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Gods Inc, a novel by Sally Bruce

Gods Inc is allegory about the struggles of modern life, from infidelity, regret and redemption, to global power and man’s exploitation of the world. Gods Inc manifests as a hypothesis about life after death that logically explains phenomena such as reincarnation, ghosts, incubi, and UFOs as real and scientific rather than fanciful or supernatural.

David Sands, an arrogant high-flying business executive, in the midst of marital conflict, finds himself waking up after an horrific car accident in a strange technically advanced society. It is a world run by cutthroat companies, where the dead are known as Players and hold a number of accounts for the companies they work for. Accounts are living people. The story follows David’s struggle, firstly to come to terms with his own death and the shocking reality that life is a game, and then, discovering his mortal wife is in grave danger, to do all in his power as a Player to save her from a torturous death.

Full of twists you won't see coming, and with a sting (or two) in the tail, Gods Inc  is a fast paced page turner.

I am currently seeking representation from UK agents. Here is a snippet from the first part of the book.

*WARNING - CONTAINS SOME LANGUAGE THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE*

This is for all the people who don’t like to think about dying.

This is for all the people who feel truly confident in their religion, and know that they will be saved.

And this is for all the people who dare not think at all because they are sure that

there is nothing.

I’m not going to preach about God, or atheism, evolutionism, or any other ‘ism’.

I am going to tell you something monumental. I am going to tell you what happens when you die.

Jack

CHAPTER ONE

The day David Sands died was like any other Friday. Georgina was making him breakfast, a full English, as she did every morning before he went to work and she stood at the aga in the middle of the kitchen diner. As the smoke from the bacon wafted up she switched on the extractor fan inside the massive beaten copper hood. David sat, as he always did, at the far end of the old oak kitchen table.

He watched his wife as she cooked. Her apron tied snugly around her body, emphasised her slender waist and gentle curves. David swallowed and crossed his legs. How many nights had it been now? She used to be up for it all the time. He tapped his thigh, four times.

‘You know, David, bacon and sausage everyday isn’t good for you. Why don’t I make you some porridge tomorrow?’ said Georgina looking over her shoulder at David.

‘If you can’t be bothered…’

Georgina turned around, her brow furrowed and mouth open in disbelief.

‘Can’t be bothered?’ she raised her voice ‘Well that’s nice! Why the hell do you think I do this for you every morning?’

‘I didn’t realise you resented it so much…’

‘David, I wish you wouldn’t.’

‘Wouldn’t what?’

‘Be nasty.’

‘Oh for Christ sake. And you think we should be bringing a kid into all of this.’

‘All of what?’

There was silence as Georgina waited for an answer. Frustrated, she slammed a saucepan into the sink with a loud clatter.

David huffed, and bent down to retrieve his briefcase placing it on the table in front of him. ‘I have to go to work.’

Georgina rubbed her palms either side of her waist trying to compose herself. ‘Sometimes I think you just start these arguments to give you an excuse,’ she said.

‘Me start them?’ David started rummaging inside his briefcase and retrieved his blackberry. ‘Look, Georgie, you just keep going on and on about having kids. Don’t you get it? I need some space on this. I’m not ready right now.’ He started to search through his emails.

‘You brought it up, not me. You know very well why I’m anxious about it. I’m thirty-four, David. You’re stopping me…’

‘Stopping you?’

‘You may be stopping me ever having children. Anyway, I really can’t see why you have a problem with it. It’s not as though I’d expect you to do anything. You know I’ll take care of the baby by myself. You probably won’t even notice…’

‘Yeah like I’m not going to notice the crying during the night and you getting up and down every five minutes. You never think things through.’

Georgina finished frying the eggs and placed them onto the plate in front of David. ‘It’s okay for you, you’re younger than I am, and you’re a man. You don’t know what it’s like to be a thirty four year old woman with no children.  Julie ….’

‘Julie…Julie…Julie…Julie. I’m sick of hearing about Julie and her boring IVF!’

‘It’s getting worse, last night was awful, I hardly got any sleep.’

‘Here we go…’

‘David!’

‘Your night terrors have nothing to do with not having a baby, it’s ridiculous.’

‘Bruce says…’

‘You know what I think about Bruce and any other shrink for that matter.’

‘He says it’s your attitude…’

‘He wants to get into your knickers you mean. Christ Georgie, do you know how it makes me feel that my wife is seeing a shrink? What must it look like?’

‘Don’t be silly David. Why does everything have to be about you?’

‘You tell me. It’s you who’s always going on about what Bruce says about me, and about how I’m apparently the main cause of all your problems. Do you ever stop to think how that makes me feel? Did you get the toast?’

Georgina was silent. Her eyes started to water.

‘I don’t know what you expect me to do,’ David continued. ‘I work damned hard. You have no idea what shit I go through every day. You haven’t a clue. Do I have to get my own toast?’

‘Sod the toast! I…I take care of you, the house…’

‘Big deal. I wish I could play house all day.’

‘If we had a kid…’

‘Look, I don’t want a kid with you right now Georgie. Shit, I don’t even like kids.’

            ‘I can’t believe you just said that! How could you say such a thing? You are just trying to hurt me!  Well that’s nice, that’s really nice! If you really mean it, you could have told me before we married. Before I…’ Georgina clenched her fists and swallowed back the tears, ‘wasted my time…’

            ‘Oh I see. Well why don’t you just fuck off with that perfect shrink of yours. I’m sure he can’t wait to give you all the kids you want!’

            ‘Don’t be like that, you know I’m just seeing him about the night terrors. I have to have someone to talk to, or I’ll go mad. You used to talk to me. Now you’re never interested. I don’t know why you’ve changed!’

            ‘Look, I don’t need this right now. I have to go to work. You have all day to lounge around and phone your Mum to moan about me. Some of us have a job to do. We don’t have the luxury.’

With these parting words, he pushed his half eaten breakfast away and picked up his briefcase.

‘Don’t you just walk away!’ Tears streamed down Georgina’s cheeks.

Be strong, be strong. Don’t go after him. She sat down at the kitchen table and lowered her head into her hands. No longer fighting her emotions she sobbed ardently letting her tears drip onto the oiled oak.

***

David slammed the heavy dark oak door of his five bed-roomed, executive home, and climbed quickly into his silver BMW seven series. He tapped the dashboard four times before starting up the engine and pointing the remote at the electric gates. He revved the engine, throwing up gravel as he drove rather too quickly through them, and out of the cul-de-sac. No doubt his neighbour Phil, with his two noisy kids, would have something to say about it next time he saw him. He glanced back at Phil’s house clocking the brand new Range Rover parked in front of the garage. Poser.

On the long drive into work, he struggled to keep his eyes open. Talk about night terrors. He’d had another of his dreams about those stupid black eyed aliens, the type people claim to be abducted by, except that he, he was the only person who saw what they were really like, how grotesque they really were. It was a stupid recurring nightmare that had haunted him since he was old enough to remember. He never sought counselling. He didn’t have a pet shrink.

David brooded over the argument with his wife, and became more and more bitter. He had always prided himself in the way he provided for Georgina, kept her protected and, he thought, happy, like a real man should. But now, it seemed that he was the source of all her unhappiness, and this was a difficult thing for him to handle. It was obvious to him that Georgina’s therapist, Bruce, had ulterior motives; after all, she was a very beautiful woman.  He hated the thought of another man getting close to his wife. He wondered whether he ought to hire someone to follow her.  He thought about Jonathan Black. But so far he’d drawn a blank finding Charley. Maybe Jon wasn’t up to the job. He made a mental note to give him a call later in the day.

