15
Village Day
In the
Green Dome Number 2 paced the floor of her office in her black boots, matching
her blue military uniform, allowed as she was not to adopt the more usual style
of Village uniform. Hands clasped behind in the small of her back, growing ever
more impatient at the lateness of the supervisor. Steel doors suddenly opened
and the supervisor-Number 25 hurried through and down the ramp, the steel doors
closing behind him with a resounding clang.
“Ah supervisor I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I got away as soon as I could Number 2,
there was a bit of a flap on at the hospital, Number Six……..”
“Why is it when there is any trouble, or
disturbance in the Village, Number 6 is always at the heart of it?”
“Something should be done about him!” the
supervisor recommended.
“Don’t worry, something will be
done” Number 2 told him “did he find what he was looking for?”
“Of course not.”
“Good
“Perhaps, but Number Six is
persistent, he was asking about a previous Number 6’s description” said the
Supervisor.
“That damned quest of his!, why can’t he
give it up?”
“He’s a loose cannon, he’s already
discovered the black room once, if he should discover……”
“……. It could be the ruination of us all”
she told him “you wouldn’t be trying to tell me what to do, would you?”
“No Number Two, you have the final word, but I
am here to advise.”
“I have to work within certain parameters, not
to interfere too much with Number Six and his quest. Apparently he was brought here for his own protection
against himself” Number 2 explained “and I am to allow him a certain amount of
latitude in allowing him to carry on with the search for his predecessor.”
The supervisor looked at Number 2 and knew
he shouldn’t, but did so anyway “do you think that’s wise?”
“No, but it is what our masters want, and I
am not one to go against them. But don’t worry” said Number 2 taking her seat
behind her desk “our friend Number Six has a very nasty and painful shock
coming to him.”
“Harrowing and traumatic?” suggested the
supervisor “one that might prove to be fatal?”
“Well perhaps that is too much to wish for. But at the very least the shock should be
enough to see him see the truth behind this Village
and
to toe the line in future. It seems that he was not simply brought to the Village
for his own good, but also for the good of others.”
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“He was put here out of the way of them”
suggested the supervisor.
“For protection” said Number 2 “protection
against himself, but then I have to ask myself, who then is to protect him from
us?”
“What do you have in mind?” asked the
supervisor.
“Well that all depends upon Number Six,
wouldn’t you say. And should he find his way back into that black room, well he
can stay there, after all the woods are littered with the doctor’s failed
experiments, one more will not make any difference either way!”
“He’s expendable then?” the supervisor
asked.
“Number Six could have been of great value to
this Village, but his behaviour has proved him to be more trouble than he is
worth, which makes him worthless to us” Number 2 explained.
“And the doctor?”
“She will be pleased for another subject to
experiment upon.”
“The doctor seems a little too unstable if
you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask” snapped Number 2 in
response, then thinking again “but I am aware. You have your costume?”
“Yes Number 2”
“Then I shall be seeing you later on.”
“Yes Number Two” he said walking towards
the ramp.
“Just a minute, those jamming reports”
Number 2 asked “do we get many of these?”
The supervisor stopped and turned “not as
many as we used to, but if one is known to be a Jammer, then we simply ignore
them.”
“So you have never acted upon any of these
jamming reports?”
“One or two, the more probable ones” he
replied and then after thinking for a moment or two said “then there was the
case of the glider!”
“Glider, tell me about that” said Number 2
with keen interest.
“Well it was before your time, Numbers 24,
14, 105 were discovered to be building a glider in the attic of 24 Private.
“Whatever will they try next!” Number 2
said smiling to herself “but please, go on.”
“Of course they had no chance of launching
it, it would have been stupid even to try.”
“Why did my predecessor even allow them to
construct this glider in the first place, I would have put a stop to it the
moment it was discovered by the observers!” was this Number 2’s response.
