The
right of David Stimpson to be identified
as
the author of this work has been asserted by
him
in accordance with copyright, Design and
patent act 1988.
All
rights are reserved. No part of this publication
may
be produced in any form or by means – graphic,
electronic,
or mechanical including photocopying, without
the
prior permission, in writing, of the publisher.
The
Prisoner – A New No.2’ is published under the banner of “Fan Fiction” which
means the promotion of ‘the Prisoner’ from which no money will be earned.
Chapter 1
Once Upon A
Time
Through
the open steels doors the butler pushes a breakfast trolley, then sets the
breakfast things out on the table. The black spherical chair rises up through
the floor with the white amorphous Guardian in it. The portly figure of No.2,
standing on a round disc, rises up through the floor. The
“Wait, remove it!” No.2 orders.
The butler begins to place the
breakfast things back on the trolley.
On the telephone No.2 tells No.1 “And
you can remove that thing too, I’m not an inmate.”
“The coffee leave it!” No.2 bellows
at the butler “how many times do I have to ask?”
The chair and the Guardian descend through
the floor.
No.6 is a likely lad, but why does he
care. Picking up the yellow ‘L’ shaped telephone No.2 asks the operator to put
him through to No.6.
“Why do you care?”
“I know your voice.”
“I’ve been here before, why do you
care?”
“You’ll never know!”
Having gone through No.6’s file, and a review of No.6’s activities in the Village since his arrival No.2 picks up the red ‘L’ shaped telephone “Degree absolute, I require approval, I am a good man, I was a good man. But if you want him he will be better, and there’s no other way, I repeat no other way.”
Check profundity
“1….2….3…4….5…6 first waveband clear”
the supervisor announced.
“Repeat and increase” No,.2 orders.
“1…2…3…4….5….6 still clear.”
“Third waveband slow and hold on 5.”
“1…..2…..3…..4…..5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5.”
“Safe enough.”
“It’s a risk, I’d hate to see you go”
the supervisor tells him.
“Its all yours, for one week, get
moving, Degree Absolute, operate!”
No.2 passes out through the opening
steel doors
No.2 and No.6 enter the Embryo Room, in which life can be lived from the cradle to the grave. The diminutive butler is there in a baby’s play pen playing with a rattle. It seems No.2 has brought it on himself, who knows. He flicks a switch closing the door. He sets the time of the countdown clock, pulls on a cord and closes the curtains over the clock.
1
“Come ahead son, let’s see what you’re made
of, find out what’s in that noddle of yours.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the
men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances, and one
man in his time plays many parts.”
“A, find missing link, when I have
found it I shall refine it and tune it, and you will play our game.
“B put it together, and if I fail then BANG!"
School, and in the headmasters study
the headmaster is playing the harmonium.
“You were talking in class.”
“No sir.”
“You refuse to admit it.”
“I wasn’t sir” the pupil pleads.
“Do you know who it was?” the
headmaster asks.
“Yes sir.”
“Who was it?”
The pupil remains silent.
“This is the ninth day since the
incident, you have been in my study every morning at this time and you still
refuse to co-operate. Today is your last chance, wasn’t you?”
“No sir.” “You know who it was?”
Again the pupil remains silent
“That is cowardice” barks the
headmaster.
“That’s honour sir.”
“We don’t talk about such things” the
headmaster tells him.
“You should teach it sir.”
“You’re a fool” the headmaster tells
his pupil.
“Yes sir, not a rat.”
“Rat?” questions the headmaster.
“Rat.”
“I’m a rat?” barks the headmaster.
“No, I’m a fool, not a rat!”
The boy must conform, it is the
duty of the headmaster to see that he does conform, he must not grow up to be a
lone wolf, and offers six of the best as punishment. The pupil suggests 12, 12
so that he can remember.
A fencing lesson.
“That’s my boy” the coach says
enthusiastically “That’s my boy, touché! Light and easy young man, no muscle
just finesse. Good nice and easy. Good but you ran mustn’t run young man. Don’t
hit and run. Don’t treat it as a game young man. You’re the champ kill, kill,
kill” the coach lunges with epee. But the pupil whips the coach’s epee out of
his hand and stands with the point of his epee at the coach.
“Now…KILL!” the coach orders his face
dripping with sweat.
No.2 backs to the door the covered
tip of No.6’s epee at his throat.
“Afraid to prove you’re a man, your
resignation was cowardice wasn’t
it.”
