“What’s so funny about that?” Isabella said.
Mack looked at his mother.
“No wonder people are marching to Piccadilly,” he said.
Chapter 28
18th August 2011
* * *
The CBC News at Six
* * *
CBC News reporter Dick Ronson is standing on a dark street in North London. He’s positioned himself directly behind an isolated block of brick wall, which is adjoined to a narrow black fence. Tall streetlights throw down much needed illumination upon the early evening, aided by the headlights of the occasional passing car. Behind Ronson, a vast array of floral tributes is attached to the black fence.
* * *
DICK RONSON: Sophie, this evening I’m in Ferry Lane in Tottenham. This is of course, the place where it all began with the shooting of Mark Duggan exactly two weeks ago. And who could have imagined back then, what would come next? We’ve seen the worst riots in this country in living memory; we’ve seen looting and criminality beyond comprehension; we’ve also seen countless buildings burn across the city in scenes reminiscent of the Battle of Britain, seventy years ago.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: (Speaking from the CBC studio) It looks very quiet there tonight Dick.
* * *
DICK RONSON: Indeed Sophie. In fact, there’s something almost church-like about the atmosphere tonight. Not far from here however, thousands of people have taken to Tottenham High Road - but not to riot. Instead they’re initiating this so-called Phase Two of Chester George’s master plan. This consists of a peaceful occupation of the streets by thousands of people who are waiting for their leader, Chester George, to call them to Piccadilly.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: Are the rioters not even going home at night?
* * *
DICK RONSON: The short answer is no. The rioters, the Good and Honest Citizens - whatever you want to call them - they’re going nowhere. They’ve take over many streets across London and it seems they’re content to stay there and wait for the call from Chester George.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: And given the recent food shortages, how are all these people finding enough to eat and drink?
* * *
DICK RONSON: Surprisingly enough Sophie, food and drink supplies are being delivered regularly to theses sites of occupation across London. People are walking through the crowds, handing out sandwiches, water, and other items. Police believe these supplies are either coming in from central or west London – OR – and I suspect this myself, that these food items were looted earlier in the riots. Either way, it seems there’s no shortage of food for the rioters.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: And Dick, how are the police and army handling this so-called ‘Phase Two’?
* * *
DICK RONSON: The police and the army are staying close by Sophie, but they really have their hands full. We’re talking thousands upon thousands of people standing out on the street and refusing to disperse. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: But there’s also a new turn of events, isn’t there? There’s hope for the other side at last.
* * *
DICK RONSON: (Perking up) Yes Sophie! The counter-revolution has begun. At last, all over the country - and not just in London - ordinary people are saying NO MORE to the riots. And astonishingly, it’s the nation’s most infamous and loathed reality television star - Sadie Hobbs - who has become the figurehead of the fight-back.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: It started with a recent blog post didn’t it?
* * *
DICK RONSON: Indeed Sophie. Just yesterday, Sadie Hobbs, who’s been an outspoken critic of the riots, wrote a blog post that reiterated earlier calls for the return of capital punishment. Sadie Hobbs believes that she speaks for the majority of ordinary decent people in Britain and that the police and army have been too soft on the rioters.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: Is capital punishment likely to return?
* * *
DICK RONSON: Well, the politicians are saying very little tonight Sophie. But there’s been a great deal of public dissatisfaction with the way they’ve handled this crisis. And if that dissatisfaction continues – well – Sadie Hobbs has already used the term ‘lynch mob’ on more than one occasion. And as you know, lynch mobs don’t usually sit around and ask for permission to do what they do.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: Two clear leaders have now emerged, is that right Dick?
* * *
DICK RONSON: Yes Sophie. And ahead of Piccadilly, the real battleground is no longer on the streets of London – it’s on the Internet. It’s the battle of the blogger versus the vlogger. Are you #teamChester or #teamSadie? Are you #teamPiccadilly or #teamPunishment?
* * *
Cuts to interviews with members of the public.
* * *
INTERVIEEW 1: (Middle-aged white woman) I’m definitely #teamSadie. I’m disgusted with the government treating these criminals like badly behaved children. Slap on the wrist and that’s all they get innit? Blow ‘em away, that’s what I say. Bloody scum destroying this beautiful city and we’re all just sitting back watching it happen. It’s pathetic.
