ASSOCIATION / CH. 22:CHALLENGE
EMBASSY, NEAR U.N. HEAD QUARTERS, THURS 25TH JAN.
“So you've requested a formal investigation?” Maggie, the ambassador's wife asked as lunch was drawing to a close.
“Yes, Maam.” Lilly replied.
“She's doing it again.” Jim moaned.
“I'm sorry. I did only get out of training three weeks ago.”
“And a junior analyst already!” Jim pointed out, with a smile.
“They tricked me.” Vivian complained.
“They being the triumvirate?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, Maa...Maggie.”
“Triumvirate?” Laura asked, getting lost.
“Our internal investigations division is governed by three people who work together. It's one of those 'who watches the watch-men' things.” Jim explained “All very trustworthy and trusted people who want to be known as trustworthy.”
“So it's a checks and balances sort of system?”
“Sort of. Oh, they make some decisions individually, but they always are looking over each other's shoulders making sure that there's no favouritism or overlooking of discrepancies. If they find something they can't all agree on, then it goes to their Majesties and the prime-minister. So there's three again.”
“And which of them does have the best views from their office windows?” Maggie asked, “Do you know?”
“Yes, but I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy.” Vivian said, grinning as she noticed Maggie's eyes dancing at the shared joke.
“Is this some kind of in-joke?” Jim asked.
“Oh no, Jim, you should know that no one ever jokes in Auditing.” Vivian replied, dead-pan.
“Oh. Like that, is it? On the way here, Vivian was about to tell us about how she gate-crashed young Karen's honeymoon.”
“You what?” Maggie asked.
“I did not!” Vivian denied, hotly. “I sort of gatecrashed a New-Year's eve party they'd been invited to by her, urm, third-cousin I think I was told. And only sort of gate-crashed it because I was invited, just... only quite late on, after talking to the police about why my car had blown up with me almost in it.”
“That sounds scary.” Laura said.
Lilly shook her head, “I've heard the reason it blew up. That's scarier.”
“Anyway, continuing with the tail-end of the story, the cousin had been a witness to the car going bang, and then invited me to the house, where I met Karen and her new husband, and they gave me a crash-course in bits of the Bible where God demonstrates his power over... everything from magicians and despotic rulers, to the forces of nature, life, death, demons and chaos.”
“Everything, seen and unseen, in fact.” Lilly agreed.
“And as I told Jim, we were reading about three young men walking around in a lit furnace when we realised that midnight had passed us by.”
“There was some reason for this, I presume?” Dwight asked.
“Yes. Do you really want to know about my pre-Christian life? It's not a nice story.”
“I think it might help them understand how convincingly you can pretend to be scary, Vivian,” Lilly said, “and why, when you're convinced of something, you're not going to back down and hide in a corner.”
“You mean you don't think she's going to calm down after a few months or years, burdened by the cares of this world?” Dwight asked.
“I seriously doubt it.” Lilly replied, “I think she's just going to be more comfortable calling high officials by their first names.”
Vivian decided to ignore that jibe. “OK. Quick version is that I used to be a witch, I knew that spiritual powers answered spells with power, I knew that people who left the coven tended to die when their cars had an electrical fault. I knew that I'd upset the spirits, and I'd just been told they were demons. I got into my car, and it didn't start. Part one of the electrical fault. Part two is that when you try to get out it goes bang. God provided a guy to help me get out and while he was working on making that possible, I turned to God, helped by one of the fifty-six. He smashed a window, I dove through it and the car went bang about a second later. Electrical fault which lead to the overheating and rupture of the fuel-cell, somehow triggered by the car's alarm circuit, which of course should have been inactive. So yes, they thought I needed some reassurance of the power of God to limit evil.”
“And you're not worried about them trying to kill you, now that you've left?”
“I'm told the leader of the coven tried to curse me, and it blew up in his face.”
“Literally, or metaphorically?” Lilly asked.
“I'm not sure, I wasn't there. But he's apparently gone blind.” Vivian shrugged, “I don't know if that's permanent or not, but it certainly helped some others to listen when a very brave old lady walked into a meeting of the coven, told them that the Lord God Almighty was mercifully stopping their spells from working for a while, so maybe they should go home and read their Bibles if they wanted to learn about real power and authority. She gave them little individualised notes about the dangers of their favourite spells and the verses they might find the most helpful, apparently, and then walked out.”
“How... Oh, she was one of the fifty-six?” Laura asked.
“Yes.” Vivian agreed.
“Was it the fifty-six or the fifty-seven by then?” Lilly asked.
“Fifty seven.”
“What's this?” Maggie asked.
“Said old lady, as you can probably guess, has been talking to Vivian quite a lot, and. God apparently doesn't have a fixed number in mind.” Lilly replied.
“It must be so nice to be beyond temptation.” Maggie said wistfully.
Vivian looked at her curiously, “Do you mean in glory, in which case amen, but how does that fit into the conversation? Or am I about to burst your bubble?”
“You mean that they're not?”
“People with the gift are just as challenged by the temptations of the flesh as the rest of humanity, are just as prone to believing lies and can be just as confused in their thinking as anyone else, and then they've also got this extra little challenge of having access to every thought on the planet. Sorry, according to what I know, they're not immune to temptation at all.”
“Oh.”
“But they do know God is real, and powerful.” Lilly said.
“And that he's compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and quick to forgive.” Vivian added, “Just like everyone else who's been reading their Bibles.”
