1 They Called It Art

Nervously, Brad Donovan peered through the crack separating the wall from the door of the Vice-president’s chamber. The door creaked as it was pushed slightly, and Brad was very self-conscious about that creak when he entered the office, papers in hand, to face the honey-sweet friendly smile the Vice- President offered him. He cleared his throat weakly and stood still, waiting.

The Vice-President of Earth was an elderly, stoic man. His face was seasoned – but so would be the face of any man whose lifelong pursuit was mainly composed of caring for ten billion human beings on three different worlds. Man’s expansion through the solar system was an amazing relief and a delight to many, but one could certainly say it didn’t make the life of most governing parties any easier. Brad winced mentally at the thought that with all of the Vice-President’s varied duties, hearing out a college graduate from the Martian pole with notorious ideas wasn’t on the top of his schedule.

That, he reminded himself, was why he’s been waiting a whole year. He couldn’t possibly spoil it all now. He had to be determined, direct and confident.

“Mr. Vice-President…â€