The argument with Georgina had made David five minutes behind schedule. This added to his annoyance, as five minutes at this time of the morning quickly became thirty minutes due to the volume of traffic.

David worked for one of the UK’s largest food retail establishments and was the youngest executive on the Group Board.  At around six foot tall, he could easily be described as a beautiful looking man. His wavy dark brown, almost black, hair was styled slightly longer than was the norm for a senior executive of a blue chip company, but he got away with it, partly due to the sharp pinstriped suits and immaculately shined shoes he wore. His dark brown eyes gave him the illusion of depth and sincerity, that many would say was lacking in reality, and women especially were taken in by them.

David’s career had spiralled quickly upwards, occasionally helped along its way by a few white lies and creativity on his CV, and undoubtedly also by his outward appearance, but now he had made it, and no longer needed a CV.  His name alone did it all for him.

David pulled into the underground car park underneath the Foodfest Head Office and drove round to the executive parking area by the lifts. A plaque on the wall read ‘David Sands Marketing Director’ and he backed in and edged up to the wall. Aware that he was late, he wasted no time in grabbing his briefcase from the back seat of the car and entering the lift. He was too senior to have any worries about repercussions for being late, but David hated the example it set to his subordinates.

Just as the lift doors began to close there came a shout from inside the car park.

‘Hold the lift!’

David recognised the voice and the tottering sound of high stilettos as Carol Smithers ran breathlessly towards the lift. He hit the door open button and Carol skidded in.

‘Oh David, I’m sorry.’

‘Late again Carol?’

Carol caught her breath and lifted her eyes to David.

‘Well I’ve always been a bad girl, Mr Sands.’

It was then, with her blue eyes gazing up at him, and her lips pouted like a spoilt teenager, that David decided to take Carol out for lunch that day.

‘So Ruth is always telling me’ he smiled.

Despite being fairly new the layout of the offices at Foodfest was pretty traditional. The Company philosophy shied away from the more modern practice of open plan offices, even for the executives. Nor did the employees address each other as ‘colleagues’, no matter what their status. At Foodfest, there were ‘staff’ and ‘management’ and unless there was a radical shake up in management, it would stay that way. However, the offices were modern and minimal and maintained to an immaculate standard.

‘Morning David,’ said David’s PA as he walked past her into his office.

‘Morning Ruth, can you get me a coffee please and then can we go through my appointments for today? I need to make room for lunch with a client later. And order me a bacon sandwich, I had to skip breakfast today.’

The telephone on Ruth’s desk began to ring. Carol hurriedly took a seat behind her desk opposite Ruth.

‘Yep, won’t be a moment.’ Ruth picked up the ringing phone. ‘Good morning, David Sands’ office…No…no Mr Sands wouldn’t be interested…no, sorry, he doesn’t take cold calls, you need to put it in writing to him, goodbye. Carol, I’m putting my calls through to you for a while, okay, do you think you could manage that?’

Carol was an assistant PA and not particularly bright. David knew she would never make a PA herself but kept her around anyway, despite Ruth’s many derisory comments about her. He liked looking at Carol, with her big breasts and her long, blond hair. She was only twenty, and a whole head shorter than Georgie, but David thought she looked ‘dirty’ and he liked that. So far, his professionalism and loyalty towards Georgina had prevented him from acting upon his urges, but today he had had enough. He was angry and hurt, and the thought of taking Carol out eased those feelings. It would only be a spot of lunch, so what harm could that do? After all, thought David, he was probably about the only one on the whole damned board, that didn’t have a bit on the side.

Ruth walked into David’s office and poured him a cup of filtered coffee from the flask. He liked it black with no sugar. She then poured her own, white coffee and came to sit down opposite him at his desk.

‘You have Sally Stead, coming to give you a presentation for the new chilled organic foods advertising campaign at ten. That may take a couple of hours. You don’t have anything else until two, when there’s a board meeting regarding this year’s pay review, oh sorry, no, you have John Belton from S and R packaging, at twelve, I didn’t see it there…’

‘Cancel him. I have an important lunch appointment.’

‘But you cancelled him last week, what shall I say? Should I rearrange?’

‘Yes, try and fit him in Monday, if you can. We need to get this packaging thing sorted out. We’re under more and more pressure from the green brigade. Boring stuff but it has to be done. Are you sure that’s all?

‘Tom was asking if you’d done the bonus sheets yet.’

‘They’re in the file there. I need to have a chat with Carol later.’

‘If it’s about her being late again…’

‘No I’ll leave that to you…I think I need to give her a bit of a pep talk.’

‘Waste of time if you ask me…’

‘Thank you Ruth, that’ll be all’

David sat back in his chair and spun round to look at his view over the city. Best office in the building he thought. Georgina would be on the phone soon, as she always was. Either that, or she would text him with some lovey-dovey, or comical message to smooth him over.

Ten o’clock arrived with no message and no phone call. David touched the telephone on his desk softly, four times.

Sally Stead provided him with a colourful and well-rehearsed presentation on the new range of organic ready prepared meals they would soon be rolling out. Sally was a high-flying career woman, who, at only thirty-eight had built up her own advertising agency from scratch. Her company had won the contract for the past two years at Foodfest, mainly because David admired her for standing up to the opposition, and for achieving so much in a man’s world. One thing he wasn’t, was chauvinistic.

Throughout the presentation, David’s mind wandered a little, as he became more and more aware that Georgina had not attempted to contact him. He closed his fist around his thumb, letting it slide in and out. He thought about Georgina and what she used to be like. How they used to talk for hours. How she couldn’t keep her hands off him. His mind also wandered to Carol. He wondered what it would be like to fuck her.

‘So David what d’you think?’

‘Sorry, what was that?’

Sally looked puzzled, ‘About the new leading lady? About the breaking away from the housewife homely image?’

‘Yes Sally it’s great – finger on the pulse as you always have. I trust your judgement.’

Sally was still frowning. She looked unconvinced.

‘You all right David?’

‘’Course, carry on.’

‘So, our new, empowered woman, sitting with her laptop in the board meeting, tapping away – she’s actually doing her weekly shopping – no one sees, no one knows. No time is wasted in her busy life. Cut to the romantic meal for two with her husband. Cut to close up of the product. The message it gives? With Foodfest, even the busiest top executive has time for cooking romantic meals for two using the best organic ingredients. It’s no longer for the woman with time on her hands, or who’s good at cooking. Ready meals don’t have to be mass produced rubbish.’

‘Excellent Sally. Can you get me the first cut by Monday please? I’d like to get it passed by the board.’

‘You don’t want to change anything? You usually…’

‘No, I said it was excellent. Well done. Can you liase with Ruth to make sure you get to see me on Monday?’

‘Yes, no problem. Thanks David. Have a good weekend.’

‘You too.’

As soon as Sally had left the room, David spun round in his chair and gazed at the city outside. His heart was pounding. Georgina had not contacted him and he was about to do something he knew was wrong.  He tapped the arms of his chair and called Carol into his office.

‘Come in Carol, help yourself to a coffee.’

‘Thanks.’

‘How’s the job going?’

‘All right I suppose, I mean I love working for you, it’s just Ruth, she…’

‘Ruth’s a perfectionist, she’s trying to get the best from you.’

‘Could have fooled me, just yesterday…’

‘How do you fancy a spot of lunch? Just you and me,’ said David looking Carol hard in the eye.

‘I’d love to,’ Carol smiled, but averted her eyes, ‘am I ok dressed like this?’

