Industry & Intrigue (53 page)

“
I urge all of you to exercise
calm and restraint during this difficult time. Many friends and
colleagues were killed in this terrible crime, but we do not know
the identity of guilty party or their purpose,” pleaded Patrick to
the crowd. They did not appear partial to his
suggestions.

“
Their purpose was a direct
attack on our leaders by one of them crooked corporate barons,
Typhon or Green River!” shouted out a man at the front, below the
stage. There were yells of agreement. Patrick was losing
them.

He was a good man and
done what he could
for them over the last ten years, but they had their blood up and
didn’t want to hear words about patience. They had seen the
government and the corporations squeeze them for far too long. He
needed to do something before Patrick pushed them away and they
started to think Robert’s tactics were the way to move
forward.

Victor shook his head
when
he
thought of his friend.
Where are you now Robert? I hope you realize the
folly of your path before it is too late.

Victor stepped out and walked over to
the podium. Patrick was still trying to placate the crowd, with
little success.

“
Patrick
,” he said quietly. “You should stop.
Let me speak to them.” Patrick looked over. His black hair was
streaked with grey and made him look older than his forty four
years. Victor suspected the stress of his position had advanced his
aging. Patrick shoulders slumped and he let him take the
podium.

Victor spoke and loud and clear
as his voice would allow,
“All of you here know me and what I represent. My
whole life has been dedicated to fighting against everything the
big businesses stand for. Patrick is correct. We cannot meet
violence with violence. It would only give them the excuse they
need to come after us with impunity.

But, t
here is an important point on which
he is wrong. This is not the time for reservation. My fellow
revolutionary members, men and women who have struggled against the
corporate barons were mercilessly killed within the safety of their
own home and it cannot go unanswered.”

Victor paused. The crowd
were agitated and
keenly following his words. “Councilor Culvern has been our only
ally in the government for a long time, but I say that it is time
to change that!”

A tremendous cheer rang out from the
crowd. “We number far more than any other group in this city, or
the entire empire. We are the backbone upon which it is built;
farmers, builders, factory-workers, smiths, miners, ship and dock
workers, rail workers. We are part of what sustains the greatest
empire in the world, yet we have the least say in our affairs. I
say this is not right!” Another cheer, louder this time.

“
We must elect
and vote for more
candidates to stand alongside Councilor Culvern and help make our
voices heard. And if they still refuse to listen, then we will do
what we must. We will refuse to do the jobs they need us for. We
will strike and bring everything they take for granted to a
grinding halt until they hear us!” He was practically shouting now
and the crowd erupted with applause and cheers.

Patrick was smiling at him and
walked over to the podium. Once
the noise of the crowd had died down, he
spoke, “I sense that this plan is agreeable to you all and I think
Victor is right. It is past time we elected more representatives
for our cause into government. And I think the best place to start
is right here.”

Victor looked at him, curious as to
what he meant.

“
I nominate Victor
Shepard as a
candidate to run in the election for the city’s Locluth
district.”

Victor looked at
Pa
trick in
shock, he hadn’t expected this.

One man threw up his hand and
in a deep voice said
, “Seconded!”

The crowd
gave their approval and
chanted, “Victor! Victor! Victor!”

He didn’
t know how to react. Clearly
they wanted him, it would be selfish to refuse.

Patrick laughed at the look on
his face. “Don’t look so surpr
ised Victor. They adore you. Who else would they
want representing them?”

“
But I don’t know
any
thing
about being in office, or even running for office,” he
said.

“
You’ll learn, all
politicians
must at one point. As for the running part, I don’t think
you’ll have problems there,” and he gestured at the chanting
crowd.

My whole
life fighting against the
government only now to join it
. His mind made up, he held out his hands until
the crowd had quieted down. “Since you appear to be in favor of
supporting me, I accept.”

Before the crowd
could respond there
was a loud clapping to the left of the stage. Everyone looked.
Standing there was Robert Argyll and behind him were several other
young and aggressive LRC members. Robert stepped up to the stage
and walked towards the podium, still clapping as he did
so.

“
What are you doing here
Robert?”
asked Victor. He suspected he knew why, but he wanted to
hear it from his friend directly.

“
I wan
t to offer my congratulations,”
replied Robert. Victor could hear the sarcasm in his voice. “You’ve
won over the people and are now selflessly going to run for office,
where you will endeavor to work for the cause.”

Robert then turned to the crowd
and shouted
,
“Is this what you want? More of the same? You may get a few more
officials on your side, but it will not amount to anything in the
face of the long tradition of oppression the upper classes hold
over us. No matter how many representatives we elect, they will
never give up the riches and prestige they have.”

Robert had revealed his
intentions. He was here to recruit soldiers to his crusade. Victor
wanted to stop him, but best to let him say his part. If they
didn’t hear it now, Robert wou
ld make sure they heard another way.

“
So I offer each
and every one of
you another path. A real way to make changes. I intend to bring the
corporate overlords and their government toadies to their knees. We
will strike without them knowing when or where it will happen. They
have offered us violence and death, innocent people whose only
crime was to stand against industrial tyranny. So if it is violence
and death that they want, then I say we give it to them. No
revolution is worth anything unless it can defend itself. Let them
see what happens when they treat us like slaves and drive us into a
corner. They will beg for mercy and do anything we ask. Who here
among you wants to be part of the revolution? Not in the future,
but right here and now. We will do what we must and make this
nation better for it!”

