Before 24 Billion and Counting

Chapter 21 Part 1 The forces of the State

"We were, we did." I ground out.

"So you got to the airport?"

"Yes. But I was caught by a bit of technology riding on something we all have. And nobody told us , the small folk, the ordinary girls and guys. The contact-less credit or debit card. It's easy, safe, just take it from your wallet or purse and bingo, whizz it across a sensor and get a bun stuffed with polyunsaturated fats or a grossly inflated cost of coffee and then get on the move again. To where? Through one of their bloody sensors at the airport, or why not your workplace or wherever. They don't need passports or visas or all that crap. That's just window dressing and bureaucracy to suppress and deceive us. They pass your wallet through the scanner and it says Hi Barclaycard or Amex or Master card, who's this? And some data base picks you up and says it's you Charles Berisford and it doesn't give a toss if the immigration people don't look at your passport. They've found you anyway."

I stood and shouted "So guys and gals, out there listening in to your temporary conference room No 1 and video watching me and my friends we're onto you and that's part of your control. The control you have to create to deal with the reality that is Earth and it's suffering and -"

The door to the room was abruptly banged open and Lopez and a couple of other soldiers I hadn't seen before rushed in with raised weapons, grabbed me and forcibly pushed me towards the chair.

Lopez furiously said,"Berisford you can it or -"

"You'll put me on a charge? I'm not one of your corporals Major. Get real. I'm a citizen of New Zealand.".

"Sit down, Berisford. Or you'll get hurt. There's no escape. Really. This is the Army. Your rules? They're fucked here. They know " he gestured to Jacob and Will, "I don't want to hurt you but I can and will if needed."

"What Jacob, Will. What's happened?"

"The whole observatory complex - the staff, students, lecturers, scientists are locked in and communications are sealed. We don't know what's being said to the media but-"

"Enough Neumann. You button up. You'all have to learn. You don't mess with the Army."

There was a tense silence, while I slowly resumed my seat. Lopez regarded me steadily.

I suppressed the temptation to raise my middle finger in the air and shout 'up yours', at him. Where do these childish reactions emanate from. Extreme frustration? Fear of the the impossible now become a reality staring you in the face?

Lopez signalled to his soldiers and they assumed a stand easy position with the weapons' butts resting on the floor. 

"What now Lopez?" asked Jacob.

"We wait until ten o'clock."

The clock at the end of the room stood at three minutes to ten, and in the silence it ticked once a second, as time trickled away slowly, like treacle off a spoon onto the breakfast porridge.

At one minute to ten Lopez opened the door and he and his two soldiers stood to attention, and we heard marching feet coming down the corridor. Six people came into the room. Three were in uniforms which were bedecked in several stars or crowns, and three were in plain clothes. Lopez and his team saluted smartly.

"Thank you Lopez, dismiss." Lopez led his soldiers out and the door was shut.

The newcomers distributed themselves behind the tables surrounding us on three sides, with the army, general I assumed, occupying the central position with the navy and air force to his right and the three civilians to his left. One of them sat himself a little distant from the other two and sat looking at his clasped hands on his lap, so all I could see of him clearly was a grey head of hair.