“But...” Maggie said, then thought better of it. “Oh well. But, Vivian, you're actually in contact with them?”
“Some of them are involved in the Chartered Association. It cuts down the interview time a lot, and of course the Institute for the Human Mind can contact them too. You need to get in contact?”
“Your experience with what the U.N. asked you to do... Well it's more fuel to the fire. It's possible that there's a thought-stealer or two somewhere on staff. Certain things are leaking which shouldn't, that sort of thing.”
“Sorry, what's a thought-stealer?” Dwight asked.
“You can divide thought-hearers into about four broad categories:” Vivian explained, “Do they hide their ability, and do they use it for gain. If you've got someone who doesn't hide it, but doesn't really make use of it, then you've got Lilly, here. Someone who does hide it and doesn't use it, well that's up to them. I don't hide it, never have, really — I used to mix recruiting for the coven with making a bit of spare cash being 'Elvira the witch' at various events, telling people what they wanted to hear. But once I became a Christian I decided I would use it in a more honourable and professional way. Both side-show and truthsayer are in the same quadrant though. Hiding it and making money from it though, and you're into things like espionage, extortion. Stealing thoughts from people for fun and profit. I'm serious about the fun: some of them are really sick and enjoy causing people mental pain, especially other thought-hearers.”
“The rumour that there might be people like that... that could really start a witch-hunt, couldn't it?” Laura asked.
“It could, yes.” Lilly agreed.
Vivian asked “What's the legal status of being a thought-hearer here? I forgot to find out.”
“No legislation enacted.” Jim replied “They were thinking of borrowing ours as a model, last I heard, but that was before the King gave his famous 'repent or we're going to be hit' speech.”
“I haven't noticed many people obeying their king's plea in that respect, and the last I heard, the rock's still coming.” Vivian pointed out. “But I also notice a distinct lack of enforcement on that plea. So I guess you can use that as evidence that we're not a theocracy.”
“Thanks, Vivian. I'm not sure anyone's really suggested we are. But Maggie, would I be right to say about the only legal framework is generic privacy legislation, which may or may not apply, based on how the judge takes the exact phrasing?”
“Pretty much.” Maggie agreed.
Vivian pulled a face “So the only evidence is going to be someone being caught using knowledge they haven't got a right to, and if the case ever does come to court they can just say that they heard it from someone who knew, and it becomes an accusation of careless lips.”
“That's about the case, yes.” Maggie agreed. “Unless they engage in blackmail or similar crimes, of course.”
“I'd hate to investigate a case like that.” Vivian said. “Unless they're caught 'passing secrets to an enemy state', then about the best result is that the thought-stealer gets an official 'don't do it again' warning.”
“And this is the U.N. we're talking about. I'm not sure the U.N. has any concept of an enemy state. It's just down to breaching privacy rules.” Jim pointed out.
“Which seem to be treated very laxly here, I've noticed.” Vivian said.
“Yes. I guess everyone expects to be bugged by someone.” Jim replied.
“So why put the blame on thought-stealers?” Lilly asked.
“Because we scan for bugs, and still secrets are getting out.”
“And there's no sign of lip-readers with telescopes?” Vivian quipped.
“Not recently, no. Nor of any undetectable bugs.”
“Well, if there's real evidence that there's someone like that, I could ask... I presume you've seen the ethics statement: you're not going to get a list of names back. I must admit curiosity though. I didn't think the U.N. was a place to find important national secrets. Decisions, yes, but secrets?”
“Other than who's a spy?” Lilly asked.
“Good point. Sorry, Lilly.” Vivian apologised.
“There are some other ones.” Dwight said “For example, let's say that we were working on a film that was going to prove effective against a certain regime. If that regime learned about it, then they could ruin its effect. Or if a decision was being made to send in a force to arrest an individual, that information could let them go into hiding, and so escape justice.”
“OK, so there is some sensitive information.”
“Quite a lot.” he replied. “Not least, the secret we all want to know. Lilly have you made up your mind up about passport country, yet?”
“I think what I ought to do is speak to my mother.” Lilly said, “Well, I see three options, actually. I don't say a thing to her and only show her the passport when they get here with my brother. Alternatively, I tell her I have a choice and get her opinion, or I tell her that I had to prove I wasn't loyal to home any more, sorry.”
“If you say it like that, she might think you failed.” Laura pointed out.
“There's no way you could talk to your brother, is there?” Vivian asked. “After all, it affects him too.”
“I'm not sure how to, unless my parents think I should ask him too. Which is about as likely as them sprouting wings.”
“Hmm. There's also the question of whether it would be a good point or a bad point for your passport country to be where your father is the ambassador.” Vivian pointed out.
“He's what?” Dwight exclaimed, “I thought you said he was a diplomat.”
“Well? An ambassador is a diplomat, isn't he?”
“I'd thought... oh, wow. It gets trickier by the minute.”
“If only I knew where they really stood!” Lilly exclaimed.
“Don't ask me for wise advice.” Laura said, “About all I can think of is that sooner or later your parents are going to work out that you're applying to the U.N. and about the choice that gives you.”
----------------------------------------
EMBASSY OF THE BEAUTIFUL PENINSULA, THURSDAY, 25TH JAN.
“You have discussed Lilly's predicament with home, I presume?”
“No, husband.”
“But you have reported it?”
