El Presidente Lorenzetto waved to the crowds as he backed away from the balcony, the microphone and podium now being removed by various aides and handymen who stood by to do that sort of thing. Just inside, dozens of paparazzo and other reporters were taking photographs galore of the President as he regarded them with nods and smiles, and continued on to the next balcony to watch the parade.
"Ricardo! It was a good speech, a very good speech!" said Juan Fernandez, the Vice President of the Argentine Federation.
"It was a speech, what can I say?" said Lorenzetto with a shrug.
"Ah, but no matter what the crowd will eat it up," said Fernandez with a nod and a smile, "Just tell them things are alright and throw them fireworks - it works every time!"
"Fernandez my friend, you ignore history. Ah, nevermind. Have you talked to the Don Imago?"
"I haven't talked to Imago. This margarita is fantastic!"
"Yes, it's good - you should talk to Imago."
A terrible roar punctured the conversation as jets flew overhead, three of them in formation, to the raucous cries of joy in the streets below.
"I will talk to the Don, don't you worry, we need him," muttered Fernandez as he sipped his drink.
"Enough with the drinks, Fernandez, it's been three weeks and we need to make sure he's on board. You know he's got all Pacific shipping by the balls, with a foot or two locked in Atlantic shipping as well," said Lorenzetto rapidly and impatiently.
"He's small beans! He should be begging us for work, not the other way around!" said Fernandez exasperatedly, his face now red - likely the product of a bit too much alcohol.
"Should, could, would - we need to make these businesses aware that we're a government friendly to business. And that means supporting all business, even illegitimate ones like Imago's mafia," Lorenzetto reached for a glass and took a swig himself, cleared his throat, and went on, "And don't you forget who the labor unions side with."
"Fine! Fine, you have a point, God damn you'd think I was one of those obreros in the street below, the way you ride me."
With a wave of his hand Lorenzetto dismissed Fernandez, "Get some rest, or some women. Just talk to Imago within the week. If we're ever to get the ball rolling with foreign business we need to get in good with him now."
"Aye aye, capitan," said Fernandez with a drunken air as he stumbled inside.
Lorenzetto looked down at the streets below, practically roiling with the masses of Buenos Aires. Just as he turned to go inside, the jubliant air was punctuated with a gunshot and an explosion. One balcony nearby disintegrated as three Cabinet members plummeted to their doom, and a bullet smashed a window just to Lorenzetto's right.
Lorenzetto hit the deck as quickly as he could manage as several bullets more sprayed his balcony. He was safe - God willing - and the shooting stopped. Cautiously he peeked below, and saw several policemen attacking citizens with truncheons - two of them were obviously armed, three not-so-obviously. A sixth citizen broke free, reached into his coat, and pulled out something small and green. "Viva le revolucion!" he shouted just as a small explosion snuffed out the lives of everyone on that curb.
Lorenzetto got up and brushed himself off, with a troubled look on his face. The paparazzo immediately began grilling him.
"What's your official statement on what has just transpired here today, sir?"
"The parade was fantastic."
"No, sir, the shooting."
"An isolated incident, simply a bunch of troubled teenagers - a problem left by my predecessor but one I intend to fix, as sure as rain!"
"But El Presidente, what meaning do you attribute to the phrase viva-"
"This interview is over." And the bodyguards blocked him from sight.
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To: Democratic Nations of the World
From: Argentine Federation
Greetings from Argentina, land of the silver river! In this new millenium, we find that the value of friends is a commodity oft-overlooked but one not to be underappreciated. We ask the world at large - but specifically nations with interests close to home, such as Brazil and South Africa, to invest their businesses in Argentina. Here, you will find a lush paradise, with resources galore, and a government that KNOWS how to treat its friends!
Best regards,
President Ricardo Lorenzetto
