The Divided States: Stories from the Second American Civil War
Jonny Oakley for The Broker
Insane, violent and dangerous, the broker is a cunning British mercenary leader. He controls much of the state of Louisiana as a non-state actor funded by European interests. De facto, he rules much of the interior states as a warlord, using brutal force to cow the state governors into giving him anything he wants. To the outside observer, he may appear as nothing more than a vicious warlord. He has a deep care for his own men however, a collection of outcasts and bandits he has trained into a formidable and disciplined personal army called the ‘13th Lancers’. He speaks with a common British cockney accent.
- male adult
- british (cockney)
- adult
Every man you see here: outcasts, rejects, scum of the earth. I built them up. Made them into something. Made them into Lancers! [Turning to crowd] And I promised you all didn’t I? What the world has taken from you, we will take back! [To a chorus of cheers, increasing with each exclamation] You will not just retire rich! Your children will be rich! And your children’s children’s children will be fucking rich!
[Menacing] Answer my riddle, if you will, Emily Faulkner. A man with a gun is facing three important figures. Kill the others! The first one says. I am a land owner and I will reward you handsomely! No says the second one. I am a diplomat - the other two must die, my treaty says so!
[Chuckling, throwing a knife] Tell you what cowboy. You put a single scratch on me – a single goddamn scratch, and I let you all walk free.
THE BROKER - MY SORT OF NUTTER!