SOMA | The Meme Dump
LEVON
You’re nuts, guy. I’m poor as shit.
JEREMY
Levon, your secret's out… I admire that you were able to play the vagabond so long. But you’re all over the place online. Looks as if your enemies have outed you.
Levon wipes his nose on his sleeve. He reaches into the bunker and takes hold of the tablet computer. Jeremy helps him thumb through a dozen stories about celebrities adopting puppies in honour of Dog Day.
JEREMY
Fucking corporate holidays. There you are.
Levon sees a lowangle photo of himself disguised in a bandana, sunglasses and wielding a slingshot. The caption reads: Manhunt for The Mycelium Begins: Where in the City is the Mushroom Master.
LEVON
Oh, god…
JEREMY
You look like a Zapatista!
LEVON
Every cop in the city is going to be looking for me.
JEREMY
Ha! You even made Art Forum. Quote, “The infamous Mycellium regards himself as a modern day ‘shaman.’ Due to this deliberate tribal connection, Mycellium’s drug dealing has been recognised as bold new street art by noted critic LauraLouise Essex ( Art Forum NYC, MOCCA Toronto) . Essex explains that the roots of modern art are derived from the traditional shamanic tactics Mycellium is helping revive . ‘In tribal times, the shaman distributed plantbased 83
SOMA | The Meme Dump
psychedelics to aid rituals of the spirit. Often the shaman would eat toxic plants, and then pass on the psychoactive compounds to his tribe by having them drink his urine. It’s thrilling to see artists reprise their witchdoctor role.’ Mycellium’s illegal activities and artistic importance have put him in league with legendary UK graffiti artist Banksy.” Ha! Banksy. Of course...
LEVON
Frigging propaganda dude! I’m a patsy!
JEREMY
Hmm. This is fabricated?
Some distance away, another amplifier falls over and explodes with a loud electronic bang. The young men see sparks and smoke in the distance.
JEREMY
Damnit.
LEVON
Someone’s out there?
JEREMY
No.
LEVON
Is it the police?
JEREMY
No.
Levon slides back into the bunker like a slug. Jeremy pokes at his tablet computer.
LEVON
What’s out there?