David looked at her overtly displayed cleavage. ‘You’ll be fine. We have to be discreet though. I don’t want you blabbing about it. People may get the wrong idea, understand?’

Carol giggled.

‘Meet me at the Red Lion on Russell Street, one o’clock, restaurant side,’ said David.

‘I’m driving myself?’ Carol looked a little disappointed.

‘As I said, we have to be discreet…If you don’t want to…’

‘No, no, I want to. I’ll be there at one.’

‘Now if Ruth says anything, tell her I was giving you a pep talk. Ok? Now back to work, I’ll see you later.’

Carol got up and left the office with a smirk on her face. David began to worry that he’d just done a very stupid thing, but something had changed. Whatever had held him back before, had vanished. Georgina was a very foolish woman to have neglected him today.

***

On his way home from work, David felt a few pangs of guilt, especially about the kiss in the pub car park, and the surreptitious way he and Carol got into their respective cars to drive back separately to the office.  He had never done anything disloyal to Georgina before, but he still felt angry with her, and somehow felt justified in his little indiscretion.  He decided to give Jon a call.

‘Jon, it’s David. Just thought I’d give you a bell on the off chance you’d found anything?’

‘Sorry Dave, you know I’ll ring you as soon as there’s anything new. It’s a difficult one this.’

‘So you keep saying. It’s really pissing me off. And It’s David. How many times do I have to tell you?’

‘Yeah I know, I’m sorry.’

‘ Look, I want results, else what am I paying you for?’

‘I’m good, but I’m no magician.’

‘Yeah, well it’s about time you turned into one. I’m suffering here you know.’

‘All I can say, is that you’re in good company. You want me to keep trying?’

‘Yeah, I guess.’

David cut the call.

It was a cold January night and very dark. His eyes strained against the dazzling headlights of the traffic on the opposite carriageway.  He was tired and really didn’t feel like walking back into another row with his wife. He began to wonder whether he had ever really loved Georgina, or whether it had merely been lust. But this feeling was fleeting. He knew she was the love of his life. He never told her that of course, but why should he? Actions speak louder than words, and the fact that he was with her, and provided for her was proof enough. The truth was, he couldn’t imagine life without Georgina. She was his rock; the only person who knew him up close and personal, who knew all his insecurities and fears, despite the unbreakable exterior he portrayed to everyone else.

Georgina always cared for David and supported him in every aspect of his life. If only she would chill out over the baby thing, she would be almost perfect. She had everything else she could wish for in life and didn’t even have to go out to work. What woman would want more? The baby issue was such a fly in the ointment. He only wanted her to wait a couple more years. Maybe then he would be ready to handle another kid. Was that too much to ask? Was it a fair reason for him to be painted as the villain? He supposed Georgina may be a little more sympathetic if she knew about Charley. But what if it had the opposite effect? He had just never found the right time to tell her. In any case he couldn’t tell her now, not after five years. She’d be devastated.

David imagined what it would be like if Georgina’s mother found out. It just didn’t bear thinking about. One thing that really annoyed him was the interfering attitude of his mother-in-law. It was bad enough her going on about not having a grandchild. In fact, if he had to endure one more snide comment from her, then he would let her have it with both barrels! 

‘What the fuck!’ Terror ricocheted through David like a harpoon. He slammed on the brakes too late. David could see the bright headlights of an artic’ rise thirty feet up into the air above him, and felt the thud of his head hitting the airbag, closely followed by the crunch of the car roof as it crumpled on top of him. There was no pain, just heat and the sensation of pleasantly warm water snaking its way around him. As the warmth encased him, David realised to his horror that it was his own blood. His stomach felt full. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. It was choking him. As panic swept over him, he knew he was dying. ‘Oh shit shit shit sh..’

CHAPTER TWO

So the stories about the light were true! David felt warm, relaxed, and even ecstatic as the light enveloped him. Was he in hospital? Could it be the lights of an operating table? He could see a vague shape of a small child bending over him.

            ‘Mister?’ the blond girl said. David’s eyes could not focus properly but she looked to be around five or six. ‘Mister, have you seen my Mummy?’

            David’s stomach lurched, ‘Charley?’

            ‘Rebecca, leave him alone, come here now, you have to go,’ a woman’s voice.

            ‘But I want my Mummy!’

            The little girl was quickly scooped up by a female figure and was gone.

            David thought he was hallucinating. The brightness was dazzling. Where was he? Suddenly a larger shape was bending over him. A surgeon?

‘Doctor?’ he managed to croak.

No response.

‘Will I be all right?’

‘David,’ a male American voice sounded, ‘you need to come with me. Do you think you can get up?’

David suddenly felt empty. It was at times like this that he needed Georgina.

‘David, I need you to get up and come with me,’ the smiling, slightly familiar looking figure requested. ‘There’s a car waiting.’

David looked around. Things still did not look right. They were whiter and brighter than before. Obviously the accident had done something to his eyes. He noticed he was naked and hurriedly cupped his hands over his groin.

‘I … I’m sorry’ he said, embarrassed. ‘I don’t know what’s happened’.

‘If you will get up, I will sort things out for you. You have to come with me.’

David was no mug. He knew there were some very strange people about and this man was almost certainly one of them. But what choice did he have? Here he was in the middle of God knows where, with no clothes, no money, and not a clue what had happened to him. He cleared his throat. ‘Any ID?’

The man shook his head. ‘You don’t need ID here. All the info you need is out there for all to see. You just need to learn how to read it. The name’s Jack.’ He held out his dark, immaculately manicured right hand. David declined the handshake with a nod towards his otherwise occupied hands, and got shakily to his feet.

He became aware of a darkness creeping in around him. The darkness was alive and seemed riddled with figures. There were wailing sounds and screams, groans, and mutterings. The sounds and the darkness were getting closer. David felt as though he were hallucinating. It was like that time he had taken LSD at Glastonbury. Was that where he was? Was it LSD again?

He was shaken to his senses by Jack’s voice ‘In your own time,’ slightly laughing, ‘as you can see, we have all the time in the world…’

‘I need to get out of here…where’s the little girl? There was a girl.’

‘We need to leave now.’

‘But the girl…’

‘She’s taken care of, now come with me, quickly.’

David started to move.

‘Good man’ said Jack and gestured towards a black Audi. ‘As quickly as you can.’

Both men climbed in the back, and the car moved off. The driver of the car was hardly visible to David, all he could see was a black silhouette. To his relief, the car seemed to push through the darkness and back into the light. The brightness was dazzling and he struggled to refocus his eyes. He could not distinguish any landmarks outside of the car, but was aware of being driven at great speed. He quietly tapped the armrest, four times.

‘Ok,’ he said ‘what happened to me, and who the fuck are you people?’

‘Get some rest,’ said Jack.

‘Where’re you taking me?’

‘Home.’

‘This doesn’t look like home.’

David went quiet. Images of the accident flashed through his mind. The horror of the blood filling his stomach and lungs, the final knowledge he was dying. But he was here. He was in a car. He was alive. Could he have been drugged? Was it all a dream? Maybe he’d been in a coma and everything looked strange because he’d just woken up. That must be it. His stomach wrenched. What if he’d been in a coma for a long time? What if it had been years? He closed his eyes and let his head fall against the back of the seat.  What if she was gone?

