Musings of a Postmodern Vampire by P. J. Day

Author:P. J. Day [Day, P. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Vampires
Publisher: Pangolin Press
Published: 2017-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Fifty minutes passed on the G4 highway leading into the heart of Guangzhou.

We came upon a bridge over the Pearl River. It had been around 25 minutes or so since we crossed into China at the Lo Wu border crossing. It was a smooth transition; the sleek car most likely helped things a bit, too. We gave the customs attendant in a booth our passports, and with a head nod and a flick of the finger, he let us through in around 30 seconds. China loves its current injection of capitalism; three Americans in a Benz… it can only mean another transfer of wealth and production from Cleveland to Panyu.

The city was enormous. Daunting, in fact. Guangzhou’s topography seemed relatively flat, which gave it an air of perpetual growth. Factories spread out as far as the eye could see. A patchwork quilt of pollutants draped over the city in a brown haze, like a proud byproduct of unrestrained progress and growth, unshackled by concurrent regulations of morally relativistic societies that could impede a people hell-bent on the future, who see themselves as a whole rather than a one.

“Goddamn, it’s like staring into an anachronistic past, isn’t it?” I said to Alan and Rebecca.

“Anachronistic?” asked Alan.

“Yeah, it’s like Dickens meets Philip K. Dick. It looks too industrious to be healthy, don’t you think?”

“You’re right. How can people put up with breathing this shit?” Alan said. “Thank goodness we live in a cleaner country.”

“No, I think we just do a better job of hiding all our contamination,” Rebecca said.

“Nonsense,” Allen retorted.

“No way. Listen, I heard if you are knowingly polluting over here and you get caught, it’s an automatic death sentence,” Rebecca said.

“She’s got a point. There still hasn’t been a proper response to the whole children’s Tylenol or BP fiasco has there?” I said.

“Um, I don’t think both those situations were done out of intentional malice or on purpose, that would be bad for business.”

“Okay, fine, negligence at the very least; yet, no one has been investigated or prosecuted for the gross negligence,” Rebecca added.

“It’s apples and oranges. In fact, this whole conversation hasn’t been consistent from the start.” Alan then took a deep breath and continued, “Yes, both countries pollute; however, in China, the government is the economy and vice versa in the States; those in government want to be part of the economy.” Alan paused. “Look, it’s complicated and I really don’t want to get into it. We have more pressing matters to worry about.”

“So, you’re saying the free-market is self-correcting pollution away? I doubt that,” I added.

Alan just ignored me and decided not to take the argumentative bait.

“I’m getting a headache,” Rebecca said loudly.

“Jack, give me your phone,” Alan said, abruptly changing the conversation.

Ted didn’t text me during the entire car trip to Guangzhou. I probably sent him a dozen more texts, hoping he’d answer back; none were returned. With much hesitation, I handed my phone to Alan. He then took the back panel off, taking out the battery and the SIM card.

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