The rumours had been circulating I would be dismissed my antics had been tolerated but would not be allowed to persist I'd hear my colleagues grow silent when they sensed my arrival and know they had been analyzing the odds against my survival The empire was crumbling violence in the streets all night all the dance clubs were deserted except for pre-programmed flashing lights all the newspapers demanded the presidents resignation but perhaps they would take me instead as a sacrifice for the nation My superiors, at first one by one stopped looking me in the eyes and wrote nasty comments on my reports accusing me of defeatist lies the two women I slept with both received threats to their lives and that meant it was serious for they were both high ranking officers wives The empire was crumbling and I was to be the scapegoat who knew what crimes they'd pin on me to keep the nation afloat and though I predicted this societal decay in studies dating back ten years I didn't see my own demise until the end was already near I soon received a nice subpoena and a date for my fair hearing and even at my most oblivious I could sense the end was nearing packed my assets into Swiss accounts phoned a friend with his own private plane but when I arrived at the time we agreed on the whole airport was up in flames The empire was crumbling and there was no escape