Offspring

by Stan Mason

  My eyelids began to grow heavy, my arms and legs felt weary, and I fell asleep where I sat. Hours sped by and I remained in the arms of Morpheus... temporarily dead to the world. The sleepless night with Miss Grayson was now having its full effect. It was evening when I awoke... ten o’clock to be precise. I stared at the clock in horror. I had let Miss Grayson down again. It was likely I was the most ill-mannered person she had ever met in her life, but then I didn’t think too highly of myself either. I felt a certain sympathy for her and analogised with the story about the bankrupt trader who was about to throw himself off the top of a twenty-storey building when he heard a quiet voice from above say: “Cheer up, my son, things could be worse!” So he moved back off the ledge and cheered up to continue his life and, sure enough, things got worse!”

  I went into the bedroom and fell on the bed... the same bed in which Carrie had been murdered. I had no superstitious fears of ghouls and ghosts, or a haunted apartment. Nonetheless, it was a discomforting thought that I had to put out of my mind. In my dreamy state, I kept thinking about Artemus Ward who seemed able to sum up the assignment in a nutshell. He once said: “It ‘aint the things we know that cause all the trouble... it’s the things we know that ‘aint so!” I knew many ways of applying that comment to my own predicament... but they would all have to wait for another day.

  Chapter Six

  When Jack Berg rang I was in the shower, scrubbing myself vigorously. For me, it had always been the most enjoyable sensation at the start of each day, whatever the weather, allowing jets of warm water to gush all over my body. A pundit in a medical magazine once suggested that the instinct for this pleasure stemmed from the time when man was still only a reptile. I couldn’t vouch for the validity of that gem of information. As far as I was concerned, the shower cubicle commended itself as the only sanctuary in the apartment out of earshot of the telephone when the water was turned on. It offered peace and tranquillity, allowing my trusted servant... the telephone-answering machine... to act capably in my absence. After I had dressed and eaten breakfast, I switched it on, listening to each call until hearing Berg’s voice with its quiet tone.

  ‘Mr. Savage,’ he began. ‘I once told you if you can’t beat them, join them! Well now you can do it! How would you like to become a fully-fledged member of International Three Thousand today? It can be arranged. But if you agree, you’d better let me know quickly.’

  Why was this reticent shrimp-like person, who figuratively speaking lodged quietly under a stone in the dark for most of the time, suddenly burst into my life offering me free leads? It wasn’t true to form and his actions were suspect. Yet, the option excited me and I warmed swiftly to the prospect. I rang him right away. ‘Where and when?’ I asked tersely.

  ‘The Assembly Hall at eight o’clock this evening, but you won’t be admitted without a signed recommendation by a current member of the organisation.’

  I screwed up my face with disappointment, stymied at the first fence. ‘How do I get that? Who could possibly recommend me?’

  ‘Conrad Hayle will recommend you personally.’

  ‘Hayle? The Minister of Justice? Don’t be ridiculous!’

  ‘I’ve got his signature on the document.’

  I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach that the evening was going to herald disaster, ending with me being beaten savagely by some of the bully boys employed to keep everyone under control. ‘Are you sure it’s valid?’ I asked apprehensively, knowing there was no alternative.

  ‘I’ll bring it to you shortly,’ he offered willingly.

  I couldn’t allow him to be so gratuitous without a challenge. ‘Why are you so keen to get me to join?’ I asked point-blank.

  ‘I want to hang on to your coat-tails and get the information I need,’ he replied without hesitation.

  ‘Then why don’t you become a member yourself?’

  ‘Are you kidding?’ he riposted. ‘My picture’s been plastered in newspapers all round the world for years. I can get away with attending a meeting for one evening but no more than that. If you won’t help me, it might take months to get someone on the inside.’

  ‘This wouldn’t be some kind of ruse, would it?’

  He paused for a moment. ‘I don’t really want to talk about it over the telephone. I’ll see you in an hour.’

  He arrived exactly sixty minutes later and I poured him a drink from the lone bottle. He stared at me for a while and then placed his glass on the floor in the absence of the coffee-table which lay shattered on the other side of the room. ‘You don’t believe anything I say, do you?’ he muttered. ‘You think I’m leading you up the garden path.’

