“We will address the problem,” the policeman said. “Until then, you will have to wait.”
Joel smiled as Konrad nodded in agreement. Unless he was very wrong, the Outsiders would come back with an agreement to skip the vaccinations, if the Forsakers agreed to have their blood tested. And that was a concession, no matter how they chose to dress it up. They’d negotiated with the Forsakers, rather than forcing them to take the vaccinations.
And they have tacitly conceded some control, he thought. He smiled as the two Outsiders retreated. A hole in their defences we can exploit.
He allowed his smile to widen, even though his father was looking irked. The Elders would not be pleased. But it didn't matter. He turned back to the crowd, his eyes picking out John standing protectively in front of Hannah. It was nice to see the weakling protecting his sister, even though Joel doubted he would stay there for long. But at least Hannah’s dignity would be preserved.
She must remain above suspicion, he thought, although he knew it was probably already too late. If Hannah hadn't had an Elder for a stepfather, she would have been shunned completely by now. And when I marry her, she’ll learn to behave herself.
***
Her entire body was shaking.
Judith had undressed as soon as she’d reached the changing room, dumping her wet clothes in her bag and taking a warm shower before dressing in her spare outfit. She felt warm again, after feeling so cold her bones were shivering. And yet, she couldn't keep herself from shaking. She’d had accidents in the past, near-disasters that could have crippled or killed her if she’d been a little less quick, but this was different. The mob would have torn her limb from limb if the crowd had caught her.
She tried to calm herself, but the shaking refused to fade. She'd never been so scared in her life, not even when she’d accidentally driven her father’s tractor into the ditch. The impact had been jarring, but she’d managed to climb out and summon help. She'd certainly never felt her father was going to kill her. But the crowd ... who would have thought, really, that the mere suggestion they needed to be vaccinated would set them off so badly? Their rage had grown so rapidly that she’d been in trouble before she realised it was already too late.
Damn them, she thought. Why don't they listen?
She wrapped her arms around her legs, trying to control the shaking. Part of her was tempted to just walk out of the spaceport and head home. She would be fined, of course, for deserting her post, but she thought she could afford it. And even if she couldn't ... being a debtor, working to pay off the fine, would still be better than putting her life on the line for ungrateful bastards.
And yet ...
She remembered Elsa and shivered, again. The girl - and the other girls - were trapped, dominated by their parents in a manner Judith found hard to accept. Her father had been strict, when he’d been teaching her how to farm, but he’d never attempted to dominate her life. He’d pointed out all the problems with going to university, when Judith had announced that she intended to apply, yet he’d never tried to stop her. And if he had ... well, Judith had been eighteen, a legal adult. She could have moved out if he’d tried to control her life.
But Elsa had been different.
Judith sighed, slowly releasing her legs and standing up. She was scared. She was honest enough with herself to admit she was scared. And yet, the refugees did need help.
But if they threaten us, she thought, why should we help them?
It was an odd thought. Her father had taken in guests before - children from other farms, students trying out the farming life - but they’d all been expected to work. Judith still smiled at the memory of how some of them had been unable to cope with rising before cockcrow, their bodies aching after a few hours of easy labour in the fields. But none of them had acted as though the farmers owed them anything.
There was a rap on the door. “Judith! Are you decent?”
“More or less,” Judith said. The door opened, revealing Henry. “What’s up?”
“The Director wants to see us in the conference room,” Henry said. He’d made a cheerful pass at her last night, only to be turned down. “As in, right now.”
“Oh,” Judith said.
She put her bag in the locker, then followed him through the maze of corridors and into the conference room. It hadn't been designed as a meeting room, she was sure - the tables and chairs looked as though they had been kept in storage for years before being brought out and dumped in the room - but it would have to suffice. There was something oddly unfinished about the spaceport, even though it was over three hundred years old. But then, Arthur’s Seat had never really invested in space travel.
Director Melbourne was standing at the front of the room, looking grim. She’d changed her jacket, Judith noted as the remainder of the room started to fill up, but her outfit still looked ruffled. None of the others looked much better, particularly the city-folk. They all looked as though they’d been in the wars. Judith couldn't help noticing that several faces were missing.
Were they hurt, she asked herself, or did they simply go home?
“Please, sit down,” Director Melbourne said. “Take a cup of tea or coffee if you want it.”
Judith winced, inwardly, as she poured herself a cup of coffee. She hadn't met Director Melbourne before the refugees had arrived, but she’d seen nothing to suggest the director was a particularly nice person. Judith rather suspected that Director Melbourne, like Judith herself, had added her name to the emergency roster in a fit of absentmindedness, never really believing that she’d have to do the job. She did have some role in government, but Judith had no idea what it actually was.
