A Most Unusual Artifact (6)

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"Mr. McGinty, this is Mr. Geiger, our Senior Vice President for New Product Development."  The executive secretary took a step back.

A tall man in a dark suit, with distinguished features and an almost theatrically perfect graying at the temples, Burton Geiger had reached the doorway of his office.  His eyes narrowed at the sight of the drably dressed old man seated on his sofa.  He shot a questioning look at his secretary.  She glanced away, then looked briefly at McGinty.  As she moved about on an errand, her lips showed just the barest trace of a smile.

McGinty' eyes twinkled as he patted the spray dispenser inside the bag.  Five squirts here and there was certainly not too great a price to pay for the opportunity he now had.

"It's awfully considerate of you to see me," McGinty began.  He sensed the importance of keeping the other man off balance, at least for a moment.  "I know how busy your schedule must be, so I'I1 be as brief as I can."

His hand fumbled slightly as he removed the spray bottle from its paper bag.  With as much flourish as he could muster, he produced a small cloud.  "What do you think of it?"

The executive at first only stared noncommittally at the mist.  Then he ventured a tentative sniff.

"Well, that's very…unusual, isn't it?"

"Mm-hmm…"

The executive groped for a phrase.  "And this is a …personal care product?"

“It makes people nice to you.”

The executive at first showed no reaction.  Then he began to nod solemnly.   Finally he allowed himself to crack a small conspiratorial smile.  "Well, that ought to be just the thing to go with this."

Rummaging in a comer of the cabinetry behind his desk, he produced an aerosol can marked "BULLSHIT REPELLANT."  He winked at McGinty.

"My wife gave me this last Christmas.  Said it would shorten up my days if I took it to all my meetings."

© COPYRIGHT 1994 ROBERT WINTER.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.