As the two former defense workers headed to S-max's
van, they reflected on the loss of their jobs, their
paychecks, and their dignity, as well as their blasted
reputations.

      "I have never been happier," the computer builder
said, strolling through the parking garage, the fake zebra
fur from his computer chair draped over his arm.  "And to
think, we escaped the whole fiasco without being even made
the subject of some lengthy TV mini-series."  He grunted
with glee.  "Or a congressional investigation."

     The programmer shuffling behind him, his arms full of
boxes stuffed with fur dice, "Honk If You Want Complete
Schematics" bumper-stickers, a plaster bust of John F.
Kennedy, and all the other effluvium from their former
office, didn't reply.  He was too stricken with grief at the
loss of his first engineering job to speak.

     "Did I ever tell you how I was once the subject of a
congressional investigation?" S-max continued.

     Andrew.BAS wanted to reply that no, he had not told
him, nor was he surprised that the mischievous S-max had
been the subject of a congressional investigation, but he
was too sad to answer.