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one The crowd thickened as he half-heartedly shuffled further along the street. The vicious rasping blare of various different street bands mixed together with the sound of laughter and the smell of burning meat from barbecues scattered across the city. It was in a state of mass celebration. Fortunes were being made, repressed emotions vented, short-term undying love being proclaimed to complete strangers. The street was one that he had walked along almost every day of his life, but was now totally transformed by the sheer volume of activity. He was, as far as his watch indicated, late. Probably one of the few occupants of the city that actually had an appointment. Easily susceptible to outside influences, the situation was not making him calmer or composed, as he had wished to appear at his interview. A child grabbed at his trouser leg, and he brushed away the small hands as gently as possible. With difficulty, he navigated his way across to the other side of the street through the slowly moving floats, fire eaters, cheerleaders, assorted animals, beer cans and grinning people. Rings of sweat were beginning to show under the arms of his off-white suit. The welcome but unearthly hum of air- conditioning greeted him as he stooped through the tiny door. The lights were dim in the reception area, but through the haze, as his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he picked out the gleam of a young woman's teeth, bared, presumably, in an effusive gesture of welcome. He had not seen her before, and shuddered at the thought that she might very well know who he was. He evaded any exchange with her by whisking through the only door visible. |