Bureaucrat, probably, she thought, darkly. Her father hated bureaucrats so much that he would have disowned her if she’d even considered joining the civil service. And to think that the civil service on Arthur’s Seat was almost reasonable. The horror stories from other worlds about bureaucracy were truly terrifying. She’s certainly got the right attitude.
She sat back down and sipped her coffee, waiting.
“I did not anticipate,” Director Melbourne said, “that the refugees would react so badly to a suggestion they needed vaccinations. The decision of how to handle the issue has been forwarded to the Cabinet, who will make the final call.”
“They won’t be the ones issuing the vaccinations,” someone said, from the back.
“No, they won't,” Director Melbourne said. She paused. “And while I understand that most of you have been shocked, I have to remind you of your duty. Emergency powers are currently in effect. If any of you decide to desert your post, you can and you will be jailed.”
There was an immediate roar of outrage. “I didn't sign up to be attacked,” someone shouted, loudly. “None of us did!”
Judith nodded in agreement. They hadn't signed up for a posse, after all. They certainly hadn’t expected to be threatened, let alone have to fight for their lives. God alone knew what would have happened, if the police hadn't taken quick action. And yet, the water hadn't done more than shock the refugees. Next time, it might take more to stop them from rioting in the spaceport.
“This isn't easy for any of us,” Director Melbourne said, holding her hands in the air in the hopes of calming them down. “But we have a duty ...”
“They’re not being reasonable,” someone else snapped. “They’re the ones at fault!”
“That is not up for debate,” Director Melbourne snapped back. “You have your duties. And you will carry them out!”
Judith gritted her teeth. If they all went on strike, if they all dared Director Melbourne to put them in jail ... she had no idea what would happen. Technically, a jury would have to stand in judgement, but under emergency powers ... they could be held indefinitely without trial, even though it would embarrass the government. She was tempted to dare Director Melbourne to arrest her anyway, yet ... it would cast a baleful shadow over her life, even if she was released shortly afterwards.
Sharon s
tood up. “What sort of protection are you offering?”
Director Melbourne stared back at her. “What do you mean?”
“Those ... creeps ... were staring at my breasts,” Sharon said. Her tunic jacket had been at least two sizes too small, making her breasts disturbingly prominent. Judith couldn't help noticing that Sharon had changed into a loose-fitting jacket. “What are they going to do next?”
“The police will be stationing additional guards in the registry room,” Director Melbourne said, grimly. “And they will only be let through one at a time.”
Which isn't going to make them feel any better about us, Judith thought. We’ll be treating them like prisoners.
And how, her own thoughts answered, are they treating us?
“I don’t feel safe,” Sharon said. There was another murmur of agreement. “What if they do try something?”
“Then maybe you shouldn't have worn such provocative clothing,” Director Melbourne snapped, loudly. “These people have been through hell. They’re not going to relax in a hurry, are they? Give them some space!”
Judith felt a hot flash of anger. Her father had always taught her that she was responsible for what she did, regardless of the provocation. He’d certainly told her off for punching Jimmy Fisher in the face after he’d insisted a boy could do more work on the farm than a girl, although she had a feeling he wasn't as angry as he’d pretended. Sharon couldn’t be blamed if someone tried to molest or rape her, no matter what she was wearing. How could she be?
But they may feel differently, she thought, remembering Elsa’s baggy clothes. They dress their women to hide their sexuality.
She shuddered at the thought.
“You will report back to your desks in an hour, once I hear from the cabinet,” Director Melbourne insisted. Her voice was so loud that Judith was sure she was using a megaphone to drown out everyone else. “And if you refuse to report for duty, you will be jailed. Do you understand me?”
Judith fought to keep her anger under control as Director Melbourne turned and swept out the room. She was a volunteer, damn it! She’d put her name forward because ... because part of her had believed she’d never be called upon. But she’d come to help ... she hadn't signed up to be threatened, or molested, or abused. And now Director Melbourne was snapping at her workers, instead of the refugees. She was just as shaken as Judith herself.
She glanced at Sharon. Judith had been honestly surprised when she’d seen Sharon at the first meeting. She’d met the older girl a couple of times, at university, but Judith had never thought much of her. Sharon had basked in male attention, rather than concentrating on her studies. She’d never struck Judith as the kind of person who’d risk her life for others. She too might have assumed that they would never have to actually do the job they’d signed up to do.
Careless of us, she thought, grimly.
She considered, briefly, just walking out of the gates and going home. Her ID card would get her past the police checkpoint, she was sure. Gayle would be pleased to see her, if no one else. But afterwards ... she’d be jailed, if Director Melbourne had her way. And even if she didn't, Judith would definitely be expelled from university. Her father wouldn’t be impressed either. One should not make commitments, she heard his deep voice rumbling, without intending to keep them. He’d never trust her again.
