carry on like this the war is going to result in the complete total and absolute destruction of the Solaran commonwealth and its armed forces within a measurable amount of time.”
“I’ve heard enough,” the Prime Minister said. “Let’s get on with the vote before I say something I will regret. All in favour of opening peace negotiations with the Kaytons raise your hands.”
The tension was high as Kronos and Commander Vadoran looked on anxiously and the atmosphere could be cut with a knife as ten members of the cabinet raised their hands in acceptance of the proposal.
“All against,” the Prime Minister said.”
As the remainder of the cabinet voted, there were also ten votes, but there were actually twenty-one cabinet members.
“Who hasn’t voted yet?” the Foreign Secretary asked. “Oh, it’s old Horace. Is he still awake?”
“Is he still alive?” the Chancellor queried, causing some members of the cabinet, but not the Prime Minister, to smile.
Yes, it was Horace who had not yet voted. He was like little Jack Horner sat in the corner, but in this scenario, right at the end of the cabinet table. He was the Father of the House, being the oldest and longest serving Member of Parliament in the Solaran Commonwealth, but he held the lowest of the low of cabinet positions, Minister for Prices and Incomes. Essentially, in the wartime situation he had to keep inflation under control and to crack down as much as was humanly possible on black marketeering. Alas, high office had long since passed him by, but at least he had a good head of hair and all his own teeth.
He stared in the direction of the Chancellor and Foreign secretary. “Yes, I am still alive and wide awake. I have listened very intently to what has been said and before I cast my vote I am going to have my say. Mister Prime Minister, I remember your late father, all those years ago, warning about the danger the Kaytons posed as one by one they picked off their near neighbours. Then, when they were strong enough, taking on the Hellertrons and subsequently us, when we belatedly came to their aid. We were both in the Diplomatic Corps at the time, attached to our embassy on Rueatarn… that’s where he met your mother. The Hellertrons have always been good friends to the Solaran people. I know, on average, they have made more mistakes and on average more of those mistakes have turned out to be disasters. But we cannot abandon them to a life of slavery under the Kaytons, It would be an eternal stain on our honour and reputation. I have read Commander Vadoran’s mass observation report on the morale of the Solaran people and I am well aware the younger generation is getting very war weary, especially since the Hellertron collapse. But I also deduce from the findings that the older members of the population like myself still believe in the Kultarn prophecies that a miracle will occur and eventual victory will be ours, even more so now since the coming of the second Guardian— ”
The Foreign Secretary interrupted. “You cannot base your decision on children’s fairy stories we were taught at school. It’s madness.”
Horace continued, “I think it would be very inappropriate to open peace talks with the Kaytons and therefore I vote no to the proposal.”
Then there was uproar as the Foreign Secretary said, “Horace, you have just signed the Government’s death warrant. It’s like the blind leading the blind into the abyss; we are heading towards a catastrophe.”
Horace retorted, “At least I can sleep with a clear conscience tonight. Can you say the same, Mister Foreign Secretary?”
“You stupid, senile old fool!” the Foreign Secretary said, angrily.
“I am not going to be spoken to in that way by a young whippersnapper like you, Mister Foreign Secretary,” Horace replied. If I were twenty years younger I would borrow Commander Vadoran’s knuckle dusters, take you outside and give you a jolly good hiding that you would never forget. I bet you wouldn’t come back for more. I was an amateur boxing champion when I was a teenager, winning many titles before I joined the Diplomatic Corps.”
Even Commander Vadoran, along with most of the cabinet, smiled.
“On that note,” the Prime Minister said, “I am now closing today’s proceedings. We have all said things that, on reflection, we will regret tomorrow. I still regard you all as good friends and colleagues and I hope to see every one of you at the theatre tonight.”
The Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor stormed out of the cabinet room, slamming the door behind them as everybody else made their way out in an orderly fashion,
“Thank you for your vote,” the Prime Minister said to Horace. “You saved my skin today. I’m sorry about the tirade of abuse you had to endure; no one should have to put up with that.”
