by Redemption
"This is unbelievable, in all three categories; you'll have to have some remarkable explanations. You can't realistically measure them anyway," knowing they probably could. He felt sick. Was it his physical condition (damn Cam for only getting him half way back.) or was it psychological shock at these shockingly good results?
"You might be juggling the figures," he hears himself blurt out.
"You think so? And you never juggled figures in your career?"
"Well, hardly ever. What I didn't do is withhold vital information the way you are. When are these great revelations forthcoming?"
"Patience, Andrew, patience. All in good time. Democracy - here's the result."
Andrew refuses to believe his eyes, is again furious, and physically sick.
After a nurse cleans up the mess he apologises. "I just couldn't help myself. I'm not coping well with my present circumstances. Will these amazing revelations never cease? They keep escalating. How can democracy possibly be five times as good?"
"That's alright buddy, we understand," says Cameron, cleaning specks from his jacket. "I'll make some adjustments to your medicine so you won't need to emphasise your point so spectacularly next time. There's a thread running through all these results, the 10R. It's the overcoming of social entropy - Sed if you like. Another important word which needs to be added to your vocabulary is Deeemocracy."
He pauses while Andrew lets out a long sigh and reads the definition appearing at the bottom of the screen.
~
['Deeemocracy: a heightened form of democracy made more effective through (1) enlightenment - full understanding of self, structure and possibilities of individual action, (2) emancipation - liberation from limiting perceptions and artificial constraints, (3) empowerment - development of skills and inherent potential for full, capable and responsible participation in and management of society.']
~
"What was so wrong with ordinary democracy?" Andrew asks limply.
V
D: Democracy Limitations:
Christiana: "In your time democracy was still a 'motherhood' word. Few dared question or attack it. It wasn't even a subject of serious discussion. You would immediately be branded by the politically correct elite as fascist or racist or whatever the 'out' word was at the time. People looked at its high ideals - freedom of speech, government of the people by the people for the people, etc. - and ignored its negatives because… well, there wasn't anything better."
Deepening her voice, "'It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time'".(12) Raising her voice, "'Democracy is good. I say this because other systems are worse'.(13) Comments like this might damn democracy with faint praise, but they don't say it can't be improved.
"Democracy was limited, inefficient and vulnerable where people were ill-informed or deficient in their interest or abilities to participate in government. And let's face it that was most of the time. Those who chose to were able to abuse the system, to hide behind its freedoms and work against it. Pressure groups obtained undue influence, fifty-one percent of the population were able to over-rule forty-nine percent. Politicians wooed basic instincts to get votes, and weren't trusted. The entire system of political representation didn't work as well as it should have, especially for the masses (the word democracy is derived from the Greek word 'deme', which came to mean 'the ordinary people').
"The majority of the populace are and always have been decent law-abiding citizens. But under democracy they could be and often were taken advantage of by minorities - in crime, welfare abuse and politics for example. Worse, they finished up paying for those malingerers through taxes and other manipulations.
"Once people became enlightened, emancipated and empowered they were able to engage in capable participation, to discharge their responsibilities fully and effectively, to overcame the deficiencies and limitations of democracy. Ordinary democracy has never been the same since. It's a mere shadow. It doesn't even sound as good."
=
"Compared with democracy, Deeemocracy (Cameron puts emphasis on the first syllable) has enabled real social justice and equity - what Pip calls a 'fair go for all'. She was the one to coin the word. She saw that the deficiencies of democracy resided in the deficiencies of people, and, conversely, that democracy could be 'upgraded' if you could 'upgrade' people. Others had seen it before, of course. 'Democracy is a base affair and citizens contemptible.'(14) 'Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic.'(15) 'Democracy reduces to the level of human mediocrity.'(16)
"The average person now operates at levels of activity and co-operation and achievement several times higher than in your time. We don't see this as unusual or superhuman, rather that thirty years ago you were 'mentally handicapped' without Mentology. You hadn't 'seen the light', you were 'deprived' - of your right to develop your potential. (It wasn't a right in your time, but it is now.). I assure you the 473 figure is real.
"So Andy, a question," Cameron asks. "Were not all these changes and results desirable and worthwhile, welcome to the majority of people?"
"Obviously."
"Were they not sensible to aim for, and valuable in monetary terms such as less wastage and lower tax?"
"Of course."
"And they represent a far better lifestyle?"
"I can't disagree with that."
"And you're not surprised that people are far happier?"
"I'm sure they are happier."
"And when I tell you the answers were there under your (our) noses all the time… like a 3D picture? We just didn't know how or where to look."
Andrew moves his head uncomfortably, uncertain where the line of questioning is heading.
"And if the steps and conditions necessary to achieve them could have been known beforehand…?" asks Cameron.
"But they couldn't have been known beforehand - by definition." His exasperation is mounting.
"But bear with me," Cameron says, displaying his own signs of impatience. If they could have been determined, would that not have been a very desirable course of action to follow, to expedite the changes ahead of time in the interests of humankind."
