Читать книгу The Glass Constellation - Arthur Sze - Страница 67

The lieutenant governor sits in the center

behind an oak desk. Below him, the reader of bills

reads at thirty miles per hour to pass or defeat

a bill depending on his cue.

One senator

talks on the phone to Miss Española; another, a thug,

opens his briefcase, takes out a bottle

of whiskey, a shot glass, and begins drinking.

Bills from various committees are meanwhile passed

without comment. Finally, a bill is introduced,

and the lieutenant governor asks that the

content be explained.

A senator rises, speaks

into a microphone: “Bill 345-B is one of my most

important pieces of legislation. It commemorates

J.D. Arguello and H.R. Lucero who died last year

while firefighting. It also specifically commends

Victor de la Cruz who is now crippled.”

Another

senator rises, introduces a bill to change the

composition of the podiatrists’ board. Two members

of the public are to be on it. The lieutenant

governor asks what the requirements for the public

are. One senator quips, “Athlete’s foot,” is

out of order, and is silenced.

The senators quickly

agree that one member of the public is sufficient.

The lieutenant governor says, “All those in favor

may say ‘aye,’ those opposed may raise their feet.”