Rex steered his informer away to a side table。 Here he spoke in whispered tones。 The barman； whose hearing was considerably less acute than his temper； slouched off； muttering beneath his breath。
'Now；' said Rex； 'all I require are names and locations。'
The wretch eyed him with open suspicion。 'Who are you； mister？' he asked。
'Rex Mundi is the name。 Whenever you think of four credits； justly earned； you will think of me。'
'If you dispense credits as liberally as you do words； then I shall be happy enough。'
'Quite so。 Then let us begin with the local high priest。 Always best to go straight to the top； I always find。'
'Thinking to pay him a visit at home； are you？'
'Certainly。'
'Then as you won't be ing back； you won't miss another five credits for the information。'
'I tend towards the optimistic；' Rex replied； 'but your point is well taken。 I shouldn't wish my murderer to gain financially from my demise。 My cash is at your disposal。'
'Good； then I will tell you all you wish to know。 There are some old warehouses about a mile north of here。'
'How will I know them？'
'You'll not miss them。 They are surrounded by barricades。 But don't let this deter you； just walk straight up and knock。'
'Assuming that I have somehow avoided the attentions of the snipers who no doubt guard the place； who should I ask for？'
'Assuming that this miracle has occurred； then Rambo Bloodaxe is your man。'
'Rambo Bloodaxe？' Rex crumpled in hilarity。 'Don't wind me up。'
'I'm serious； mister。 They've all got names like that。 Brad the Impaler； Deathblade Eric。'
Rex shook his head。 'Might I suggest； that in your certainty for my forthing extinction； you are presuming to take liberties with my not inconsiderable intellect？ I feel the red mist ing on。' Rex clutched at his head and made a ferocious face。
'Hold on； hold on mister。 I'm telling you the truth。 I wouldn't lie to a dying man。' Rex peered through his fingers。 'Anyway；' the wretch continued； 'if you return to prove me wrong then。。。'
'Then it wouldn't go well for you。' Rex looked at his watch。 Whether or not Rogan Josh was telling the truth； or even a small part of it； seemed a matter for grave doubts。 But it was something at least； and this was his first day on the job。 If he screwed up； he would learn by his mistakes。 Rex pulled a three credit piece from his purse and tossed it towards the wretch。
Josh stared at it in horror。 'But you said。。。'
'I lied。' Rex took up his weatherdome and walked。
He returned to his car and punched the name of Rogan Josh into the console。 If he never got any further than dealing with informers； he should still be able to turn a handsome profit。 But what about Rambo Bloodaxe and his anthropophagous acolytes？ That was another matter。 But then； what did it matter？ If the whole thing was simply down to the Dalai remembering a few lost souls in the meditations； surely he could punch in any old name。
Rex pondered long and hard on this one。 He wasn't slow to conclude that the same thought must no doubt have crossed the mind of his predecessor。 Rex hadn't bothered to ask what became of him； assuming that he had found promotion。 Now he wasn't too sure。 Perhaps no…one ever got out of this job alive。
Rex shook his head； he was just being morbid。 Probably the drink。 But he would do well to be shrewd until he knew； for certain； exactly how the land lay。
A flicker of movement caught Rex's attention。 Someone had left the tavern and was ing across the car park。 Rex sank low in his seat and peeped into the wing mirror。 It was Rogan Josh。
The wretch； who suddenly didn't appear so wretched； strolled across to the Rigel Charger； disarmed the antipersonnel device and climbed aboard。 There was a roar of engines； a cloud of dust and a great whoosh as the car sped skywards。
Well now； thought Rex； smacking the battered 801 into drive； the plot thickens。 'Confirm identity and report destination；' said the console。
'Rex Mundi。' Rex glanced at the screen。 'In pursuit of Devianti informer。'
'Identification confirmed。 Have another day。'
The Rigel Charger sloped off through a bank of low cloud and Rex followed； the 801's guidance system locked into the heat pattern of its exhaust。 Rex sat back in his seat。 It was dead exciting； all this； just like the sci…fi videos he had grown up on。 'Zoom zoom；' said Rex Mundi。 'And away we go。'
Exactly why the 801's puter failed to recognize the high…voltage power cables ahead as a possible hazard to low…flying aircraft； and take the appropriate evasive action； was a matter for the pany crash crew and the accident investigators to file reports on later。
