Essential as Air and Water

John Dylan walked along the road where he lived. The bright sunshine had persuaded him to leave his house and added a few inches to each of his steps. In front of him lay a brick that had fallen from a stack that stood on a drive-way and presented itself to him as an irresistible temptation. Without thought or consideration he picked it up and launched it at the house opposite. It spun and twisted in the air before crashing into the double glazed bay windows, causing a disappointingly small amount of damage. Unsatisfied, he picked up an iron bar - he would not return home for weeks.

The world had been in a state of near peace for decades, its population content. The violent history that had plagued mankind and caused so much destruction and death was simply a matter of historical record kept secret by government officials. Generations had passed without war, with no one alive to bear witness to these historical tragedies; there were only stories that hardly resembled their first telling.

The internet, which had made globalisation possible, had been abandoned, as competitive nations were unable and unwilling to agree on regulations and security. The ease with which information could be accessed made nations nervous and suspicious as an era of intense cyber espionage began. Known as ‘the crash’, the fall-out was severe. Chaos ensued as economic systems began to fail world-wide. Only a few areas of the world were untouched by the devastation as communication and co-operation between world markets broke down. Our dependence on a system without global regulations had been too great and caused a humanitarian crisis that engulfed the world with civil unrest on an unprecedented level.

In an attempt to ensure a future, governments agreed to restrict the internet’s use and only allow the highest ranking personnel access. Eventually, the major economic powers of the world agreed on a new system, closely followed by reluctant nations who were coerced or forced to participate out of fear of political and economic isolation. In addition, governments began to suppress cultural activities, particularly the arts, religion and sport, which had been the cause of disagreements and conflict in the past - areas of society that were seen as obstacles to the rehabilitation and rebuilding of a sick world. Small groups resisted and fought for what they loved, but most were willing to accept a new way of life in the hope of achieving peace. The demise of these influential traditions was made possible with the death of the internet, as entire historical archives were brought under the control of national governments who restricted access to past cultural treasures and the sharing of new ones.

So the events now occurring around the world were unprecedented. For three weeks, thousands of people had descended upon cities and towns in what appeared to be a spontaneous outburst of indiscriminate destruction. Governments did not know the origins of the troubles and were powerless to explain them. They became increasingly frustrated because none of the perpetrators could give a motive for their behaviour. Teachers, factory workers and doctors, people from every background and representing nearly every nation, were participating in the mindless destruction of public and private property, seemingly without a manifesto or higher command. The only exceptions were villages away from the larger towns and cities, remote communities in less developed areas of the world and young children, who were seemingly untouched by the uncontrollable urge that so many were powerless to resist.

The magnitude and power of the riots caught all governments off-guard. Media outlets appealed for calm. Those who were not involved in the rioting were too confused to know how to react and waited for their governments to restore order.

Government’s debated how to react. Some argued that wars and violence on a large scale used to be common, so they were rooted in human nature. This peaceful epoch was, therefore, unnatural for our species and was destined to come to an end. Historians were quoted who claimed that throughout our history, the human race had consistently resorted to violence and in extreme circumstances the slaughter of its own species to resolve conflict, using every means possible. However, as no national security agency could produce any evidence to show an organised, coordinated uprising and there was no evidence of violence being used against individuals, the idea that people were reverting to the older forms of behaviour were rejected; It appeared that the sole aim was the release of anger and nothing more.

It quickly became apparent that a call for calm was futile, and since no evidence was available to connect the actions to a single government or its policies, the world's most powerful leaders declared a state of emergency.

Agreements were made on how best to treat the rioters, with force being deemed an unrealistic option due to their numbers. A further conference was organised to give nations time to find a strategy to combat the rioters and conduct research and surveillance to establish the trends of their own citizens’ actions and shed some light on the motivation of the rioters: someone who knew more than the rioters themselves.

The towns and cities of Britain were some of the hardest hit world-wide and had suffered significant destruction. In the earliest days of the riots the nation’s security agents had been able to contain the participants and hold them securely. But they were quickly overwhelmed and the military were deployed.