“Well your predecessor was a very clever
and astute man. Always in control, calm and calculating, and seeing that there
was never any chance of them launching, let alone escaping in the glider he thought
to allow them to continue. Besides it gave them something to do, and kept them
out of trouble.”
“But it was an escape attempt!”
“Oh
it was never that, they were jamming, that’s what jammers do”
the
supervisor explained.
“Yes, but they actually built the glider”
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“What happened to it?”
“We had it dismantled” the supervisor
replied “will that be all?”
Number 2 nodded “Until later.”
“Yes Number Two” said the supervisor
turning and walking up the ramp, the steel doors opening, he turned “a very
clever man, your predecessor.”
“So it would appear” said Number 2 “but he
is yesterday’s man.”
The doors closed behind the departing
supervisor.
The hour was drawing ever closer to noon,
which in turn brought the ceremony for Village Day ever closer. Outside the
citizens were everywhere enjoying themselves, the village fete already open.
Citizens eating candy floss, toffee apples, and Number 23 one of a few happy
citizens winning prizes at the ‘Duck on a Stick’ stall, yellow plastic ducks
floating in shallow water around in a circle, each with a hook in their heads,
the idea being to snag a duck with the hook in the end of a pole, and the
number on the bottom of the duck corresponded with the prize won. And in
testing his strength number 73 rang the bell and won himself a Teddy Bear! The
Brass Band was playing, Top Hat officials made their way to the Gloriette in
time for the ceremony. Numbers 42 and 73, with Teddy Bear in arms, arrived at
the Green Dome, they to provide security for Number 2, and waited on the
balcony. At the bottom of the steps of the Green Dome, a taxi stood waiting.
The driver busy giving the paint work a final rub over in places, just to make
sure it was clean and shiny for its most important passenger to come.
The Village was filled with excitement and gaiety;
everyone was in fancy dress costume, even the Admiral-Number 66, as Admiral Lord
Nelson, who sat with Number 6 down on the lawn of the old people’s home over a
game of chess that neither were playing.
“Not joining in with the Village Day
festivities then lad?”
“Gentlemen” the waiter said clearing the
tea things away “you did hear the announcement?”
Number 6 paid four work units with his
credit card “No, I was at the hospital this morning.”
The waiter clipped the card and handed it
back to his owner, who slipped it into the breast pocket of his piped blazer.
“Really lad, nothing too serious I hope”
said the Admiral.
“Just a quick check up, a general
examination that’s all, to see if there was anything malignant” Number 6
replied.
“I trust nothing was found?” the Admiral
asked.
“Unfortunately the examination was
incomplete, there was a bit of a flap on, and I didn’t like to outstay my
welcome.”
“You’re a fool lad” that’s my opinion,
“there’s no point in fighting battles you can’t win.”
“Tell me Admiral, are there any battles you
did not fight, just because you thought you might not win?” Number 6 asked.
“Listen lad, there’s a lot you don’t know.
You have to learn to play the
game, just as I have done, now it’s your move” said the Admiral.
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Number 6 looked down at the chessboard and
played pawn to king four “what’s it all about?”
“What?” the Admiral asked moving his king’s
pawn forward three squares.
“This Village Day, a lot of stuff and
nonsense about nothing, wouldn’t you say?”
“Don’t know about that lad, but they
do say that the founding of the Village was sometime in 1928. But what is it to
you lad, let them play their game. If you don’t learn to bend a little, you’ll
break!” the Admiral advised.
“It’s their game” Number 6 replied “and I
am only just beginning to
learn
the rules.”
The Admiral drew closer to Number 6 across
the table and warning him said “Aye lad, and theirs for the winning!”
Seeing the Admiral was a long time resident
of the Village, it seemed to Number 6 that he was the man to ask “How is it that
you have managed to survive for so long?”
“One may not be able to win the game lad,
but a minor victory here and there is sometimes as good as a battle won!” the
Admiral replied with a knowing wink.
