Lowson’s expulsion from Tier r’Vern and Tier d’Ynide was public and spectacular. Arriving at the airport he was greeted by reporters from the press, television and radio, none of whom would normally go out of their way to greet a civil engineering contractor expelled from some totalitarian state. But Lowson was different. He might be the head of a large multi-national company, but he was accessible and he could almost always he guaranteed to say or do something controversial. His lifestyle was flamboyant and well away from muddy boots and hard hats, and his long links with two of the world’s most detested regimes made him attractive game for the media.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” he said smilingly, lifting his arms as if he was trying to beat the jostling group flat. “Oh, and ladies” he added
