Playing Second Fiddle

     If No.2 is second only to One in power, it doesn't mean that occasionally they are not in need of assistance. And indeed assistants come in many guises it has to be said. Some we only glimpse, as during The Chimes of Big Ben, No.2's assistant we only see a couple of times. Where as with No.14, No.2's assistant during Hammer Into Anvil, well the word 'thug' easily springs to mind. He is a man who wishes to give good, loyal, and obedient service. Always on call, and ready at a moments notice, even though he had been lounging in the armchair in the anteroom when suddenly the double doors opened. He soon jumped up, standing there and giving the impression as though he hadn't sat down for a single moment. Well he wasn't fooling anybody!

  This assistant wants to be of help, he wants to be trusted, involved with bringing No.6 to heel, in fact he'd like to give No.6 a good 'dusting down,' he'd really enjoy that. He’s ambitious, probably sees himself as a future No.2.

  He is fiercely loyal of that there can be no question. He's ambitious for progress, possibly to the position of No.2. He appears to be intelligent, certainly he can see that No.6 is "putting the poison in" and tries to make his superior see this, then he relies upon his more physical attributes to bring No.6 into line. But in that he fails, as he fails to stop No.6 from putting in the poison about him. Which is enough for No.2 to turn on his assistant, to call him a traitor, when he thought that he was someone he could trust. Trouble is, he always could trust No.14.

   Indeed had No.2 listened to his assistant No.14, the outcome of Hammer Into Anvil might have been a very different 'kettle of fish' to coin a phrase. Certainly he would have saved No.2 from having to report himself, having become a breakdown in control!

   I am sure that No.6 sees No. 14 as the only man who could stop his plan to bring No.2 down. However both mentally and physically, No.6 leaves No.14 wanting. Beating him at 'Kosho', being more quick witted as he tricks him with the private conversation at the cafe. In that No.2 thinks he has lost the loyalty one man who he could trust. And again physically in his cottage as No.14, reverting back to his brutish instincts, comes calling in an endeavour to sort No.6 out once and for all. Because it was not only No.2 who No.6 destroyed, but also No.14 who he has finished into the bargain! However No.14 did not learn his lesson of 'Kosho', and is ingeniously ejected through the French door, out over the balcony, taking the railings with him!

BCNU