All interest in the chess match was now
lost, not that it was there ever to begin with, not today, far too many
distractions, like the issue of The Tally Ho lying upon the table. Number 6
cast an eye over the front page ‘Founders Day Statue To Be Unveiled By No. 2’
and there was a photograph of Number 2, all severe looking, with cold unfeeling
eyes, a firm jaw and unsmiling lips.
“That’s dangerous you know” said the
Admiral.
Number 6 looked up from the newspaper “What
is?”
“Thinking, they say it corrupts the mind”
the Admiral told him.
“A
complaint which few around here suffer from.”
“But one which can lead to trouble lad” the
Admiral warned.
“Tell me Admiral, was it celebrated last
year?”
“Why do you ask that lad, is it important?”
“I don’t know, what day is it Admiral?”
“Village Day.”
“No, I didn’t mean that, I meant the date.”
The Admiral looked blankly at the young man
sitting opposite him,
and
Number 6 beckoned to the waiter.
“What date is it today?” he asked the
waiter.
“Village Day sir” replied the waiter.
“You’re as bad as he is, no, the date, what
is the date?”
“Why the nineteenth sir” said the waiter
indicating the date upon The Tally Ho.
“And today is founders day” said Number 6.
“Yes sir, didn’t you know?” the waiter
asked.
“And the Village celebrates its founding
every year?” Number 6
asked.
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“Why yes sir, it’s a tradition of the
Village every year, but this year is extra special” the waiter confirmed.
“Why is that?” Number 6 demanded to know.
“Because of the founder’s statue sir” was
the reply.
“And who is the founder?” Number 6 asked.
“Enjoy your Village Day sir” said the
waiter and hurried away.
The Admiral could see that the game was
well and truly over and began putting the chess pieces back into the wooden box
“They say lad that the statue could turn out to be a likeness of the founder of
the Village, and that could only be…….”
“Number One” said Number 6, finishing the
sentence for the Admiral “who so ever Number One should prove to be!”
There then came the following announcement
over the public address system.
“Citizens wishing taking part in the grand
parade should gather in the square, I repeat all those citizens wishing to take
part in the grand parade should gather in the square. The parade begins in five
minutes, the minutes are five.”
“I should be going really lad, don’t want
to miss the big parade and all that” said the Admiral “are you coming lad?”
“Why not, I’ve no other place to be at this
time!”
When Number 6 and the Admiral stood up from
their table, they realised that they were in fact alone, everyone else making
their way up the hill into the centre of the Village.
Meanwhile, Number 2 and her entourage of
Numbers 42 and 73, minus the Teddy Bear, trooped one after the other down the
steps of
the
Green Dome as the citizens paraded on their way around and
around
the piazza, it was quite a colourful affair to see so many citizens all in a
variety of fancy dress costumes, from the mysterious east to pantomime
characters, from National dress to historic characters, all around the piazza
they paraded.
Number 2 and her entourage climbed aboard
the waiting taxi which drove off slowly along the road and through the cheering,
waving citizens, and even Number 2 began to succumb to the carnival atmosphere,
giving the citizens as she passed by a gentle wave of the arm. And behind them
all, bringing up the rear so to speak, was the butler, still in his usual pair
of black tails, brown cape, black gloves and bowler hat and holding aloft his
black and white striped umbrella!
There was shouting, cheering and gaiety all
around the village, as Admiral Lord Nelson saluted an old enemy, Napoleon!
“You stick out like a sore thumb lad” the
Admiral told Number 6.
“Good, it reminds me that I am still
myself!”
“You do have a fancy dress lad?” the
Admiral asked.
“You mean apart from the school boy one I’m
wearing at the moment, oh yes Admiral, and rest assured I shall put it to an extremely
good use later this evening!” Number 6 assured his old friend “for tonight I am
going to be Scaramouche!” he said with a flamboyant bow.
