It was time to think for his life. However, at this moment Sarah-Kelly laid a hand on his shoulder.
“We need to talk,” she said.
It excited no particular notice when they left the cabinet office together, as their relationship was widely known by now, office chatter being what it is. She led him down the stairs and outside to the front steps, where various other confabs were going on. These steps had become an impromptu venue for public displays of alliances and cliques, which were rapidly forming amongst the ambitious Party functionaries, especially the younger ones. Privately, Donald felt hellish exposed given the innumerable locations amongst the factory gantries and rooftops from which snipers could shoot. Supposedly the whole area was heavily patrolled, rooftops included. He still felt vulnerable knowing that crafty Wingfield was out there somewhere.
“That letter explains everything,” she said. “Ever since I got back from Oban in the summer I’ve had this feeling about Prentice; that he was sniggering behind my back. Bartram’s right. We were set up. I wonder who Prentice had watching us? I’ll bet it was that smarmy little sod Rackland, the trader. It would be dead easy for a guy like Prentice to reach up there through his trading network... That’s what little people like us don’t really grasp, that for big-shot traders the world is all laid open for them.”
“Nightminster is a pernicious operator all right,” Donald said. Mention of Nightminster had prompted thoughts of just how dangerous the ruthless bastard really was. He was TK’s intellectual gangster. As an Owner of the Ultramarine Guild, Nightminster could wield a lot of power over Farkas, eager as he was to appease the ultramarines. Nightminster must have a vast network of trading contacts through the Ultramarine Guild; he would make a far better minister for trade than Donald ever could. Farkas would not hesitate to pass Donald over to Nightminster for the right offer—the very thought of lying bound up gagged in the hold of that flying boat at the mercy of the pitiless bastard chilled Donald’s bones. This thinking hardened his intent. He was eyeing the orange light of the evening sun on the concrete blockhouse that formed the ZEEBRI industrial complex. He would have to act tonight. By tomorrow morning, it would be too late.
“We’ve got to get away from this place,” he said. “Farkas and his mob have no chance. Either the ultramarines will snatch them into the Night and Fog or the glory trusts will flood back and wipe them out.”
“In the long run, none of us have any chance in this world—haven’t you seen that yet? Lawrence served the system and it flushed him to hell. You served the system and it shunned you. I served the system and it spat in my face. Don’t you see the pattern?
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to do my duty to history; catch every top killer and send them up for trial.”
“Then you’re done for—you won’t see Christmas.”
He observed not even a flicker of doubt cross Sarah-Kelly’s face. The Party had her in its spell. She asked in turn:
“What are you going to do?”
I’m going inside the Central Enclave to mobilise town society. Once the town professionals grasp they’re about to be robbed, they’ll take up arms, seize all the forts and shut the gates of the Grande Enceinte. There won’t be a damned thing Farkas and his killers can do about it. In the long run, I probably don’t stand much chance either, but a small chance is better than none at all.
He spoke not a word. In the next couple of hours he would have to leave Sarah-Kelly. Probably they would never see each other again. The bodies neck-shot into the trench by Yelcho’s thugs taunted his hopes. As His Decency TK had said, terrible things happen once the habits of civility are abandoned.
Rather, he said: “It’s twenty to five. Lawrence should be here soon, although I’ll be astounded if he actually turns up. It would be as suicidally foolish as a lamb jumping into a den of hungry wolves.”
“Oh, he’ll be here all right,” Sarah-Kelly said. “Lawrence isn’t the sort to run away.”
DEAR READER
Now read Book 2 The Value System, Lawrence’s descent into the barbaric Value System of Nightminster. Was Lawrence really a top killer? What is the Value System and how did Lawrence escape?
Will he respond to the call of the Atrocity Commission?
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Appendix
South East England in 2106
(West of London)
Note that the frontiers of sovereign lands typically follow the routes of public drains (i.e. derelict motorways or trunk roads from the Public Era). Most of the rural road network within sovereign land was destroyed to comply with privacy regulations. Only selected locations and principal drains have been shown.
South East England in 2106
(East of London)
Old Greater London
Selected features and locations
Note that the Great Ring Drain was formerly known as the M25 motorway.
The Central Enclave (Western side)
Note that most of the bridges over the Thames were demolished to facilitate shipping and flying boat operations. The road system has been omitted from these maps for clarity except for major roads mentioned in the story. Most major routes have not changed much since the Public Era. Lanes and lesser streets, on the other hand have often changed a great deal as old layouts had to make way for more localised living at much higher densities (for most people) or more grandiose living arrangements (for the few).
The Central Enclave (Eastern side)
Ranks of the Glory Trusts
The three principal glory trusts on the Island of Britain in 2106 are General Wardian, Universal Parrier and Guards to the People.
Ranks of Enlisted Troops
Probationary Basic (upon gaining Securitician C certificate)
Basic
Leading Basic
Corporal
Sergeant (upon gaining Securitician B certificate)
Section Leader
First Sergeant
Ranks of Field Officers
Countryman (upon gaining Securitician A certificate)
Grade
