Manhattan in Reverse

‘Allegations are for tabloid shows. I’m only here to ask questions.’

The green lines under Moalem’s beard scintillated. ‘As a friend of the Commonwealth I’m happy to oblige; we have nothing to hide from you. And of course, who can resist your personal notoriety? So let’s get started, shall we? I can spare you thirty minutes.’

‘I am the appointed Investigator for the Dimitros Fiech case. Did you know him, Prime Minister?’

‘I know of him, sadly. His misguided organization was one of the main inspirations behind setting up our Nationalist Party. Of course, we completely repudiate the use of violence to achieve independence.’

‘So you didn’t know him personally?’

‘No. My party’s goals were achieved by legitimate democratic ends.’

‘I accessed the report from the observer team on your referendum. They wouldn’t agree.’

‘Biased vitriol from those who have a vested interest in our continuing dependence and integration with their monoculture.’

‘Whatever. Fiech and his colleagues proved exceptionally resourceful, and they certainly learned quickly from their mistakes. He is the only member of the Free Merioneth Movement we have apprehended so far. What they did required a large amount of money at the very least. Is your government aware of where that finance originated from?’

‘Your pardon, Investigator, but right now the treasury department has more pressing concerns than examining bank transactions from two years ago. Little matters like making sure we have a valid currency in place for the cut-off. You understand.’

‘Their money must have originated here.’

‘I’m sure you’re right. If we find out in the next three weeks, we’ll be sure to inform your Directorate.’

‘Could it have come from the same source as your party’s money?’

‘We are not dignifying that with an answer,’ the female lawyer said sternly.

Svein Moalem gave Paula a small mocking shrug to say out of my hands.

‘You set up your party after Fiech’s organization had already won Isolation from the Dynasties,’ Paula said.

‘Interesting allegation, Investigator.’ Moalem glanced at the female lawyer. ‘Do you have proof of this?’

‘At the moment I’m purely interested in motives. As someone who embodies the Isolationist dream, can you tell me why Fiech sacrificed himself?’

‘I’m sure old Earth history is full of martyrs; all neatly documented if you are that interested. But I suspect he believed as I do. And those who truly believe in the cause of freedom will go to any lengths to see it become reality. I commend his bravery, though of course I cannot condone his method.’

‘Yet his methods secured your goals.’

‘They helped focus the imaginations and aspirations of everyone on this planet. He woke us up to the oppression we laboured under.’

‘I don’t believe the people of this planet are inspired by monstrous violence. Over a hundred and thirty people suffered severe bodyloss on the Nova Zealand plane alone. Your citizens would want justice for them and all the others whose blood was spilt.’

‘Justice, yes. But we equally disapprove of the vengeance we’ve seen your Directorate unleash.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Who did you find guilty of the Nova Zealand crime, Investigator? Not the person who pulled the trigger, at least not the whole person. The man you have in your suspension facility lived a different life on that day. Your prisoner is not guilty of bringing down that aircraft. You hold a prisoner of conscience. A patsy whose sole purpose is to satisfy the masses to the benefit of your political masters.’

‘Dimitros Fiech committed that crime,’ Paula said, doing her best to hold her temper in check. She knew the Prime Minister was provoking her, trying to throw her off track. ‘There is no question of that.’

‘So already we see the difference between your culture’s rigid nature and our more liberal, progressive quality. Your laws cannot adapt to new circumstances.’

‘Fiech’s memories are an alibi, nothing more. It’s no different to using cellular reprofiling to change your facial features.’

‘It is completely different; it is his mind. The mind of the person you have suspended knows he was on Ormal during the crime. You said it yourself in the deposition: He knows his office screwed up sending him there, he knows he paid the taxi fare in Harwood’s Hill, he was the person who watched the land roll past through the plane’s window, he was angry and frustrated when he arrived at the resort, he tasted the vodka at the airport bar, he fancied the redhead stewardess who helped him on the plane, he had the hangover. That was Dimitros Fiech. Nobody else. His personality. Him! Your imprudent freedom fighter was someone else.’

‘Who was erased by his colleagues. And I will find them,’ Paula growled out. ‘In order to do that, I need to comprehend the psychology behind all of this. So tell me, help mitigate Dimitros Fiech’s sentence: why exactly do you want Isolation? What can you possibly achieve here that requires this drastic severance from the Commonwealth?’

‘That’s a very long list, Investigator. Starting with removing the contamination of a morally bankrupt, decadent society.’

‘At the cost of medical benefits? Your industrial capability is going to be reduced drastically.’

‘Not as much as your propaganda insists. We shall live here peacefully, and progress in our own way. A way not dictated by the Dynasties or the Senate. Many people are attracted to such a notion. Millions, actually. Do you really begrudge us such liberty?’

‘No. I just don’t see what ideology can’t be pursued within the umbrella of the Commonwealth. It is not as oppressive as your party claims, as you are well aware. A great many reduced-technology communities flourish on Commonwealth worlds. What you have engineered here is radical. I’m trying to understand its rationale.’

Svein Moalem sat back in his chair and gave Paula a thoughtful stare; very much the politician trying to convert another wavering voter. ‘You of all people struggle to understand? Forgive me, but that is hard to believe.’

‘Why?’

‘You were created and birthed on Huxley’s Haven, the most reviled planet in the Commonwealth. How the illiberal classes hated its founding. A world with everyone genetically predisposed to their job, a society in which everybody has a secure place. It is living proof that alternatives can work. Surely that’s a concept to be welcomed and admired?’

‘Its functionality is admirable. However, even I don’t approve of its static nature. Those humans can no longer evolve.’

‘Yet they live perfectly happy lives.’

‘Yes,’ Paula said. ‘Within the parameters established by the Human Structure Foundation.’

‘You would want Huxley’s Haven broken up and abandoned?’ He sounded very surprised.

‘Certainly not. Its citizens have a right to their existence. It is pure imperialist arrogance for outsiders to propose alteration.’

‘You see, Investigator, you make my argument for me. That is your answer. The right to self-determination is a human fundamental. Such a thing is not possible while under the financial hegemony of the Dynasties and Grand Families.’

‘Everything comes down to money in the end,’ Paula offered.

‘Quite.’

‘I still can’t believe some abstract ideology is enough for Fiech to sacrifice himself.’

‘Hardly abstract,’ Moalem waved at the city outside. ‘His wish has become our reality.’

Paula pursed her lips, following his gesture. ‘I hope it’s worth it.’

‘It is.’

She stood and gave him a small bow. ‘Thank you for your time, Prime Minister.’

‘You’re welcome, Investigator. In fact, I’d like to offer you a place here with us. Our police forces will need a substantial reorganization after the cut-off. Who better to manage that? You are celebrated and respected on every world in the Commonwealth. Your honesty and devotion to justice have broken the hatred and prejudice barrier. In