“That’s quite all right, Mister Prime Minister,” Horace replied. “You get used to that. I have a skin as thick as a rhinoceros, or so my wife keeps telling me. I just hope you will feel the same way tomorrow after the vote of no confidence in parliament.”
“Oh don’t worry about it, Horace. What will be, will be; in this profession you take it one day at a time. Now, is there anything I can do for you?”
“Well, now you mention it, Mister Prime Minister, could I and the wife join you in the V.I.P box at the theatre tonight?”
“Of course, Horace. Consider it done.” On their way out, the Prime Minister put his arm around Horace’s shoulder while nobody was close by and whispered into his ear.
“Horace, the Kultarn Miracle may be closer than you ever imagined. Keep it to yourself though, because walls have ears and loose lips sink ships remember… Mum’s the word.”
Horace turned towards the Prime Minister, nodding his head vigorously. “Yes, Mister Prime Minister, I understand exactly what you’re saying.”
As everyone filed out, the Minister for War Production said to Kronos, “Guardian John would have been welcome to attend the cabinet meeting as an observer like yourself. How is he? Nobody has seen him for a couple of days.”
“It’s all been a bit too much for him,” Kronos replied. “He wanted time to adjust to his new surroundings. He is all right now though and should be on his way to the theatre as we speak.”
The Minister smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Fourteen
Freema and I arrived at the theatre early and were shown to our seats in the V.I.P box. It was like Sunday night at the London Palladium. All the great and the good of Solaran society were gathered and it would certainly be a full house. I saw the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor arrive together. They were seated in their own V.I.P. box… oh, but they just reminded me of Statler and Waldorf out of the Muppet show. I bet they were talking about the Prime Minister. As my mother would say, I bet his ears were burning.
Then the Prime Minister, Kronos and Commander Vadoran arrived and Freema and I rose to greet them.
The Prime Minister said, “How are you, John? I haven’t seen you for a while. Is Freema looking after you all right?”
“Mister Prime Minister,” I replied, “I am okay, but I have to say that before I came to Sontral I was a good, clean living lad. I did not drink, smoke or go with loose women, but now I am doing all three. As for Freema… would you believe it, on her first day with me she put her hand on my leg. I said my mummy wouldn’t like that and she replied, ‘Oh shut up, it’s not your mummy I am giving it to.”
“Oh no, not again,” Kronos groaned, vigorously shaking his head and covering his eyes with his hand in absolute disbelief as to what had just transpired.
Commander Vadoran looked even more stony-faced than was usual, even for him. As for poor old Freema, she was gobsmacked, just standing there motionless, her mouth wide open and her bottom jaw appearing to drop almost to the floor from utter shock and disbelief.
After a brief moment of silence during which no one knew what would come next, the Prime Minister broke the deadlock by bursting out laughing. “You’re a lad and a half, John. That’s a good one… I have not heard that before. It’s the best laugh I have had for a long time and certainly the only one I have had today.”
/> “I try to oblige, Mister Prime Minister,” I replied airily as we all took our seats for the evening’s performance. Who would have thought it? Me, sitting next to the Prime Minister at the Solaran equivalent to the London palladium. And what a show we were all treated to; there were singers, dancers, magicians, even holographic shows telling the history of the Solaran people, who now regarded themselves as the natural successors to the ancient Kultarn Civilization in terms of bringing peace and democracy to the galaxy as new planets joined the Solaran Commonwealth. But alas, all good things come to an end and the compere concluded the entertainment by introducing a children’s choir who I thought, along with the audience, would sing the ancient Kultarn song the Solarans had adopted as their national anthem. After all, I had gone to the trouble, thanks to Kev, of learning it word for word, which must have been tortuous for him, trying to teach me. I remembered that in England, up until 1969 in the cinema, at the end of the night’s performance everybody would stand up as the national anthem was played. However, as far as Sontral was concerned, I had got it completely wrong.
The conductor started the choir off and I immediately stood up and joined in, singing at the top of my voice, but to my utter amazement I was the only member of the audience who stood up to sing. Then it suddenly dawned on me that on