I never signed up to be threatened, she thought. Her people were sensible. Any genuine evacuation would be easy. Hundreds of people would volunteer to help. Hell, they’d recognise the limits, instead of making impossible demands. None of us signed up for it.
She sighed. They were trapped. And there was nothing she could do to escape it.
Chapter Ten
These problems only grew worse as more and more groups settled planets, which were then eyed by more powerful and covetous powers. There was no single power capable of controlling the conflicts, so the question of who owned the newly-discovered systems tended to be settled by ‘might makes right.’
- Professor Leo Caesius. Ethnic Streaming and the End of Empire.
“Two hours,” Steven Troutman said, as soon as the doors were sealed. “Two hours after landing and all hell breaks loose.”
William resisted, barely, the urge to tell him to shut up. He’d been seriously tempted to refrain from sending Troutman an invitation to the meeting, even though it would have been technically unconstitutional. The Leader of the Opposition had to be kept informed, just in case he had to assume the premiership in a hurry. But now ... if word hadn't already started to leak out, William would have been seriously concerned about Troutman organising a leak himself.
“Two hours,” Troutman repeated.
“There was a minor cultural issue,” Sondra said. She ran her hand through her red curls. “It can and it will be handled.”
“A minor cultural issue,” Troutman sneered. “They’re refusing to allow themselves to be vaccinated. Or have I misheard?”
William wondered, sourly, just who’d spilled the beans. He couldn't see die-hard Freeholders joining the spaceport staff, although he had to admit it was possible. A near-riot at the spaceport might just have twisted a few attitudes. And there probably were Freeholders amidst the emergency workers. Someone with a portable terminal could have gotten the word to Troutman - and the media - before it had reached William himself.
“Forsakers do not believe in vaccinations,” Sondra said.
“Your ancestors came to believe in vaccinations,” Troutman pointed out. “That is why we have the pleasure of your company.”
Sondra flushed. “These Forsakers did not have their experiences.”
“No,” Troutman agreed. “I ...”
William slapped the table, half-hoping that Troutman would take offense and storm out again. He couldn't complain if he left the room of his own free will. And his supporters would be annoyed if Troutman didn't take part in the proceedings. But instead, the Leader of the Opposition fell silent. William hid his annoyance as he turned to Sondra. The Vice Premier looked irked.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts, then spoke. “What - precisely - happened?”
“The emergency workers set out to register the refugees,” Sondra said. “This rapidly proved to be a difficult task. Tarsus was apparently not in the habit of issuing ID of any sort to Forsakers ...”
“A likely story,” Troutman injected.
“But true, it would seem,” Sondra said. “I reviewed the files the Imperial Navy sent us. It seems that Tarsus was reluctant to do anything that could be construed as them taking responsibility for the Forsakers. They came up with a whole string of excuses for denying the Forsakers any form of ID, without quite crossing the line. No one on Earth seemed particularly inclined to force them to actually issue ID.”
Troutman shook his head. “But they were at school, weren't they? And collecting benefits?”
“You don't need Imperial-grade ID for school,” Sondra said. She shrugged. “Whatever the reasoning, the blunt truth is that most of the refugees don’t have any ID.”
She sighed. “But that wasn't the worst of it,” she admitted. “It was the blood tests and vaccinations they objected to, rather strongly. Matters could have gotten out of hand if the police hadn't acted quickly.”
“I should add a point here,” Chief Constable Jacob Montgomery said. “There were no more than fifteen constables in the room, ninety covering the whole spaceport. None of them were trained or armed to cope with a violent protest. If my officers hadn't reacted with speed, there would have been a slaughter.”
“They’d have to be mad to kill policemen,” William said.
“Or desperate,” Sondra said.
Troutman cleared his throat, loudly. “They want to live on our world,” he said, sharply. “If they want to live on our world, they can live by our rules. And our rules say, very clearly, that anyone who passes through immigration has to be identified, tested and given a broad-spectrum vaccination. If these ... refugees are unwilling to agree t
o our rules, then I fail to see why we have any obligation towards them at all.”
“Common humanity,” Sondra said, stiffly.
“Common humanity doesn't put money in the bank,” Troutman countered. He held up a hand before she could say a word. “Our first priority is to take care of our citizens. The refugees come second. And if they’re willing to balk at something as basic as a vaccination, who knows what they’ll balk at next?”
“Vaccinations are against their principles,” Sondra reminded him.
“And allowing people to enter without vaccinations is against ours,” Troutman said. “Why should we be the ones to compromise our principles?”
He met William’s eyes. “These people have had next to no proper health care,” he said, sharply. “We don't know what they’re carrying, because they won’t even let us do a blood test. Just letting them out of the spaceport could cause a disaster.”
Culture Shock Page 10