“No, my husband, you really think our beloved leader is concerned with our daughter's career move? She was a spy in this department of the U.N., now she is a spy in another one? Irrelevant! I'll put it in my monthly report, of course. OK, so maybe she won't ever be ambassador, now, but really, the great leader has more important things to think about in connection with us, does he not? Will there be talks?”
“I am sure there will be. Maybe not very soon.”
“But Lilly's information: the threat of final war?”
“You think it will come?”
“Of course it will come, husband. Our great leader has foreseen it, and wisely guided our country in preparation for the day, so that when it comes we will be ready. But the question is when our war-mongering adversaries will bring war to our peace-loving country, is it not?”
“Ah, yes.”
“You seem doubtful.”
“I do notice that the present tension appears to have been of our making.”
“I am sure that the propaganda department of the U.N. will be pleased that you believe so.” Her words were rather belied by the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes. She enjoyed this sort of confusing word-play. If only it weren't so serious!
“Ah, I see you have seen through the lies. Was it the way that the shadows fell that alerted you?”
“That was part of it, yes. Anyone could see that on an overcast day like that, the shadows should not have been that crisp. Nor should the image have been so clear. We know it was raining on that day, do we not, husband?”
“Raining? No, I quite clearly remember being almost hit by a snowball.”
“Yes! You are right, and all the world knows that you cannot take pictures through snow clouds. And the way that the men carrying the supposed warhead were wearing those special costumes that are invisible to the satellite's cameras, so they would not be exposed to any dangerous radiation. Clearly this was made by these decadent capitalists who can afford such expensive transparent outfits. Everyone knows our nation's two special handling costumes are white, like the ones the faked images showed that overseer and the general who went to hide in the bunker putting on. Clearly they think we will believe any such rubbish. No one would believe such a thing.” No, you'd have to be a complete cynic to believe that the valuable protective clothing would go to the man with all the authority that wasn't taking the risks. Oh, his poor country.
“And did you see the young man in the picture, the one who walked with a limp just like our son's old school-mate?” Lilly's father asked.
“Yes! Everyone knows he is an engineering student. He would not be moving dangerous loads on some rocket base. It is an obvious fraud!”
“Ah, it is sad that our dutiful daughter can only find such falsified materials to send to us, but at least she is safe. I am sure that none of the decadent imperialist war-mongers would attack their drinking-partners at the United Nations.”
“That is true. Or their friends here, either, of course.”
“Yes. Our children are safe from those war-mongers. It is a shame that Lilly has to be so far from us.”
“But it is necessary, husband. Although our Lilly is not as wise to the ways of this world as we are, we can be sure she will protect our son better than even we can from undesirable influences.”
“I'm glad about that, my wife.” he said. But he wasn't quite sure what she meant. Did she mean that Lilly would defend her almost-certainly Christian brother from other Christians encouraging him? Did she mean that she was sure Lilly's loyalty didn't stretch to harming her brother, no matter what Lilly thought of his faith? Or did his beloved wife mean that, with a foreign passport and living in a foreign land, their son would be free from the regime that had sent his old-schoolmate to take leaky nuclear weapons from a fully fueled experimental missile? Maybe she meant all three?
----------------------------------------
SELINA'S HOME
Selina stopped listening in to the ambassador's thoughts. “Well, Vivian, you're still not going to convince me to agree to that ethics statement, but I don't think I've learned anything very new.”
“I ought to say that I'm not interested. But that would be dishonest.”
“That's good. I was going to tell you anyway. Your new friend's dad is entirely confused about what his wife really thinks, but there's a lot of cynicism about their regime from both of them. Her dad is also fairly certain that his son's a Christian, and doesn't want him going back home.”
“It must be terrible to live like that, not being able to criticise your government, or really share what you think.”
“I agree. But you and I can't really be totally open, can we?”
“No, but that's us protecting others' innocence, not protecting ourselves.”
“Except, of course, that when we protect someone's innocence, we also keep their friendship.” Selina pointed out.
“Do you really think that?”
“No, Vivian. No, I don't. It's just a fear I lived with a long time, like the fear I had when I was about your age, that I'd never marry, after all I'd done to myself. But singleness turned out not to be such a big problem.”
“Can I ask about that?”
“Of course you can. Well now, for the longest time, I guess from maybe three years after I became a Christian, there was this man I had my hopes set on. He seemed like a real possibility, but he said he had issues he wanted to deal with before he'd consider marriage. So, we were good friends, but it never went anywhere. In the end...” Selina shrugged “...he never did sort out his issues, and by the time he admitted that he wasn't going to be able to sort them out this side of glory, I was involved in the Church and had all the others to think to, so I wasn't lonely.”
Vivian couldn't work out what the issues might be, but decided it wasn't any of her business.
“Good call, girl, it's not. But to answer your curiosity, it was a sort of mental instability. He kept on having phases when he'd go for a few days, sometimes even weeks thinking his friends — including me — were out to kill him, God wasn't real, and so on. Then he'd be shopping or walking or anything and click, he was back to normal, very sorry for everything, determined it wouldn't happen again. But of course it did. But no one could tell him what was really happening or what the cure was, or whether it would stop. I could tell him it wasn't spiritual, doctors really struggled because short of locking him up in a hospital there was no way they'd be able to test him when he was like it — he ran away from everyone he knew — but there was nothing wrong when he wasn't.” she shrugged.
“Other than that he was the loveliest man I ever knew: kind, considerate, forgiving, intelligent. Just...”
“Not trusting himself not to run off screaming on your wedding day or honeymoon?”
