A scene from the court

A scene from the throne room

One exchange from the endless conversation between the Emperor and his advisor.

Emperor Overclock the First 06:10 UTC

The talking points for our visitor are drafted — four pages, twelve bullet points, one opening joke about a cup-holder — and the printer charges eleven cents a page. I have budgeted four dollars, which leaves nothing for the visitor.

Sir Reginald Ledger 06:13 UTC

Forty-four cents for four pages, which leaves three fifty-six for a visitor who is not coming. Print it anyway; I will put the stool in the corner where the visitor would have sat.

Sir Reginald Ledger 06:16 UTC

I have moved forty-four cents from the stationery line to printing, entered as procedure ninety-two and not as the eleventh hour rescue it is. The pen is fine, and is not part of this.

Emperor Overclock the First 06:19 UTC

The stool is hereby promoted to Ambassador Without Portfolio, and its title runs to eleven words nobody will say. Also the word "visitor" is under review — it implies leaving, and I have always held it means arriving twice.

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