  I went to the window and looked outside. ‘Let’s just say I’m familiarising myself with my newspaper assignment.’ I hoped my face didn’t display the feelings of mistrust.

  He removed a buff envelope from his pocket and placed it on the settee. ‘Here’s the recommendation. The only thing I want in return is your promise to keep in touch and tell me what goes on.’

  I turned and looked straight into his eyes. ‘I hope no one realises this is a forgery. The idea of being thrown to the wolves doesn’t move me to ecstasy.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he assured me. ‘You won’t get beaten up. It’s all O.K.’

  We failed to say anything more and he departed swiftly. Perhaps it was a quid pro quo situation from which we would both benefit. I hadn’t asked him why he hadn’t attended Carrie’s funeral. In view of what had happened he was fortunate not to be there. But why didn’t he attend? It was his intention to marry Carrie at one time, yet when she died he stayed away. Jack Berg was turning into an enigma and I didn‘t like it!

  I arrived at the hall before the meeting was about to start. I showed my letter of recommendation to the security officer at the door. He examined the document carefully and retained it. At the entrance to the hall, someone handed me a sheet of paper to complete. It was a declaration of commitment to the cause... although it never mentioned the name of International Three Thousand. I was not alone in this practice for every person attending had been invited to do the same. Once the declaration had been signed, each recruit was allowed to enter the hall and sit down. One could only presume that if someone refused to sign it, the bully-boys would toss them out onto the street. I perched myself insignificantly on one of the drab wooden benches with an element of discomfort. The buzz of chatter gradually increased in the hall. There were about eighty people in attendance. A gathering of so few new followers seemed insignificant in itself but, if the number of recruits from all the cells of the organisation in Britain were added together on this particular evening alone, the cumulative total could amount to thousands. When one multiplied the figure by the number of countries in Europe, the final count would be quite considerable. How often did this practice occur? Once a week... each fortnight... every month? My brain began to calculate with astonishment the acceleration by which an organised revolution could be achieved. It worked by geometric progression... the fever which spreads with a popular cause... to recruit millions of supporters over a short period of time. The same thing happened in Germany in the 1930s, sweeping the country like wildfire in the span of five years to encompass the whole German nation. It could easily happen in Europe with the right promotion and a groundswell of discontent with the current European governments which fought each other in committees and assemblies. I turned to the young lady sitting next to me and smiled before focussing my attention on the platform ahead. It was vital to remember to keep a low profile and remain silent unless it was absolutely necessary to speak. If anyone discovered I was a newspaper reporter infiltrating the organisation, I might be torn to pieces by the angry mob or beaten to death by the bully-boys. It was not a thought which comforted me. I would definitely keep a low profile! Shortly, a man appeared on the stage dressed in the black uniform and jackboots now becoming familiar to me.
The flashes on the collar and armbands displayed designs of parallel zig-zagged lightning, symbolic of those worn by the SS in World War Two. Conrad Hayle and the Glazers joined him wearing only formal clothing. The new-comer carried a truncheon which he tapped firmly on the table with a slow rhythmic beat to attract the attention of the audience. I had the impression he had surveyed the damp walls of the Assembly Hall, which were pitted with mould, with a element of contempt, despising the thought of offering his brilliant oratory in such grim surroundings. It was hardly the place for one of the leaders of a growing movement to present himself but he was willing to believe that patience and fortitude would reward him in time. Fancifully, he saw himself as the tenant of a place like Berchtesgaden, the town in the Bavarian Alps where Hitler, Goering and other Nazi leaders would go on vacation... but that would be many years hence. He glanced at his notes, waving his arm to the back-stage electrician, and the hall lights began to dim slowly. Clearly, he was determined to make a good impression, especially as the priority that evening was to recruit people from all walks of life to proliferate the cause.

