BOATPIG Page 177
The hauntingly beautiful melody of the Potassium song filling your mind you boldly state your answer to the barman. He takes your order in silence, merely nodding and gesturing for you to return to the Bureau’s table.
Your confidence shaken you await the drinks with mounting trepidation, when the barman eventually arrives he is bearing a tray of whisky and cigars. To your relief this is a good sign and as the Bureau settles down to the contents of the tray the conversation moves to a a more rarefied plane; international finance, the benefits of having land and finally world affairs.
As the discussion begins to centre on the Near Eastern Question it is clear you will have to join in to consolidate on the strong start you have made. There is but one minor issue, you’ve no idea what on earth they are talking about. Non-committal waffle will be counter productive, but to make a meaningful contribution you’ll have to at least work out what part of the world they are talking about. So, for the purpose of the question, where is the Near East?