Chapter 15

Once he was safely home Dan examined the paperwork that had been brought to him at the hotel. He didn't imagine that Sam would go through his things and spy on him but, he would hide the information just in case. First of all, he wanted to find out what had happened to Bertie and he read the copy of the report Serena had given him.

The problems had started when Bertie was 14 years old. He had questioned a lot of things in his early years at school, but this was not unusual for a child away from home and seeing the bigger picture for the first time. He did not, however get it out of his system and by the age of 16 he was belligerent and disruptive.

Threats, detentions and physical punishments had not persuaded Bertie to change course and it became clear that he would not be of value to the OWG. They wanted someone who would work for them, without question, and that was not going to happen. The boy had an exceptional brain and it seemed a waste to side line him or worse when he might, ultimately, be a bonus to society.

The head teacher reported on all his pupils to the ministry and they were well aware of which of the boys was a problem. A child who had not been coerced into conforming would have to face more drastic action than the school could mete out. He would be sent to a clinic where drug and psychological treatments were used. They would try to reprogram him. If this didn't work either, then he would likely just disappear.

The papers said that as he approached his 17th birthday Bertie had been earmarked to be sent for therapy. Before he could be transferred to a clinic he had run away from Marlborough in the middle of the night. This had caused much alarm at the college with the police descending on the place to investigate what had occurred.

No one had been formally accused of sedition, but it had been concluded that someone had tipped Bertie off. A sympathetic teacher or member of staff had warned him about his impending transfer and had probably helped him abscond as well. The police wanted to find out who was responsible.

The head teacher had been against the investigation because it could reveal rebels working in his school and he did not want to face the possibility that this was true. If anyone was found this could damage the reputation of Marlborough. He was unhappy with the police being at his school and he had made their job difficult by blocking them whenever he could. He had almost certainly stopped the culprit being caught. This had not necessarily been his intention, but had been the result.

The police had been displeased with the head master, but he was well connected and above reproach. His pride had meant that the school was untainted, but what was lurking beneath the respectable veneer of the college had not been revealed. Now that this possible threat had appeared they would look at similar establishments to see if they were possibly harbouring dissenters.

A chill had crept along the halls of the various schools as the authorities searched for trouble. Their presence was a reminder of the power of the OWG and a message to get their houses in order. A few school teachers vanished during the purge and the rebels shrank back into the woodwork thwarted for the time being.

Dan had to admit that the OWG were very good at keeping a lid on any sign of dissent. Those that opposed them were forced further underground and as a result their effect, if any, was dampened. Small groups dotted around the globe unable to easily contact each other were never going to be able to challenge the government.

The group which contained Martin and Dan could now make contact with Serena who lived near Marlborough. They hoped that this could start to bring together a network of the small pockets trying to mount a resistance. The first step would be to send some sort of letter to the, red haired girl who had been the go between.

The note thanked Serena and her friends for their help. They were glad that Bertie had got away and hoped that he was safe somewhere. It stated their aim to get the OWG to be more open and to give greater freedoms to the people. In particular women and the less fortunate had little or no say about how they lived. There should be open elections for a seat on the government too.

Dan's group had always maintained that the changes they wanted must be achieved by peaceful means. This meant giving information to the people and lobbying for a different style of rule. They planned to issue leaflets which would embarrass the OWG into admitting their errors and putting things right. Each small change would eventually snowball into a revolution they hoped.

This was not how other groups saw the fight. Violence was most definitely on their agenda with any action that would bring about the downfall of the OWG acceptable in their books. There was often no plan as to what might replace the current system of governance. What sort of resistance did Serena's group have in mind?

A cautious correspondence took place with oblique references to struggle and better times. The only way to really get to know how they could coordinate was to have a conversation face to face. Martin and Dan could take the car out again on the pretext of a further test drive. They would go half way to Marlborough and rendezvous with Serena.

Dan and his work friend spent time at the workshop where the prototype engine had been made. They made small adjustments and prepared for their next outing. It could take a few attempts to perfect what they wanted to achieve with the engine which would mean that they had an excuse to make a number of further trips if necessary.

Nothing had been said to Phyllis yet. Dan wanted to talk to Serena and see if he could learn more about what had happened to Bertie. Sam was oblivious to her husband's sympathies with those that opposed the government. He had become more like his old self once he had returned to work. The quiet uptight Dan was present once more.

Sam got on with her daily activities. She went to the meetings and looked after her children. She watched over Phyllis' shoulder and criticised her work. She fidgeted and worried and sulked. She got on Dan's nerves and any attempt on his behalf to make their relationship more cordial was rebuffed.

He had tried to start conversations with Sam in the evening after the children had gone to sleep. Dan asked about her day and wanted to know her opinions about various topics. His wife would deflect his questions by asking what he thought and then agreeing with him. If he demanded that she think for herself she would usually look upset and leave the room.

When he set off with Martin for their test drive Dan was thinking about Serena. She was more like the women form his old world. She was brave and had an opinion about things. There had been a fire in her eyes as she had glared at him in challenge. It had been good to see the spark of rebellion in the girl.

They looked up and down the road and made sure it was free of traffic. When it was safe they turned off of the road and headed to the small farm where their meeting was to take place. The dirt track was a bit hard going for the car so they had to take it very slowly. The excitement grew as they steered the vehicle around the pot holes in the lane.

A man pointed to a barn and they drove the car inside. The doors were closed so that no one would know that they were there should they visit the farm for any reason. The rusting steam tractor parked alongside was positively antique compared to their machine with its turbo charged engine.

The elderly man who was their guide led them to the farmhouse and they were invited to enter the small kitchen. A coal fired range dominated the space. It had to cook the food and heat the water and the house. A large pot of soup stood on the top and the lady of the house was chopping up potatoes and dropping them in.

Dan scanned the room and was disappointed that Serena was not there. A minute later and the door opened. She stepped into the room followed by a good looking young man. He was around 25 years old and had thick brown hair which tumbled in rakish curls. His smile revealed even white teeth behind full lips.

When Dan looked at his eyes he saw that they were an intense blue. He had seen that colour before. He knew straight away that this was Phyllis' son. This was Bertie. He stood and offered his hand to the lad and addressed him by name.

"You have your mother's eyes."