Chapter 6
The Regatta
Some
days it was……….
“What’s the matter with him?” No.2
asked, looking at the patient lying on the bed “he appears to be in some
discomfort.”
“He’s in a state of fugue, he’s had a
change of consciousness” the doctor began to explain “he is suffering from
amnesia, induced of course using drugs and hypnotism.”
“Why would you do that?
“It’s an on-going operation” the
doctor explained “we have removed all unpleasant memories of the Village, and
soon we’ll be able to be put him back into circulation.”
“He
will be able to leave the Village?” No.2 asked.
“Of course, in order for him to
accumulate information and bring it back to the Village for extraction” the
doctor said.
Other days it was…………. “Good morning, good morning and what a
lovely day it is. The spell of fine weather is due to last at least another
month” the cheery female voice announced “Before the programme of early morning
music I have an announcement to make. Your local council, and remember it is
your local council is to organize a Village regatta, if you wish to take part
you must register your boat within the next two weeks. The regatta is to take
place just five weeks from now.”
In the office of the Green Dome both No.2
and No.21 listened to the announcement made over Village radio.
“It might be a good idea for you to
show your face at the Village regatta.” 21 suggested.
No.2 looked at his assistant “Why should I
want to do a thing like that?”
“Well you are hardly a man of the people”
No.21 began “what I mean is you haven’t shown yourself in public since your
appointment.”
“Why was I not informed about this regatta, am I not the Chief
administrator?”
“It was a committee decision I
believe.”
“Why was I not invited to sit on such a
committee?” No.2 said sternly.
“You are a busy man Number Two, you
cannot be expected to oversee everything, that’s why I’m here to assist you
sir” No.21 said smiling.
“And you think I should attend this Village
regatta?”
“I think it would be good to show the
citizens that you are a man of the
people, if you wish to make the Village a better place.”
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“I expect security measures will be
stepped up, during the regatta?”
“Not really sir” No.21 replied “I
don’t think such steps will be necessary.”
No.2 was surprised about that “You
don’t?”
“No sir.”
A smile crossed No.2’s lips as an idea came
to him “It can’t do any harm my showing my face, I might even enter the regatta
myself.”
“I didn’t know you had a boat sir?”
“I don’t, but I expect a resourceful
chap like you could get me one!” 2 suggested
“Nothing easier sir” No.2 replied “if
you’re sure.”
“Do I detect a tone of surprise in
your voice Twenty-one?”
“Oh no sir, it’s just that I had no
idea you were interested in sailing pond yachts!”
“Pond yachts!” No.2 said, unable to
disguise the sound of disappointment in his voice.
“Yes sir, they’ll be sailed on the
free sea in the Piazza” who couldn’t help but detect that disappointment in his
superior’s voice.
When No.36 heard this morning’s
announcement about the forthcoming regatta he was sat at a table on the patio
of the café enjoying morning coffee. The announcement puzzled him, and turned
to two chaps sat at another table, who had ‘Village Yachting Club’ on their light
blue jerseys.
“You look like two likely chaps to tell me about
this regatta” No.36 said.
No.213 and No.267 looked at each other
“What do you want to know?”
“You’re allowed boats?”
“Why yes” 213 said.
“Otherwise it wouldn’t be much of a regatta
would it!” 267 said.
“And you’re members of the Village yachting
club?”
“He’s sharp” 213 said.
“You're thinking of joining the club?” 267
asked.
“I might, if there’s a yacht I can borrow” No.36
said eagerly.
“Haven’t you a yacht of your own?”
“No, I didn’t know we were allowed them. That’s
why I want to borrow one.”
“Well I don’t know” 213 said rubbing his
chin “the committee likes members to own their own yachts.”
“That’s right” 267 said “particular about
that the committee is, beside members don’t like to lend their yachts to people,
not even to a fellow member of the club.”
No.36 stood up and joined the two men at
their table and drew near to them, so as not to be overheard.
“Tell me, if you all have yachts, why don’t any of you try and escape? If I had a boat I wouldn’t hang about for longer than it took me to set sail!”
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Number’s 267 and 213 looked puzzled at each
other.
“If I had a yacht” No.36 told them “I could
take part in the regatta, and when it was in full swing I could slip quietly
away and make for the open sea.”
No.267 and 213 shook their heads.
“Well at least take me to your boathouse”
No.36 pleaded.
The penny dropped and No.267 and 213 realized
36’s mistake!
“Well I suppose we could take you to the
yachting club” 213 finally said.
“Yachting club, well that’s more like it”
said No.36 eagerly “say when shall it be?”
It was then that they were joined by two
more men sporting Village Yachting Club jerseys, they each carried something
which made No.36’s heart sink.
“Wh…..what are those?” No.36 asked in
sudden realization of his mistake.
“Pond yachts” No.59 said enthusiastically
“Mine is called Northern Star” No.104 said.
“And mine’s Southern Star” 59 said “Mine
has the blue and white paint, and Northern Star has the green and white paint.”