***

David could not remember ever feeling so comfortable. His body seemed to melt into the mattress he was lying on. He really didn’t feel like getting up for work. It was all such a drag. His eyes flickered open, then, he remembered. A sinking feeling shot through him as he recalled the recent events. He looked around and saw he was in a small room. Everything looked clinical and white. The only furniture was the couch he was lying on, and an armchair next to it. The door was closed. He sat up and he noticed to his relief that he was clothed in a white towelling robe. He got to his feet and headed for the door. Finding it locked, he called out.

‘Hello? Is anybody there? I’m locked in! Hello!’

There was no answer, so he called again. Nothing.

He felt weary and sat down on the couch, searching the bare room with his eyes. There were no other exits, no other way out. ‘Oh God please don’t let this be true,’ he said aloud and clasped his head in his hands. He just wanted to go home. He felt so empty and lonely.

Suddenly, he heard the echoing sound of footsteps coming closer, as if down a corridor. The door opened with no sound of a lock being turned. He felt uneasy.

In walked Jack. ‘Hello, David. I hope you had a pleasant rest’.

‘No, I didn’t actually!’ exclaimed David. ‘You drag me off in a car and tell me a load of crap about going home. Then you lock me up in this shitty room!’

‘Conditioning room. And you are not locked up.’

‘Of course I’m locked up; the freaking door won’t open!’ And to make his point he walked over to the door and rattled its unyielding handle.

‘It is not locked David. You will be able to open it when you are ready.’

David slumped back onto the couch and sighed. ‘Shit, this just gets better and better.’

‘As I mentioned before, my name is Jack. It is my role to guide you through your first few weeks here.’

‘Weeks! Weeks!’ yelled David rising to his feet and standing intimidatingly close to the mild mannered Jack. ‘I am not staying here minutes, let alone frigging weeks!’ His outward anger belied the feeling of hopelessness that strangled him inside.

‘Please sit down. I know how you are feeling.’

‘No! You do not know how I am feeling! Do you know who I am? I will get the best barrister in the country to make sure it is you who are locked up, and it will be for a lot longer than weeks!’ David was beside himself with emotion and could only just hold himself back from flooring this idiot.

‘Sorry, David, it seems you are not thinking rationally enough just now. I will leave you to rest. When you feel like talking, I will be back.’ Jack walked back towards the door and opened it. David launched himself towards him but found he couldn’t move. It was like in some of his dreams when he’d tried to run but couldn’t. He could picture it in his mind but his body just wouldn’t do it. Once again, he found himself alone in the room. He looked around. There was no bathroom, no form of sustenance, no form of entertainment, nothing. What was he going to do? He tried the door again. It was locked. In frustration he slammed his fist against it. He braced himself for the expected resulting pain, but it never came. No pain at all. He could feel the pressure of the blow, and had heard the thud it made against the door, but he didn’t feel a scrap of pain.

‘Arghhh!’ he screamed in absolute frustration and slumped down on the floor, head in his hands.

If this was some sort of punishment for what he’d done, then he was sorry. He would give anything now to be back at home, in bed with Georgina. He would try his best to be a good husband. This must all be a bad dream brought on by guilt about what he’d done. ‘Oh Georgie, Georgie, I’m sorry, I…’ But it was not a dream, it was real, and David felt pathetic. He was living a nightmare, and he was alone.

After a while he got up and paced the room, then for what seemed an eternity, he banged and kicked the door, protesting at the top of his voice, until finally, he collapsed back onto the couch, exhausted.

I’m going to die here. I’m going to die of thirst. What a torturous way to go. Panic stricken, he looked around the room, desperately searching for something that may make his death quicker, if he needed it. Something sharp. There was nothing. Perhaps he could use the belt from his robe? But there was nothing he could secure it to. Shit David! Pull yourself together! You’ll get through this, you always do.

He tried to relax. Eventually exhaustion took over and he slept surprisingly easily, for what seemed like several hours. When he awoke, his first instinct was to go to the bathroom. Then he realised where he was, and that there wasn’t a bathroom. He became uneasy when he realised he didn’t actually need one. In fact, he didn’t need anything. He wouldn’t have minded a cup of tea, and a snack, but he wasn’t hungry or thirsty. This unsettled him more and more as time wore on. Every few hours he banged and yelled at the door, and every few hours he collapsed exhausted, and slept as though he were ill. David thought that maybe he was concussed. It would make a lot of sense considering the accident.

This is not natural, he thought. It doesn’t seem real. He dug his fingers hard into his forearm, yes, he could feel it. No pain, why no pain? But he felt awake. How long had he been in here? It was mental torture: no one to talk to, nothing to do, only his own very confused thoughts for company. Maybe he should see what Jack had to say. At least give him a chance to say his piece, but he had been banging and shouting at the door for what felt like days now and Jack still hadn’t come.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside, then the sound of the door handle, and in walked Jack, again, it seemed, without having to unlock the door. Jack walked over to the chair and made himself comfortable.

‘I’m pleased you are ready to talk,’ he said. ‘I was getting kinda worried about you.’

David wondered how he knew. David wondered many things.

‘Go on,’ he replied, subdued.

 ‘This is always the most difficult part,’ said Jack ‘knowing where to start, and the beginning of the conditioning process is so hard for the subject.’

‘Subject? Am I part of an experiment now?’

‘Would you have rather I used a more apt term: ‘ghost’ perhaps?’

‘Oh shit. What was I thinking when I even entertained the idea of talking to you?’ sighed David.

Jack got to his feet. ‘You are obviously not ready…’

‘No wait. Please sit down,’ said David, his voice softening a little. He was desperate not to be left alone again. ‘Hey did anyone tell you, you look just like Samuel L Jackson?’

‘Samuel who?’

‘You know, the actor…in his younger days of course.’

Jack looked clueless as he returned to his seat.

David laughed, ‘You haven’t heard of Samuel L Jackson? Jeez!’

‘I’ve been dead a long time.’

Did David hear that right? Did Jack just tell him he was dead? His guts suddenly felt like lead. There was a long silence in the room.

‘Sorry David, I didn’t mean to sound so blunt. You caught me unawares is all.’

‘Can I go, please?’ David was terrified.

‘You mustn’t fear me. I’m not going to hurt you.’

‘I’m not frightened. I just want out of here now.’

‘Look, I promise you can go, but I need to go over a few things with you first. You have to understand a few things about where you are.’

‘You’re not kidding.’

‘You must have realised things are not the same as before?’

‘Things are weird, yes. I don’t eat. I don’t shit.’

‘Can you try and bear with me here, whilst I try and explain?’

‘What choice do I have?’

‘You can have more time if you like.’

David sighed, the fear inside him was slowly subsiding. He didn’t want to be alone in that room any more.’ He nodded for Jack to begin.

‘Have you ever heard of the term ‘thinking outside of the box, David?’

‘Of course,’ said David, then he laughed, ‘Though I’m surprised that you have seeing you’ve been dead for so long.’

‘A few expressions find their way here.’

‘All right, go on.’

‘Okay, you died in a motorway pileup.’ Jack began again.

 ‘Now I’m dead too?’ David’s mind was racing. Could Jack be a complete lunatic who had kidnapped him and was suffering from delusions of death? Or could he still be in a coma and dreaming all of this? Or could it be that what Jack was saying was true? Whatever it was, it was all bad, no matter which of the possibilities was real.

‘Yes, David, you’re dead, and like everyone else who dies, you ended up here. Most subjects are thrown straight back into life: reincarnated, just like the other six people who died with you. We are struggling now, to keep up with the birth rate down there.’

‘Hang on, hang on, slow down. I can’t take all of this in. Let me have a minute will you?’

‘I’ll take as long as you like. Do you want me to leave?’