* * *
Cuts to…
* * *
INTERVIEEW 2: (Elderly white man) Hang ‘em. Hang ‘em all! Show ‘em what happens when you misbehave.
* * *
Cuts to…
* * *
INTERVIEEW 3: (Elderly white woman) She just says what the rest of us are all thinking, doesn’t she? I like Sadie.
* * *
Cuts to…
* * *
INTERVIEEWS 4 AND 5: (Two thirty-something white women, dressed in business suits, jumping up and down, unleashing a football style chant into the microphone) SADIE! SADIE! SADIE!
* * *
Cuts back to Dick Ronson in Ferry Lane.
* * *
SOPHIE WALLACE: Not a lot of support for Chester George, was there?
* * *
DICK RONSON: No Sophie. And that was a completely random survey on our part. The truth is that the silent majority are, thanks to Sadie Hobbs, beginning to make their voices heard. They want to put an end to this. They want capital punishment back. The question is, are the politicians listening?
Chapter 29
19th August 2011
* * *
The Paxton Show
* * *
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is sitting in a television studio near Westminster. Sitting across from him is the CBC’s interviewer extraordinaire, James Paxton. This is Paxton’s first chance to grill the leader of the country since the disturbances began in early August.
* * *
PAXTON: Prime Minister, thank you for joining us. It certainly hasn’t been easy to get a hold of you lately. God knows we’ve tried.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry about that James. Of course, we’ve been kept very busy lately.
* * *
PAXTON: First of all, let me ask you a very important question. Are you #teamSadie or #teamChester?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: (Laughing nervously) Well James, I suppose if anything I’d like to think of myself as #teamUK.
* * *
PAXTON: I don’t think that’s trending on Twitter at the moment.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: No, you’re quite right. Unfortunately not.
* * *
PAXTON: Prime Minister, there are those who believe that two weeks of wanton destruction hasn’t been dealt with by your government. What do you say to those people?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don’t think that’s entirely fair James. We’ve brought in extra police and there are army patrols and tanks -
* * *
PAXTON: But it’s clearly not enough is it? Most of the police aren’t
even armed and the military aren’t authorised to fire their weapons. Now there’s a so-called Phase Two occupation – thousands of people taking to the streets - prior to embarking on a journey west to Piccadilly. Need I remind you Prime Minister that Piccadilly isn’t too far from the Houses of Parliament?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: (Shifting uncomfortably in his seat) James, we can’t simply ignore the fruits of a sensible, balanced approach to this problem. Hundreds of arrests have already been made. The judicial system is working overtime, round the clock, twenty-four hours to process and sentence these criminals in record quick time. We’re getting the rioters off the streets and we’re doing so with the minimum of bloodshed.
* * *
PAXTON: But are you aware that rioters are now travelling down to London from other parts of the country now? From Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities? You’ve been celebrating the fact that trouble in those other cities has decreased, but that’s only because they’re all coming down here to gather in the one place. They’re coming here for Piccadilly.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: James, you’re talking about Piccadilly like it’s a sure thing. We don’t even know if there’s going to be a Piccadilly. Now I’m confident that a sensible and balanced approach to the problem will get rioters off the street with the minimum of bloodshed.
* * *
PAXTON: Okay Prime Minister. Let’s talk about the death penalty because that’s what people are interested in at the moment. It was abolished in the sixties. It hasn’t been debated in Parliament since 1994. Why aren’t you talking about it today?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: I don’t believe that the death penalty has any place in a civilised society.
* * *
PAXTON: (Raising his voice) But we’re not living in a civilised society anymore! Half the city’s been razed to the ground. And now the people responsible have taken over the streets in their hundreds and thousands. The roads are blocked off and there’s very little food getting to those who need it the most. Don’t you agree Mr Prime Minister - that drastic situations require drastic solutions? Several of your MPs have publicly tweeted that they’re on #teamSadie.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: It is not unacceptable to hold that view in the Conservative Party. That’s up to the individual. But the death penalty brings with it all sorts of issues and historically there have been instances in which the wrong person has been sentenced to death. Or new evidence has appeared after the execution. It’s complicated James.