“You mean……you mean your yachting club
sails pond yachts?”
“That’s right” 267 said “we’ll be sailing
our pond yachts in the
No.36 made his excuses and left the group with No.267 shouting after him about going to the yachting club.
In the control room the supervisor-No.56, a
bald-headed man wearing a dark green polo neck jersey and single breasted dark
blue blazer stood with his assistant No.42 looking at No.36 pictured on the
wall screen.
“He looks disappointed” said the
supervisor.
“He has every right to be” 42 agreed.
“As if we would permit the ownership of any
kind of boat to ordinary citizens” said the supervisor.
“Indeed to any citizen” No.42 said still
watching the wall screen as No.9 made his way towards the Piazza.
It was the blue and white striped awning of
a kiosk that caught his attention, where a variety of pond yachts were for
sale. No.9 paused and looked at the tidy vessels. Then No.66 the ex-Admiral
caught his eye, he was sat on a bench with a fellow boating enthusiast, both
wore white Naval caps.
“Hello Admiral” No.36 said approaching the
bench “not sailing today?”
The ex-Admiral looked up, he held a small control box in his hands, a small aerial protruded from the box.
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“Well yes and no” he said “allow me to
introduce you to my first officer Number One.”
The first officer also held a control box
and was concentrating very hard as he pressed a number of buttons. No.36 stood
looking at the two men, then turned and looked towards the
“You, you pair did this” the owner of the
stricken yacht shouted “you sank my yacht!”
No.36 stood watching as the ex-Admiral and
his first officer retrieved the two submarines from the Free Sea and made off
with them in somewhat of a hurry, with the owner of the yacht shouting and
shaking his fist.
“So that’s where they sail their pond
yachts” No.2 said looking at the wall screen.
“That’ right sir, curious though that they
should sink Eighty-one’s yacht like that” the supervisor said.
“Curious indeed” said No.21 “that they
should actually have working models of two submarines in the first place. I
wonder how they came by them?”
No.2 picked up the yellow ‘L’ shaped
telephone “Control room.”
The yellow ‘L’ shaped telephone in
the control room began to bleep.
“Supervisor……”
“I want you to put a watch on the
ex-Admiral and his first officer.”
“Yes Number 2.”
“I want to know where they go, and
who they meet.”
“Yes Number 2.”
No.2 replaced the telephone on his
desk, No.21 smiled quietly to himself.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“You’re smiling, that generally means
something.”
“I was just admiring how easily you
have come to fit into your new role that’s all sir.”
“Really?”
“Yes sir, you’ve reached the point
where you make instant decisions like that last one, and without even thinking
about it!”
Every day the wind was blowing, or there
was a slight breeze, there would be members of the Village Yachting Club sailing
their pond yachts in the Free Sea. No.9 had to admit it looked quite
impressive. No.81 had purchased a new pond yacht called Northern Star, a white
hulled yacht with green trim, from the kiosk. This was to replace the one
that was sunk by the rogue submarine. He immediately carried the yacht over to
the
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“That’s enough Admiral” No.199, secretary
of the yachting club, said “this is a yachting club, that hardly constitutes a
yacht.”
“Tell me why a pocket battleship cannot
take part in the regatta?”
“It’s motorised and operated by remote
control, just like that blasted submarine of yours which sank my yacht. How did
you do that by the way?” 81 said lifting the Northern Star out of the water.
There was a bit of an argument before the
ex-Admiral and his first officer withdrew, carrying the battleship.
“Where do you think the ex-Admiral is
getting these superb models, they are complete in every detail” No. 2 asked
watching the wall screen.
No.21 stood in No.2’s office also watching
the screen “I could find out for you sir, I’ll make the Admiral talk!”
“No! We don’t want any strong arm stuff.
The supervisor is watching the old sea dog, he’ll give himself away sooner or
later.”
“Are you going to attend the regatta sir?”
“Of course, in order to show my face at the very least.”
The day of the regatta arrived, and there
was an air of excitement as spectators started to gather in the Piazza. The brass band played “Sailing By” as the entrants
in the regatta began to assemble by the
“This should make for a pleasant change
Twenty-one” No.2 said as they walked across the lawn “a quiet afternoon off
duty away from the office.”
“We are never off duty sir” No.21
reminded his superior.
“We can pretend to be off duty, and
who knows I may even buy you an ice cream!”
“Of course you realize you will have
trophies to present to the winner of each class” 21 said as they mounted the
steps leading up onto the Piazza.
No.2 didn’t, but he wasn’t going to
let that spoil his afternoon!
It was a very pleasant day, blue sky, sunshine; a grand day for the regatta, there was a gentle breeze creating perfect sailing conditions.
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No.2
was determined to enjoy himself being out of the out of the office for a couple
of hours or so, even to the point of admiring the pond yachts, and as he and No.21
mingled amongst the gathered spectators. To his surprise No.2 was greeted
warmly by most citizens, but some were a little wary of the Chairman of the
Village, perhaps they recalled who No.2 once was, a prisoner much like
themselves. But now being elevated to such a lofty position they were unsure of
the inmate who had been placed in charge of the asylum!
