Chapters 19-21 Summary

Jack Bein calls Nick and tells him the Jeff Megall wants to meet the next morning first thing. That morning, Jeff tells him that for both of the name stars to smoke overtly in the space picture, the studio will require twenty-five million. Nick is taken aback by the figure, and Jeff doesn't help with his next issue. The other major backer of the picture will be the Sultan of Glutan, a monarch decried in the media of late for slaughtering a large number of his native population. Nick says that the cost is too high for his people to stomach, and he will have to get back to Jeff.

Back at the hotel, Nick returns a message from the Captain. Evidently, Senator Finisterre is putting forth legislation requiring all cigarette packs be sold with a skull and crossbones label. Nick...