* * *
PAXTON: Okay. I want to draw your attention to something Prime Minister. The government’s own e-petition site clearly states that if any single petition gathers more than one hundred thousand signatures then it is ‘eligible for debate in the House of Commons’. As of this afternoon, nine separate petitions calling for the return of the death penalty have gathered well over that figure.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Death penalties don’t lower the crime rate James. Since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976, the crime rate has actually risen -
* * *
PAXTON: Are you going to debate the matter? The British public have told you that they want you to debate the return of the death penalty in Parliament.
* * *
The Prime Minister dabs at the sweat gathering on his forehead.
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Emotions are running high James. That’s understandable. But things are being said now that in the light of day, when the police and armed forces have suppressed these riots, will seem rather foolish.
* * *
PAXTON: But why not bring the death penalty back? From a general perspective. Aren’t there crimes that should be punished more severely than by imprisonment. The murder of a child for example. You’re a father aren’t you Mr Prime Minister? And what about the murder of a police officer killed in the line of duty? And while we’re at it - what about the murder of an entire city?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Look James, I think we need to remember that capital punishment is still illegal under EU law. As long as we remain part of the European Union –
* * *
Paxton cuts him off, turning towards the camera.
* * *
PAXTON: Well, earlier this evening we ran a Twitter vote that asked you if you’d like to see the return of capital punishment. The results are in and they’re pretty conclusive. Ninety-two per cent of those who voted are in favour of the return of capital punishment. With only eight per cent against.
* * *
Paxton turns back to the Prime Minister.
* * *
PAXTON: Twitter has spoken sir. Hundreds of thousands of people are signing petitions and yet still, you don’t seem interested in debating the matter. Are you sure you’re not with #teamChester?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: Look James, I don’t think we should be making light –
* * *
Paxton holds up his hands.
* * *
PAXTON: Time’s almost up Prime Minister. But we have time for one more question. Let there be no doubt that the army of Chester George will soon be eating its way westwards across London. Given the severity of this impending threat, will you be debating the return of the death penalty? Yes or no?
* * *
PRIME MINISTER: It won’t happen on my watch.
* * *
PAXTON: Thank you.
Chapter 30
21th August 2011
* * *
BBM (Blackberry Messenger)
* * *
Message distributed widely across London.
‘This just in from Chester George.
* * *
Piccadilly. 1st September.
* * *
It’s on.’
Chapter 31
22nd August 2011
* * *
Mack tiptoed quietly downstairs. In one hand, he held a pair of Adidas Kicks tight to his chest, while the other squeezed down on the strap of the rucksack draped over his shoulder in order to prevent the buckles from rattling.
God, if they hear me.
Every time a sock hit the stairs it sounded like a clap of thunder. Downstairs, he could hear the TV playing in the living room. His parents were in there watching the evening news and somebody - it sounded like Dick Ronson - was talking about Phase Two and the occupation.
He landed on the hallway and crept quietly to the front door. Very gently, he pushed down the brass handle and was surprised at how cold it felt against his skin. And why was it so heavy this time? Was it just his imagination?
He pulled the door open as quietly as he could. Fortunately for Mack, the Walkers hadn’t inherited a creaky door at the house in Stanmore Road.
Stepping outside, he closed it gently behind him.
Click.
He let out a deep breath. It wasn’t quite Andy Dufresne standing under the rain in The Shawshank Redemption, but he’d been grounded for a few days now and with everything that was going on in London, being cooped up indoors was enough to make him go at least a little crazy.
Looking up, a blanket of angry clouds was encroaching upon the early evening sunlight. It would be dark soon, but Mack welcomed the opportunity to slip inside the night, out of the reach of prying eyes, of daylight, and normality.
Twenty minutes later, he was approaching Charlie’s, where Sumo Dave was waiting for him. As he walked west, he’d expected to hear the crowds on the nearby High Road. To hear something, anything - jeers, anti-authoritarian chants - any kind of noise. All those people had to be making some sort of racket, didn’t they?
But there was nothing. There wasn’t even the sound of traffic anymore.
And no longer were there any burning buildings on the horizon. No more orange and white lights spewing forth smoke up to the heavens.
The air felt good.
Sumo Dave was standing outside Charl
ie’s. The lanky teenager was looking at his phone but when he saw Mack walking towards him, he tucked the device into the side pocket of his jeans.
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