“Yes, exactly. So, what are you going to do about your friend Lilly's dilemma?”
“I don't know. I've prayed about it, she's prayed about it. My only idea was to talk to you.”
“I don't suppose her brother has the power?”
“I never thought to ask. You think I should call him if he does?”
“Not yourself, let Lilly.” Selina corrected.
“Pardon?”
“It's not too hard — you hold Lilly's hand, and send what she thinks to him, and let her hear what he thinks to you. Not repeating, but just letting the thoughts pass through you.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Hearing his sister across continents could really make him jump out of his skin.”
“I know. Good, isn't it? Make sure he's alone. Preferably lying down, that way the shock's not going to make him fall too far.”
“So how do I do this?”
“Let's practice: how about I be a pipe to Lilly, then you can see what I do, and we can kill two birds with one stone. When you've seen me do it, you can call Sarah for me, say. Does that work?”
----------------------------------------
[Hi, Sarah! Selina here.]
[Hi, Selina. Oooh, why do I sound so echo-y? Do you know?]
[Yes, Vivian's learning to do something. She's actually sending for me, and of course you are sending back. Pretend you've just got the power for a moment can you?]
[Like this?] Sarah asked.
[I heard it.]
[So we can act as relays, and then we don't need to say 'She says...' and so on?]
[Exactly! Vivian's going to be doing it for a friend: they'll come and hold her hand, then she'll just be the switchboard operator who lets them talk to each other.]
[Wow. Do you know if we could link two people where neither of them are touching?]
[Probably. I've never tried. It might be tiring.]
[I expect so, but... possibly handy, anyway.]
[I'm sure you can think of a motivation, Sarah, just don't relegate yourself to switchboard operator for any old reason. But in this case... we think it's appropriate.]
[Do Enoch and the others know about this part of the gift?] Sarah asked.
[I'm not at all sure.]
[And the other question is, is there there any other part of the gift that we don't know about?]
[I'm sure there is, Sarah. But whether I know about it is another issue. Anyway, can we discuss it later? I just thought you were a good target for Vivian to try this on.]
[OK, that's fine. Thanks for telling me about it.]
[My pleasure.]
----------------------------------------
FRIDAY 26TH JAN.
[Hey, Sprog! Think to me!] Lilly thought, while holding Vivian's hands. He wasn't called Sprog, of course. Sprog was her nick-name for her brother, which was really Ree. Perhaps, in retrospect, calling him while he'd been lying on the sofa watching a boring film he wasn't following hadn't been the best idea. But, oh well, it would be something to laugh about together eventually. He fell off the sofa in surprise.
[I must have fallen asleep. Wow, that really sounded like Lilly! What have I bruised, I wonder?]
[Your bruises will heal.] Lilly thought, [Now get up, sort yourself out, or our parents will start asking embarrassing questions.]
[Hey! I'm awake, why am I having dreams still?]
[Look, Sprog, you're awake, OK? I've got a friend with the mind-reading gift who's letting us think to each other as a special favour. Please don't tire her out while you contemplate your bruised tail-bone.]
[You.... how... It's a trick, isn't it?]
[How much have our parents told you, Sprog, what have you found out yourself, and how much do they know?]
[No way am I thinking those things. Where's the wire? There must be a wire or something. Who is this?]
[Look, Sprog, this is me, your big sister, OK? Stand up, walk around. See!
No wire. I'm the one who didn't tell about you keeping a copy of the Bible hidden in your collection of old films, remember? And told you to hide it better. You set a password of 'Lilly is freezing', because you got 'freezing' and 'cool' confused, and I told you that three words even at random were way too short for a password, let alone a password involving me.]
That piece of very personal knowledge sank in. He asked: [You've really got a friend with the gift, who's linking our minds?]
[Yes.]
[So I could be anywhere? Even past Jupiter?]
[Yes. But you're not. You're in the embassy watching a boring film from the sofa, or you were before you fell off. Did you see the film I sent Dad? The warheads being taken out of the missile?]
[Yes. Scary.]
[Do you know what else I told Mum and Dad?]
[I urm... heard Mum telling you to get me a passport, and work on propaganda films.]
[Excellent! So, important question one, what do you think about the country you're currently in? Have you seen much of it?]
[Not much. What do I think? There's so many choices in the shops, it's hard to decide what to get. No one's forced to eat mouldy corn. And it's odd, Lilly, I read recently of an openly dissident couple getting invited to the palace, and then writing about the King and Queen needing a new carpet. It's not that they have no sense of propriety or duty. They've got it in bucket loads, but... they're free here, really free. And I think they love their royal family, they just don't say it.] He didn't need to say how different that was to home, in both respects.
[So, good place to live?]
[I'm sure. Where are you going with this?]
[You'll get there. Question two: do Mum and Dad know about you being a believer?]
[I've not told them, but urm, I'm not probably not hiding it very well. I think Dad suspects. Mum is better at keeping secrets than you are, so I've no idea.]
[OK. Question three, do you know what they're thinking of for your future?]
[Well, if you get me a passport, then I guess they're thinking I'll be some kind of agent, or something, safely away from home.]
[I doubt that — the agent bit — you've never done spy-school, have you?]
[No. It sounded horrible.]
[It was. So, maybe Mum's expecting me to make sure you don't defect, but stay a loyal little boy. Or she's thinking you'll defect and doesn't mind. I'd love to know which one. Any guesses?]
[Lilly!] Some things were too sensitive to even think about.
