“A Mister Sort,” says the aide, “from the Office of Mayhem Evaluation.”

Sort shakes hands with the Minister, nods to the Cabinet. “Glad I can be of service,” he says. “I assume you want my take on the situation outside?”

The Minister nods. “We moved the Capitol out here to get away from the unrest, and now–”

“I am fairly certain that it is, in fact, mayhem.”

Quiet.

After a while, one of the Czars coughs. “That’s… that’s all? Do you have a notion of the cause?”

“Oh,” says Sort politely, “you really want to know that? It’s all your fault.”