 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire
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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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