"Of course, but it's a massive 'if'.'
"We shall see. In the meantime let me tell you what you have been waiting to hear - what has enabled these 'good' results for society, making it very functional, creative, co-operative and harmonious."
"You are going to explain the inexplicable," Andrew jests. "Make water run uphill, and turn into wine at the same time?"
"Well, rather than defy gravity," says Cameron, with a frown of concentration, "I'm going to reverse the direction. Using Frip Analysis it's easier to understand the transition from your time to ours, up the Frip Ladder, as we call it, by explaining each step backwards from 2050 to 2020 - down the 'Frip Ladder'. Starting with known results it is easier for you to see how these were reached from the relatively small step immediately below rather than from the bottom of the ladder to the top in one leap. We facilitate the difficult mental ascent with the assistance of logical gravity, as it were, by descending one rung at a time."
'I hope I don't get vertigo," quips Andrew.
"I thought you might realise you already are afflicted," retorts Cameron, making him feel even more uncomfortable. "In your mind there is a fear of the lofty 10R, born of the unknown process by which they were achieved and mixed with a feeling of possible guilt. In those days you and I were trying to cope with complicated life using our human 'equipment' as it had been handed down over the millennia and overlaid by social programming. Although man's use of the brain had evolved, and certainly faster than the body's adaption to the slow change of pace and conditions over eons, it was not fast enough to match the pace of change, stimulated by technology, as it escalated geometrically. Our minds were becoming woefully and dangerously inadequate for modern times.
"What we couldn't seem to grasp at the time, and is now crystal clear i
n hindsight, is that our basic human equipment had to be upgraded in order to cope, to be masters of our destiny. It was a bit like trying to race around the world on foot when aeroplanes were available if only we knew how to use them."
Exasperated at Andrew's look of seeming incomprehension, he adds "Let's face it Andy, we were underpowered and about to be overwhelmed. The big move came about through changes in people. And it was the improved quality of their thinking, their developed capabilities and particularly their actions that caused the dramatic changes since your time.
"And I hasten to add that these qualities were always there. We didn't manufacture them, they are inherent in all of us. We didn't change human nature, we just realised it. The same human nature people used to blame for their shortcomings. All that was needed was someone and something to bring it out. Most of the knowledge and prerequisites existed, what was lacking was a trigger to set in motion the right chain of events and then to put people and processes in place to follow it through."
He checks the instruments briefly, pats Andrew on the shoulder and leaves.
"And this is where we come to the part you had to play in all this," Christiana says, moving closer to him.
As she speaks he feels the hair on his neck crawl, and then again as she looks intently into his eyes. What on earth is she getting at? In passing it also registers in his mind that perhaps feelings and sensations might finally be starting to move downwards from his head.
"How do you mean?" he asks hesitatingly.
"The world was literally stung into action… ," she pauses for effect "… on the tenth of October 2020, near Damascus Park,… by that bee, on your neck."
While he tries to digest the possible implications of what she is saying she continues. "It was a chronotype of the first order, of the utmost significance, that instituted a remarkable chain of events. That instant when she stung you, on that precise pinpoint at the top of your spine, when your car was travelling at that specific speed at that particular place on the highway. It resulted in the crash, the impact and the injuries that launched you into your complex coma and your brother into his dance with destiny."
CHAPTER 19 Inspiracy
"Yes Andrew," Christiana tells him cheerfully, as she administers a drink of water, "you were part of the trigger, because many of the big changes to the world are traced back to that one incident."
Andrew frowns and is bemused as well as irritated now that he is being implicated as part of the series of events.
"Time for more film," she says.
~
The scene is a windswept promontory on an island in the Outer Hebrides. A rambling white stone house on a massive rocky cliff faced the white caps and racing clouds with the resolution of centuries.
"How do you like my retreat?" Kent asked the group assembled at a large round table. "We can proceed with our plans in safety and still communicate with the outside world as we need. And the island is renowned for its fine malt whiskies."
"Well it's far enough away from civilisation to steer clear of interruptions," said Ed. "And it's warm enough inside at least."
"I for one will be able to concentrate better without those old paintings and suits of armour looking over my shoulder," laughed Pip. "So stuffy and breathing old air. It must be that much harder in weathered countries with the weight of tradition in your saddlebags. I know we learn by looking backwards, but we have to live by moving forwards."
A general feeling of bonhomie rested on the group, as did the weak sunshine finding its way through the large windows. It was as if they had reached a destination for a pleasurable working conference, with the added unspoken relief of escaping the Manor unscathed.
"As long as we don't have men from my country looking over our shoulders," said Mario with feeling.
"I've had my eye on this place for some time and purchased it recently through a nominee company," said Kent. "There is no way it can be linked to the Manor or traced to me or Mogul. The small staff here have been checked thoroughly. They understand we are engaged in a research program which must remain confidential and that we will keep largely to ourselves.
