America 1982-Chapter 195 - 73: Angels and Demons
In the lobby of the Washington Four Seasons Hotel, the elevator opened and Tommy, adjusting the buttons of his suit, stepped out followed closely by Delia with her briefcase and two Stanford lawyers.
"This is the opportunity you’ve brought about yourself, Tommy," Delia said, closer to Tommy than the other two, following him closely, repeating words she had already instructed him on many times before. "All national media related to the computer industry will be focusing on the hearing. Microsoft, Micro-innovation, IBM—all those corporate leaders have attended before, and you’ve seen the footage. But you must realize, they weren’t the focus; they were just consultants. You, as the party concerned, are the real counterbalance that will determine whether Congress decides to amend or legislate."
Dressed in a fitting suit, Tommy walked calmly toward the hotel’s main entrance.
Today was the day that Tommy Hawk of Actor Corporation would attend a hearing initiated by thirty-two members of the Congressional Committee on the Development of Computers.
The main focus of the hearing was a software infringement case between Actor Corporation and Lotus Corporation, discussing the current state of the computer software industry, as well as issues like patent protection and copyright standards. Prior to this, the heads of software companies such as Microsoft, Micro-innovation, and Borland had already received subpoenas before Actor and Lotus, to be questioned by Congress on related matters.
"You seem more nervous than I am," Tommy said, turning his head and giving Delia a smile.
Delia nodded slightly, "Because I didn’t expect Mitch Kapor to have performed so outstandingly at the hearings before. Now, the pressure has shifted to your side. You must understand, Byron Kennedy’s intention is to encourage the members to double-dip—they can amend laws first, then establish new ones. It’s just a matter of looking a bit unsightly, and then simply substituting Lotus Corporation, which was supposed to be sacrificed, with Actor Corporation. Even though changing the target affects the software industry, to the members, it makes no difference."
Byron Kennedy serves as the Vice President of Lotus Corporation and hasn’t been without success. For example, he managed to schedule Mitch Kapor’s attendance at the hearing ahead of other software companies and Tommy Hawk, which for Mitch, was like getting the right to start early.
Frankly speaking, the American members of Congress are virtually clueless about computer software. During the first hearing, due to their ignorance, they will try to avoid asking stupid questions that would expose their foolishness.
Therefore, the questions they ask tend to be quite routine. But as the hearings progress and their understanding of the industry deepens, the questions will become more pointed. In simple terms, Mitch Kapor got the elementary student’s test, while Tommy Hawk got the graduate student’s—yet you can’t question this unfair treatment or else you’re just waiting for the angered members to kick you out of the game.
What Tommy Hawk can do now is to perform even better on this more difficult test than Mitch Kapor did.
As Delia said, don’t think that the members have any bottom lines. They are more likely to kill two birds with one stone—first earning from Lotus Corporation by amending laws, which would mean Actor Corporation would be the one to go down, and then earning again by establishing new laws for the larger software companies.
The lobbying power mobilized by Byron Kennedy is also continuously driving this scenario forward. Whether Lotus Corporation or Actor Corporation goes down does not affect the members’ subsequent steps.
"Unless we give them something more significant than money in exchange," Tommy said with a smile.
Delia nodded, "I know you’ve already prepared those exchange items, but what’s most important is—you must make it crystal clear in front of the media and tell them, everyone in the nation might help you spot mistakes. You need to consider every word that comes out of your mouth carefully because a single misstep could backlash on you. What they need are deals that can withstand the daylight."
"Everything can happen under the sunlight. Actor Corporation is just a shell; what do I lose if it loses the lawsuit? I’ve said it before, I’m not in this for personal gain. I’m here for those developers not as lucky as Mitch Kapor, for those who yearn to change their destinies," Tommy walked out of the hotel, looking up at the azure sky:
"For me, the hearing is merely a chance to convey my true thoughts to everyone who wants to understand them. The Bible tells us, ’Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!’"
Afterward, he strode towards the ready business car:
"After my skin has been destroyed, yet without my flesh, I will see God."
...
Illinois, on the outskirts of Chicago, the small town of Livingston.
Headquarters of the SSD Fraternity.
Walking through the long corridor of the SSD headquarters, Eric pointed to a closed door next to him, then patted Tommy’s shoulder forcefully and earnestly helped Tommy affix the SSD pin to his chest, his voice a bit low:
"As your Big Brother, Tommy, I can only accompany you this far. You must give an explanation to the SSD council. To be honest, I’m worried that when you come out again, that pin won’t be on your chest. You won’t know how many SSD Chapter presidents from various schools are sitting inside. You won’t know their names, identities, or any information. You just need to know, the people appearing here tonight will decide whether you can stay in SSD. You will be blindfolded, sitting in the center of the council, undergoing their interrogation. Tommy, answer every one of their questions earnestly."