2
No.6 lunges with his epee missing its
target and hitting the door, he lunges a second time, but now the rubber safety
cap has come away from the tip of the epee.
“Kill!” Go on you’re the champ boy,
you can do it all boy” No.2 goads him “”you’re the one man band, You won’t step
over the threshold because you’re scared. Go on, kill!”
The Prisoner screams, lunges forward
plunging the tip of the epee into his opponents shoulder.
No.2 puts a hand to his wound “You
missed boy, you still can’t do it.”
The Prisoner’s sorry, but then he’s
sorry for everybody, is that why he resigned?
Recruited by British Military Intelligence
No.6 is given a job of a confidential nature, international state business.
“Tell me” the High Court Judge
demands.
“Can’t” the defendant tells him.
“Tell me.”
“Such business is above the law.”
“Above the law!” barks the Judge.
“Tell me.”
“Never!”
“You’re guilty” the Judge pronounces.
“Yes.”
“Of speeding on the public highway.
Unrestricted murder on the public highway. Thinks he knows it all, too fast!
Why do you risk the murder of innocent human beings by exceeding the speed
limit?”
“I’m good at figures” mocks the
defendant.
“Don’t you like it?”
“I’ll work any hours of the day.”
“Fined twenty units” the judge pronounces.
“I appeal” pleads the defendant.
“What?”
“I appeal.”
“Not allowed.”
“I can’t pay.”
“Twenty units, nothing!”
“Units are not for me” pleads the
defendant.
“You are a member of the village”
shouts the Judge.
“NO!”
“You are a unit, of society” the
Judge tells him.
“No, no, no!” shouts the defendant.
“Contempt, contempt of court!” orders
the Judge.
“I accept, I accept the ruling.”
The Prisoner is sentenced to 6 days
in jail, he was rebelling you see, rebelling against the figures. But the
Prisoner intends to appeal, appeal…he’s getting the same treatment as everyone
else, but then that’s
why he’s going to appeal!
3
Through the bars of the cage No.2 asks No.6
why he resigned.
“For peace.”
“You resigned for peace?”
“For peace of mind” the Prisoner
tells him.
“What?”
“For peace of mind!”
“Why?”
“Because too many people know too
much, I know too much about you!”
Behold the clock, five minutes to go!
No.2 desperately attempts to reset
the clock, set to open on a new phase of their relationship that is if they are
still there! Are they likely to move? Well its possible….somewhere sunny? The
cage has built in bars, all self contained, kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning.
Food supplies for six months, it even has a waste disposal unit, its detachable
you see.
No.2 pours himself a glass of wine or
whisky.
No.6 slams the cage door closed, locks
it and gives the butler the key!
Three minutes!
No.2 is scared, he can’t take it. He
doesn’t want No.6 to open the cage and go in, but he won’t come out either.
Two minutes!
The
No, he’s No.2.
No, he’s number nothing!
One minute thirty-five seconds as the
countdown continues.
“You resigned!”
“I rejected!”
“You accepted before you resigned.”
“I rejected.”
“Who?”
“YOU!”
All the King’s horses and all the King’s
men will not put this No.2 together again!
It’s not too late, for No.6, no for
No.2!
Six seconds
“Six!” echoes No.6
“Die Six” yells the Prisoner.
5
“Die”
4
“Die.”
3
Die!”
2 No.2 takes a last drink of his whisky.
“Diiiiieeee.”
1
4
“Die.”
“Zero” croaks No.2.
No.2’s heart stops beating and he
collapses on the floor. No.6 feels for a pulse, but the man is dead. He leaves
the cage, closes the door and locks it. The steel door opens and the
bald-headed bespectacled figure of the supervisor-No.26 stands framed in the
doorway.
“Congratulations.”
The door of the cage is closed and
locked.
“We shall need the body for evidence”
The supervisor informs No.6.
No.6 smashes his glass on the floor
in a pique of anger.
“What do you desire?” asks the
supervisor.
“Number 1.”
“I’ll take you.”
On the control panel of the clock the
supervisor clicks a switch and the steel side of the cage lowers into place
with a resounding clang, effectively sealing the deceased No.2 in his tomb.
While No.6, the butler, and the supervisor leave the Embryo Room, the steel
door closes behind them as they go to the tune of “Bah bah black sheep” with
the rocking horse rocking, and the swing swinging…….
5
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