Applicaion for Street-entertainer’s licence

Applicaion for Street-entertainer’s licence

Description of entertainment proposed.

Wooden box strapped to the entertainer’s chest, and of similar dimensions, presents to the audience a small curtain. This the entertainer removes to show a moving picture with sound.

I read no further. The moment I had read this I saw in a flash such boxes in every room across the empire. The question was did they exist? If I were to bring them to the attention of the image control power they would accept me. Then I will be allowed the best life possible.

I went insearch of this Fishface and found him. Licence granted I said, now let me see the box. It is not made yet, he replied. Come back tonight. His monkey walked me to the door most disconcertingly erect on his hind legs.

I returned that night. He had made it, he said and indicated a wooden box with straps before me on the table. He strapped it on and removed the curtain, which was a plain piece of cloth of the same material as the straps. Inside was a small wooden figure jointed limbs which shook about wildly as the old man did a rather stiff and disconnected dance. Inside the box some small bells jingled.

I left disappointed. Frustrated, I determined to invent the box I had imagined. The box with which to cement together the empire. Image control will become absolute. A discreet withdrawl of finance from all other image sources. I will make the weapon of power.

Fishface, of course, had not shown him the actual box the boy had given him. He had hidden that and made the other in order to decieve the licence giver into granting the licence now folded in his pocket. The boy perhaps did not appreciate the difficulties such an extraordinary object could get them into.