Page 14 of Prisoner of War
Josh waved the qualification away with an impatient movement. “Mega corporations have been aware of the value of symbolism for decades. They call it branding. Your version of branding is the uniform. Look, Nick, the only thing uniting these people is the dream of winning back their country. It’s intangible. Ifyou put the officers and as many of the army personnel as possible into uniform, that’s a tangible thing. It’s visual. It is a constant reminder of their identity. It will give them the impetus to keep going every time they see that uniform.”
Nick took a breath. “I hear you.” He let it out. “I do. But the money...”
“Hit someone up for a loan,” Josh said. “Believe me, it’s that critical. Youhave to give them something to hold onto. Vistaria was run under a military junta before the jerks came along and dumped you off the island. So, to Vistarians, the uniform is a symbol of order, peace and security. Get the uniforms, Nick.”
He rubbed his eyes again, unable to prevent the tired, defensive movement. “I have some estates in Ireland. I could raise a loan against them.”
Josh gave anembarrassed laugh. “I didn’t mean use personal money.”
“At the moment, that’s all there is. We have no people to tax and no government to tax them.”
“You mean all the money being spent to feed everyone, to pull off the offensive...it’s all raised against Escobedo personal holdings?”
“Every penny,” Nick said. It was the first time he had admitted it to anyone and it made him feel strangely vulnerable.He had been unable to tell Calli and there were few secrets he held from her, anymore.
Josh sucked in his lip, considering the startling news. Then he grinned and lightly punched Nick’s shoulder. “That’s a hell of a gamble there, Nick. You’d better make sure you win Vistaria back, huh?”