Tom Lanegan, the British Prime Minister, had insisted that force was not to be used. It had been many years since a government had ordered an attack on its own citizens and he would maintain this as long as the rioters were only attacking property and not people. The three weeks since the riots had started had given Lanegan time to order the military to redirect their attention to the humanitarian issues that were increasingly becoming critical, and begin the evacuation of Britain’s citizens from the cities. Lanegan felt helpless, and could only watch as the nation’s cities burned around him.

Chapter 2

Ken Buckley stood waiting for his military escort. Driving into the city was no longer advised unless absolutely essential. The Home Secretary had made this journey many times over the last three weeks and had witnessed the various stages of London’s decline. The sights that would soon confront him were familiar and no longer shocked him. Even the burnt out cars and buildings that were left in ruins, producing fumes so toxic it was impossible not to cough and feel nauseous, had become normal.

His vehicle picked him up and drove slowly. The desperation that had caused urgency and panic in the early days of the riots had faded. They now moved carefully in an attempt not to be detected. He could remember the exact position of each object that had been left in the streets before it came into view. Each day he knew they would still be there despite his wishes to return London to normal. They would be a haunting fixture for a long time.

Out of necessity they had become experts at avoiding contact with the rioters. Although they were confident that they would not be targets themselves, the vehicles they used had occasionally been hit by missiles or Molotov cocktails. Side roads were avoided, as were areas which were known to have concentrated rioting. These areas of greater activity had now become the focus of all the government’s attention as reconnaissance reports had stated that the rioting had become clustered in parts of the city. This small piece of information was the first potential pattern that they had found. New or helpful information had been rare since the beginning of the crisis and gave Ken a reason to change his day’s itinerary. This pleased him very much as frustration was growing with each day. He could sense the same feelings within other government members, some of who were less forgiving and more inclined to react without thought. Talk had begun of different tactics than those chosen by the Prime Minister and there was sure to be support as things became more desperate. Ken knew the clock was ticking.

The vehicle pulled up outside an anonymous concrete building of standard governmental architecture. During the crisis, certain buildings with high value had been secured. The building was easily protected and didn’t possess a large number of windows that might attract the rioters. In the worst case scenario, this type of building would house governmental personnel for as long as possible. Today, however, Ken had arrived for a different purpose.

When the all-clear was given, Ken moved out of the car and walked calmly but quickly towards the door. A security agent opened the door sharply so he didn’t need to break stride. He was promptly greeted by Lieutenant-General Bruce Harris, who shook his hand.

Lieutenant-General, how are you? asked Ken.

I’m doing fine, Home Secretary … he replied, … London is not doing so well however. If we do not act soon we will have nothing left to salvage.

I know it’s hard to watch. All we can do is keep looking for a solution - you and your men are doing a good job.

Thank you Home Secretary.

The two men began to walk through the lobby area of the building and quickly reached the bottom of the staircase. Without hesitation they began their long ascent to the roof. Power cuts had made the lift unusable.

Since we have time on our side, what new information do you have, Lieutenant-General?

As you know we have studied the movements of the rioters in the hope of finding a pattern or possibly a head quarters where they are being given instructions. As the riots have continued we started to notice that many of the rioters have begun to congregate in the city as opposed to being spread fairly evenly over the greater London area. They appear to be moving inwards. Now, there is nothing conclusive in what we have seen, but it is interesting and we can confirm that other cities and towns have noticed similar behaviour; other reports have been inconclusive. I still believe that it is possible that it is a highly organised operation and the apparent randomness is a smoke-screen for a bigger plan. If I am honest, I am inclined to suggest that this is not the case, because the organisation and communication needed for this sort of operation is virtually impossible by anyone without government privileges, but it can’t be ruled out.

Many within government are convinced that this is all planned; it would be foolish not to consider it. There are a few accusations towards other nations being cast, but as you say, the organisation and secrecy would be almost impossible. Personally, I think the idea of a planned world attack is only being considered due to the lack of an alternative cause. Do you have any possible ideas why this might have happened?

Yes, it’s possible that they have destroyed everything that is near to where they live and are now moving to find new targets, perhaps bigger and more challenging buildings, for example. The city certainly has many that would be appealing. Another is that they are beginning to interact with each other for the first time while rioting. This particular scenario could be catastrophic as I’m sure you can imagine. The proposition of fighting a united force is undesirable for many reasons and would certainly end in massive casualties.

