DeathLotto

Extract from "2032" by Andrew Jennings. Available in all ebook stores now.

Cabinet meetings were of a size larger than Jack liked to deal with. Nominally it was 20 people. But with advisors hovering it stretched to something like 100, spread across two or even three rooms. Today was focused on security. The upstart government was surrounded by enemies. He tuned in as an army major stood at the lectern.
“Fortunately the geography works in our favour. With a combined satellite and drone surveillance it is a simple matter to keep the northern plains free. North of the dividing range in the agricultural zones there is very little cover.”
He brought up a map showing the zone. Between Albury and Shepparton, and north of Bendigo there were great open spaces. The red swathe was broad and like a circle. He thought about asking about sea-born attacks from the south, where there seemed to be no defences, but he was cautious about making an idiot of himself in such a large gathering. The major moved to the next slide.
“We expect a purely urban strategy. A destabilisation campaign and innovative terror attacks.”
He flipped to the next slide. It showed finances.
“Their initial offering has been quite successful, and innovative in approach. They are selling a slice of ownership of a future regime, with a guaranteed return for ten years, with an option to renew.”
Jack sat back and took the slide in. A financial option on their demise. Jeepers. It was all so cold. How long before they started offering options on civilian deaths?
Ruby intervened with a question.
“That’s all very well, but you haven’t outlined our response. I’m sure you have thoughts?”
“Of course, I’m getting to that, but perhaps I should skip ahead.”
Ruby just nodded.
“On projections, they will have strong financial backing but it will take time to turn this into actual advantage on the ground.”
It was so airless and analytical. Like a University tutorial. How lightly they threw it all about. But Jack had a plan. He arrived early, talked to everyone and made sure his presence was noted. Then about 20 minutes in he would go through the motions of being called away urgently. He waited until they were locked in intense discussion on some point of strategy, and pretended to answer a call . Talking away, and walking at the same time. After all, he didn’t want to be rude and talk through their meeting. Down the back stairs, through the back of the entrance foyer and out the fire escape and into the lane.
He turned onto the street. And stopped. And stared. Then laughed. Realising that Noah had just executed the same disappearing act at the same time.
“Caught out of school.” Jack said.
“Detention for both of us.”
“Coffee?”
“There is a great coffee van in the gardens. Nobody will find us there.”
It had the same feel of skipping school. The set of skills that made them so brilliant at toppling the old regime left them totally ill-equipped for this reality.
“Gripping stuff, cabinet meetings.” Noah said
“I can see my whole life in front of me. Every instinct I have told me to get out of that room fast.”
“Me too.”
They stood quietly sipping their coffee. Tents in the gardens next to Parliament House. The homeless. They both felt a bit uncomfortable, but at the same time they liked to spend time here. It reminded them of what they were doing, and why they were doing it. A group down the hill were sitting in a circle. One of the group looked across at Noah and Jack, and got to his feet and walked towards them. He made a beeline for Noah.
They made a strange pair . Noah late twenties, short dark hair with just a hint of a tan. Black jeans, black t-shirt. His companion looked 60 but it could have been from long days spent in the sun. Bleached long hair, straggly, perhaps from being not washed. Faded white shirt, worn denim jeans.
“Noah”
“Jim”
“You been here long?”
“About a month. I lived in Mordialloc. I had a great place. Rented for thirty years. Not far from the beach.”
“What happened?”
“Stuff happened. Rent up, hours down. Same for most of us”
He swept his arm in a half arc, taking in the surrounding camp. It was only a small camp, but it was one of many.
“I’m with the government.” Noah said.
His companion stirred.
"That bastard. The other day. Was that you?"
Noah had resisted it. The walk of shame. In the full glare of the media, marching them at gunpoint. Landlords. Noah wasn't a fan of cheap tricks. Would rather just quietly scoop them up and send them to some jail far away. Ruby and Jack had insisted. It's not just about justice, they said, it's about changing the dynamic. Gives the population confidence. Shifts the conversation. Changes the culture.
"Yes, it was me."
"That's terrific."
Noah just quietly smiled. His companion though jumped to his feet. Ran to the group sitting outside the tent. Before he knew it there was a crowd around him, congratulating him. Back slapping. Jack just laughed. It was good, yes, it was. It was what they needed.
