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members facing me from the other end of the table four mortals staring at me, scrutinizing me, surely
trying to peer deep into my being. I attempted to reassure myself that they would not suspect anything
odd about me, that their scrutiny was based solely on the desire to hire the best possible applicants.
Certainly this notion was easily intellectualized, but my kind has never liked close scrutiny, has never liked
bright lights, though I knew the florescent lights that illuminated this room make everyone ghastly pale.
That is why I prefer to wear tans and light browns, as well as muted pastels. These colors tend to offset
the effect of my deathly pale flesh. The notion that vampires wear black is simply nothing but drivel.
The oldest member of the committee, a casually dressed, slender, bird-like woman of approximately 40
years, finally broke the silence. I could tell she was a leader, simply by her poise and bearing.  Thanks
for coming, Al, she began.  We ll try to make this as painless as possible, but I will let you know, the
Hiring Committee takes its responsibility very seriously. I m Maureen Hellenbrand, general manager of
Co-op Cab.
A female manager indeed! How American.
 This is Kern, she continued, pointing to her right.  He drives nights and is an on-the-road trainer.
 Howdy, Kern said, with the kind of grin the Americans might call  goofy. He was long-limbed and
stocky with long, thin hair and a scraggly beard that seemed to be bushy just to be sure to cover his
whole face, including what would be bare spots had his beard been properly trimmed.
 I m Carey Antonelli, a rather grim, rather masculine, rather large woman said.  I also drive nights.
 And I m Dale Simmons, said a neatly dressed man with a proper, closely cropped beard.  I work in
the waybill office.
 Bean counter, Kern interjected, fondling the red star pinned to his blue denim jacket. Dale smiled.
Maureen glared at Kern. Obviously, Dale must be the fussy, fastidious accounting type, unless this
cooperative had diversified into agriculture.
Maureen launched the first salvo.  Please tell us, why do you want to be a cab driver?
Let the games begin, I thought.  I need a job. I simply need to make money.
 But you were president of your own company, Carey replied quickly.  Why go from that to being a
lowly cab driver?
 My company went out of business. Again, I need a job. And I think I would enjoy the independent
aspect of cab driving, so accustomed I am to being my own boss, as it were.
 Ah, Dale said, smiling slyly and stroking his beard, like a chess grandmaster whose opponent had
unwittingly just left his queen unguarded.  But surely no cab driver is an island unto him or herself. We
don t want free agents. We need people who work and play well with others. You would need to be
able to work as a team player with your dispatcher, your fellow drivers and, of course, the staff in the
waybill office.
 Of course, I replied, fearing that I had already represented myself in a detrimental manner. What was it
they wanted to hear?  I have always enjoyed working with others, sharing ideas, having others share their
ideas with me. All of us working together to solve whatever problems there are that require solution.
 How long do you plan on sticking around? Kern asked gently.
 As you can determine from my employment application, I have just recently moved here inMadison . I
find this town quite lovely. And, thus far, all my interactions with the people at Co-op Cab have been
quite positive. Certainly, if hired, I think I would stay for a good amount of time.
The committee members nodded their heads, seemingly in unison.  Now, you know we re a
cooperative, Maureen said.  Have you ever been employed at a worker-owned-and-operated
cooperative?
 And are you now or have you ever been a member of a cooperative? Carey added.
Are you now or have you ever been in league with Satan? Is that not what the Grand Inquisitor had
asked so many years ago?  My apologies. I would have to answer no to both questions. However, the
cooperative model seems & intriguing. I would certainly look forward to learning more about it. Yes, a
lie, but I did need this job.
 I should hope so, Dale said, his words vaguely tinted with sarcasm.  How would you feel about
working at a place where sometimes it becomes necessary for you to do certain things where you don t
get paid, but because they benefit the whole, they benefit yourself?
 And there s two other cab companies in town that you could ve applied at, Carey said. Maureen
craned her neck forward. Kern leaned back, stretching his long legs in front of him.  Why come here?
Julianne had been my lover, had given herself to me fully and freely. Her whole self. Her body, her
essence, her soul. A particularly nefarious strain of the grippe had swept acrossSpain . She was dying
until I intervened. But then her brother betrayed us both to the Inquisition. When the Inquisitor questioned
me, I could not find the correct answers. Apparently, neither could Julianne.
 I am not sure exactly to what you refer, I answered, blinking back to the present, knowing I had
applied for a position at this particular cab company simply because I had no knowledge of the other
two.  Certainly, I would expect to get paid a full day s wage for a full day s work. However, if, within
the cooperative structure, there is anything I can do to benefit the common good, well, I most certainly
would be willing to help in whatever capacity I could. As for why Co-op Cab  What had Kevin said?
 In an industry known for its corruption and exploitation, it would seem that Co-op Cab, being a
cooperative, is probably one of the best cab companies to work for in the whole country.
 Good answer, Al, Kern said with a laugh. He sneered at Dale and Carey. Carey crossed her arms in
front of her ample chest. Dale sat back in his chair and rubbed his beard, a sly smile still on his face. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]