I agree. Are there any other reasons?

I could have a guess as to why they are changing their behavioural habits, but I know you have your people working on the psychological side of things.

We do, but with little or no results.

If we continue to find dead ends, where do we go next?

Between you and me?

Of course, Home Secretary.

The Prime Minister is about to break government protocol and invite outsiders into the discussion.

That’s a big risk.

They are credible in their fields of expertise and have passed all of the security checks, but it will be highly controversial. If they come up with nothing new, it could be disastrous. It is sure to cause resentment and a feeling of betrayal even if they find something; if they find nothing …

Do you think he is right to invite outsiders in?

We are experiencing something that cannot be dealt with in simple black and white decision-making. We are already taking risks and there are surely more to come. It’s whether the Prime Minister can hold off the calls for stronger action that will be the test and his decision to hold this conference may be the deciding factor on what course of action we decide to take. How do you feel about the use of force, Lieutenant-General? These choices will greatly affect you and your men.

I will do what is asked of me.

That’s a good answer, but it’s not what I asked you. Not one member of the British armed forces has fired his or her weapon at another human being for decades. It is not a part of the psychology of our society to ask a person to hurt or kill another person. Our world will change before our very eyes and might never recover.

I have considered what you are talking about and will do what I am asked by our government to stop the riots. How I feel and how that changes who we are as a society, as a world, well, I can’t answer that until it happens. I hope it doesn’t come to that, Home Secretary.

Me too, Lieutenant-General.

They reached the door to the roof and a table, on which lay goggles and respirator masks.

Do I need to wear one? asked Ken.

We won’t be out here long, there’s no need, replied the Lieutenant-General. We can be out here for hours at a time and the smoke can be relentless.

They stepped outside into the light misty smoke that was being helped along by a mild breeze.

We are lucky today as visibility is reasonably good. Because the summer has lasted longer this year we have had hot days with very little wind which has caused the smoke to obstruct any chance of a view ...

Ken followed the Lieutenant-General to the edge of the building where they had a perfect view of the buildings and streets that surrounded the east side.

… Infrared cameras are useful at night but are often made redundant because of the heat from the fires. Most of the time we have to be on the ground to get an accurate record of where the rioters are and that can be slow tedious work. But as the reports came back we noticed something different. What you can see confirms that not only have their numbers grown, it appears they are certainly moving towards a common destination.

Ken looked out through breaks in the smoke and could clearly see large groups of rioters. It was obvious from their viewpoint that the numbers had grown.

It’s as though a magnet is pulling them towards the centre of the city, said Ken.

That’s a good analogy, agreed the Lieutenant-General.

Both men stood silently and watched. It was a sight that simply could not be explained rationally – and it did not look like stopping.

The Prime Minister had been relocated on the advice of his security team to the tunnels beneath Waterloo Station. At first, it was proposed to leave London altogether and retreat to the countryside where suitable protection could be maintained. Lanegan’s family had been evacuated a week ago to the New Forest National Park for their safety and nothing would have pleased him more than to join them. But Lanegan chose to stay close to the capital and the chaos, and to the people who were left behind.

Since he had three days before the world council convened, Lanegan had made a decision to hold a conference that did not involve any of his cabinet ministers and advisors because, after many meetings, he had been left frustrated and disappointed by their lack of sympathy for the rioters, who he believed were also victims, and their inability to come up with answers. Those invited to the meeting were experts of his choosing who he believed would be free from political motivation and ambitions. Lanegan had raised his hopes, fully in the knowledge that the experts he had called upon had received precisely the same state-approved education as his governmental advisors. Not even in these moments of violence and uncertainty would he have considered listening to a radical thinker, if one could be found. The meeting was certain to be an unpopular move among his cabinet colleagues. Advice that would affect national decisions was rarely taken from anyone except the political elite as it could potentially cause a dangerous return to the pre-crash era. The risk of a backlash was severe, but Lanegan had made up his mind. Of course, Ken Buckley, Lanegan’s oldest friend and ally would be present, along with Jacob Armstrong, Lanegan’s hand-picked intern who Lanegan thought would benefit from the experience.