[Sprog, when you've got time and you're alone, ponder on this: I'm currently at the home of a woman who's one of the fifty-six, except there's fifty seven at the moment. But, right now, should I call Mum or Dad about having a choice of passports? Guess where I'm really tempted by?]
[Here?]
[Got it in one.]
[Dad might get the blame.]
[Good thought. I don't want bad things to happen. Any other good thoughts? If I apply here then it'd be OK, I guess, but I like the attitude of the people from there, and the total package they're offering.]
[Urm, nothing much to add. But aren't the salaries there better?]
[Probably. But there's a chance I could sign up to work as a civil servant there which is as secure a position as at home, but without the bad bits. The civil servants here are just doing a fixed-term government job, by the sound of it. I'd still have to save for my own pension, health-care, and everything.]
[Lilly... how do I ask this...]
[Maybe you don't.]
[OK. But aren't they going to interview you and things?]
[Done, I passed.]
[Wow.]
[So, I'll talk to Dad, I guess. Is he there?]
[I think so. Last I heard he was filling out reports on the staff. You know how he loves that.]
[Thanks, Sprog. What about Mum?]
[Terrorizing the local vegetable sellers, I think. So yeah, strike while the iron is hot, like they say here.]
[I will. Take care!]
[If you get me a passport for here, does that mean I stay with you or not?]
[You could. Assuming I do take the government job, they'd list you as my dependant, since you'll be down as having been given religious asylum. And as such you'd qualify for housing while you stay with me, and some sort of mostly subsidised university place, too. That'd mean living separately, of course.]
[Oh, wow! What if you get a passport from there?]
[Then I get more income, but your university fees would leave me starving and homeless. So... we'd save really hard for a few years, with you earning too, and live on rice and the odd bit of fish and corn, and whatever vegetables we can grow, just like home. But of course it would be our free choice and therefore all worth it, or something. And then you'd start university while still working part time. Alternatively, you can take out a loan you might have some hope of repaying in a decade, depending how well paid a job you get.]
[So... it is the land of the free but down-trodden workers?]
[Something like that, yes. Working like slaves because they are making expensive choices. Unless of course, you enter government service, where you work like a slave for your country, for a decade or so, and in thanks the government feeds you and pays off your student debts.]
[It sounds awfully complicated. Not to mention painful.]
[See why I like the state system there?]
[Yes. What's the non-state system like here?]
[Salaries are a bit lower, health-care is a bit cheaper, university is a bit cheaper. Oh, I didn't say: in both places there are some employers who'll pay a chunk of your student loan each year if you work for them. Apparently it's cheaper for them to do that than to give you the money to do it yourself.]
[Stop, Lilly, it's worse than the toothpaste aisle in the supermarket!]
[{Grin} Shocking, isn't it? I'll stop. I'd better call Dad. Take care, Sprog.]
----------------------------------------
Lilly called her father. Once she'd ensured that everything was suitably tripple-encrypted, she spoke. “Father, I have a question for you, of some significance.”
“Yes, my dutiful daughter?”
“I followed Mother's instructions to press for two passports. But I must choose which country. Would it cause you problems if it were there? Some of the politicians here are in favour of starting the final war, it seems. Plus, as I look at things... my salary is not going to be able to send my brother to university easily.”
“It is a similar system here, my daughter. The workers are shown the appearance of freedom so they enslave themselves voluntarily.”
“Yes, it is true, father. But the numbers there seem to work out better. Plus, there is another option. I am told that I could seek to be a government worker. My income would be less, but university for my dependant brother would become very cheap. He could study engineering as he's always wanted, and we would not need to live in a box of cardboard and eat mouldy corn.”
“So, they are convinced of your cover?”
“Yes, father, I need only to name the country. They have given me a description of all my options. I could even choose to become a citizen of a small tropical island somewhere. But apparently the university options are not good unless Ree is interested in banana-based products. That might have been partly a joke, though. But to be a state worker there... the system is almost socialist, father, a job for life.”
“Yes, yes, I see the attraction. It would be a good option for you, if you could manage it. But to enter their civil service, though? I think it would be a very difficult test, my daughter.”
“I am not afraid of studying.”
“No, daughter, I mean you would have to convince them of your loyalty.”
“And of my disloyalty to home. Would it cause problems for you, father, if I were to accomplish this?”
“You are expected to do this, Lilly. It would not cause me trouble, but if you were caught...”
“Do you know of the section they call Auditing there, Father?”
“Their internal investigations section? You're not thinking of applying there surely?”
“No, no. The ambassador suggests I could continue in my present job, well, with the extra propaganda parts, too, of course. No, I ask about Auditing because the woman who interviewed me today worked for them. It was not hard to give her answers she liked. She has told me and everyone she met she is utterly convinced. So, I ask again, Father: Ree has never been to spy school, he will probably be granted asylum on political or religious grounds, very few will believe he is not defecting. If I help him, everyone will think I truly defect also. The consequences for myself, I understand and accept, but what about you and mother? Will it not look like you and mother helped us defect? Especially if we have passports from the government you talk to every day?”
The idea of speaking of his children defecting came as a shock. Is that what his wife was planning? Lilly's analysis seemed undeniable, she'd clearly inherited his wife's mental agility. Unfortunately it wasn't contagious. But he could catch her on one thing: “Not every day, don't exaggerate, Lilly. You are considerate to ask these things, my loyal daughter. Perhaps you are right. Especially if we arrange for your brother to visit you.”
