Or maybe there actually was a way I could have done something to the doors with all this I just didn’t find it and they did or maybe they didn’t and someone else will figure it out in the next twenty minutes and make it work. That would be hilarious.

But it won’t happen because there will be other stuff happening real soon now and it’s gonna be hella distracting.

We get off the cable car and Saul waves and disappears like switching off a light. Guy steps into a shadow and he’s just gone.

Mad skills is what he has and that is why I hired him.

We walk down to the plateau making nice all the way.

—

All the world is here very high very rich very society. Europe is here not just Switzerland and a few people from beyond it is that kind of party and somehow Banjo Telemark is at the center of it. There are other artists in little clumps and if I was really into this whole art thing it would bother me how much these guys hate me right now for coming out of nowhere and being the star of the show.

Not that a single one of them will admit to not having heard of me until last week. Hell no.

They cluster and wave. A meager little fuck in a robe thing puts out his hand Banjo hi hi it is Grover Linden we met in Auckland and of course of course Grover I love your work and now Grover is shiny and he will go back to his little clique to say I am a genius or maybe to laugh because I went for it and that does not matter at all.

None of it matters except the job. What happens next.

I’m going to change everything.

If it works.

In the meantime I am sophisti-fucking-qué up the wazoo.

I schmooze.

“Greetings!”

“Loved your Milan thing.”

“Enchanté this is my manager Crianza Regatta enchanté.”

“Saw your review you fuck I will cut you no I am joking of course hug me—”

Sophisti-fucking-qué. That is how I roll.

“I AM BANJO TELEMARK hallo hallo LOVE ME YES I AM YOUR GOD that is clearly a lie hello sir very nice to meet you THIS WORLD WILL END AND A NEW ONE WILL ARISE oh thank you no champagne just a juice of some sort would be—perfect—oh Madame Director such a pleasure is my equipment all in place—”

“Well some Banjo some I trust it will be acceptable we were not able to bring all of the scrap up to the plateau in time in fact I think perhaps half remains—”

“That is fine Madame Director that is perfect in fact the aspect of doubt the confusion PERFECT would you care to trigger the smoke?”

“What without announcing the EVENT Banjo people will—”

“Be confused? Miss the beginning?”

“Well—yes—”

“PRECISELY!”