Page 42 of The Pacifist
“You’re right. This would explain her social problems with teammates in the past.”
“Yes, the poor woman has been carrying a heavy burden of fear on her shoulders. Thank Mother Nature that her brave sister Anne found the courage to come out and share what kind of oppressive family structure they’ve all lived under. The lies and the deceit. It’s unfathomable what Cole Cervici and others responsible have gotten away with for, apparently, years.”
The younger of the anchorwomen shook her head. “There are so many unanswered questions at the moment. And more accusations are coming in as we speak from viewers who are commenting on this story.”
The other woman, who was in her fifties, lowered her eyes and read from a screen in front of her, “One viewer wrote, one year we went to Nostalgia Park and I knew something wasn’t right the minute we got there. I have a sense for these things and it was clear that all the employees seemed afraid, like someone was forcing them to be there. I’ll bet they were all being threatened or something.”
“Oh, come on.” Jonah took a long, steadying breath. “Have people lost their minds?”
“Another viewer writes, I didn’t vote for Jonah Cervici and I warned my friends that he couldn’t be trusted, but they wouldn’t listen and look at us now: having a criminal on our council. It’s an outrage! We need to demand that he resigns immediately.”
It was like the air had been sucked out of the kitchen and no one said a word.
“We’re being told that Loraine with our eyes-on-the-ground team has been granted an interview with members of the Cervici family. Let’s hear what they have to say.”
A petite woman wearing a yellow winter coat with a matching hat showed up and spoke directly into the camera. “I’m here in front of the entrance to Nostalgia Park, which has been voted the best theme park in the world three times since it opened almost ten years ago. With us are Hunter Hercules and Cole Cervici, who have agreed to respond to the allegation from Anne Cervici. Let’s begin with you, Cole. Many describe you as the head of the Cervici family since you’re the spokesperson for the park and all your other businesses. What was your reaction when you heard what your sister, Anne, had to say?”
Cole stood with his legs slightly spread and his right hand locked around his left wrist. “We are all overwhelmed with sadness to see a member of our family in such a state of confusion.”
“So, you claim it’s all made up?”
“Not all of it. The sex club is real but that’s a legitimate and legal part of our entertainment business. It’s also true that we did have a fire at our property last night.”
“And can you confirm that equipment to brew alcohol was found along with a laboratory to produce drugs?”
Cole frowned and shook his head. “There was never any laboratory on our property nor have we ever produced drugs.”
“Are you saying Anne made that up?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“But one of the firemen who helped extinguish the fire explained that they found evidence of beer brewing.”
Hunter raised his hand. “That’s my fault.”
Loraine changed her focus to him. “What do you mean by that? And before you answer, Hunter, let me just explain to our viewers that your role in the Cervici family is that you are married to Emanuela, whom you met when you first began playing soccer for the Dolphins.”
“That’s right.” Hunter stood confident, with a relaxed stance.
“And you were saying that the beer brewing is your fault.”
“One hundred percent! It’s no secret that we Nmen love to drink beer. It’s one of the reasons why we’re so big and strong compared to you Motlanders. As an athlete, I can’t afford to grow weak. That’s why I convinced Cole to let me brew beer in his storage room.”
“You convinced him to break the law?”
“Yes.” Hunter folded his arms and his expression was stern. “It wasn’t that hard when I told him I’d go back to the Northlands if I didn’t get some beer. Cole loves his sister very much and wasn’t interested in having Emanuela moving that far away.”
“Speaking of Emanuela, does she know about your addiction to beer?”
“I’m not addicted. I just love it and it’s healthy.”
“But hasn’t she tried to help you overcome this urge?”
“No. Why would she when she sees it’s my secret potion to being better and faster than her in soccer? Emanuela is too smart to try and change me. She respects that I come from a different culture and she’s not as judgmental as the rest of you.”
Loraine stiffened. “You’re calling us judgmental?”
“Uh-huh. You think that you’re better than us and you’re convinced that your way is the right way. None of you take into consideration that beer was a treasured part of human culture for thousands of years. The real tragedy here isn’t that I hid a small home brewery. The real tragedy is that it burned down and that the rest of you have no clue what you’re missing out on.”