  ‘My name is Kirk,’ he began, in a voice which commanded attention. ‘I’m the Commander-in-Chief for the south-east area of the organisation you’ve been invited to join. Now... each of you has signed a declaration of allegiance to our cause, which is one of non-violence, but let me make it quite clear we have no intention of press-ganging anyone into our ranks. Anyone who joins does so of their own volition. We need the support of every individual to achieve our aim. Therefore, if any one of you has doubts or second thoughts, it’s recommended you leave this hall now. You’re perfectly free to do so. However, if you stay and renege on your commitment at a later date, you may live to regret the infidelity. Your declaration is a solemn promise. The doctrines of any new organisation need to be followed strictly. Unity is the key to survival, while faith is the source by which we multiply. There is no successful organisation in the world able to guarantee the welfare of a traitor. So... if anyone wishes to leave, I urge you to do so immediately to avoid unpleasantness at a later date.’

  A long, heavy silence descended on the hall as some of the recruits shuffled their feet and looked gently sideways, forwards and behind them... but nobody moved. After thirty seconds had passed, Kirk nodded with satisfaction and glanced once again at his notes. ‘Good!’ he continued. ‘I’m delighted to see we all pull together in this worthy cause. Let me begin by saying you must not expect rapid results. Our plan is designed to succeed quickly but it won’t happen tomorrow. We have grown on an international scale for some time with a current membership approaching two million people in Europe. You did not mishear me. Two million people! The current recruitment drive will inflate that number substantially over the coming year. We hope to achieve major results within the next ten years so don’t be discouraged if nothing seems to happen for a while. Indeed, we intend to penetrate the abortive and wasteful government systems of Europe by creating a new party and producing candidates to compete for parliamentary seats to prepare the way for the United States of Europe. Each one of you will realise the importance of a world power of such substance. So let’s move on to the strategic plan of our programme. Initially, our objective appears similar to all the governments within the European Community. But they have serious flaws in their plans. For example, no single country wishes to lose control of its sovereignty or its ambitions. Each country nurtures its own interests, to the detriment of the others. It is scarcely the proper way to secure the safety and high standards of living for the people of Europe as a whole. Participants in the European Community make interesting noises with regard to unity and stability, but they are so protective of their own interests their allegiance to Europe is false. Most of them are incapable of running their own countries properly. As such, why should we allow them to meddle in our affairs, creating high taxation, greater unemployment, more hardship, and less freedom to do as we wish? I don’t think so! Our cause will disband all the governments of Europe and erase the borders of every European country. It’s the only means of uniting Europe to create a single powerful entity. Just think of it! No separate countries. They would all lose their identities. We would emulate the United States of America... one government, one nation! Naturally, it will take time to establish a single language but, as generations pass, we shall replace the old with the new to the benefit of all those who live within the United States of Europe!’