 David thought a minute. He felt sick and empty, and very, very scared. But something told him to trust Jack. He had to. He was his only contact with another human being. ‘No, I’ll listen. You’ve just got to understand it’s a shock to me.’

‘Yeah, sure David. I’m used to this, you’re ok bud.’

‘Go on then. Get it over with.’

Jack continued, ‘A few of the dead; those showing most promise, are retained here for conditioning.’ He looked earnestly at David, saw that he was listening and continued. ‘Those who are thrown back into the melting pot of life have absolutely no control over their destiny, and no memory of any past lives. They could be reborn as a rich, privileged child, or, much more often, into pain and misery, as a slave (like I was one time), child soldier, abused, hideously disfigured, tortured, or hopelessly lonely. The possibilities are endless. Do you see what I’m saying?’

‘I get it…life sucks eh?’ smiled David, but his mind was in turmoil.

‘Life can be unbearable,’ replied Jack. ‘But here, at First World, it is the beginning and the end, it’s what existence is all about. It is the control centre, if you like, and it is the ultimate aim of every being to remain here.’

‘O...kay..’ said David, pulling himself together, ‘so how do we get to stay here? And…’ he looked around at his surroundings, ‘why the hell would we want to?’

‘Believe me, you’ll want to,’ said Jack smiling. ‘May I continue?’

David nodded.

‘Subjects who, like you, get to go into conditioning, have a chance to secure employment in order to stay here. How long they get to do this, depends upon whether or not they have friends in high places, a special, high ranking sponsor, if you like.’

David decided to humour Jack, ‘Do I have a special sponsor?’ he asked.

‘Well, put it this way, you already have a luxury apartment waiting for you, far nicer than my own pad, which is a good sign.’ Jack smiled.

‘So do you get much call for Marketing Exec’s here?’ laughed David.

‘The majority of subjects who secure employment, get jobs as Players,’ replied Jack, seriously.

‘Players? Sounds like fun.’

‘Hmm, some might see it that way. Players hold a certain number of accounts according to their level of experience. That is what you will need to do to survive here.’

‘Sounds simple enough,’ said David

‘It’s more complicated than it sounds, though I’m sure you’ll cope with it fine. Just don’t be surprised by anything here.’

‘Aren’t you going to tell me more?’

‘Best leave you to find things out for yourself. That way, it’ll sink in. If I just give you a load of info, most of it’ll go over your head. As you said yourself, you need time.’

‘So is everyone a player here?’

‘No, not everyone. Me for instance, I’m what you could call a guide. I’ll be here to help you when you need me. But not all the time. Remember that. I’m only here to help you when you really need it. Not when you think you need it.’

‘But what are we Jack? Are we still people?’

‘We are souls, we always have been and always will be. Souls can be a living beings, players, or ghosts. There is also a rumour that there is a fate worse than life: purgatory. Only the Gods know if this is true.’

‘The Gods?’

‘The Gods are a superior rank of player. I’m going to give you a manual that explains everything, so don’t worry too much about the details.’

‘This is sounding more and more freaky,’ commented David shaking his head. ‘I still can’t believe I am still giving you the time of day, with all the weird stuff you are coming out with. I mean ghosts for Christ’s sake! I’ve always been an atheist. It’s hard for me, you know?’

Jack laughed and this annoyed David. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘You describe yourself as an atheist but yet you’re superstitious.’

‘What? Me, superstitious? No way.’

‘Your tapping, why do you do it?’

David flushed. ‘It’s a habit. I don’t believe in anything, ok? At least I didn’t believe, not until you came along and tipped over the fucking filing cabinet!’

‘Typical rookie,’ smiled Jack.

‘Rookie?’

‘First timer, new soul,’ replied Jack ‘People in life who are atheists are almost always rookies. They have no hidden memories you see, nothing to give them faith. ‘Old timers’ on the other hand, believe strongly there is something else out there, life after death of some sort, because something in their inner being remembers. They just do not know what. Theories abound, and religions are born, and ideas are passed on from generation to generation.’

 ‘You seem to be trying to explain the supernatural.’

‘Not supernatural,’ whispered Jack ‘Scientific. Just because you don’t understand it, doesn’t make it supernatural. Life is the game. It is only here that is real.’ Jack looked suddenly tired. ‘Now I’m afraid we both must rest.’

‘Just one more question, how can I see whether Georgie is okay? How can I see her again?’

‘If you want to know about that soul, you need to find employment here first,’ answered Jack. ‘Now take a rest, and when you wake, you will find the door will open…if you are ready.’

David’s mind was racing. There were so many questions. He needed to rest, he knew that, but he was not ready to leave. Suddenly the room did not seem so bland. He fell asleep, wishing the time away until his next meeting with Jack. He needed to know so much. Things flashed through his brain as he lost consciousness. It would be a busy question and answer session tomorrow. This was mind-blowing stuff.

***

In the morning when Jack came in, David was waiting for him with a stack of questions.

‘Morning David. I hope you had a good sleep.’

‘Yes, I did,’ said David, but I’ve been awake hours. I’ve loads to ask you.’

‘That’s good. Feel free.’

‘Is there a heaven?’

‘Not as such.’

‘What do you mean? Not as such? What kind of an answer is that?’

‘Heaven is what you make it. To some, this is heaven. You get eternal life for a start.’

‘But I thought I was dead.’

‘You are.’

‘Are you messing with me, Jack?’

‘No, I wouldn’t do that. It’s hard to explain. You are not a living being, therefore you are not alive. You are not mortal. You are a soul. You exist. You do not live.’

‘My head hurts’

‘That’s good.’

‘It is?’

‘Yes. It means you are listening. Look I know this is hard.’

‘You’re not kidding.’

‘Ask another question,’ said Jack.

David took a moment to think. There were so many other things he wanted to ask but somehow he couldn’t recall them all. Then his mind flashed back to his nightmares and of the aliens, those silly black-eyed aliens. Those aliens that were not what they seemed. The grotesque rotting aliens.

‘Are we alone in the Universe?’ he finally asked.

‘Ooh, big one,’ said Jack. ‘The answer is, yes.’

Part of David was disappointed. Of all the weird things people talked about in life, this was the only thing he had been open to. He had thought that life elsewhere in the Universe was a real possibility. But he hadn’t believed in an afterlife. David hated to be proved so wrong. But on the other hand it was a relief. A relief that the terror of the dreams that had haunted him since a child, that he told no one about, were just that, terrible dreams, nothing more.

‘What about UFO’s?’ he asked.

‘Usually just top secret military stuff,’ said Jack. ‘The only activity on other planets is the companies here in First World. They are always trying to expand the play area.’

‘Play area?’

‘Oh it’s just a figure of speech, you’ll understand in time.’

‘Hmm, there’s a few things you’re not wanting to tell me, aren’t there?’

‘It’s not the time. You have to be patient.’

‘What’s the point in it all?’ asked David.

‘Ah, the meaning of life,’ smiled Jack, ‘That is something I cannot help you with I’m afraid. Your guess is as good as mine.’

‘What’s your guess?’

‘Self actualisation, is my guess. That and power.’

David pondered for a moment.

‘Why do the companies here exist? What are the rewards?’

‘There are no financial rewards in First World,’ said Jack, ‘It is a matter of gaining the most power. It is about survival of the fittest, just as it is in life.’

‘But if there’s no money, why does that matter?’

‘Those who control the most, have the most power. Effectively, they ensure their own survival. The whole thing is a struggle to obtain the most control. Each company ensures the safety and happiness of their employees. The best employees will graduate to the best companies.’

