Read Online Dead in the Water by Brian Woolland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brian Woolland
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bottle. As she raises her head and puts her cupped hands to her lips, she sees a lion marmoset, the smallest of all primates, watching her from a branch. Its eyes seem moist, as if it has been crying. A river of tears. And she hears a murmuring. The murmur of flowing water? A movement of air as a thermal lifts from the blackened clearing? Time slows. She is transfixed by the marmoset’s beautiful eyes, as clear as the pool of water in the leaf.
Then the marmoset falls from the branch. There is no sound as its body hits the forest floor. But she doesn’t register this, for even as it falls there is a sudden searing pain in her upper right arm as if she has been stamped with a branding iron. Unable to breathe, her sight narrows and she falls into a tunnel of darkness, fireflies shooting past, an iron band clamped round her head, her skull crushed as her brain implodes.
The pain dissolves, the fireflies slow, waft by her like seeds on a breeze, and she’s falling... face forward onto the ground.
The bottle rolls from her hand. The water gurgles out over rotting leaf mould, and saliva dribbles from a corner of her mouth.
12 London
Although the group calling itself the Angels of Light has claimed responsibility for both bombs, and a short-lived web site has briefly proclaimed the group as ‘Protectors of the Environment’, they have still not made their list of demands public.
Most of Mark’s morning is spent giving interviews. For the last of these, which will go out live on The World At One , Mark has to make his way to a BBC radio car parked outside the House of Commons. When he was first interviewed in a radio car he found it a very strange and disconcerting business, sitting with headphones, talking to a well known radio personality as if they were in a room together. Since then, he has rapidly learnt to turn the circumstances to his advantage. With no body language to intimidate, seduce or cajole, he finds it easier to imagine the disembodied interviewer in whatever role best suits his purposes; and to manipulate the interview in such a way that he retains the moral high ground.
“ You find yourself in a difficult position, do you not? Having once embraced what people are now calling the Extreme Green agenda.”
“ I used to advocate direct action, but never violence. In those days I felt that the pace of change needed forcing. At that time no party was taking Green issues seriously. This government has actively pursued policies which have already made a very positive impact on the environment.” And, refusing interruption (so much easier with his inquisitor not present), he lists the major achievements of the Walker government, rebuffing attempts to disparage its environmental record.
“ Were you aware of the existence of this group?”
“ We’ve known of the threat of Green terrorism for several years. But not this group. No.”
“ You may not approve of the means that these people have adopted, but did you not author a pamphlet for the One World organisation which expressed similar aims?” Mark’s eyes are shut. He smiles. Just what I was waiting for..
“ Mussolini wanted to make the trains run on time. So do we. So has every government for the past 100 years. That does not make us fascists. I don’t know what this group’s aims actually are. I have no idea who they are. What I do know is that the Green agenda that I am interested in is one which improves the quality of life of every citizen in this country. Whatever this group may claim, their actions pose a serious threat to lives and to the national economy. I totally repudiate their actions.” His forcefulness is authoritative. The interviewer seems uncharacteristically chastened.
“ Are they likely to strike again?”
“ People should remain very alert.”
“ That doesn’t answer my question. Are they likely to strike again?”
“ You need to ask the police.”
As he’s walking back to the office, he remembers about
Then the marmoset falls from the branch. There is no sound as its body hits the forest floor. But she doesn’t register this, for even as it falls there is a sudden searing pain in her upper right arm as if she has been stamped with a branding iron. Unable to breathe, her sight narrows and she falls into a tunnel of darkness, fireflies shooting past, an iron band clamped round her head, her skull crushed as her brain implodes.
The pain dissolves, the fireflies slow, waft by her like seeds on a breeze, and she’s falling... face forward onto the ground.
The bottle rolls from her hand. The water gurgles out over rotting leaf mould, and saliva dribbles from a corner of her mouth.
12 London
Although the group calling itself the Angels of Light has claimed responsibility for both bombs, and a short-lived web site has briefly proclaimed the group as ‘Protectors of the Environment’, they have still not made their list of demands public.
Most of Mark’s morning is spent giving interviews. For the last of these, which will go out live on The World At One , Mark has to make his way to a BBC radio car parked outside the House of Commons. When he was first interviewed in a radio car he found it a very strange and disconcerting business, sitting with headphones, talking to a well known radio personality as if they were in a room together. Since then, he has rapidly learnt to turn the circumstances to his advantage. With no body language to intimidate, seduce or cajole, he finds it easier to imagine the disembodied interviewer in whatever role best suits his purposes; and to manipulate the interview in such a way that he retains the moral high ground.
“ You find yourself in a difficult position, do you not? Having once embraced what people are now calling the Extreme Green agenda.”
“ I used to advocate direct action, but never violence. In those days I felt that the pace of change needed forcing. At that time no party was taking Green issues seriously. This government has actively pursued policies which have already made a very positive impact on the environment.” And, refusing interruption (so much easier with his inquisitor not present), he lists the major achievements of the Walker government, rebuffing attempts to disparage its environmental record.
“ Were you aware of the existence of this group?”
“ We’ve known of the threat of Green terrorism for several years. But not this group. No.”
“ You may not approve of the means that these people have adopted, but did you not author a pamphlet for the One World organisation which expressed similar aims?” Mark’s eyes are shut. He smiles. Just what I was waiting for..
“ Mussolini wanted to make the trains run on time. So do we. So has every government for the past 100 years. That does not make us fascists. I don’t know what this group’s aims actually are. I have no idea who they are. What I do know is that the Green agenda that I am interested in is one which improves the quality of life of every citizen in this country. Whatever this group may claim, their actions pose a serious threat to lives and to the national economy. I totally repudiate their actions.” His forcefulness is authoritative. The interviewer seems uncharacteristically chastened.
“ Are they likely to strike again?”
“ People should remain very alert.”
“ That doesn’t answer my question. Are they likely to strike again?”
“ You need to ask the police.”
As he’s walking back to the office, he remembers about
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