Morgus looked thoughtfully at his vid-screen.  It showed a close-up of two red-cloaked figures slumped forwards at the execution-posts, held upright only by the restraining straps.

He flicked off the screen and turned politely to the President.  'Whatever his defects as a commander, one must admit that Chellak brings a certain style to these things, does he not?'

'Indeed,' said the President, with equal formality.  'Though I feel the decision to execute may have been precipitate.  Some useful information might have been extracted from them.'

'They were merely pawns, Excellency, ignorant handlers of smuggled goods.  The slums of the city are full of such unemployed riff-raff.'

'Most of them are unemployed, Trau Morgus, because you have closed so many of your manufacturing plants.  It has caused great unrest.'

'The matter is easily settled, Excellency.  All those without valid employment cards should be sent off to the Eastern labour camps.'

'Yes, that might be made to seem morally justifiable.  'I'll put your interesting suggestion to the Praesidium tomorrow.'

The President rose and began moving towards the door.

Morgus hurried to open it for him.  'Naturally, Excellency, should any special funding be required, my conglomerate would be happy to assist.'

'Most generous.'  The President paused in the doorway as if struck by a sudden thought.  'Of course, Trau Morgus, the irony is, that while you've been closing plants here in the West, you've been building them in the East.  So, if the unemployed were to be sent to the Eastern labour camps, a great many of them would still be working for you, only this time without payment.'

'You know, I hadn't thought of that,' said Morgus, with an air of mild surprise.

The President smiled.  'Of course you hadn't.'  With a nod of farewell, he strolled from the office.

Morgus returned to his desk, and resumed his brooding survey of the towers of Androzani City.  He had much to consider.