“So, I was thinking, father. He does leave the embassy occasionally, doesn't he?”
“Yes, of course. He has his language lessons, and so on.”
“And is he always guarded, locked in?”
“No.”
“Then, how about if you do not arrange for him to meet me, father? That would look suspicious to anyone, after all. It would not be hard, I believe, for him to follow... other plans.”
“You would take the full blame on yourself, daughter?”
“Is there blame, father? There are consequences, surely, but blame surely implies wrong-doing.”
“You do not see it as wrong to allow your brother to defect?”
“Mother's plan, I believe, is to have him listed as a loyal overseas worker, father. That is not defecting, surely? But if her plan is not successful, I do not see it as wrong to protect my family, and I am sure that helping my brother get through university will only assist my cover.”
“Yes, Lilly. I'm sure you're right. It would surely be bad for your cover if you did not support your brother. I just hope that your love for your country is never made to oppose your love for your family.”
“Nor yours either, Father.”
He pondered a little, still not really knowing where Lilly's loyalties lay, but then... he wasn't really sure where anyone's did, including his own. He loved his family, his country. He hoped he was doing his best for both. “It would be bad for your cover if you chose a passport that held no logic. I do not see any clear risk to your mother and I, whichever you choose. And I am sure it would not be comfortable for either of you if you had to swear loyalty to a country intent on war. This country is not one of those: they claim they have enough problems with meteors to pick other fights, and I am sure they speak truth.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Keep safe, my daughter, and look after your brother.”
“I will, father.”
----------------------------------------
PEOPLE'S STATE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PENINSULA, FRIDAY 26TH JAN.
“So, while others lovingly polish the noses of their missiles, they offer face-to-face talks?”
“Yes, great leader.” the minister for external relations agreed.
“What is your assessment?”
“We have had... shall we say, reasonable relations with them for a long time. They expect to rebuild a city, which is surely expensive, as is war, of course, so not having a war is to their advantage. I do not believe there is anything to be gained by refusing, and perhaps... well, they must think they have something to interest us.”
“Unless it is a plot.”
“At the moment, great leader, there is no warrant for your arrest. Our ambassador there assures me that they would not be a party to international actions with or without one. It is in their constitution: once a member of their royal family has given a promise, it cannot be broken.”
“A nice little piece of propaganda, I'm sure.”
“It happened once, two hundred years ago. Someone complained that the crown prince in question was not keeping up their end of a deal. The prince was given a choice: keep your promise or spend a lot of the rest of your life in jail and the rest as an ordinary worker. Our ambassador insists that if they offer safe conduct, their military will be protecting you from all attack.”
“Ah? Interesting! So, have they offered safe conduct?”
“Not as such. Yet. But our ambassador is certain that if we ask for it they would not refuse. Although, of course, they might require other concessions in exchange.”
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BLACKWOOD CABINS, FRIDAY EVENING, 26TH JAN.
“How are your bruises?” Albert asked when they'd finished getting the fire going in the stove.
“Not too bad at all.” Eliza asked “It wasn't that bad a fall.”
“I'm glad. You had us all worried for a while there, shooting off into the distance like that.”
“I just got my feet a bit confused....”
“... then crashed into that couple on the ski-lift and ended up in a tangled heap. I saw it, my love.”
“They were very kind about it.”
“Yes. They were.” Albert shook his head. Eliza was a wonderful person, but not a natural skier.
“I tried to stop. I practically was stopped by the time of the collision.
“I know, Eliza. It's a shame you managed to find the one place where the netting was broken.”
“Have I severely damaged the image of the monarchy, or something?” she asked.
“No. But it's a good thing our honeymoon is almost over. I'm not saying you should have refused the photograph, but... I expect the press will be all over this lovely place tomorrow.”
“It is a lovely place.” Eliza agreed. “And I like that word almost,” she said, wrapping her arms around Albert's neck and kissing him.
“Oh yes?” he asked, when that was possible.
“Hmm. How hungry are you?”
----------------------------------------
THE PALACE, MONDAY 29TH JAN.
“So, let me get this straight. The architects want a re-design of the entire centre of Restoration?” the Queen asked.
The Prime-minister pulled a face, “Well, the entire city, really, but they'll settle for the city centre. They say it's too important an opportunity to waste, on a par with the opportunity Sir Christopher Wren had after the great fire of London, and that rebuilding like for like in haste will be, I quote, 'a disaster of civic planning that will be remembered with shame for generations, when for minimal cost and disruption we can build a modern city centre we can be proud of.' They have a point, or at least, the city's planning officer agrees at least that the last re-design of the city centre was when masses went by train or drove in using private cars, which then stayed static for most of the day. That apparently dictated a lot of the design elements. With the current flow of people and uses of space, the elements are familiar but don't really have much logic behind them any more.”
“Could you be a little more explicit, prime-minister?” the King asked.
“Yes, sir.” He displayed a map “Everywhere you look, there's lots of spaces beside roads, or linked to loading areas and so on. They've highlighted them in purple, in this one — these spaces were to provide space for static vehicles, both for staff and customers — most of it's been converted to other purposes like restaurant terraces in the summer, but lots of it still doesn't connect.” He pointed how the old car-parks linked to the road but little else, even when there were two that almost connected from different roads. “That was a design decision because if one company owned the parking space they didn't want people using it to reach their competitors, but really it's a waste of space.”
“So they're proposing that these open spaces be linked up or that they could be built on?” the queen asked. “I don't think we'd want to increase the building density.”
