In HERGOTIA, the tourism director was perplexed. This procedure was clearly bad for business. He called his Ambassador to the United States to ask what could be done. The Ambassador winced. Since this had come out, he had to some degree become the laughing stock in the diplomatic cocktail party circuit and was loathe to defend it. However, he knew that if he didn’t try to do something, he’d be back in HERGOTIA without a job or a title. So, he suggested that the tourism director call a Washington lawyer who was known for his lobbying skills. Tommy Mitchell. Tommy knew Washington’s skeletons better than anyone. By sharing this information with the minister, the Ambassador figured that he would be seen as being helpful without actually doing anything to promote this voodoo policy himself. The minister called Tommy’s office and got through to Tommy’s secretary. “Mr. Mitchell will be happy to discuss the matter with you, but we need a retainer of $50,000 first, and his hourly rate is $1,000 per hour.” The minister had been prepared for this request, and asked for wiring instructions and gave the secretary his email address for the retainer letter to be sent. He knew that for this kind of help, it would not be cheap.

In the meantime, Sam Burncoat, had read something on the IRS website announcing this new policy and called his contact in HERGOTIA. “Not a problem, sir, when you are put into the voodoo trance, you are buried in a casket in a tomb with piped in oxygen. That way our mortician can certify that you were buried on the death certificate. The casket has a video camera installed so that when you come out of the trance, we immediately increase the oxygen mixed with a mild sedative and pull you out of the ground”, said the salesman. “Sounds safe enough”, Sam replied. He then scheduled his death for December 15, 2010. He sent engraved invites to his friends to come to a death celebration party at his home on December 12 with a grim reaper on the cover.