“I wonder!” Desmond said softly to the air.
Plainly it was no use telling these machines that the date was today, or yesterday, or tomorrow. But suppose one were to detour completely around the date-component?
Shaking, because he could scarcely believe so simple a solution might work—indeed, feeling rather foolish under the unwinking gaze of the TV cameras, because if the people in charge here did ever replay any of their videotapes tonight’s surely would be the one they’d pick—he walked over to the trolley bearing the remote read-in and carefully tapped into its keyboard a date which certainly would not have any random alphabets assigned to it because it was the day on which he had been born. And he appended the first command that came to mind.
28 April 1950. Print contents of Store G.
There was a brief pause. Then, with stolid mechanical regularity, words in comprehensible English began to march across the display screens.
At first he was dumbfounded at his unexpected success. Then he felt a surge of triumph and delight, and for want of anyone else to share it with turned with the intention of waking Dilys.
And then he caught sight of what the nearest screen was showing.
Following a code reference, it ran:
CAPE TOWN. Obtain soonest intact copy Boersma Report on retardation of intelligence among Bantu by denying protein foods in infancy. Intention here withdraw free milk from schools. Essential determine probable efficacy and/or need for more drastic action.
That couldn’t possibly mean what it appeared to mean!
Could it . . . ?
He stood rock-still, mouth dry, the sound of his bloodstream deafening in his ears. And remembered. Yes, only a few years ago the government had indeed cancelled the long-standing free issue of milk to schoolchildren.
Abruptly he was gazing wildly from one screen to another. Perhaps because the circuitry was confused by having to print out on a date before it came into existence, all four screens were displaying different texts, and they were coming and going with dizzying rapidity. Had he not been since childhood an extremely fast reader he would not have taken in more than an occasional ambiguous phrase; as it was, among many other items which were totally meaningless to him he managed to catch message after whole message whose implications were unspeakably terrifying. Immobile but for his eyes, he endured their impact.
WASHINGTON. Regret unfeasible discontinue Open University owing widespread popular enthusiasm. However will ensure safe content all course materials especially history/political science/economics. Intention displace radical staff and render funding subadequate owing inflation. Disillusionment expected soonest.
DUBLIN. Imperative prevent rapprochement Dublin/Stormont. Essential troops receive blooding under conditions nearidentical mainland cities. Query useful furnish arms/explosives IRA Provisionals. Request recommend suitable neutral intermediary.
ATHENS. Apologise government derogatory references BBC World Service. Assure FM regularisation both world and internal broadcasting well in hand. Situation numerous disaffected personnel already rendered intolerable. Resignations expected momently. Replacements in view significantly more tractable.
BRUSSELS. Predict doubling/trebling UK property prices within year. Building concentrated commercial/luxury sector. Lowcost housebuilding seen near standstill soonest. Mortgages shortest supply. Little/no competition foreign purchasers. Excellent return assured. Regret unfeasible demolish 1500 homes for London Ringway as intended. Otherwise few setbacks to fulfillment of forecast.
BONN. Expect on schedule quota skilled/semiskilled labour promised as condition entry EEC. Housing shortage usefully contributes desire emigrate. Three day week scheduled end 1973 certain create adequate unemployment. Confrontations to include miners railwaymen other unpopular minority unions. Hope for riots/disorders requiring committal of troops from Ulster. Recommend commence withdrawal workpermits Turks/Greeks/Yugoslavs as arranged.
By now he was shaking so violently, he had to cling to the steel trolley at his side. His teeth were threatening to chatter, but that would have distracted his attention. He set his jaw grimly and went on reading.
BERN. Flotation poundsterling foreseen equivalent devaluation 20% or better. Soonest move all approved private holdings into DM/SwFr/FrFr prior official announcement. Pay no attention preliminary denials.
COPENHAGEN. Obscenity legislation in draft capable of extension from basis fullscale censorship. Bound however prove controversial. Meantime assistance your end indispensable. LCJ complains profits reduced over half by unauthorised imports erotica. Threatens discontinue generous party contribution unless action immediate. Proceeds from resale customs seizures also seriously affected.
TEHRAN. Inform Shah £3,000,000,000 acceptable provided (a) large portion offset by armaments (b) commission to us increased from 1% to 1½%. Will send representatives St Moritz privately confirm details method of payment.
THE HAGUE. Miners demands now exceed £40,000,000. Policy of presenting claim to public as blackmail successful so far. However suggestion we compulsorily purchase all oilbearing ground UK useful means reduce their economic leverage. Convey thanks to parties responsible.
Intellectually he was aware that the messages were being displayed no faster than before. It must just be an illusion due to the pattern that was emerging, a pattern which enabled him to put two and two together almost instantaneously, which was making him feel as though he were at the centre of an artillery bombardment.
ACCRA. Growing discontent with Health Service detectable. Numerous coroners censure doctors/nurses poor knowledge English. Suggest further reduction linguistic qualifications medical personnel seeking admission UK view prospective snowball effect.
SALISBURY. Many radical community-relations personnel dismissed. Seeking means eliminate remainder. Damaging information re black Rhodesians resident UK requested soonest.
HAMILTON BERMUDA. Assure RVW no intention persecute property developers. Recent ministerial statements ignorable. However advise delay return UK postelection.
TOKYO. Heathrow exercise deemed unsatisfactoriest. Query possible divert proarab hijack Londonwards. Atrocities excessively remote UK public despite letterbombs etc.
ANDORRA. Continuance policy nonprosecute income tax avoidance warranted. Collectors instructed court proceedings applicable small sums only. Inform OBK.
ALL BWI. Extinction streetlights unreflected increased crime-rate here. Armed police still generally undemanded. Query applications to hand of known violent persons desiring admission UK.
LISBON. Worry re infection Portuguese workers radical notions needless. Dissident personnel Health Service/BBC/teaching/socialwork discouraged. Many resignations.
ROME. Position faithful secured. Additional to reductions schoolfood and slumclearance current restrictions government expenditure create book-shortage schools/universities. Protests re birthcontrol/abortion continue. Also surveillance/publicity women cohabiting view prevent obtaining national assistance. Advise HH.
MADRID. Number of troops with Ulster service exceeds forecast. Confidently predict mass popular support their deployment against unions/immigrants/media/students/teenage gangs. Establishment
