Chapter 27
The journey was slow but constant. Silence had dictated the apprehensive atmosphere that cut through the bus. Most of the major roads were empty except for a few abandoned cars. They passed over the M25 and entered the Greater London area. They could see sporadic scenes of destruction, but quickly realised that most of the rioting was concentrated nearer the City area.
The convoy slowed to a halt at an exit on Chertsey Road. The Twickenham stadium was one of the many buildings that had ceased to be used for its original purpose and now acted as a centre for visiting state representatives. Lanegan, of course, knew it well. It was considered a good place to stop before entry in to the city, to ensure full communication was established with Morrison and the military. For a moment they watched the building from inside the bus. Two security members had joined them on the journey in Morrison’s absence, and had insisted on caution. After a quick scan of the area, they moved towards the main concourse and shopping area, where food and drinks might still have been salvageable. It was a small surprise to see the riots had reached a service station that was situated away from any residential areas. The windows were smashed and inside much of the furniture was scattered randomly. Once inside they collected all of the food and drinks they could carry and sat down on seats that were bolted to the floor. Lanegan received confirmation that military personnel were in position around Waterloo station to provide security for the trains as far as the manpower would allow. Morrison was already in the air trying to spot any patterns in the movements of the rioters.
They walked outside and stopped as the first light of the dawn sun shone over the horizon. It signified the beginning of the day and marked the departure of the first trains. They collectively held their breath, only to be jolted back to life by a silhouetted figure of an old man walking towards them.
“Who is that?” shouted Stephanie.
The security agents walked cautiously towards the figure.
“Identify yourself,” an agent shouted.
“I am no threat to you …” said the man. “… I was hoping you could spare some food for a tired, hungry old man.”
The agents searched him and sat him down on the steps of the bus.
“He’s okay,” one of them shouted.
They all walked to the bus to find a very old, scruffy looking man.
“He’s not a threat Prime Minister, just a little confused and hungry.”
Lanegan crouched down to meet the man’s eyes.
“Hello, my name is Tom Lanegan,” he said. “Can we help you in any way? Can you tell me your name?”
“Tom Lanegan,” said the man, raising his head. “I certainly didn’t expect to see you out here. Shouldn’t you be hiding in your heavily guarded offices? I hope you are satisfied with all that you have caused.”
“I’m sorry I don’t know what you mean.”
“I told them it would happen,” said the man. “I told them they were messing around with powers we do not understand.”
“What powers? Who did you tell?” asked Lanegan.
“I told you and the people before you. They laughed and called me mad. I know who you are, Prime Minister Lanegan and I know what you have denied everyone. I have seen the things that you try and keep locked away and it is beautiful. You were told - I tried to warn you.”
“What did you say?”
“That on our present course, we would regress as a species. Throughout our history we have always attempted to progress. But we also kept what is most basic to us. By denying what it is to be human, we have become no different from our cousins in the animal kingdom, violent, confused and without values.”
“What’s your name?” asked Lanegan.
“I am a professor …” the man began. “… well, I used to be. Professor Kilmister is my name.”
Lanegan looked round at Jacob who was clearly in shock.
Jacob knelt down beside him.
“Look at me, please,” Jacob said.
The man looked up and Jacob brushed the hair from his face.
“Professor Kilmister?” he said shocked.
“You know who I am?”
“I read your books. Are you okay? What happened to you?”
“The consequence of a free mind; cast aside because of my opinions. I am the part of our system that people turn a blind eye to. Forgive me, what is your name?”
“Jacob Armstrong.”
“Do you work for him?” Kilmister asked, looking at Lanegan.
“I do,” he replied.
“You read the books and yet you still work for him; for them. Did you at least like the books? Did you like to read about the things that this man won’t allow you to know or feel?”
“I did,” replied Jacob, looking at Lanegan.
“I tried so hard to conform with the system that we are forced into. I just couldn’t bear it anymore. The control that is achieved through lies and the evil that grows from it.”
“Evil is a bit strong isn’t it,” said Stephanie.