His speech received
a few shouts of
encouragement, though nowhere as much as Victor. It was the younger
ones in the crowd, those who had not seen the changes and
improvements slowly come. They were the ones most eager for
violence.

Vic
tor stepped forward and spoke before
Robert’s words could sway them. “My friend Robert is a good man,
and is passionate for our cause. But he allows his passion to
overcome good sense. His argument sounds persuasive, but if we turn
to savagery it will not help us. Those in power will brand you as
criminals and traitors, they will hunt you down and arrest or kill
you. You will tarnish our cause with violence and only diminish
what support we have.”

Robert spoke again,
“We have all the
support we need. We are the workers of Alkos! We built this empire
with our own hands! They will not be able to find us and they will
not risk bringing down what they have built. We will never be given
socialism on a golden platter by the exploiters. It can only be
achieved with struggle. A struggle that begins here and now! Follow
me now and we will start the revolution together!”

He jumped off
the stage and
walked back to his comrades. He was followed by a small, but
cheering and yelling group that had split from the crowd. Those who
had decided to join him. They exited the hall chanting.

“
Revolution!”

“
For the workers!”

Victor looked at the crowd. He
estimated ten percent
of those who had been present had left with
Robert. It was not many, but he had not wanted to see anyone join
the man. His way would lead to nothing but death for anyone who
followed.

He felt Patrick’s hand on his
shoulder. “Most of them were young
with heads full of notions about how they
think the world should be. Robert can be charismatic, but I
wouldn’t worry about it. Once they realize they’re in over their
heads, many of them will jump ship and return.”

“
I hope you’re right
Patrick.
For
those who don’t, Robert is leading them down a dangerous path,”
replied Victor.

“
He is, but in a way we need
them.”

Victor’s face twisted in
confusion. “I ‘m not sure I understand what you mean. They don’t
want to do it our way.
Robert won’t be satisfied unless he creates
something as big as the Peasant Uprisings of the 1480s.” The
Peasant Uprisings of Alkos were a series of massive revolts at the
end of the fifteenth century, brought about by several harsh
winters and a deep economic recession. Half the countryside of
Alkos had risen up against the landowners and the revolts had ended
with thousands dead on both sides.

“
W
ith them showing their teeth, the
government and big business interests have a choice. They can deal
with us and negotiate, or they can deal with Robert and his
followers. By comparison it makes our movement look more appealing,
at least in terms of getting them to the table. I know it sounds
coldly pragmatic, but it’s the truth.”

“
You’re right,” said Victor in
agreement. “From that perspective we do need them.”

“
All large
social changes have a radical
element. Robert is ours,” said Patrick. “We only have to make sure
he doesn’t take this too far.”

“
How can we do that?” asked
Victor. “You saw the look on his face. He despises me now. If by
the slim chance I get elected
, I’ll be part of the system he hates.”

“
There are
ways
. Our
movements still have similar goals, even if the methods differ.
Robert may be full of anger now, but he’ll come to his senses. Give
him time.”

Victor wasn’t
convinced
.
He may have gained support here but he felt that it had cost him
his closest friend. Robert would never view him the same way again
if he was in the government. Despite his outward appearance for
Patrick and the crowd, inside he was grieving for the loss of his
friendship and the comrade. The man who had been by his side since
he first joined the social revolution.

Chapter 53

The bell in the highest tower
of Rampart was ringing. It was an old, huge thing of burnished
bronze and the noise carried into the stone building
wher
e
Lawrence was eating lunch. He swallowed the tough beef he was
chewing; there was only one reason that bell would be sounding. The
Galrian delegation had arrived.

Lawrence se
t down his utensils and stood.
His personal guards stood ready at attention as he did so. He
turned to his head guard, Flint McLaren. “The Galrians are here,
I’m going to greet them.”

“
As yo
u wish, Your Imperial Majesty.” He
didn’t look happy about it, but Lawrence wasn’t surprised. Flint
had a deep mistrust for the Galrians that Lawrence had only noticed
in the last week. He wondered if Flint thought they would not
forgive Rossiv’s murder.

“
Fetch Minister
Siobhan and the
other officials. I want them to welcome the Galrians,” he ordered a
servant. The man nodded and quickly exited the room to fetch those
officials who had traveled to Rampart with him.

He made his way out of the
buildi
ng,
his guards close behind. Flint stayed at the front to open doors
for him and also to jump in front, should an assassin try
anything.

Flint
opened the main doors of the building
and stepped into the town square, Lawrence close behind. Lawrence
positioned himself in the middle of the square, his guards taking
formation behind him, while Flint stood to his right. A minute
later, Siobhan and the others came out of the building and lined up
alongside him.

The bell finally stopped
ringing and the huge
, metal gates opened. Behind them stood a contingent of
Royal Galrian Army soldiers, their silver and green uniforms so
bright that they shined. They marched through the gate in perfect
rhythm to the sound of drum beating. Behind them came several steam
carriages, the engines making chug-chug sounds and large smoke
blooms exiting the exhaust pipes on top.