Chapter 20
Protests
Rupra Bruda was relieved when the meeting with Essyria’s parents was over. He had worried a lot about it, fearing his past would come back to haunt him. Apparently Essyria’s parents hadn’t bothered to check him out, or if they did, they didn’t have a problem with what he’d done.
He was at Essyria’s compartment waiting for her to return from work. Bored, he turned on the VC to catch the evening news. The camera was focused on the mobs of people outside the wall trying to get into the domed city. Presidius Tash, A member of the General Assembly was being interviewed about the refusal of Central Authority to let more people into the city.
“The government has no right to deny citizens of Tarizon from the protection of the dome while Mt. Soni is erupting. Many of these citizens will die if they are not allowed into the city.”
“But, Assemblyman,” the reporter said. “The city can only support so many people.”
He shrugged. “It’s true the citizens of Shisk may be inconvenienced for a while, but they must share the burden of this natural disaster too. If Central Authority won’t open the doors of the city to the refugees, they have a responsibility to find them suitable protection elsewhere.”
“Well, that sounds good, Assemblyman, but you and I both know Central Authority doesn’t have the resources to protect people outside the dome. It’s just not feasible.”
“That’s why they should be let in.”
Rupra listened intently to the debate for a while until he realized he’d just been given one of those political opportunities he’d been talking about. He knew the citizens of Shisk did not want to let the refugee’s into the city because they feared food rationing and overloading the cities’ environmental system. It wasn’t that they wanted to see their fellow citizens die, only that their own self-preservation was more important. He knew if he offered them a reasonable alternative they’d take it. He called Peeta and his other friends and suggested they meet the following day for lunch. To pique their interest he told them he wanted to organize another rhutz hunt.
They all gathered the next day at a small café. After a round of Tekari’s had been brought to them, Bruda began.
“Since we came back to Shisk and ran into the crowds seeking refuge in the city, I’ve been thinking about the situation. Many of our citizens will die on the outside as the air gets more contaminated. Already there are two more volcanoes erupting in Turvin–Mt. Rumbia and Mt. Drala. The situation won’t be getting better anytime soon.”
“So, what can we do about it?” Peeta asked.
“There are thousands of mutants and rhutz in the city. Why should they be allowed to stay? The mutants are already impaired. Why let healthy humans die and allow those already spoiled survive. And the rhutz have no rights under the Supreme Mandate, so why should they be breathing our precious oxygen?”
Everyone just stared at Rupra in silence, so he continued. “I know it sounds a little callous, but think about it. The mutant’s lives have already been ruined. It’s unfortunate that it happened, but you can’t change the past. We must look to the future. Our health systems are already taxed to the hilt by the crisis. Mutant’s require forty percent more of our health resources and they only represent less than five percent of the population under the domed cities. If we expel them from the city and replace them with healthy humans our health costs will decline dramatically and more people can be accommodated.”
“Sounds good to me,” Chalk said.
Peeta shrugged. “Okay. “So what? What does that have to do with us?”
“We should organize protests and put pressure on Central Authority to expel the mutants and let in healthy humans to take their places.”
“What makes you think that would work?”
“Have you been watching the news?” Bruda asked. “People are conflicted over leaving healthy humans outside the domes but they are afraid to let them in because it might jeopardize their health and welfare. If we offer them a viable alternative we’ll be heroes.”
Peeta nodded. “Good plan. You sold me. How do we get started?”
“We should go to the east entrance to the city where the crowds trying to get in are the biggest and start picketing. We can picket, give speeches and have people sign a petition to deliver to the General Assembly. I know just the assemblyman to present it to. I was just watching him on the VC.”
“There aren’t enough of us and I’m not good at giving speeches,” Chalk complained.
“Don’t worry. I’ll give the speeches. The rest of you can picket or sign up new recruits.”
“What about the rhutz. I thought we were going on another rhutz hunt,” Raseen complained.
“We will. Don’t worry,” Bruda said. “Right now rallying support for our cause is more important.”
“So are we going to the east gate now?” Bligh asked.
“No,” Bruda replied. “Tomorrow morning.” Bruda pulled out two big stacks of handbills and dropped them on the table. “We need to post these on every public bulletin board and hand out as many as possible. Everyone grabbed a handbill and read it.”
MOVE OUT THE MUTANTS
CPC RALLY
SHISK’S EAST GATE
TOMORROW 800 KYLOONS
IT’S TIME TO PUT THE MUTANTS IN THEIR PLACE, MOVE THEM OUT OF SHISK AND LET NORMAL HUMANS TAKE THEIR PLACE. COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND SIGN A PETITION TO FORCE THE WORLD ASSEMBLY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. MUTANTS ARE A MISTAKE AND NOT
Shroud of Doom Page 21