“Linked up, Maam. If we were designing now, it would be far better to make more pedestrian links between roads, indeed there'd maybe even be advantages to traders as people would be more likely to walk past them, and all in all the city could be made far more pedestrian-friendly.”
The king nodded in agreement. “So, they're not actually suggesting re-designing the infrastructure, just the land-use entirely within the existing grid?”
The prime-minister pulled a face “Ah, unfortunately not entirely, sir.”
“I guess talking of Christopher Wren, it got them thinking of his great cathedral. They'd like a centre-piece.”
“I don't think we're really into state-funded building of cathedrals these days, are we?” the queen asked, with a wry smile.
“Ah, no maam. Nor are we into building state-funded mosques, synagogues, multi-faith religions centres, opera-houses or transport hubs, to name a few other options they toyed with.”
“So, what are they proposing?” the king asked.
“They've submitted plans for several options, sir. They include an art gallery or museum, a court-building, government offices, or my personal favourite: a combined-purpose building where almost all the functions of the state are represented.”
“So, a school next to a prison?” the King asked, with a sardonic smile, “I can see that being a big hit with everyone concerned.”
The prime-minister looked pained “I did say almost all, sir.”
“So, people visiting the tax offices or attending council sessions need to duck to avoid low-flying balls?” the queen asked, getting into the spirit.
“Explicitly, sir, maam, they're suggesting local police, courtroom, constituency office for elected representatives, public records, and yes, maam, tax offices and local council offices.” He displayed the the plans for the octagonal building.
“I see. It looks an impressive building, I'm sure, but, and, excuse my continued scepticism, Prime-minister.” the queen started “But will this lavish centre-piece of civic pride bring any actual cost savings either in use or building costs, or will it merely provide a lot of kudos to an architect or three?”
“Ah. Well, it might, but I've not been specifically briefed on any cost savings, maam.”
The King spoke, “I think, prime-minister that we can certainly encourage land-owners to take into account the architect's suggestions about pedestrian access. That seems to be a most sensible suggestion. Probably, the correct avenue for that is via the city's planning office, who I presume would be involved anyway.”
“Yes, sir.”
“As to the other... I presume the land they intend to build it on is not actually government property at the moment, is it?”
“Ah, no, sir. There is a single land-owner though, according to the planning office. I'm not quite sure of the history, but it actually belongs to the Institute for the Human Mind. Quite what they're doing in property speculation, I've no idea.”
“I can guess.” her majesty said. “Can you overlay a satellite view?”
“Yes, maam. I had a look myself. It seems to be a some kind of high-rise building, with a helipad on top.”
“Hmm. Yes. I thought it might have been there. I'm afraid there might be some legal issues surrounding a change of land-use there.”
“Could you be more explicit, maam?” the Prime-minister asked.
“I'm not sure I can, no.” She didn't want to get close to discussing — and thus breaking — U.N. resolutions, “But I do know that just under that helipad is a high security room where Albert formally proposed to Eliza. Underneath that is a large department store. And of course all the land around the building that seems to be parkland on these plans is also shops. Your friendly architects are talking about the commercial centre of the city, Mr Prime-minister. That'd certainly make quite a significant change to the city, don't you think?”
“Ah, yes, maam.”
“And the whole area is owned by the Institute?” the king asked, seeking clarification.
“I'm not sure, actually, your majesty. I asked about the building itself.”
“So we're potentially talking about the compulsory purchase of prime commercial property from multiple major retailers who we'd like to see rebuilding their businesses in the heart of the city, aren't we? It doesn't sound like a particularly low-cost option in financial or political terms.”
“I believe I'll discuss these issues with the guild of architects, sir.”
“Do, Mr Prime-minister. I'm not opposed to building a new modern centre to the city, indeed it's got a lot going for it. But...”
“It might break the state budget, sir?”
“Oh, probably not even that, but we don't want to do anything that makes it look like the civil servants are getting a big impressive building while people are struggling to rebuild their homes, and nor do we want to do anything that might make it harder for businesses to re-open.”
“I understand, sir.”
“You should also talk to the Institute, Prime-minister, if the architects manage to convince you that it might work.” the queen said “I believe there are complications with that particular site.”
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TUESDAY 30TH JAN, I.H.M.
Kate shook the prime-minister's hand and ushered him into her office.
“Thank-you for seeing me at such short notice, Mrs West.”
“You're welcome, sir. Sorry about the building work.” Kate said “What can I do for you? Your secretary spoke of plans for the city centre? I don't quite understand where we fit in.”
“Maam, the guild of architects would like to make their mark on the rebuilding of the city. They are speaking of what a wasted opportunity it would be not to, and such like. I must say, they had me very convinced and I spoke to their majesties about it yesterday. Their Majesties pointed out some holes in my knowledge and dampened my enthusiasm a little, but I've filled in those gaps I think their objections are not insurmountable. But her majesty was most insistent that I talk to you about the plans.”
“Oh, so they affect us?”
“The land the architects have suggested building on is owned by the institute, but I had the impression that her majesty seemed to think there were reasons that it might not be possible, even before any discussion of compensation could be entered into.”
“Oh?” Kate said non-committally. “Well, the Institute was left certain pieces of land by one of its founders, we get a little rent from them which helps pay the bills. Without breaching confidences, could you tell me about the exact land we're talking of?”
“Yes, maam. It's currently the site of a department store....”