‘Reminds me of that old song, but it’s not money it’s power that makes the world go around?’

‘I guess, I suppose it’s power that makes the world go around back in life too. After all, money is power.’

‘Well, Jack, it’s all about as clear as a hippo’s bath water,’ said David. ‘You said earlier that I would want to stay here. I’m not sure that I do. It all seems a bit of a struggle to be honest. Why is it so good?’

‘There are many good things. Who hasn’t dreamt of living forever? Not only that, but you get to live forever and stay youthful, forever in your prime.’

‘Then there are no children?’

‘No. They are always reincarnated.’

‘What about animals?’

‘There are plenty.’

‘What happens to them?’

‘Some players will keep animals as pets, but most get reincarnated.’

‘As animals?’

‘Yes, a horse is always a horse. A dog, always a dog.’

‘What about wild animals?’

‘They are nearly always reincarnated.’

David had been pacing round the room, firing questions. Now, he sat down, exhausted. His exuberance ebbed away and his face saddened.

‘Does she know yet?’ he asked.

‘Sorry?’

‘Georgie. Does she know I’m dead? I mean how long has it been?’

‘It’s best you don’t dwell on things from your old life,’ said Jack. ‘It’s not healthy.’

‘I’m dead. That’s not healthy!’

Jack smiled. ‘You’re a funny one, David. Yes, she knows.’

‘Has my funeral happened yet?’

‘I’m not going to answer anything else, David. Nothing that relates to your mortal life. You need to move on.’

David sighed. He hurt inside. He wondered how Georgie was coping without him. Was she falling apart? Was anyone falling apart? Were there many people at his funeral?

‘I think you’re ready to go,’ said Jack, holding a large manual out towards David.

David got to his feet and took the manual from Jack.

‘This may help you along the way,’ said Jack. ‘Good luck David.’

‘That’s it?’

‘That’s it.’

‘I feel lost,’ said David. ‘I don’t know where to go or what to do.’

‘There’s a car outside that will take you to your quarters. Read the manual. It will tell you what to do.’

David didn’t want to leave the now familiar and safe surroundings of his room. ‘I don’t feel ready,’ he said.

‘You’re ready. You’ll be fine. I promise you. Now you must leave.’

David walked to the door and tried the handle. It opened. He smiled a resigned smile and turned round offering his hand to Jack. Jack shook it warmly.

‘Take care, David,’ he said.

***

David left the conditioning rooms and found a car waiting directly outside. The brightness outside was so overwhelming, he had to look through his eyelashes to make it out. As soon as he sat down in the car, the vehicle moved off.

            ‘Driver, where are you taking me?’

            There was no response from the figure driving the car.

            ‘Suit yourself.’

            Still no response. This driver was obviously not like the cabbies David was used to back in life. Probably a good thing on balance, he thought.

            He had tried to pass the time looking out of the window, but the whiteness was so dazzling, he could not see a thing outside the car. In fact, he was not even able to read the manual as the brightness reflected so strongly off the pages. The journey was dragging on.

            ‘Can you tell me how long it’s going to take?’ asked David.

            Again, there was silence.

            ‘Hey, you could at least be civil.’ David leant forward and attempted to tap the driver on the shoulder, but his fingers rapped against something hard and invisible. Yeah, I’m going to really love it here, thought David.

            Eventually, after what seemed like an hour, the car ground to a halt, and the door was opened by a smiling rotund woman.

            ‘Hello David, welcome to your new home.’ She handed him some dark glasses, ‘You should put these on every time you go outside.’

            ‘Thanks, could have done with these before setting out.’ David put on the shades and suddenly he was able to see without squinting.

            The road outside the car was silver and smooth as though made of metal. He stepped out of the car.

            ‘I’m Martha, I’ll show you to your apartment.’

            David looked around him. Things that were close by were clear, but anything further than twenty feet or so was blurred and the colours were muted. He looked in front of him. There was a path leading to a white, clinical looking single storey building. ‘In there?’

            Martha nodded. ‘I think you’ll like it.’

            David followed Martha as she led him up the short path and handed him a small cone shaped crystal. ‘Hold this to your neck and then insert it into the receptor, here.’ She pointed to a small circular patch of reflective material at the side of the entrance door. David did as Martha said and held the cone to his neck. It clicked, like the sound of a computer mouse. He held it to the receptor and the door glided open.

            ‘That’s my key?’

            Martha nodded. ‘If you lose it, just think about it and it’ll find you,’ she smiled, ‘I’ll leave you to have a look around. Feel free to go out wherever you want, but you will find there are places that you physically can’t go. You are in the holding community. There are thousands of others like you. None of you are permitted outside of the community until you secure employment or are reincarnated.’

            David was about to reply, but Martha was gone.

            On my own again thought David. He closed the door to his new home and looked around himself. The white marble understated hallway floor looked expensive and chic. David liked chic. Maybe things were not so bad after all.

***

            For the first couple of weeks, David went out, trying to learn more about his new world and get to know the neighbours. Talking to them, and the people he had met in the clubs in the evenings, only served to make things more unclear. Everything anyone said was pure speculation. Everyone was as confused as he was.

One thing that was very clear to him, was that people didn’t stay very long. In fact, by the time he had been there six months, he hadn’t met anyone else who had been there longer than he had.

David met Luke the first day he had ventured out. They literally bumped into each other as they were stepping backwards to admire the pleasure centre in the middle of the community. It was so high that it seemed to disappear into nothingness. Part of this was because of the blurring affect the whiteness had on everything outside, but it was impressive, none the less.

‘Sorry mate,’ said Luke, helping David to his feet. Then he suddenly stepped back as though alarmed.

‘No worries, my fault’ said David. Although he was slightly annoyed, he was pleased to have met someone else with a British accent. ‘Are you ok? You look a bit shocked?’

‘Nah mate, I’m fine…it’s just…oh nothing.’

‘You new here?’ 

‘I just got here yesterday, thought I’d do a bit of exploring,’ said Luke.

‘Me too. Impressive, isn’t it? You know what it’s for?’

‘Yeah, Lucy, my neighbour said it’s a pleasure centre. Apparently, most people go there every night.’

‘Sounds great. You going to go?’

‘Yeah, Lucy said she’d show me around, want to come with?’

‘If I wouldn’t be intruding?’

‘No, mate, the more the merrier. I could meet you here at eight?’

‘Yeah thanks.’

‘Have you had a chance to look at any jobs here yet?’ asked Luke.

‘I was going to get down to that later this afternoon if I can work out how to do it.’

‘Apparently everything’s automated. You don’t have to leave your apartment.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘Hmm.’

‘You had a go yet?’ asked David.

‘Nah, thought I’d enjoy myself for a few days first. Haven’t had a holiday in a while. Seems pretty nice here.’

‘What is it you used to do?’

‘Oh I was Finance director for Sanderson Foods. Don’t suppose you’ve heard of us?’

‘Heard of you? You were one of our main suppliers.’ David was surprised.

‘Shit, that’s spooky. Where did you work?’

‘Foodfest, I was their Marketing Director.’

‘David Sands, shit, I don’t believe it. I knew you looked familiar.’

‘Small world, small afterworld. You must be, hang on, hang on, erm, Luke Anderson? Am I right?’

‘Yeah, call me Luke.’

‘David.’

For a moment the two men were speechless.

‘It’s weird,’ David finally said.

‘You’re not kidding, gives me goose bumps. You don’t think…’

‘They arranged this?’

