Tales of the Groundbound: Ready for Their Closeup, Chapter 20

[steuben]

Chapter 20

Walt walked up to the reception desk of the club. The exterior of the building was old brown limestone with grey frosted glass windows. The small brass plaque had announced it as the “Old Empire Society.” The brown wood paneling of the walls were varnished and polished to a near mirror finish. The carpet runner over the dark wood floor absorbed the sound of his footsteps. The attendant looked up as Walt approached.

“Mr. Walt Kerman,” the attendant said as Walt walked up to the desk. “Mr. Kemille is waiting for you.” He looked at Walt appraising his choice of suit. “Thank-you for dressing appropriately. Some of the guests of members do not. Which causes inconvenience, and occasionally a brief disturbance.”

Walt noticed the formally dressed kerbal standing quietly in one corner. He had the same look of intelligently controlled strength as Ox back at “The Fuel Plant.”

“Yes. It is a privilege to have been invited.”

The attendant nodded. “I believe it is your first visit here.”

“Yes.”

“We have a few rules, and Mr. Kemille will be sure to assist you in that matter. However, I will stress that the members will appreciate a level of discretion with anything that you may incidentally see or overhear during you visit.”

“Yes, I can understand that.”

“Very good. Oskwald will escort you to Mr. Kemille now.” The attendant gestured behind Walt.

Walt turned around to see the formally dressed kerbal now behind him.

“Ah,” the attendant said. “A few members have expressed an interest in meeting with you. If I may, can I pass your information on to them?”

“Yes,” Walt paused for a moment. “Would they prefer the general line or my direct number?” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“Both, if you please.”

Walt placed two business cards on the counter.

“Thank-you,” the attendant nodded to Oskwald.

“This way, please.” Oskwald said as he stepped towards the entrance to the rest of the building.

Walt followed him through the labyrinthine corridors. They passed several kerbals and kerbalinas dressed in an older very conservative style of clothing. They were sitting in large leather chairs either reading or dozing, silently playing various games, or quietly discussing something around a pool table. Walt and Oskwald stopped in front of a closed door.

Oskwald pressed against the wood paneling beside the door with his fingertips. The door opened from the inside. Kemille gestured them into the room. He closed the door behind them.

“Thank-you for coming Walt,” Kemille said shaking Walt’s hand. “Would you like tea, coffee, or…”

“Tea.”

“A pot of tea, Oskwald, and a fresh pot of coffee for myself.”

Oskwald left and closed the door behind him.

“Well what do you think?” Kemille gestured around him.

“It is nice. But, seems a bit rich for my tastes.”

Kemille chuckled. “It is for me too. The company carries most of the annual fee. But, some of the members are fans of mine, some are regular financers, some are both. So it isn’t a completely unwarranted expense.”

“No, I guess not.”

Kemille gestured to one of the chairs as he sat down. “Now, I’ve had a couple of ideas pitched to me and I’d like the KSP’s help with them.”

Walt smiled. “We’d love to help. However, I may advise against some of those ideas for certain reasons which I may or may not discuss.”

Kemille smiled back. “Oh, I’m sure Kisney, Universal, WBnWS., RKO, and the rest have been talking to you as well. But, let’s see what we can arrange.”

Edited September 7, 2017 by steuben