Istanbul

Death has an administrative problem in Istanbul.

Nobody currently appears to be in charge of it.

Rome claims authority.

The municipality has paperwork.

The Office of the Second Census has a black case saying its own authority has lapsed.

And the dead, who have spent much of the day being governed by people unable to identify who appointed them, are beginning to enjoy themselves.

A voice finally asks the obvious question:

Who presently administers death in Istanbul?

“No one.”

ANSWER ACCEPTED.

Unfortunately, an answer creates a vacancy.

The vacancy requires an appointment.

The first claimant is Fatma Kaya.

Fatma is dead.

Fatma declines.

The system notes that refusal requires recognized authority.

The Office has had better afternoons.

Included free: a complete Reality Services story, whose personnel remain mostly alive and therefore have fewer excuses.