‘I tell you, I’ve practically stopped thinking since I’ve been here. Too much too much…’ said Luke.

‘Hmm. It gets to you sometimes. Yep best not to think too hard I suppose. Just observe and learn.’

‘How’d you die?’

‘Oh, got run over by a bus.’ smiled David.

‘No.’

‘No really, well almost. A fucking great artic’ to be exact.’

‘Fuck me.’

‘What about you?’

‘Oh me, boring really. I had a massive heart attack. Was having a whale of a time too. Out with the lads.’

‘Do you miss it?’

‘What, life?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Yeah. It’s a bummer.’ Luke looked down at the ground.

‘Anyway, mate, I better get going. See you here at eight?’

‘Yeah, look forward to it.’

‘Me too.’

And that was the start of a strong but short friendship. David and Luke bonded as though they’d been mates all their lives. It was something they both desperately needed in this new alien world in which they found themselves.

Every night they met at eight and entered the pleasure centre together. They wondered about the same things, questioned the same things. There were massive screens inside the pleasure centre. Strange messages were displayed.

‘Can a leopard change its spots? 23% yes, 64% no, 13% don’t know,’ David read aloud. ‘What the fuck does that mean?’

‘Beats me,’ Luke shook his head. ‘Who cares?’

David frowned. ‘I’ve seen that message somewhere before. It must mean something.’

‘Can a leopard change its spots. You know, you must have heard the saying before. It means…’

‘Yes, I know what it means. I just can’t work out why they keep displaying it. And the percentages, what are they?’

Luke shrugged. ‘Don’t let it bother you. We understand fuck all here.’

David laughed. ‘Yeah you’re right. Sod it.’

‘Beer?’ asked Luke.

‘Yeah, why not?’

There were rooms inside the centre that were similar to the bars back on earth and the alcohol they served had the ability to mimic the effects it had had back in life. It made the men feel safe and at home. Both of them only tried the pods one time. The pods were small capsule rooms designed for only one person. Once the door closed and the occupant sat down, their bodies were subjected to the most pleasurable sensations and moods, including multiple orgasms and sensations of flying. But to some, and that included David and Luke, it was a disturbing experience, as the occupant had no control of the length and extent of the treatment. They had therefore found yet another thing they had in common and stuck to the more earthly pleasures.

Thirteen weeks had passed, and one night Luke did not meet David. David tried a mind probe, but got no response. Luke was gone. David hoped that maybe he had secured a job, but knew the more likely scenario was that Luke had been reincarnated. David was alone. This place would not be the same again.

After Luke’s disappearance, David no longer visited the pleasure centre. Things had become very serious. He needed to secure a job fast and he was going to dedicate every waking moment to this task. He and Luke had both wasted far too much time just enjoying the free ‘living’ and Luke had paid the penalty.

Of course, David thought he was ‘God’ material and so had aimed high with his first few job applications. He requested job advertisements every day, but jobs at the higher levels were hard to come by and so he was not able to make a huge number of applications.

He read the information given to him by Jack, sometimes accepting, sometimes doubting.  The manual emphasised the importance of securing employment and this was not helping his state of mind. He leafed through the manual daily, digesting more and more of the workings of the strange world in which he found himself.

‘The punishment for not having secured employment in First World is to be thrown back into life as a living person, or to inhabit a place from a past life, as a ghost. This latter condition is like prison. You cannot escape. This is the reason so many ghosts appear so miserable or frightening to the living that are unfortunate enough to encounter them.’

Shit, it’s just one threat after another, thought David.

CHAPTER THREE

Six months had passed since his death and David still missed his old life. Most of his days were spent lounging by the pool and drinking alone, thinking about being alive, and how he had messed up with Georgie.

He tapped four times on the table as he tried to refocus his mind on finding work.  He looked out onto the bright white landscape that surrounded his apartment and behind his dark glasses his eyes strained to make out the faint shape of his neighbour walking her pom-pom dog.  What was it?  Pom something or other?  David could not see the point, or the pom for that matter.  If he were to get a pet, it would be a proper one with a purpose.  So far he had not found a purpose, so he hadn’t bothered with a pet.   David winced, annoyed at himself and his ungenerous thoughts.  He was trying his best, but sometimes, he just couldn’t help himself.  He tapped again on the table and turned to look at the pool, trying to decide whether or not to take a dip.  He’d always wanted a pool like this and remained ever fascinated by the way it appeared to fall over the edge.  For a few minutes David felt peaceful and closed his eyes, concentrating on the warmth radiating through his skin.  It was always sunny here, but never too hot; just perfect, the stuff dreams are made of. 

But this was not David’s dream and the fleeting period of bliss flitted away from him as he heard the whirring sound of his printer from within his apartment and he was left with a wrenching feeling of dread; a feeling that was becoming more and more familiar to him.  How could he relax here, when it looked increasingly likely that it would be ruthlessly snatched away from him?  The printer in his study had delivered two more rejections already today.  He was beginning to dread the whirring sound of the machine as it spat out the bad news day after day.  How could he keep himself positive when this inner terror was eating away at his confidence? 

He made his way into the study to pick up his latest ‘get lost’ letter. That was it. He could no longer stand this level of abuse. He returned to the patio to continue reading through the hefty manual. Couldn’t they have thought of a way to inject all this knowledge into the brain, rather than have people wade through it all? He thought that in such a technically advanced world, they could at least have thought of this. He was wasted unemployed. He’d sort things out once he found a job. These companies didn’t know what they were missing. He even considered becoming a driver and thought ferrying players about may be quite relaxing. He could learn so much just listening to the conversations of those he chauffeured. Then he would be in a perfect position to pounce and secure the job he was cut out for. This seemed a very good idea until he came to the bit in the manual that mentioned drivers were just part of the car they drove. They were as much an illusion as the cars themselves, and he felt foolish, even in front of himself. By now it had been six months but it still took a lot of getting used to for David.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Since Luke had gone this was a very rare occurrence and he was quick to answer it.

He was pleasantly surprised to see Jack standing outside.

‘Jack! To what do I owe this pleasure? Come in, come in.’

Jack stepped inside and accompanied David through the apartment to the seating area on the patio beside the pool.

‘How are you David?’

‘Good, I’m good. And you?’

‘I’m always good, though you know I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t concerned about you.’

‘Well it’s great to see you Jack, though you are worrying me now.’

‘Aren’t you worried David? You ought to be.’

‘I’m doing my best Jack.’

‘You have to change. You know that don’t you? Drop some of the arrogance.’

David quietly tapped his thigh. ‘I’m not with you Jack. I’m not sure what you’re driving at.’

‘You don’t have much time left. You have to change.’

‘But change what?’

‘You are applying for top level jobs.’

‘I’m a top level prospect.’

‘See, that’s exactly what I mean. Here, you’re a rookie, yet you think so highly of yourself, you think you deserve to be a top level employee. You know nothing here David. Nothing. What do you expect you could do at such a high level, knowing nothing?’

‘Look Jack, it’s not just marketing I’m good at. I have plenty of general management experience at top level too. I was Operations director for…’

‘So you think we need marketing and retail operations here do you?’

‘Well maybe not retail, but doesn’t every company…’

‘I’m going to be straight with you. Aim at the bottom or you’ll be gone. You know what the odds are for being reincarnated into a comfortable life? There’re slim, very slim. I’m going to leave you with that thought. I hope you act on it. You’re special, David, very special, don’t blow it.’