No.2
treated himself and No.21 to an ice cream, raspberry being the flavour of the
day.
“Do you think you should say a few words
sir? 21 suggested enjoying his ice cream cone.
“Whatever for?”
“I thought to open the proceedings,
to make it official so to speak.
“The regatta seems to have been well
organized…do you know I never realized there was a yachting club in the Village”
2 said looking at a number of light blue jerseys worn by the yachtsmen.
“I believe permission for the club to
be formed was given some months ago” 21 said.
“The event seems to be well organized,
people are enjoying themselves, why spoil a good thing?” No.2 said looking
about him.
“As you say sir.”
No.36 was also at the regatta; he had bought himself an ice cream and
was sat on a bench watching the proceedings. The competitors were making their
preparations to their pond yachts, setting sails, adjusting the jib and rigging.
The course was an easy one, yachts were set on a course from the far end of the
The first race was about to get underway, much
to the delight of the spectators. No.80 set the rigging of Northern Star and
No.59 did likewise with Southern Star, and with both yachts in the water the
race was under way. Both yachts looked good as they were carried along by a
gentle breeze. Northern Star headed towards the edge of the
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In the next race Endeavour II beat the Amis
Reunis. The races continued and the spectators watched with enjoyment the Pride
of the Pond beat Endeavour I and Endeavour II in both her races. Southern Star
went on to race Endeavour II however both yachts failed to finish. There was a
collision; Endeavour II’s bow sprite became entangled in Southern Star’s
rigging. Try as much as they may the two pole men could not separate the two
yachts, and in the end had to wade into the
“Good afternoon citizens” the cheery female
voice said over the public address system “what an exciting regatta we have all
enjoyed. However the thrills are not over yet. To close the regatta there is to
be a sea battle re-enactment between a pocket battleship and two D class
destroyers.”
The spectators watched eagerly as the
ex-Admiral put the pocket battleship into the water at one end of the
Returning to his office No.2 telephoned the
department of visual records requesting to review the film of the regatta. He
ran the film on to the start of the sea battle and watched the battle play out
on the wall screen. Picking up the telephone he called the supervisor in the
control room.
“What did you make of the regatta?” No.2
asked.
“I think it went rather well” the supervisor
said “everyone appeared to enjoy themselves.”
“And what did you make of the spectacular
finale?”
“You mean the sea battle.”
“Yes.”
“It was rather spectacular” the supervisor
agreed.
“Did you have the ex-Admiral and his first
officer followed?”
“They went into the woods” the supervisor
confirmed.
“Why should they do that?”
“They must have gone to see the
Professor in the laboratory.”
“The laboratory in the woods?”
“Yes.”
“And the professor?”
“He’s been living in the laboratory for
some time now, he’s generally left him to his own resources.”
The pair of steel doors opened and
No.21 entered the office.”
“The Professor” No.2 said.
“What about him?” 21 asked,
approaching the desk.
“You know about him?”
“Yes. He’s generally left to his own
devices because he has been of use to us from time to time.”
“What business might the ex-Admiral and his
first officer have with the Professor?”
“I really don’t know sir, none I
should have thought.
“Very well supervisor, keep a sharp look
out” 2 said and replaced the telephone back on his desk, he turned his
attention back to his assistant.
“What about those ships, I mean they look
miniatures of the real thing. The destroyers were even armed with torpedoes.
Would the ex…I mean Number Sixty-six and Number Fifty-nine have the capability
to construct such craft?”
“I shouldn’t have thought so” 21
began “sailing plastic boats is about
their mark, constructing the pocket battleship and two destroyers are well
beyond their capabilities I would have thought. And besides where would they
get the materials to construct such crafts?”
“Yes, that’s what worries me.”
No.2 leaned forward and pressing a number
of buttons on the control panel of his desk changed the picture on the wall
screen, then panning surveillance cameras he was able to pick up the intended
targets. The ex-Admiral and the first officer were carrying the three model ships
between them along a path in the woods. This had been picked up on the wall
screen in the control room.
At a fork in the path the Ex-Admiral and his first officer went to the right. A little further on there was a rock formation, the path lead up an incline to a steel door set in recess in the rock face. The steel door slid open and the two men went inside, the door closed behind them.
No.2 produced a file from a shelf of his
desk and began to thumb through it “The Professor has been ordering a good deal
of materials over the past few months, metals, wiring, electric motors.”
“Apparently he’s very mechanically minded. He
helped with the reduction in size of the Village’s electronic system,
apparently we have him to thank for the Beam” No.2 observed from the file.
“May I suggest the ex-Admiral and his first
officer have gone there in order to have the three crafts repaired by the
Professor?”
“You may 21, you may indeed. Helping someone out with their hobby is one thing, but I want to know what the Professor has been working on all this time in that laboratory of his.”
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