Splash is usually more alert than the rest of the crew early on, and maintains that status through lunchtime based on the fact that he is a couple cups of coffee ahead of the rest of us. It could be annoying, but there is a productions schedule to run, bills must be paid, and those of us that sleep better sometimes need time to let the artificial energy kick in.

He was already into some unproven data on the psychological effect of the common knowledge being driven relentlessly by both sides of the media. A common approach to dealing with useful hysteria for the latest emergency is to listen, listlessly, and try to figure out what is accurate. DeMille calls it a thing called “de facto truth,” via repetition rather than the one produced by detailed competitive analytic means. Poor thing, he is a hostage to his engineering background.

Splash isn’t. He said that there were some troubling numbers out there in the latest turn to the Narrative. Melissa nodded, but added that they were all sort of troubling, but could be altered to minimize anxiety. “It is like what they do with the social spending stuff. Some of the programs have funding lines that only go a couple years, when clearly the intent is for them to continue forever.”

“So what are we supposed to do about that? We can’t even tell what they are for.”

“It is about something in the public interest. And because the public doesn’t recognize what it is, it needs a little help.”

“But isn’t that sort of dishonest?” Rocket may believe that speed-is-life, a term from his professional past, but it takes him a full measure of caffein to stay even with the discussion. “Why isn’t there someone to provide balance on why we do those sorts of things?”

That lead to a longer discussion, with Loma at his grumpy best. “I wish we had someone to explain all this instead of just complaining. That is fun, for us, anyway, but it can’t be that entertaining. There is a market out there that wants objective, fun analysis.”

“The Chairman recognizes that and is attempting to get the guy who used to deliver Belmont Farms products to stop by, make a few pungent comments reflecting the common good, and then flee the property.”

“He is a witty fellow. But it is Sunday and the distillery is closed. Plus, we heard he was one of the work force who left the job market.”

“The word is that people are leaving jobs to move up to new opportunities with higher pay that keeps up with inflation. But he is reported to be staying home for his health.”

“That used to be an excuse. Now it is considered wisdom.”

“It has worked for us. Most of us used to be fully vaccinated. But we have continued to follow the old guidance from what we called the cold-and-flu season. We wash our hands, keep our distance from people we don’t know, or seem to have runny noses or coughs, and if we have to actually leave the property, have a mask handy.”

“How can you be “used to be vaccinated?”

“It seems to be more like what happens every season, Spring and Fall. That is why the flu shots are a preventive measure that some people like and others ignore.”

“Are you saying people ought to make up their own minds about what gets injected into their bodies?”

“Just stop. This is a matter the Experts have looked into, and they say we should all the get shots, and then look out for unvaccinated people who could infect you.”

“Don’t start with that one again. You are trying to set up some logical dew-loop that says you can get infected by someone who is unvaccinated after you have had the vaccination to protect you from the unvaccinated.”

“I know, I know. It does make some people more comfortable, though. Plus, you can get more vaccinations to protect against different variants of the virus. We are already at one booster available and another few are in development.”

“These are new vaccinations designed to protect us from the virus that can infect the formerly fully vaccinated?”

“You have the situation well defined. We should listen to the Experts. They seem to be confident this will work, even though it appears that what they said works didn’t work.”

“Isn’t there some discussion about possible complications from a vaccine that actually permanently modifies the human RNA structure and was still an experimental drug while being administered simultaneously to hundreds of millions of people?”

“We all got the vaxx, and we are believers. Or were, since it didn’t work against a changing virus. That is why they are describing the new mass hysteria about being able to stop the cold and flu season. You can always get the new version, just like the flu shots at the pharmacy. You can get tested, and the experts say the tests for the current variant will be available right around the time that the virus has mutated again. It is a little complex, but we used to be fully protected against something that isn’t a threat any more. Now we are not, unless you run into someone with the old virus.”

Melissa grinned. “See? The phrase now is ‘fully-vaccinated against a non-threat.’ It is amusing. Some people get flu shots and some don’t. Some follow good cleanliness standards, wear masks, and avoid other people. Some don’t, even though it is just common sense. It didn’t use to be grounds for excommunication. People might like some welcome banter about it.”

“It hasn’t proven that interesting in the polling data. We should probably consider getting a shot to ensure we are fully protected as examples of good citizenship.”

That got Splash to stand up. “I fully intend to get one, and as soon as we can go to lunch. They say a shot of Belmont Farms always has exactly the same effect. And it always gets better with more.”

“Except it is Sunday.”

Copyright 2022 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com

The sun was rising inexorably across the eastern pastures. Splash looked like he might be getting hungry, or thirsty for something other than coffee