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The Top Hat officials had taken their
positions upon the balcony of the Gloriette, who stood awaiting Number 2, who
now arrived at the back of the Gloriette dressed immaculately in her blue
military style uniform and black boots, alighting from the taxi, climbed the
three steps onto the balcony of the Gloriette and from the turquoise railings
saluted the citizens as they came to the end of their parade. And now lining up
beneath the balcony, awaited a speech from Number 2 who cut a most impressive
figure and was handed a megaphone by one of the Top Hat officials, and waited,
giving the still cheering citizens time to settle.
“Who do you think she was?” the Admiral
asked Number 6.
“Who?” asked Number 6, who walked around
amongst the citizens, but not actually taking part in the parade.
“Number Two lad, who do you think she was,
in her former life before the Village?” asked the Admiral.
“In that uniform, probably a chief of
security for some south America Republican President” was Number 6’s
conclusion.
As the citizens settled themselves, amongst
them Sir Walter Raleigh was there and Good Queen Bess, as was the Cardinal, a
couple of frogmen, a cowboy, red Indian, Harlequin, a well dressed gentleman in
dog tooth coat and plus fours, pushing his penny farthing and a tall white
robed monk, his face unseen hidden away deep inside the cowl of his robe.
Number 2 looked down upon the citizens of
this community from the balcony of the Gloriette. She felt a sudden sense of
pride, this was her Village, all
former allegiances suddenly forgotten, and these people her citizens, who now all stood waiting for their leader to address
them.
“Fellow citizens, friends. We are all
gathered here upon this most auspicious and very special day, to both celebrate
and honour our fine community.”
At this the citizens gave a rousing
applause, and Number 2 waited for them to quieten once more before continuing.
“Not only are we here to celebrate our way
of life here in the Village, but to pay tribute to someone who made all this
possible, the founder of this Village. A man of vision, with idealistic
principles, a man who has been an example to us all, a man of both steel and
determination and without whom, none of us would be standing here today.”
The citizens cheered and waved showing
their appreciation of their leader, lapping up every word Number 2 uttered.
Number 2 waved to the crowed before turning to leave the Gloriette, followed by
the Top Hat officials and the butler as she made her way to the lawn and the unveiling
area of the statue or bust, there to stand waiting as the citizens gathered
around, all jostling for the best position in which to view the unveiling
ceremony. Number’s 42 and 73 both dressed in black
and sporting dark glasses, were there on hand to see that no one got too close
for Number 2’s comfort, especially Number 6, who was being closely observed.
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“Good people of our community” began Number
2.
Hooray, hooray, hooray, the crowd cheered.
“To commemorate this anniversary of the
founding of our Village, I am both proud and privileged to unveil this special
commemorative bust of the most singular man who made possible our idyllic way
of life with its community you see before you today. If it had not been for him
we would not be standing here together today, he would be proud to see so many
of you gathered to pay him homage. I ask you all now to raise your voice in
appreciation of a truly great man, and remarkable individual.”
There came a sudden drum roll through the
public address system and it was the butler’s honour to pull on the scarlet
cord and unveil the bust mounted upon its ornate stone plinth. The crowed were
stunned into silence as they marvelled in awe at the bust of the founder of
their Village. The head and shoulders of a man perfectly immortalised forever
in stone. A handsome man with thick wavy hair, his face unsmiling and curiously
there was just the hint of a frown, and the eyes staring somehow accusatory,
the sculpture having captured the man’s persona to a tee! To say it came as a
shock would be putting it mildly, Number 6 was dumbfounded as he stared at the
face unveiled, a face that he knew only too well, but not wanting to believe it
could be possible!
“You know lad” said the Admiral “there’s a look
of you about that bust.”
Number 6 said nothing, he was stunned in
disbelief. But once the shock began to subside a little, he found his old self
and stormed forward, ready to confront anyone who stood in his way and that
included 42 and 73 as they stepped forward to block Number 6’s path to Number 2
and the bust of the Village’s founder. However Number 2 motioned her two lap
dogs back into place, allowing Number 6 to storm forward unhindered.
