Despite his statement that he wanted to be seen, Justin re-entered the gathering cautiously. He

Transcription

1 Chapter Forty Eight Despite his statement that he wanted to be seen, Justin re-entered the gathering cautiously. He stepped quietly up to the edges of the nearest refreshment tent. A young formally dressed waiter breezed by and while Justin was distracted by her appearance she managed to deposit a glass of bubbles in his hand. He looked at his traitorous hand and then, after a quick glance around, downed the alcohol in one gulp. He rested the glass on a nearby table and pressed further into the crowd. People were paired or in threes. In each small group an explainer looked over the shoulder of one of the other members as they tapped away at the small black devices in their hands. Sometimes others just looked on but more often than not they copied the other s actions on their own device. Everybody must be phoning their mothers. Justin kept the comment under his breath as he eased between the small groups of teachers and learners. He spotted Verma a few groups away. The enthusiasm she d displayed for him their once again as she instructed a middle aged man in the operation of the device in his hand. She issued a set of brief instructions, the man pecked at the device, she corrected him, he tried again, and his face lit up as he accomplished whatever he intended. Verma beamed back at him, equally happy for his success. Justin carefully avoided her gaze and sidled further towards the podium at the front of the event. The man referred to as Mr. Major was still on the raised platform. His appearance was not as cheerful as earlier. He looked back over his shoulder regularly and seemed less and less pleased with the result of these brief searches. He checked a watch on his wrist but this only seemed to increase his worries. He looked back once more and when he turned back to the front his expression was set in a snarl.

2 Justin braced his feet as he stood before the podium. He held his hands down by his side and took a deep breath. Big break. Big break. He whispered the words as he felt the saliva disappear from his mouth. Before he had the chance to open his mouth to speak a figure ran towards the platform. The man wore the uniform of the soldiers inside the factory but the military facings were not there and his head was free of the strange helmet. Despite these efforts the man still looked as though he wore a uniform. He climbed the rickety stairs to the platform in a hurry and grabbed Mr. Major s arm. Major looked down at him and the man released his grip immediately. Major turned to the front and then moved to leave the podium. Now or never. Justin hissed the words to himself, inflated his lungs and called out. Mr. Major, if I can just ask you some questions on behalf of my readers. Major glanced in his direction and then turned to leave. Halfway to the stairs he stopped again, adjusted the fit of his suit and turned back to the front of the platform. I m afraid there is a small problem with which I must deal. His voice was noticeably more ragged than previously. He turned to leave again. Mr. Major. Justin s voice cut through the conversations that were still going on around him. Is it true that these devices can control people s minds? The conversations around him abruptly dropped in volume and although it probably didn t happen, Justin felt certain that everyone around him took a quick step away. The smile returned to Major s face, although it was a little more ragged around the edges. Absolute nonsense. He managed a small laugh. So it isn t true that your strategy is to addict people to these devices so that they will do your bidding? Justin could feel the air around him flee the scene too.

3 Mr. Major appeared perfectly ready to deal with his assertions. I think you have been watching too many Quatermass films, young man. Mr. Major s face almost glowed with his use of what his researchers had told him was a pop culture reference. Justin could feel the ground slipping from beneath his feet as the rest of those around him seemed to enjoy Major s reference too. So you are denying, one hundred percent that these devices of yours will not change people s behaviour. Major frowned down at the young man. Of course they ll change people s behaviour. That s the point. We want to make it easier for people do so many things. So they are behaviour altering, then? Justin looked around. A man in a cheap suit and a device in his hand asked the question. The man s expression one of arch innocence. Despite Justin s limited media career he recognised a true professional when one was before him. Major looked at the other man as though he had appeared from nowhere. Well in the strictest sense of the word Do you become addicted to using them? The same man interrupted. His yellow stained fingers testament to his knowledge of addiction. There is nothing bad about these devices. They are magnificent tools. Major tried to recover his smile. Is that a one hundred percent guarantee that the use of these devices is in no way harmful? This time a woman stepped forward away from her explainer to ask the question. The only other sounds now were conversations on the very edges of the gathering and even they grew silent. They cannot cause you any harm, it s not as if they ll give you cancer. Major made the point forcefully but as he did so a murmur ran out through the crowd. Why do you mention cancer? The woman called out.

4 Do they give you cancer? Another man stepped forward and closed in on the hunt. Is that brain cancer they give you? Another journalist stepped forward her device in her hand. She moved her thumbs across its surface as she asked the question. You have my word that they don t cause cancer. Major looked anxiously at the soldier behind him. Is there something you re keeping from us about these devices? How long does the brain cancer take to develop? Are they especially bad for children? What happens to people who become addicted? This time Major grabbed one of his aides by the arm. What are they doing? The aide looked out on the growing sea of raised arms. I think they are recording images of us. Still images? Major asked. I think they are mostly recording video images. Is there any treatment for the cancers? How long have you known about the brain cancers? The questions kept coming. With sound? Major asked. Yes. The aide answered simply. What can they do with the recordings? The aide thought for a moment. Today, not a lot. Maybe show them to a few people. They could use one of their video cameras to record the screen but that would be very poor quality. Major relaxed a little until the aide carried on. Once we have the networks in place they will be able to pass them on indefinitely.

5 We have to stop them. Major whirled back to face the crowd. They were now a lot closer to the podium than he had remembered. Stop recording. He shouted out. You have no right to video me like this! His instruction had no effect on the journalists crowded below as they shouted out their increasingly alarmist questions. Can we shut them off? Major s voice increased in pitch as his eyes widened in shock. The aide shook her head. They are designed to keep working. That s what we wanted them to do. From around the edges of the gathering police officers in full uniform started to push their way through the crowd to form a human barrier around the podium and its occupants. The journalists turned their devices on the thin blue line.