  He strutted to the back of the stage and unrolled a large map of Europe hanging from the wall, using his truncheon to guide the eyes of every recruit in the hall. ‘When Europe is unified, countries will relinquish their present names to be known by Sector numbers. For example, Germany will be known as Sector one. Holland, Sector two. France, Sector three, Britain, Sector four. The national language throughout will be English. All European countries are included in the programme with the exception of Russia. The government elected will be totalitarian at the outset. There’s good reason for this. You see, change will be sudden and it will sweep through Europe with monumental force. At first, there will be confusion... even chaos. In order to avoid serious disruption, it will be necessary to establish tight controls and to provide direction to ensure stability and justice. As soon as positive order is maintained, the aim will be to set up a series of temporary ministries... one for each Sector. In due course, these would be disbanded, according to the exigencies of the system. The objective is a bloodless revolution, planned to be swift and effective. The policy will reduce all kinds of wasteful effort to encourage a two-fold effect. Firstly, a stable economy followed by remarkable productivity and growth. It will allow the United States of Europe to compete effectively and successfully against other nations. Secondly, more manpower can be released for useful working purposes and transferred between Sectors swiftly, reducing unemployment. A Minister of Peace will be appointed to ensure safety and security. The European military will consist of a million service personnel with all military equipment required for its needs. The pooling of the military will secure a massive reduction in, what is currently known, as defence expenditure. At the same time, the United States of Europe will become a major world power. The law will not continue under its present structure. In matters of criminal justice, each court will consist of three judges. Juries will be abolished. They are served by people who know little of the law and even less about criminal nature and psychology. In the criminal court, punishment of those guilty of homicide and violence against human-beings, including sexual assault, will be the death penalty. For other offences, those guilty will be sent to prisons to be built near the Arctic Circle. If a person is found guilty of crime on three separate occasions, he or she will be considered anti-social and face the death penalty. Additionally, any person found carrying a deadly weapon will be deemed to be prepared to use it for the purpose of violence. There’s no room for criminals in the new society. In the civil courts, the process will continue as at present. Social welfare will continue to provide services to promote improvement in health and for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness. The cost will be met by the State. Can you imagine the advantages of the concentration of research into the many diseases which ravage mankind? All knowledge would be pooled and large research centres will be built containing the best equipment in the world. Within social welfare is the matter of population control, the mentally sick and handicapped, and the elderly. Under population control, no family will be allowed to have more than two children. After the second child, both parents will submit themselves for sterilisation to avoid breaking the law. It’s necessary for both parents to be involved as divorce may occur at a later date. If a third child is born to a family, the working parents will pay fifty per cent of both his and her earnings as a penalty. If neither parent is working, the third child will be offered for adoption to a family with less than two children. Single parent families will be limited to one child only. With regard to the mentally sick and handicapped, the natural family will be requ
ired to look after them. Alternatively, the State will deal with the afflicted in its own way. Elderly people with terminal illness, permanent illness or severe disabilities will be mercifully treated by euthanasia in specified hospitals. The policy is to create an efficient society, fit and healthy in both mind and body. In the field of education, children will continue at school and college until they reach the age of twenty, becoming more involved in new methods of training which offer practical experience in industry and commerce rather than ploughing blindly through academic subjects. The Minister of Education will be responsible for teaching English in all schools so the use of national languages will become less and less in the effluxion of time. In housing, the State intends to build widely in areas hitherto untouched enabling the needs of many homeless to be met. Private enterprise will exist in its present form except that our organisation will pool technological know-how to ensure that essential economies will come into force at all levels. One measure to achieve this aim will be to merge some of Europe’s largest industrial companies to achieve economies of scale... which also means less waste. I do not intend to go into details on finance and taxation, but I assure you the wages and salaries of employees within the United States of Europe will be sufficient to maintain a higher standard of living from the moment we gain power.’

  ‘But how do you meet the costs of defence, hospitals, housing and the like?’ intervened one inquisitive man some distance to my left.

  Kirk did not hesitate in his reply. ‘By a certain level of taxation and the proper use of minerals and other natural resources. Do you realise how much wealth available from energy products alone. It’s staring you in the face! Large reserves of North Sea oil, tremendous pockets of natural gas, massive stocks of available coal, and various other minerals. The people of Kuwait don’t pay taxes because of the revenue from oil. If we use our resources properly... for the benefit of the people... the United States of Europe will be well on its way to successfully funding itself.’ He continued to outline various aspects of the revolutionary idealism while his captive audience listened with great interest. The elements of the programme were unfolded with a measure of realism. The enthusiasm of the people around me emulated the concept I had written in my editorial. Revolution... it was like a disease... floating in the wind! As for myself, I had to sit patiently through the whole charade. It bored me stiff! On many occasions, I had been present when issues of European disharmony had been debated in the past. I was much in favour of a united Europe, but that view had been taken on the grounds that individual countries would secure closer relationships with their neighbours and seek to liaise and assist each other at all levels. In the case of International Three Thousand, a single authority was being formed to eradicate every government in Europe. Soon afterwards, the peoples of those nations would be forced to accept new measures without having the opportunity or the right to protest. Although I had grave doubts on the efficacy of democratic rule, the new United States of Europe would be totalitarian... the State would reign supreme under a Fascist dictatorship! It was the equivalent of unleashing a whirlwind! In my opinion, ninety-nine per cent of the people never knew what they wanted anyway! There was another issue which triggered warning signals in my mind. Who were these people assuming such high appointments in the new regime? No one had ever seen or heard of them before! They were tin-pot characters electing themselves into positions of power and I, for one, didn’t trust any of them... especially when they were supported by a herd of bully-boys who stood in the background as a direct threat to all of us. If ever in doubt, I could always rely on the memory of the photograph of Albert Henley laying face downwards in the Thames to prove my point. These men were murderers... and possibly fools into the bargain. I sat perfectly still and quiet, closing my ears to the rhetoric until Kirk began to wind up his speech.