Nick smiled. ‘I guess so.’

‘Yet you have found time to be here. Why?’

‘Curiosity.’

‘Ah. I see. You are a spectator. Perhaps an official observer.’

‘Definitely not official.’

‘How did you obtain an invitation?’

‘By knowing the right people.’

The man nodded. ‘The true division of mankind. Not male and female. Not black and white. Not even rich and poor. But the right people … and the wrong people.’

‘Will you be bidding this evening?’

‘That is what I have been sent here to do. And you?’

‘Not sure.’

‘Are you limitlessly wealthy?’

‘Is anyone?’

‘Surprisingly, yes. More than you might imagine. Many of them are represented here. Because this is a unique opportunity: to buy something that properly speaking cannot be bought.’

‘Which is?’

The man looked at the image of a sparkling waterfall on the screen nearest to them. ‘The future,’ he murmured. ‘Nothing less.’

Further conversations of a more humdrum nature ensued as Nick wandered through the gathering. Everyone was polite but guarded. No one was really willing to tell him anything, about themselves, about the people who’d sent them, about what exactly they thought they were buying. Champagne was sipped, canapés were nibbled, tablets consulted. The screens continued to display their seductive visions of idyllic landscapes, in ever greater abundance as more and more of the guests manipulated their particular favourites. The atmosphere in the room seemed to absorb the freshness and clarity of the images on the screens. Suspicious as he was of everything and everyone there, Nick nevertheless felt a strange elation growing within him.

An hour had passed with deceptive speed when the tablets informed their holders that bidding would begin in five minutes. No auctioneer appeared. This clearly wasn’t going to be an auction on traditional lines. To this point no one had stepped forward to identify themselves as a spokesperson for Quartizon. No one had taken charge of the event. It was obvious to Nick the other guests knew something he didn’t. There’d been preliminaries to the event he hadn’t been party to.

‘Feel excited?’ asked the man he’d had the elliptical conversation with earlier, reappearing next to him.

‘Yes, I do.’ And it was true. Nick did feel excited – and apprehensive.

‘That will be the extra-oxygenated atmosphere.’

‘Are you serious?’

‘Oh yes. Nothing has been left to chance. Even though no one who really matters is physically present here this evening.’ He cast a glance round the room. ‘I know. It is hard to believe we are all so … inconsequential.’