Chapter 12

Dan looked at the people assembled in the front room of a house he had been taken to. The residence was in a fairly remote location, which is why it had been chosen as the meeting place. He knew a couple of the people there, well he probably knew them all, but he would get their names over time. There were even a couple of women in attendance.

It was as he had suspected. This small group were opposed to the way that the OWG ran things. The members of the government were all from a, likeminded set. The families of the founders tended to serve and no new blood was introduced. Progress had been stifled by the beards as they micromanaged all aspects of society. They wanted to control all innovation lest it give the population the opportunity to flourish without them.

There was rampant inequality in how things were allocated. The labour class had enough to live on, but very few luxuries. As ever the ruling class had feathered its own nest by cherry picking the best of the best for its own use. Dan had seen this first hand during his visit to Sam's parent's home.

The suppression of women was a major issue for the protestors. So much talent was wasted because females could not reach their full potential. They had no voice in their own homes let alone in contributing to how society worked. Men in general treated women badly and faced no consequences for their actions.

People who stood against the OWG were dealt with severely. Many disappeared, particularly those of the labour class, and families could never find out where they had gone or if they were still alive. The justice system was a joke with magistrates locking up those who they didn't like or wanted out of the way without due process.

Everyone was fed and had somewhere to live. Those had been the core principles of the OWG. To a certain extent these aims were still being met, but so much else had fallen by the wayside. People's rights had been trampled over and personal freedom was only available to the leadership class.

They all knew the problems associated with the OWG. The difficulty was knowing what to do about them. The group did not want to dismantle the bureaucracy that kept the world running. What they wanted to do was modernise it. The farmers were still using steam driven equipment when the leadership class were driving around in cars.

Dan listened to the arguments and he agreed with most of what was being said. He was sure that many other people were thinking the same things. Other small groups like theirs were surely meeting throughout the world wondering what could be done. Some kind of violent revolution was not going to work. They had to infiltrate and change things from the inside.

He didn't know how long this group had been meeting, but they did not seem to have accomplished much. They were well meaning people who knew that the society they lived in was wrong, but had no idea how to effect change. They were constantly on the brink of actually becoming active rather than just talking about things.

Once again it seemed to Dan that knowledge was essential. They had to know what the OWG was doing and why. Were they committing atrocities to protect themselves? If some of their excesses could be exposed then the will of the people might make them change. Dan wanted to find out what had happened to Phyllis' son Bertie and he would make that his personal crusade.

He spoke to the group about his need to help find one of the missing.

"Finding out what had happened to Bertie could expose the dark underbelly of the OWG and give us ammunition to challenge them. Has Bertie been locked up somewhere, or worse? If we could cite instances of the government abusing its power it could make people think twice about their society. It could help to trigger the reforms which are needed."

He asked for suggestions as to how he could begin his search for the bright boy who had been sent off to one of the government's academies and had then disappeared.

His group helped him work out a strategy for his investigation. One of the ladies at the meeting had access to government records and she could look for Bertie to see where he went to school. She did not have the clearance to find out his fate, but she could set them off on the right path.

Being with the group opposing the OWG was exciting, but also terrifying. Just by meeting in the house he was risking arrest and worse. He had been embroiled in this intrigue by the other Dan. Did he have a duty to carry on his work or could he back away and move out of danger? He thought about all he had heard from Phyllis and others and knew that he could not walk away. Having made a decision, he felt calmer than he had for days.

When Dan got home that evening he felt so much better about his life. Since the occurrence which had brought him to the world run by the OWG he had been unsettled. His concerns about society had gradually been confirmed and he had not been happy. Now he was going to have the opportunity to help in the fight for change.

He was also glad that the other Dan had not been the unfeeling company man he had first suspected him of being. The gruff unemotional exterior had been put in place to hide his true feelings. Good for you, other, Dan he thought. I will take up the baton and see if I can do anything to make life better for the people of this earth.

It was clear from his conversations that neither his wife nor his maid knew about his extracurricular activities. It would not be a good idea to let them know what he was up to, he decided. He would tell Phyllis that he would, if possible, make discreet enquiries about Bertie. He was sympathetic to her plight, but he may not be able to get her answers. If or when he got some details he could decide what to do.

At home he would have to play a role so that he could carry on with his subversive activities. Having met Sam's father he knew that it would be dangerous for her to know what he was doing. She had been raised in an environment where the OWG could do no wrong. It was sad that his wife in this world was more like an enemy than a partner. He wondered if they had divorce here.

Dan assumed that divorce was at the very least frowned upon and probably not allowed. That was the type of thing that would shine a spotlight on him which was definitely not a good thing. He had spent time with his children and he was getting to know Alex. He did not want anything to interrupt that process.

Over the next few weeks he would get back into a routine which would help him cover his work with the group. His mind had turned briefly to divorce, but he had not seriously considered it. He must try to find a way to get to know Sam and make their life together better. Now that he had met her parents and learned more about this world he should be in a stronger position to get things right.

That evening Dan tried talking to Sam.

"I'm feeling more like my old self. In one way that is good but I think that my recent injury has highlighted some of my faults. I would like for us to get on well and I'm therefore suggesting that we spend more time talking and exchanging ideas."

Sam squirmed in her seat in response.

"I've settled back into work without too much trouble and I'm remembering more about our life. The changes to their lifestyle that I've made after leaving hospital might seem odd, but I'm minded to keep them."

Sam had not really said anything and he realised that he would have to draw her out slowly. This was a woman who did not like change.

It was at times like this that he thought wistfully about his Sam. Things had not been perfect, but arguing was better than the resentful acquiescence he got from this version of his wife. Then he would think about his son. Alex, in this world, was alive and well. Every day that he woke up and found that nothing had changed, made him resigned to his fate. He was stuck in this place and he had to make the most of it. Getting on with Sam was part of that. He patted her on the shoulder, which was the most intimate they had been since his return