Jack got to his feet and left. David felt as though he’d had his wrists slapped, but more than that, he was very afraid. He knew Jack was right. He walked into the study and took the manual from the desk. He took another look at the pages where it described the levels of players. It was all very vague. There were five levels of player from what he could see, with level five being the most senior. They were also known as Gods.

You’re special, David, very special. What did Jack mean?

Maybe he should aim a bit lower? Did he really want to be a God? It all sounded a bit ridiculous to him, a bit pretentious even. He went through into his study and sat down at the desk. On the table was a clear green cube around six inches in diameter. He concentrated as he had been instructed by the manual, and thought about a level one position. He placed his hand on top of the cube and the printer to his left whirred into action, shooting out seven small slips of paper in quick succession.

Picking them up, he took them with him into the lounge. He found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that he was probably looking at an admin position if he were to avoid being reincarnated. It was an admin position or nothing. He took a deep breath, tapped the slips of paper four times and started to read the job descriptions for the positions available.

After the first read through, David threw the application slips down on the floor and got up and paced the room. He walked into his kitchen and dispensed a black coffee from the machine before returning to the lounge and recovering the slips of paper from the floor. Sitting down he started reading them again.

‘Shit, what the heck.’

He selected the top two and pressed the address symbol to his neck before taking them back into the study and placing the two activated application slips onto the green cube. He watched as they disintegrated into the cube.

‘There goes nothing,’ he thought.

He picked up the manual. ‘Level one, admin function. What a load of crap!’

He tried to cheer himself up with the thought that a level one position was simply a stepping-stone to where he needed to be. He still possessed all the management skills that he had when he was alive and there was no reason he couldn’t be that great again, greater.

He looked again at the description of Gods in the manual.

‘Most Gods work for a company aptly known as Gods Inc, which is involved mainly in high-level matters on a universal scale. Exploitation of the Earth by man, influenced mainly by unscrupulous players, has meant that the planet is dying, and this threatens our whole existence, even here at First World. New planets are being looked at right now and their viability to support life is being checked. It is expected that it is only a matter of a decade or so before Gods Inc reincarnate some subjects out there.’

            He liked the thought of working on such mega-scale projects and knew it would suit him down to the ground. He would be a God one day, that was for sure, but for now he needed to get on the first rung of the ladder. It was the only way. He needed to be patient.

David felt drained. Having to lower his aspirations had taken a lot out of him and he went into his bedroom to rest. One thing the manual emphasised more than anything else, was the importance of rest for the souls that inhabited First World. Existence in First World was exhausting, partly due to the energy expended maintaining the soul’s outwardly humanoid appearance. This meant that souls needed plenty of sleep, more than when they are alive. A soul could die, and cease to exist (the only real death) if its energy were drained to critical levels.

***

David awoke feeling refreshed after his sleep. He checked the printer in the study in the vague hope that he may have received a reply to his job applications, but nothing was there waiting for him. He knew it usually took a day or two for the rejection to arrive, but hoped the process may be a bit quicker with lower level jobs. Maybe he should get out and see if he could make some friends? Since Luke had gone he had been reluctant to make new relationships. Besides, he figured his time in First World was nearly up if he didn’t get employment soon. His waking hours were spent pining for Georgina and wondering about Charley. He wondered if there would ever be a way he could see them again.

He walked into the kitchen to pour himself a coffee, and sat down at the breakfast bar to continue reading the manual. One section that disturbed him, warned about the dangers of remaining in First World without periodic reincarnations. It would eventually lead to madness. The length of time this terrible fate took to manifest itself varied from soul to soul. So, tempting as it was to stay in First World, it was not advisable to remain there forever. Once madness gripped a soul, there was no cure. Although some managed to avoid detection, once discovered, most were forcibly restrained as ghosts.

 David heard the whirring of the printer in the study. He tried to play it cool, even though he was alone, and finished drinking his coffee, before strolling casually back into the study. His heart was pounding, and he felt sick as he saw a slip of paper face down in the printer tray. Was it another rejection? It would feel much worse for him being turned down at level one. There would be no hope. So much rested on this. It may be the beginning of the end for him in First World. He tried to tell himself that it wouldn’t matter, that the job was mundane anyway. But he knew it wasn’t mundane, his current existence was mundane, and a job offer, no matter how junior, would free him from his personal hell.

He picked up the slip and laid his hand gently over it four times. He hated this habit, but he just couldn’t snap out of it. He remembered he even had to do it in board meetings, though he had become very skilled at disguising it. The habit had become much worse when Charley had been put up for adoption. It had hurt him so much. He would have cared for her, he had a right to care for her. But when Steph had denied he was the father, and his name was not on the birth certificate, there was nothing he could do. The baby was put into the system for adoption and David had no rights whatsoever. He should have told Georgie, why hadn’t he told Georgie? He had met her six months after the event, so he should have trusted her not to freak out.

He turned the slip of paper over to read it:

Dear David, thank you for your application for the position of Level One Player at World Wide Games. I am pleased to tell you that we are inviting you for interview at eight am tomorrow morning. I look forward to seeing you there. Kind regards, Department Leader Helen.

‘Yes! Yes!’ David leapt up and thumped the air, ‘yes, yes, yes!’

It was his chance to shine.

***

The next morning David called for his car and travelled to the offices of World Wide Games. It was the first time he had been out since his meetings with Luke, and it was an invigorating experience. As always, like everyone in First World, he wore his shades outside. The drive lasted around fifteen minutes and took him along sweeping silver roads surrounded by tall circular grey skyscrapers. As he drew close to them he could see that they were actually matt black but the bright whiteness of the surroundings muted any visual contrast that would have otherwise existed. The road felt smooth. Not a single bump, and it was more like flying than driving. The sounds were muted too. As the car passed each building, the sounds emitting from it became amplified. It was as though he could hear a thousand conversations all happening at once. He’d read in the manual that this was known as the building’s aura, and the deafening sounds of the voices disappeared if you entered the building. He hoped so as he couldn’t imagine being able to concentrate on his work with all that din.

Finally, the car pulled up outside a massive construction. Across the top of the building in huge silver letters, was written ‘World Wide Games’. According to the manual, this was one of the top five companies in First World. As always, the manual was very vague about the activities of the company, stating that these details were only ever divulged to the employed. David thought the name was a bit of a give away though, and that the company probably dealt with the development of games and technology for places like the pleasure centre.

He got out of his car and watched as it slid away back into the whiteness. He looked up at the offices of World Wide Games and counted eight storeys. The building’s aura was deafening. In front of the entrance were the main steps up to the atrium. Constructed from what looked like black polished granite, they were a tasteful contrast to the matt exterior of the building. The steps followed the smooth curve of the walls and extended to twenty risers. At the top, the black glass doors were flanked by matching windows, two storeys high. He started to climb the steps.

The building was massive, at least one hundred metres in diameter. On entering the atrium, the unbearable sound abruptly stopped. He could see light pouring in from the opposite side. It appeared that the construction surrounded a central circular courtyard. To either side there were two massive screens, similar in appearance to Led screens. As the display on them changed the whole monitor vaporised before reforming with the new display content. He noticed a familiar phrase was now displayed.

‘Can a leopard change its spots? 39% yes 45% no, 16% don’t know.’

The numbers are changing, he thought.

He looked around to see where he should go. To the right of him was a curved black glass desk, which he assumed must be the reception. He took a deep breath and tapped his thigh four times with his forefinger. This was it. This was what he’d been waiting for. He felt suddenly at home. Much of his confidence was returning to him, and for the first time since his death, he felt in control of his destiny.