Chapter Six
Lauren turned to Cheviot. "Sounds like Max just found out about Bryce," she said, low enough so only he could hear.
Cheviot nodded.
"Why is Max Headroom so upset?" Ashwell asked. "He's usually the most chipper guy here."
"It does seem unusual," Edwards agreed.
Cheviot cleared his throat. "What I am about to tell you is very serious. It's also private. I wouldn't even be mentioning it if it weren't such grave news."
Everyone turned to face him.
"I was recently informed that one of this network's employees has just found out that he has cancer."
"Who?" Several voices asked, urgently. It didn't really matter who it was, in their minds. Everyone at the network got along pretty well with everyone else. Like a big family.
That is, it didn't matter until Cheviot said "Bryce Lynch."
Then the members of the Board of Network 23 were talking in hushed voices.
They could not believe that the network's youngest employee was going to die before any of them. It seemed so wrong to each of them.
"Is there nothing we can do," Ashwell asked. "We're the world's top network. We have pull with all the major establishments. Doctors. Scientists."
"It's already at stage four, Ashwell," Cheviot explained. "It's beyond curing at this stage. At this stage all that can be done is to look after him and keep him comfortable. Carter's agreed to take a leave of absence to look after him. Janie Crane will be filling in, so there will still be a show until he gets back."