Deputy Chancellor Muholland faced the delegation from the Union of East Pacific States. They danced diplomatically around the possibility of a trade agreement. Fortunately, those countries respected age. Unfortunately, that respect didn't actually translate into any kind of advantage. Their reverence for age was counterbalanced by a hard-headed certainty the future belonged to the young. The aged were supposed to step aside and be founts of wisdom.
When his secretary knocked discreetly and indicated an agent from the Methuselahs was waiting outside, the D.C. had a hard time hiding his relief as he apologetically bowed the delegation out of his office. He told the secretary to make sure they had a full schedule for the next few days so he could catch his breath.
***
Joe followed D.C. Mu
