It was the early days of 10249; a bright winter day on a weekend. Willem Greysmoke stirred awake on his bed of golden coins and gems, and let out a contented sigh, his sea-green scales shimmering in the light of electric-powered lanterns. His cavern was warm, comfortable, and stocked with parts for radioelectronics, his belly was full from a massive meal yesterday that was provided by a nearby village he kinda-sorta worked for (as a guardian of valuables and aerial photographer), and the schedule he planned for the day started and ended with "do nothing". Looking at the time, he saw it was but ten minutes before noon. The dragon fantasized about how he was going to relax for the whole day. He could tune in to a film serial on television in a couple of minutes. Then make himself a giant-sized bowl of salad with "Der Kronprinz" salted cucumbers (a one-bite snack for someone of his size). Then he could tune in on the radio for some afternoon jazz, and then work on his own radios if he felt like it... he had a lot of options. But all of that would have to wait in favour of a lucrative opportunity, one that was about to make itself known. Just as he settled in to watch TV, he saw the reception lamp on his kitbashed, metal-frame amateur radio blink bright orange. Willem reached over to the radio with his claw and flicked an oversized toggle switch, activating his radio set-up.
A voice came through the interference, then leveled out, clarified, and spoke, loud and clear. Resonating through the speakers, it asked: "Calling Willem Greysmoke. Are you receiving me? Willem Greysmoke, please respond, over."
Willem pressed the transmit button on his microphone, his rumbling baritone reverberating across the cave. "Unknown station, this is Willem Greysmoke. Who are you? Over." he asked, perplexed at the unfamiliar voice on the other end of the broadcast.
"Willem Greysmoke, this is Mara Giurescu, from Duchowiesen Broadcasting Bureau. I want to discuss a job offer. Over." the person on the other end said.
"...Say again?" Willem responded, stunned by the offer. It was not easy to flabbergast the dragon, but Mara has clearly done it. The Broadcasting Bureau, offering a job to him? For any radio geek, it would be a dream job - though he realized it would probably require doing actual work, should he agree to the offer.
"This is Mara Giurescu, from Duchowiesen Broadcasting Bureau. I have a job offer. Do you read me?" Mara repeated.
"Loud and clear, Mara." Willem responded. "I, uh... Wait." He gathered his thoughts, then in a few seconds, continued. "What is your location? This channel will not suffice, and it might take time for me to get anywhere, over."
"Negative, Willem." Mara said to him. "We are in Amseldorf; can you welcome us in your cave in an hour? Over." She of course referred to the small village just nearby that the dragon lived symbiotically with. He thought for a minute, then responded:
"Affirmative. You can go here, and I shall be waiting. Willem Greysmoke, out."
The dragon lifted his claw from the transmit button one last time, then laid flat on his bed of glittering gold coins. He could not believe he was being offered a job with one of the biggest players in the radio sector, but also had no idea what that job would entail. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to wait long. An hour of time was nothing for a dragon... and the arrival of his visitors didn't even take a full hour, as he heard them approach the cave entrance just 43 minutes later. Willem looked at the tunnel that led to the cave entrance, and said: "Please, come in!" - and a minute after, a few small figures walked round the bend, silhouetted by the flickering electric light of lantern-shaped gas discharge lamps that were hanging around the cave, supported by power cables. The visitors approached the dragon, revealing themselves to be a human group in woolen overcoats and winter hats, most of their features concealed by the heavy clothing protecting them from the cold outside. One of them walked out in front, and said:
"Hey there. I'm Mara Giurescu; should we talk about the job?"
"Ah yes, of course!" Willem said, barely concealing his uncharacteristically strong excitement. Willem said. He blinked, then leaned down to be at eye level with Mara, and said: "What do you and the Bureau have to offer? I must say, I am genuinely flattered - our paths have not crossed so directly as for the Bureau to know me... it transpires to me that I should listen well."
"Well, you're the first dragon who took to the radio waves, Willem." Mara told him. "That's a big distinction, so of course the Radiomagiker around the country mentioned you, and in turn, we've heard of you from them."
"Alright." Willem said, perching his face a little above Mara. "What is the job that you offer then? Do you desire my help in installing high-altitude transmitters? Do you wish to offer me a place in R&D?" He paused, then leaned down again. "You should be aware that I might not have the energy and the yearning to work day-in, day-out, and that is just something you will have to accept."
"We've thought about that, actually." Mara said. "We've got something tailored to your needs, not just any job." She sat down on a couch that Willem had placed near the entrance for small-sized visitors, and pulled out what turned out to be a selection of blueprints. "We are fully aware that dragons aren't very physically active, and prefer to do things for work that they'd be doing anyway. So..." she said, folding the blueprints out, "...we realized we could hire you specifically to guard, and likely maintain, a broadcasting antenna for radio and TV. Or several, if you agree. You have the skills for it."
Willem looked at the blueprints in front of him. He could see, plain as day, the technical specifications for a TV broadcasting mast, and equipment on the ground that would power it.
"I can read this... the blueprints look so fine." he said, making a "perfection" gesture with his clawed hand. He looked over to his tables and drawers full of electronic components, all beautifully ordered with a custom indexing system, and two half-disassembled radios he was currently working on, and smiled as he loomed over the three in a statuesque manner.
"You probably know the demands of long-range broadcast TV and radio." Mara said. "We could really benefit from your help in running the broadcast masts in this region; with your wings, your knowledge of radio, and your occult strength, you are the ideal candidate."
"That is fair." Willem said. "Television reception out here leaves me with a desire for more and better; does the Bureau plan to put up more broadcast masts in the local region if I accept the job?"
"Yes, we plan to. Do you accept the offer, then?" Mara asked.
"Only if you can afford to pay in gold." Willem replied.
"We can, but only at the union-negotiated rates for government-employed radio maintenance contractors." Mara told him. "By that I mean, don't expect whole sacks of gold coins - but we can still pay you a steady salary."
Willem looked around, glancing at the two other Bureau employees that came up with Mara to meet him. "And who are you, people?" he asked.
One of them looked at the dragon and told him:
"Radio technicians; we're here to explain the nitty-gritty if you take the job. I'm Klaus Albert Baumann, and my friend over there is Lech Bergvall."
The technician opened his bag, showing the dragon several binders full of technical papers that he was carrying. Willem looked at them, and raised his eyebrows in surprise and professional respect. Mara looked at Willem again and asked:
"So, any more questions?"
"Just one." Willem said in a confident baritone. "What and where do I sign?"
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