In the hours leading up to the meeting, Lanegan had attempted to achieve the ordinarily simple task of sleeping. He was in unfamiliar territory, but he knew that to lead an effective offensive against the unknown causes of an angry world he would need to be calm and reassuring, decisive and bold. He would also need his full strength as effective action would soon be demanded.

A knock on his office door woke him out of his semi-sleep. He was confused and disorientated, a state not helped by his unfamiliar surroundings. He had slept little more than four hours at a time for the last three weeks. Because of this he had appeared distant and incapable of making clear decisions. This new condition was a fact that had not been lost on certain members of the government who had shown concern about his leadership. At no point prior to the troubles had he felt threatened in his role as leader. He had led competently and maintained the party’s well established policies. Lanegan, like those before him, had considered himself responsible for keeping the peace and so ensured they did not deviate from a reliable system.

Prime Minister, the committee of experts have arrived and are waiting for your briefing in the conference room. There is one non-attendee, Sam Corgan. We’re not sure of the reason, called Jenny, his secretary.

Okay Jenny, thank you. Make sure they have refreshments and I will be along shortly, he replied.

The titles given to members of the government were the only part of the modern political system that resembled the pre-crash era. Elections were considered dangerous and potentially damaging to the peace that existed and Lanegan’s particular title of Prime Minister was no longer won through a process of citizen participation and democracy; it was offered, as was each position within government, by the party members. The concern he now felt towards his position was due to his awareness that he could also be removed by a vote, by the same members who had chosen him to lead. If this scenario was to occur, he would be the first Prime Minister to experience this humiliating outcome.

He began to prepare himself, walking into the en-suite bathroom of his office he slapped himself in the face to try to ensure full concentration, and accidentally knocking a small amount of saliva and coffee onto his shirt; his tired eyes not noticing the stain. Staring at his reflection in the mirror the magnitude of the situation struck him with a fierce blow, momentarily forcing him to shake as his adrenaline soared to levels he had rarely felt before. His confidence had not waned despite their lack of progress in finding a solution, a fact that was now forcing him to think about his legacy. Momentarily overwhelmed, he shook his head in an attempt to dispel the feeling of anxiety he suddenly felt at being considered a failure. If the world was to descend into anarchy, his name would forever be associated with these events and their aftermath. This realisation made Lanegan grit his teeth as he convinced himself that he was still in control.

Keep focussed, he said to himself, and the solution will present itself to you. There is no option but success.

Lanegan left his office and met Ken Buckley in the corridor on their way to the conference room.

Ken, how was your meeting with the Lieutenant-General? he asked.

Informative, but without progress on a cause, answered Ken. There appears to be an establishing trend across the country of the rioter’s movements. They are clearly starting to move towards the city in groups and the numbers are visibly increasing. We don’t know why. He also informed me that the evacuation to the national parks is complete, it is a good job we were so organised. We have encountered a small number of people who are refusing to leave. I don’t see that we have a choice but to leave them here. How are Ella and the kids coping with their temporary home?

They’re doing fine. They wanted to stay, as you know. Moving to the forest was not exactly Ella’s first choice of venue. Do we have any figures on the current numbers of rioters?

I’m afraid not. We know they are in the tens of thousands, but it’s impossible to be accurate because of their previous random behaviour. Maybe now we can gauge a more accurate figure. What is certain is that there are too many to contain in any effective manner. We would need ten super-jails and we simply do not know how to look after them. The military and police forces are at full stretch providing for those that haven’t turned. Is there a reason why Toby wasn’t invited into this meeting? He is loyal and has supported us in every twist and turn as this has progressed.

I did consider it. But I would rather keep it to a minimum number of us in there. He has done brilliantly with the media so far in averting a panic and I didn’t want to take him away from that. I would like him to be a key player if we can find a solution, however. He is in my thoughts.

Lanegan looked at his watch, took a deep breath, then looked towards the conference room.

Before we go in, Tom, said Ken, I must say that I’m not convinced that this meeting is a good idea. There are those in the cabinet who may see this as an opportunity to push themselves forward. This may backfire in terms of how you are supported in the future. Any slips and your opponents will be ready to pounce. The talk of alternative action is already flowing through the party.

"I’m going