“The results may not have been intentional - but it is what it is,” Kilmister replied.
“We’re trying to stop the riots Professor Kilmister. That’s why we are here. You were right all along and we could use any help you can give us. Without your books we wouldn’t be doing any of this. It is because of you. Will you help us?” asked Jacob.
“I am no good to you now. Look at me. Being an outcast can destroy your mind. First my peers and then my friends stopped communicating with me. When I fell to the bottom of the pile I changed; I lost all respect for myself and doubted everything I had ever thought to be true. And then my family left …”
Kilmister paused and looked vacantly into Jacob’s face. He was broken. Jacob had found his answer: those who dared to challenge were not locked away, they were excluded from society and left to decay alone.
“… It is true that if you are told something often enough you begin to believe it, I assure you,” he continued. “Do I appear insane? Maybe not after everything that has happened - but I was charged with it – and then slowly began to believe it. It’s not an easy thing to live with, being called an enemy of peace.”
“I’m sorry Professor Kilmister,” said Jacob.
“I am not alone in being condemned for speaking openly and honestly. Whether we choose to believe it or not, we are all victims of tyranny.”
“Professor Kilmister,” said Lanegan. “You have to believe me when I say we have seen the error of our ways and will atone for them. As we speak, millions of people are coming together to face this head on. It’s a dangerous act that they are willing to take and one that we can’t possibly know the outcome of.”
“You can’t fool them - you know that don’t you, Mr Lanegan?”
“Who can’t we fool, Professor Kilmister?”
“Those who feel compelled to destroy. They don’t choose to act this way and therefore any action you take must be sincere.”
“How do you mean?”
“If they were capable of reason, then they could be reasoned with. I’m going to assume you have had people assess them with little success. Usually a person can be convinced that their actions are wrong. In a worst case scenario you have to punish them to demonstrate that society won’t tolerate certain behaviour. The exceptions are sociopaths and psychopaths who are incapable of deciphering the difference between right and wrong and feel no empathy for others. But your rioters do not hurt people. They are not beasts without mercy. Have any of the subjects you have interviewed shown remorse?”
“Some have, yes,” said Stephanie.
“Good, then I would say it was theoretically possible to reverse the condition. What is your plan?”
They looked at each other, each waiting for someone else to speak.
“You don’t have one do you?” Kilmister said. “Well - that’s okay. There’s certainly not an obvious solution – except the extreme.”
“We don’t want to choose that option,” stated Lanegan.
&
nbsp; “Glad to hear it. So, you’re marching into the city in an attempt to produce a reversal of behaviour.”
“We are,” said Lanegan.
“We want our old city back,” said Jacob. “We want – our history back.”
Kilmister stood, as if awoken from a long slumber.
“Then what you must do is allow people to choose their loves and hates. You must allow the right to open discussion, even to the strangest and most incomprehensible ideas. That is how you establish what is truly right. It is sometimes necessary to listen to what appears despicable and grotesque, to show them why they are wrong and present them with a better path. But most of all, you, here, need to lead by example. People who are free will become more than a person; they will glow with the knowledge that the world is theirs to explore and enjoy. We are capable of the most interesting and extraordinary things when we are free from the watchful eyes of the suspicious and mistrusting. We must feel this way always - everything old can be young again, Jacob.”
“We? Professor Kilmister. Are you coming with us?” asked Jacob.
“If you’ll allow me,” Kilmister answered.
Everyone turned to Lanegan - who turned to the security agents – who shrugged their shoulders.
“Of course you can,” said Lanegan. “It’s the least we can do.”
They rejoined Chertsey Road to a symphony of horns. The sun had gained height quickly, blindingly guiding them towards their destination. Everybody except the security agents sat on the upper deck, welcoming the slight warmth the early autumn sun provided. They were aware that within the hour a new heat would replace the sun. Fire and smoke arose in the distance; it was an impenetrable black canvas that soaked up and kept the unblemished rays of light for itself. The city was no longer allowed to escape the night.