Echoworld

I wonder...do many people in the other universes know that there are other universes?" She gazed up at him as she walked.

Shaun shook his head. "Not as far as I know. People from Alpha are the only ones that know about the others. Do you know the political situation here?"

"I've been here as long as you have. Check a newspaper."

Shaun nodded and they walked in silence. Speeding cars crowded the street, Wren noted with slight surprise. In her universe, there wasn't enough fossil fuel to support cars. They sat, abandoned, on the sides of roads. Occasionally they housed the homeless.

They passed a stand selling newspapers and magazines. Shaun deftly snatched a paper without the vendor noticing. Once they were out of hearing range, Wren said, "Nice."

"Do you have any of their currency?" he retorted. Wren remained silent.

Shaun led them into a restaurant called McDonald's and they sat at a corner table. The front page read:

UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM

By Jacob Transki, staff

The votes have been counted and George W. Bush is the President once again. It was a landslide, with Bush receiving 70% of the votes. The rest of the candidates are as follows: Clinton 15%, Jacobson 10%, Nanti 3% and DeBouche 2%. This will be Bush's third four-year term as President of the United States.

In 2003, the 22nd amendment was altered to state that a man could run for President multiple times, thus giving them the chance to serve in term several years in a row. Bush is the first president to serve more than two terms, though the idea was presented by former President Bill Clinton in early 2003.

When asked to comment about his feelings on losing, Clinton said, "I'll have more chances. Surely he won't win every election for the rest of his life."

When asked to comment about his feeling on winning, Bush said, "It's a great feeling. I don't think anyone's every managed to be president for more than eight years and I'm proud to be the first." This reporter abstains from remarking that he has pointed out the painfully obvious.

At his victory speech (Continued PRESIDENT A6)

"Everything seems stable," Wren said doubtfully. "A democratic republic, even if their leader is a dim bulb, as it would seem."

Shaun looked at her in confusion. "Democratic republic? What's that?"

Wren raised her eyes from the newspaper and met his azure ones. "You don't know?" she asked, surprised. He had such beautiful eyes.

He shook his head.

She tore her eyes away from his face and looked once again at the newspaper. "Well, a democracy is where the people vote on every issue. The people are the government." Shaun nodded. "A republic is where a select group of people make all the decisions." Again, the nod. "So in a democratic republic, the people as a whole vote for a smaller group of people who will ultimately make all the decisions."

Shaun stared at her in amazement. "How do you know all this?"

Wren shrugged. "That's how my world used to be run. Recently, though, there' ve been several rebel groups wreaking havoc all over the place. It's almost an anarchy now. These groups set fire to buildings and loot stores...it's a pain in the ass, if you want to know the truth. What sort of government does your country have?"

Shaun leaned back in his seat. "We don't have countries or borders. There's just the land. It used to be run as a monarchy and things were pretty peaceful then. But Wren killed the royal family and distant relatives of the royal family, so no one could step up to the throne. And that's what began her reign of terror."

Wren felt her stomach churn.