Now I know you have a sense of humor.”

Aether slowly shrugged her shoulders, clearly enjoying herself. In the lightened mood, we let the crowds pass around us, looking at their faces: happy ones, sad ones, those of people there for leisure and those there for business.

“When the title ‘consumer’ is applied to someone,” she asked, “is it considered a compliment or an insult?”

“I think it’s just a word, not really either.”

“Words have meanings, they should be understood.”

“Is this about my dictionary joke before?”

“No, though it could define a ‘consumer’ merely as ‘one who consumes.’ Consuming requires money, which is acquired through production, which humans are continually becoming less involved in. If people do not produce but continue to consume, won’t the nature of capitalism become strained? Does the value of consuming fall, if one cannot feel that it has been earned? Can consumption alone become their identity without killing them?”

“They all get their money from the government,” I said. “And, of course, the government takes it back in taxes.”

“No government can take more from its people than they have received, especially if those people spend their money in places like this; the taxes would force individuals into debt.” She stopped, thinking of something. “Then, the system of control is free to expand further.”

“Well,” I replied. “They’re just trying to meet their Economic Stimulus Assessments. It’s not really paying taxes because you have to spend it on non-necessities.” I thought of something myself and shook my head. “Or else they penalize you.

“Still, though,” I continued, “people like to go a little overboard. No one has to spend as much as they do.”

“And how much less can you spend, Mister Dauphin? You are in debt to many creditors as well.”

The question was uncomfortable, but an answer did come to mind. “I guess I don’t have to ascend to Dynamic Reality so much.”

“Three hundred and forty thousand dollars per year. Keep cutting.”

I looked up, shocked. “What do you mean, keep cutting? That’s the only luxury, I swear… the only thing that counts toward