Awake

When Thomas Boyer, Jr., the richest and most powerful man in all the land, detected that public consumption in all provinces had leveled out and showed no signs of breaking through what appeared a consumption ceiling, he sponsored a study to find out why. In fact, he sponsored many.

Surveying messengers were sent far and wide and they, as charged, took the consumption pulse of every province and city in the land.

When they returned with their findings they all said, “People need to sleep.”

Ah, thought Thomas Boyer, Jr., if people didn’t have to sleep, they could buy and consume so much more.

“Find me someone,” he said (or yelled, for he yelled most of the time) to his small army of Personal Assistants. “Find me someone who is very, very good with biochemistry and who can figure out how to keep people awake twenty-four/seven. What I need is some sort of genius. Yes, that is what I need. And I need him now,” he added like a threat (which is precisely what it was).

“Yes, Sir,” said the PAs in one voice.

The PAs were very good at what they did and they also valued their lives, so, within the month they returned with Forrest Anderson, a tall young man with a pony tail who knew all about sleep, for he had studied nothing but sleep and its whys and wherefores for most of his life.

“Make me a pill that will keep people awake twenty-four/seven,” said (not yelled, this time) Thomas Boyer, Jr. to Forrest Anderson.

“I am not sure that can be done,” said Forrest Anderson.

“I am sure it can be done,” said Thomas Boyer, Jr. in that way of his that made other people sure as well—if they liked their heads and valued their lives.

“It’s going to take some time,” said Forrest Anderson.

“Some, but not much,” warned Thomas Boyer, Jr.

“I need a laboratory, and I need equipment, and I need assistants,” said Forrest Anderson.

“You will have all that,” said Thomas Boyer, Jr.