Page 43 of The Pacifist
“But alcohol has proven to be addictive.”
Hunter shrugged. “So has chocolate. It’s all a matter of moderation.”
The reporter frowned again and turned to Cole.
“What about your brother, Councilman Jonah, does he know about any of this?”
“Now he does.” Hunter’s tone was dry.
“I meant, did he know about it before Anne courageously spoke up?”
Cole answered, “Jonah is focused on his job in the Council. He’s not involved in running the family business.”
“But did he know about the beer?”
Cole looked away. “Why would we tell him when he could get in trouble for knowing about it?” It was clear that Cole was trying to avoid giving an outright lie, but Hunter didn’t have those scruples and groaned out loud.
“No, Jonah didn’t know about it and he’s probably going to be very upset about it. Do you have any more questions?”
“Yes.” Loraine kept her focus on Cole. “Did you know that many are now threatening to boycott Nostalgia Park when it opens? How do you feel about that?”
Cole sighed. “I think it’s sad. One of the reasons I agreed to help Hunter brew beer was my fascination with everything historical. The reason our theme park is so brilliant is that we spend a lot of time researching to get it right. It has been proven that beer and alcohol were a common thing in the past, and my dream would be to make it possible for our visitors at Nostalgia Park to experience what it tastes and feels like to enjoy alcohol.”
“You want to get your guests drunk?” The reporter’s tone was incredulous.
“Maybe not drunk, but Nostalgia Park is the closest thing there is to time traveling, and we would love for our guests to have as authentic an experience as possible. Wouldn’t it be fun if you could have a drink like in the olden days and see what it tasted like?”
“What about your sister’s accusations that you’ve been the leader of a crime syndicate for years?”
Cole tucked his hands in his pockets and looked sad. “I’m not sure if this is Anne’s cry for our attention, but the fact is that we haven’t seen her for years. Her allegations are absurd.”
“So except for the beer brewing there haven’t been illegal activities after dark in the park like she claims?”
“Listen, I’m sure people are intelligent enough to question how I would have time to lead a large crime syndicate like that when I’m busy running an entertainment dynasty with not only Nostalgia Park but also the world’s largest physical wellness center. Trust me, our focus and concern always has been and always will be on what happens during opening hours. For instance, right now we’re busy making plans for this summer’s grand opening of the Nostalgia Express, a real train that will take visitors around the park in a luxurious dining experience.”
Loraine took the bait. Like a curious child, she straightened up and lifted her eyebrows. “A real train?”
“Yes, a replica of a real train. But of course, we’ll have to scratch that if people are serious about boycotting us. We’ll know in a month when we open for season tickets. I’m just hoping the authorities and the public can see through Anne’s confusion.”
“And you, Hunter, are you willing to bear the consequences for your actions? Breaking the law could result in your being forced to leave the country.”
Hunter squared his shoulders. “As long as my wife comes with me, I have no problem going back to the Northlands. Living with all your rules is tough for someone like me.”
The reporter faced the camera, and spoke in a grave voice. “We’ve learned that the Cervici family denies running a crime syndicate. They do however admit to helping Hunter Hercules brew beer, to which Nmen attribute the holding of some kind of magical powers. Back to you in the studio.”
The two anchorwomen in the studio began another round of analyzing the interview. “It’s shocking to see a complete lack of regret for what they’ve done. They both openly admitted to breaking the law but there were no tears or promises of redemption.”
“No, it’s going to be interesting to see what will happen in this case, and of course the big question everyone is asking is, how will it affect our first male Councilman, Jonah Cervici? Can he stay or will his supporters hold him accountable for his family’s shocking behavior?”
“Not just that, but how much pressure will his critics put on their representatives in the Council?”
The camera zoomed in on the older of the women, who summed up. “We’ll continue to reach out to Jonah Cervici for an interview and keep you updated on this unfolding story.”
The atmosphere in the kitchen was heavy.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” I asked Jonah.
“Not while the press is out there.”
