Agenda 21

People have always gone missing in Broomlee, dissidents, fifth columnists, United Nations protestors, conspiracy theorists, and religious zealots. Although, to tell the truth, almost all religious freaks are gone. Having said that, the United Nations has swapped the Jesus religion for their own, and there are just as many 'priests'; although we call them Goodwill Helpers and World Servants. But now they preach 'Humanism' and 'Agenda 21'. We celebrate Wesak, instead of Christmas. Not that I have ever celebrated Christmas. I've been living under Agenda 21 all my life, but I have heard stories. Plus, the Helpers and Servants, never stop reminding us of how bad things were under the tyranny of Christianity, and it's pernicious wasteful celebration of Christmas.

Nowadays, under the Rule of Agenda 21 everything is rationed; everything is shared-our property, our homes, our women and our bodies. The United Nations owns everything. Of course, the Architects (our rulers), the Helpers (our priests and teachers) and the Vipers (our protectors) get a little bit more, and get to have their own women and property. Still, we the Prols are happy with arrangement, aren't we?

Well, just last week, over a hundred malcontents vanished in one night. A few people dared to wonder where they had gone. A Helper informed us they were participating in a Lifelong Learning Programme, and would resettle in a new town called Molton and Lye. The word on the street was that the Vipers executed them for planning a protest.

As a result, the curfew time was dropped from 9 to 8pm. John McTavish deliberately stayed out till over 8:15 that night. He was never seen again.

The next night, there was the sound of gunfire in the distance. After that, no one dared ask anymore questions, nor break the curfew.

But strangely, the more docile and submissive we became, the more Vipers there seemed to be on the streets.

It was in the midst of this 'Great Awakening' as it was called, that I would become part of the dissident movement known as 'Clockwork'.

I was at the market place, spending my ration tokens, when I was stopped by a Viper. He performed a quick bag search. He claimed that the produce I had purchased had not being weighed correctly, and so it would be confiscated. I was almost about to argue, telling him that I would starve, when my 'brother' spotted the situation, and intervened.

(Now when I call him my brother, I could not be sure that he was. No one, except the Architects, know their parents and siblings. But we did end up in the same Unification Pedagogy Centre, and we did look a bit alike; so, we decided we were brothers. We kept it secret, because all such relationships were frowned upon, and people quickly found themselves 'resettled' if uncovered.)

"What seems to be the problem, Sir?" my brother asked as politely as he could.

"Move it!" the Viper said as rudely as he could, and motioned with his hand to grab his gun.

"Please, Sir," my brother went on. "Can't you leave him a little sustenance? He is a good worker, and without his nourishment, he will starve. It is over a week till our next ration time."

The Viper pointed his gun at my brother's head. "I.D. and ration card!" he demanded.

My brother reached in his jacket to get his documents, but pulled out a gun.

"Whaa?" blubbered the Viper in shock.

Without hesitation my brother shot him in the face, below his eye visors and above his neck armour. The force of the shell blew him off his feet.

The entire market froze, and went silent.

"Run!" he screamed.

I did, but I wasn't alone. The entire market place scattered in all directions. Vipers opened up fire on my brother, and me.