For now； the mother puter simply recorded that a blip had vanished from the main…screen； and pronounced； 'Car down； nuclear hazard； no survivors。 Repeat no survivors；'
There's one reborn every minute。 Dalai Dan
'Shame；' said Haff Ffnsh； 'I had high hopes for him。'
'Closedown on that one； I'm afraid。 Do you want me to cover the crash？ It's quite unexceptional。'
'No。' Haff stroked an organic module and the screen's membrane darkened。 'Fade up on the Dalai and we'll check the day's doings。'
'Dull； dull； dull。'
'Mr Madoc's directive。 We are but pawns in the game。'
'This station could do with a change of management。 If I was at the helm； things would be different。'
'Your views on the subject are well known to me。 Constant repetition does little to improve my opinion of them。'
'Just one week；' said Jovil Jspht； 'or even a day； you'd see some viewing figures； I can tell you。'
'What； killer maggots from the Earth's core？ Do me a favour。'
'I've circulated my memorandum。 It's legitimate material； Holy Writ stuff。'
'Mr Jspht； you are assistant controller of the largest network production in the galaxy。 Many would envy you your position。 Many； in fact； seek to take it。 Why can you not simply do the job you are paid so handsomely for？'
'No…one recognizes my true talents； e the revolution。。。'
'It did e。 Perhaps you were at lunch； you so often are。'
'One day the whole world will know my name；' said Jovil Jspht。
'Very possibly； but few will be able to pronounce it。 Kindly manipulate your module。'
'This is the time
This is the place
The time to face
What the fates have in store
It's double or drop
Do or die
And here's the guy
We've all been waiting for
He's the man with the most
The heavenly host
The holiest ghost
In the cosmic drama
And here he is
The shah of showbiz
The Dalai。。。 Dalai。。。 Dalai
Dalai。。。 Lama。'
'A catchy little number； I think you will agree。' The musical director raised his violet mohawk from the keyboard and smiled hopefully towards Gloria Mundi。
'It's crap；' she replied； 'but I suppose it will have to do。'
'There's another verse。。。'
'Have the Lamarettes rehearse it and I'll get back to you later。' Gloria turned upon her seven…inch heel and strode off across the studio floor。 The musical director watched her depart。 Certain words formed upon his pale blue lips； but they are better left unrecorded。
The Nemesis studio was by far and away the most lavish that any the Big Three stations possessed。 Nemesis was the most successful gameshow in pre…recorded history。
The original formula had been conceived as long ago as the 1950s； possibly even earlier。 But it held together now as well as it ever did。 Take one charismatic host； several thinly…clad lovelies and a star prize。 Then add a never…ending stream of contestants； willing to debase themselves in the holy cause of avarice。 Stir well and serve weekly。
No matter what variations the whim of fashion dictated； the original formula never failed。 But with Nemesis it had been brought to its apotheosis。
Nemesis had its genesis in the closing years of the twentieth century。 These were pretty grim times； by any reckoning。 Toxic pollution had finally succeeded in dissolving the ozone layer； the natural barrier that shielded the planet from the adverse effects of the sun's ultra…violet rays。 This triggered some very unpleasant changes in the Earth's eco…system。 Crops failed and sun…bathing became a pastime for the suicidally inclined。 Doomsday looked very much to be on the cards。
Plans had existed for years to construct vast underground food and medico synthesisation plants。 But successive governments； daunted by the costs； had each in turn quietly shelved them。 Now； with public unrest running hand in hand with spiralling inflation； it was quite out of the question。
However； there is nothing like a good war or natural catastrophe to bring out the religion in people。 And while the governments were growing bankrupt； the major churches of the day suddenly found that they had standing room only and that their coffers； so long empty； now brimmed to overflowing。 Hence the underground plants； which synthesised food and medical products from waste and probed deeply into the Earth's core to tap new sources of mineral wealth； came to be built by the Big Three。
The Buddhists； the Fundamentalists and the Jesuits。
Of course； it's to be doubted whether these pla