"All the local townspeople know is that some odd Yank bought the place and from time to time will bring assorted groups for business reasons. We are going to create a little excitement through a shopping expedition. There are wardrobes of clothes here at your disposal; anything else you need to replace items lost in the fire we will seek locally - at my expense of course.
"As for your fellow countrymen Mario, they will think they have been successful in their nefarious deeds. The Manor has been razed. Nobody saw us leave. Here is a media report," as he flicked a switch to reveal a TV announcer speaking in polished tones.
"And now for the local news. Crosby Manor, the eighteenth century seat of Lord Crosby, bought last year by American businessman Kent Buchanan, was last night burned to the ground. An unknown number of people perished in the blaze, although Mr Buchanan is not believed to be among them."
The picture showed firemen and officials moving among stark ashes, alternating with colourful shots of its previous glory.
"The remains of several bodies are being investigated," said a stern police officer. "Identification is difficult because of the intense heat of the fire. There are several unusual aspects about the incident, of which I can say little at the moment except that there are strong indications of foul play."
Kent was smiling. "My collection of medical skeletons came in useful after all. Through my contacts it will be reported that one of the bodies appears to be from Italy, and foreign criminal elements are suspected. That should get the Calabrone to retract their antennae for the time being. For these reasons we are totally safe here to get on with the next phase of our business. A press release will say the Manor had been let for a conference to a group working towards world peace and understanding. I was overseas at the time recovering from my accident and unable to be reached for comment.
"I trust the change of plans thrust upon us will not detract from our efforts or delay our progress unduly. I regret losing my manor and its precious contents. However for me it is a small price to pay compared to what we aim to gain. It has re-invigorated my determination. Which leads me to a particular point. On the night of the fire you all saw merit in each other's work and were eager to proceed. But we were interrupted before we got to the point of commitment to the challenge."
"I am totally for everything you want to do," said Mario without hesitation.
Ed: "I'm excited at having a real chance to get Pals into operation. You've got me. "
"Me too," said Pip. "Though I hope we can start achieving within a reasonable time frame."
Rose: "I'm enjoying the prospect of what is to follow, tempered of course by the thought of possible danger we discussed."
Raj: "The time has come for me to stand up and be counted, as you Westerners say, so count me in."
Trevor: "The rest of us are on your payroll and I'm sure I speak for them in saying we are revelling in the challenge."
"Good," said Kent. "Give me two weeks. By then we will have a clearer view of the possibilities and if anybody wants to leave the team and the project I won't stand in their way. We've got a lot to do and it won't be easy. We're launching on an important voyage into new territory. There is no known compass and for the time being we have only our own resources to devise and set a plan in motion."
Rose spoke. "It's not easy to come to grips with this. Because I've been around more than my share of armchair pontificating, I can see that now is an opportune time for action. You may not realise, Kent, but your views are consonant with a well-known writer of the nineteenth century who said 'The great end of life is not knowledge but action."(17)
Kent: "I'll take your word for it. Everywhere there are too many who think without acting, more than enough who act without thinking, a great load who neither think nor act, and altogether too few of the rare species who think and act."
Rose: "Obviously one
of the areas we need to focus on. Creating and developing what I expect will be an amalgam of ideas into something - a tool? - that can be used to forge a new or improved society. Doing it in secret? Are we conspiring? No, a conspiracy is a secret plan by a group for an unlawful or harmful act. I suggest that is what Mario's 'acquaintances' are engaged in. The word is derived from Mario's ancestors - 'spiro' the Latin verb 'to breathe'. The workings of the Calabrone and their ilk, it seems to me, will eventually squeeze the breath out of society, like a boa constrictor.
"Whereas we are meeting in secret to plan a noble act - no less than the elevation of the human race. I hope we are inspired, we will need to be. There is little precedent for what we are doing and no accurate word. So that we can understand and get a 'handle' on it, I put it to you that what we are about to engage in is an 'Inspiracy' to breathe new life into humankind."
"Inspiracy. Yes, I can get used to that," said Pip. Let's start 'Inspiring'."
~
"They 'Inspired' well into the night and for the next two weeks," Christiana takes up the story. "A very creative and productive team. Five enterprising and imaginative minds collectively feeding off each other, supplemented by seven capable and resourceful helpers and facilitators. Rapidly enhancing each other's ideas, injecting constructive criticisms and useful suggestions. A high voltage synergy blossomed - and flared and crackled - it was remarkably productive, not only in derived concepts but in practical applications.
"Recapping the process thus far: You've seen the first stage of the 'how' it started - the trigger, leading to your car accident, Kent's near-death experience and conversion, his world-wide search and, after the baptism of fire, the Inspiracy."
"I'm exhausted just getting to this point," Andrew complains. "And this is only the beginning?"
"Right. From here the speed picks up, as do the explanations. Next comes the revolution! And not just your everyday revolution. This one is new and very different. Revolutions will never be the same again. See you tomorrow!"