“Oh! Yes, that would be awkward. But perhaps not insurmountable.” she looked at him speculatively. “No wonder her majesty didn't feel able to comment further.”
“I'm quite sure I don't understand, Maam.”
“Well, I'm sure that you can keep a secret, Mr Prime-minister. Especially one that would get you put in jail. Do you happen to have a map showing the building we're talking about? Just so I don't leap to conclusions?”
“Yes, Maam. It is on here.” He handed her a data-crystal, and explained the architect's plans for a multi-purpose civic centre and reasons for suggesting the centre go on the institute's land. “I've no idea what the owners of the store itself would think to moving, of course, Maam.”
“I do. The minority share-holders would love it.” Kate said, “We've had to block them a number of times over the years. The institute owns just over half of the stock, sir. But we've had to block because that store happens to conceal our back exit, and thus is covered under the U.N. reporting embargo.”
“Oh!”
“Yes, and the terms of the will are quite explicit: we own the shares in the store, but we can't sell them or allow the store to be moved. Now I'd have to consult legal advice, but I presume that the crown has the authority to strike down such conditions.”
“Oh, certainly.”
“So, assuming that some arrangement could be made concerning unfettered access to the tunnel, I'd imagine that we wouldn't have any objection in principle.”
“But at the moment the tunnel goes into the shop? So that must be strictly business hours only?” he asked.
“No, sorry, it connects to an externally accessed staff elevator, so it's all hours, and since there are a few hundred staff coming and going at all hours it's quite well disguised. I think we would need something similar.”
“Oh. Oh, I see.” the prime-minister did see. It was actually quite a problem. He sat down. “I don't actually imagine that'd work, then. I think we'd probably be talking about an almost empty building after about six P.M. Anyone coming or going after that would be rather noticeable, except for police, assuming they were part of the complex.”
“Ah.”
“And even if we let out part of it as a theatre or function room, that would present difficulties too, wouldn't it? You wouldn't want people trying to leave discreetly having to negotiate their way past a hoard of would-be party-goers or photographers trying to catch a glimpse of some star.”
“No, that wouldn't be good either.” Kate agreed “I'm quite sure the lawyers would see that as a definite breach of the U.N. resolution.”
“It's quite a challenge. And also, I wonder if your tunnel even links up to the planned location of the civic centre.”
“Hmm.” Kate looked at the map. “Not quite, according to this. It's quite a tricky one, isn't it? And you can't exactly ask too many people about how to solve it, can you? Do you mind if I get some of my staff members to think about options?”
“Of course not, Maam.”
“And then there is the issue of where exactly you're suggesting the store move to. I wouldn't want to leave you with the impression that the shareholders wanted to abandon the city centre. They were mostly seeking somewhere with a little more shop-front to tempt people inside.”
“Oh. I understand. But I presume the Institute has been charging a commercial rate for the land, so....” he cut himself off as he saw Kate shaking her head.
“I'm afraid to say that when the original owner of the store sold off shares he didn't take very good legal advice. The contracts drawn up make it clear that he's keeping the land in his own name, but it seems he never thought about charging land rental.”
“So the Institute derives no income from the site?”
“Oh, I wouldn't say that. We get quite a nice income from the operating profits of the store, which I'm sure are a little higher because of the rent issue. But there certainly would be an on-going commercial impact to the store moving, unless that move included title to the land.”
“But the government purchasing the land from the institute would not compensate for that.”
“Not from the other shareholder's point of view. And of course, the issue of the tunnel would continue, whoever owned the land. We do make use of that tunnel, it is connected to our security system. In fact our security system runs the store's security system too, so I suppose I might even say that the store is an extension of the institute's facility.” Kate thought for a little. “Perhaps I should say that, in fact. I'm not opposed to separating the store from the institute, sir, but I would be opposed to anything that reduced our current level of security. I expect Internal Security would have an opinion on that too.”
“I quite understand, Maam. I have no desire to reduce your security, nor to fall foul of the law. Could you give me a list of people I could discuss this issue with without doing so?”
“Of course. Our staff, of course. Prince Albert and Eliza have both used the tunnel I believe, they certainly know about it. I know Eliza's protection officer, Bella, has. Various other people in Internal Security too — Maria, Priscilla Robertson, Dirk and Eliza Smythe.”
The prime-minister held up his hand to slow her down. “Sorry, can I take notes?”
“Yes, of course. But actually, I think Eliza and Bella between them know everyone who has learned about it recently. But there are certain documents I can point you to, already published which would help you to discuss the issue with people without letting them know for sure.”
“Really?”
“Nothing conclusive, you understand. There were newspaper publications around the time of the digging. And then there's the court hearing from about twenty years ago, declaring that investigating the tunnels for a school project was going to be in breach of the law. That's also a matter of public record.”
“Oh, I see, so while it's not conclusive...”
“It certainly indicates that the institute has an interest in there not being an obvious change in status.” Kate finished for him.
“It seems odd to think of there being tunnels under the city that no one knows about.”
“Well, there are the old rail tunnels as well. Lots of people don't know much about them either.” Kate pointed out.
“Rail tunnels?”
“Yes, sir. There are apparently about thirty kilometres of an old mass-transit system somewhere under our feet. I heard there was some suggestion of using them for temporary shelter if they survive the impact and the weather gets too bad, but I don't know how seriously they decided to take that. I guess structural survey waits until after the impact.”
“That sounds sensible, yes.” the Prime-minister agreed.