A couple of journalists they recognised standing near the cart. A look of recognition, surprise, and then a smile. They too were happy to go along with it. There would be no stories with the caption 'leaders go walkabout from cabinet meeting'. They wandered away from the coffee cart, a bit south, away from the journalists. There was always the possibility of a straggler, the new and eager that would be not able to resist the story.
“Action. The lack of it.” Noah smiled.
“We should just volunteer for the front.”
“I can see Ruby now. You’re not soldiers. Why pretend to be? You will just get in the way of those who actually are.”
“The errant schoolboys again.”
“I hear you had a fun time in Shepparton.”
Noah glanced at Jack.
“A certain local attracted a lot of attention from you. One on one personal attention. What was her name? Hanni, I think.”
Did he actually blush? There was the beginning of a shade of red on his face, that was for sure.
“How did you?”
“Your entourage leaks like a sieve. I’m getting hourly reports.” He grinned.
“I spent some time, yes.”
“Not the horizontal jogging type time?”
“It’s not that sort of ..”
“Ah, I see. You are just good friends. It was a meeting of minds, an exchange of philosophical points of view. In no way did you notice at all that the said Hanni is young, female and I might say quite attractive. The demands of high office completely removed all these aspects from your view. I understand.”
“She’s …”
“A colleague. Of course. A key ally in your great mission to turn Shepparton into the next Silicon Valley. Foolish of me to even think of such base considerations.”
“I’m working on going back to Shepparton.”
Jack grinned.
“Good.”
There was a crowd coming east along Wellington street from Flinders Street Station. It was large, and growing. No signs of any of the usual paraphernalia of a sporting crowd. No team jumpers, or scarves, or banners. What on earth was there such a large gathering in the middle of the week? They were curious, so walked in their direction.
“Football game?” Noah asked
“It’s Tuesday, no.”
“Concert?”
“Maybe.”
“Have a look.”
Jack searched on the glasses, which gave him all events available for booking.
“Nothing.”
“That’s weird. Let’s follow them.”
Just a big crowd moving towards a stadium.
“You know what’s funny here.” Noah asked.
“Nobody under 70.” Jack said.
Noah and Jack walked with the crowd. Under the railway bridge, they could see a stream of people coming from the walkway, from Flinders Street. So many of them.
“Popular. Whatever it is.” Noah said.
“When was the last time your were at the G?”
The abbreviation was for the MCG. The Melbourne Cricket Ground. One of the biggest stadiums in the world. Normally shortened to just ‘the G’ it was the site of some of the most important sporting moments. Mostly Australian rules football, which was pretty much a religion to the inhabitants of the city. It was quite incredible how it survived in a globalised world. So quaint. It used an oval ball as in rugby, and an oval shaped ground. It was fast moving and quite physical, with no protective gear.
“I was there for the grand final in 2027.”
“Carlton?”
“Yes. It was the last of the three in a row.”
“Big day?”
“I thought the stadium was going to collapse. So much noise. ”
Noah held his hand up.
“I’m getting alerts.”
“Of what?”
“Somebody is following us. Hang on.”
Noah called in.
“Some lazy kid with a drone?”
“No, sir. I have a suspicious person in a car just up to your left. If you turn to look south you will most likely spot them.”
Noah turned. Yes, there was someone in a car. No, they didn’t seem to be doing anything apart from looking.
“They on a list?’
“Second level.”
“Ok. Thanks.”
Noah turned to Jack.
“We are the subject of attention.”
“Who are they?”
“Not so important.”
They were reticent to barge their way into this event, whatever it was, so they lingered outside one of the entrances, not sure what to do next. One of the crowd recognised them, and walked over.
“I”m Michael and this is Lisa. We are big fans of your government. I know you bent the rules a bit, but we are all for it. Give our grandkids a chance at life.”
“Thank you. You are so kind.” Noah greeted them.
“Lisa and I plan to enjoy our retirement. We’ve never been able to afford to travel much, so this is a great initiative.”
“What exactly is it?”
“We get to go on a holiday, with your wonderful government funding it, if we win.”
Jack was gesturing at him, to let them go.
“What?” Noah asked
“You remember the cabinet meeting on demographic initiatives. That smarmy Matt, Mr Ambition.”
“How could I forget.”
“Well this is his.”
“Free holidays for the elderly. How does that help?
“Well there is a catch. If you don’t win the prize, and I think it’s only about 10% that win, then you get shuttled into the euthanasia queue.”
It was a long, quiet walk back.

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