“Well,” Humphrey says, “it looks like the financing package is coming together for the office tower we want to build there. Ambank is showing serious interest, and that will seal things if they go for it.”

“But Humphrey!” Jim protests. “The occupancy rate out in Santiago office buildings is only about thirty percent! You tried to get people to commit to this complex and you couldn’t find anybody!”

“True, but I got a lot of written assurances that people would consider moving in if the building were there, especially when we promised them free rent for five years. The notes have convinced most of the finance packagers that it’s viable.”

“But it isn’t! You know that it isn’t! You’ll build another forty-story tower out there, and it’ll stand there empty!”

“Nah.” Humphrey shakes his head. “Once it’s there it’ll fill up. It’ll just take a while. The thing is, Jim, if you get the land and the money together at the same time, it’s time to build! Occupancy will take care of itself. The thing is, we need the final go-ahead from Ambank, and they’re so damn slow that we might lose the commitment of the other financiers before they get around to approving it.”

“If you build and no one occupies the space then Ambank is going to end up holding the bills! I can see why they might hesitate!”

But Humphrey doesn’t want to think about that, and he’s got a meeting with the company president in a half hour, so he shoos Jim out of his office.

Jim goes back to his console, picks up the phone, and calls Arthur. “Listen, I’m really interested in what we talked about the other night. I want—”

“Let’s not talk about it now,” Arthur says quickly. “Next time I see you. Best to talk in person, you know. But that’s good. That’s real good.”

Back to work, fuming at Humphrey, at his job, at the greedy and stupid government, from the local board of supervisors up to Congress and this foul administration. Shift over, three more hours sacrificed to the great money god. He’s on the wheel of economic birth and death, and running like a rat in it. He shuts down and prepares to leave. Scheduled for dinner at the folks’ tonight—

Oh shit! He’s forgotten to visit Uncle Tom! That won’t go over at all with Mom. God. What a day this is turning out to be. What time is it, four? And they have afternoon visiting hours. Mom’s sure to ask. There’s no good way out of it. The best course is to track down there real quick and drop in on Tom real briefly before going up for dinner. Oh, man.

Chapter 12

12