“This,
this farce cannot be right!” shrieked Number 6, pointing to the founders
bust “he is an individual, independent and would never, never have anything to do with a place like this, unless he was a
prisoner. He would never conform to any of the Village’s beliefs, unless it was
through absolute coercion! He” barked
Number 6 pointing at the bust again “would not think himself a member of this
community, let alone be the founder, you’ve got the wrong man!”
Number 2 stepped forward to face the
aggressor “I can see how upset and agitated you are, but how would you know what he is?”
Number 6 stared back at Number 2 in sheer
anger and outrage and from his pocket produced that photograph he has been so
keen to show about the village and now holding in front of Number 2’s face
yelled
for all to hear “because he’s my brother, as well you know!”
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Then there came more murmurings from the
gathered citizens, as they remained as onlookers, seeing the likeness between
Number 6 and the commemorative bust.
“So what have you done with him, is he
still here, somewhere in the Village?” Number 6 asked, ready to vent his anger
upon the first person who now got in his way.
Number 2 took another two steps forward and
stared into the face of Number 6 “Questions are a burden to others…….”
“And answers a prison for oneself!” he
added.
“You may not like the answers” Number 2
warned him.
“Perhaps not, but I think I’ll go on asking
the questions anyway” he said in response “at least that way I shall remain a
burden to you! He’s still here isn’t he, what have you done with him, this
founder of your village who you are so proud of to pay tribute to him this
day?”
Finally Number 2 relented “Yes he is still
here in the Village and always will be….with
us. A long time ago something inside of him died, and after death there is
birth….. he gave birth to the Village, and
everyone
of us within its community. Even as a child there was something in his brain
which was a puzzlement, perhaps the Village was there even then!”
Number 2 face to face with Number 6
“Strange how often we don’t know those closest to us, we think we do, but we
don’t. Sometimes we hardly know ourselves!” there was a deep malevolence in her
voice and a cruel smile lingered upon her lips.
There was no need for violence, even numbers
42 and 73 could see Number 6 was a
broken man, as he fell to his knees in tears upon the ground. He looked up at
the bust of his brother and one word passed his lips……. “Why?”
Number 2 content with the day’s events so
far, lifted the megaphone to the good people of this community “Let the
festivities continue. Feel free and enjoy yourselves its Village Day.”
Suddenly and instantly the seemingly
paralysed crowd became animated once more, cheering and waving in Village Day celebration
as many went off to enjoy the many attractions. As for Number 6, he was still
kneeling on the ground, reading the inscription beneath the bust;
For Him His
Days Are Not Numbered
Number 6
slowly picked himself up off his knees, appearing a broken and disappointed
man, and now he stood alone before the founder’s bust. Number 2, the ceremonial
pageant over, had now returned to her administrative details in the Green Dome,
just as had most of the other citizens gone, and those few who were left, felt
little or nothing for Number 6. But if Number 2 thought Number 6 to be the
broken man she thought him to be, then she was to have yet another thought
about that. For the tears that Number 6 had wept had gone, and
the once anger inside was being replaced with burning revenge, but to enjoy
this Number 6 would have to bide his time until the Masque Ball tonight.
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In the control room the supervisor
instructed the observers to keep a special observant eye open for Number 6,
just in case, because Number 2 feared he might do something stupid after his
terrible ordeal, because of the shock and trauma. Yet suicide was not 6’s way, he was more likely
to cause trouble, and that is what
the observers were watching for.
Number 6 walked slowly through the Village,
he was the subject of much muttering and murmurs.
“That’s the way to do it” shrieked Mr
Punch, dressed in piped blazer and straw boater, as he beat a rather portly
policeman with a goatee beard with his own truncheon, much to the enjoyment of
the citizens.
“Ah, Number 6” said the Victorian showman
“you wanted…….”
But he simply ignored the showman and
walked straight passed him, having seen more than enough for one day! His mind
was in a state of stupefaction, insensitive and lethargic as he walked on,
ignoring anything and everyone about him. He merely returned to his cottage.
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