‘No! No! They’re parasites!’ voices echoed in the square.
‘Parasites, you say? I bet! They mimic. They are worse than parasites. We won’t confuse a cockroach with anything and we can just swat it with a slipper. But the representatives of our will chosen by us so skilfully take off their skins, merging with an army of their own kind as soon as they get what they want from us. They don’t remember their promises. They have one goal—to serve the interests of the party. And whom are the parties siding with?! I’m asking a question! Big business! That’s what’s important to them! They don’t want to think about our rotten teeth, about the collapsed paving stones in the park, about the need to develop transport infrastructure! They don’t want to pay the bills anymore! This is the way it is working now!’
‘And what makes you different? Are you better at all? It doesn’t look like your teeth are rotten!’ The crowd burst out laughing.
Robert was beaming. His right hand on his chest he continued:
‘That’s right! I managed to replace all my crowns before the price went up!’ again the wave of laughter rolled over. People were standing in front of the low podium where Robert was making a speech, and the crowd was getting bigger and bigger. The lunch time was the right choice.
‘I offer a simple solution. To act without any tricks and dodging. There will be no way for: I didn’t say that. Or: now this is not on my list of priorities. Or: it was in my previous life, no one will remember it now. This is how it usually happens. But here, the solution lies in the problem itself.
My team and I,’ Robert turned and pointed towards the people standing to his left so that others could see them on the right, ‘have launched a website where, in the first place, every speech we give, everything I say or write is published in the form of articles. Then, a simple and clear list of tasks with specific deadlines is provided. This list of tasks is my program. This is what I promise as your representative to do for you. These steps that will make our life in our neighbourhood, in our area better. Obviously, I will not be able to renounce my promises, my obligations to you. My site is called RichardsonPromises.соm. I know what to do to fulfil each of the items and projects I have stated. But I need your support. I need your mandate! I need your voice! I know what we can do together that we couldn’t have achieved before. I ask you to visit the RichardsonPromises.com website and look at the list, roadmap, fixed for years to come. If you feel like me! If the problems on the to-do list on the website and talked about here today matter to you
as well—vote! Vote for me! I need your voice so that we can together solve the issues that are important to everyone. Vote! My name is Robert Richardson! I want to be your voice in the Parliament!’
Music started playing. Robert began waving to the people in the crowd. Some responded with cheers waving their hands. Robert was standing on the podium, wearing a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow, no tie, black trousers and plain slightly shabby black shoes. As he was about to step down from the podium, he turned around, showing the website address embroidered in bright blue on his shirt RichardsonPromises.com. Next to the podium there were booklets with Robert’s election program, caps and T-shirts, pens and some other small souvenirs distributed on the racks.
Two men stood a little apart from the happening carefully watching what was going on.
‘Well, what are we supposed to do with this freak?’
‘Yeah. Well, yes. A good question. We have to rack our brains, look for what we can… how we can pin him down.’
‘The good question is, how he is going to do all the things that he screamed about here.’
‘Are you asking me or what? How do I know that. Maybe he’s not going to. Or maybe he knows how. The fuck will understand him. Some kind of a weasel.’
‘We have a problem here. I’ll tell you what.’
Precedent
‘Listen, Robert, why do we need all these buffoons here,’ Antonio wondered, looking at a noisy team of five consultants gathered in the kitchen in Robert’s house.
‘What do you think of it yourself?’
‘That’s money poured down the drain’.
‘First of all, yes, as you know, I am really amused by this whole story. I haven’t been so happy for a long time.’
‘I’m very happy for you. At least someone can be happy nowadays,’ Antonio finished his coffee and, put the cup on the saucer excessively loudly.
‘What’s wrong with you? What’s bothering you, my faithful associate?’ Robert smiled, putting his hand on Antonio’s shoulder. ‘Everything is going exactly according to the plan. We’re on schedule. We are geared-up to do the job. We have everything we need to win. Why are you so unhappy?’
‘I’m worried… worried about the confidentiality of the approach we take in our campaign…about what we rely on…’
‘This is what I say—we need expensive buffoons to provide us with an alibi. Don’t you think I was going to listen to their wise advice. To be fair, I have to admit that sometimes their crazy suggestions make sense. But in any case, we have a roadmap which we follow step by step. We understand clearly what to do and how to do it, what to say, what tune to use and in which circumstances. We know how to dress, what accents to make and the sequence to follow. We know which souvenirs to order. We even know what sort of cover rag has to be on the table, where my program will sit, and what colour this rag should be. We, Antonio, are now looking at the world as Newton looked at light through a glass prism. It’s not just a ray of light we see. We see all its components, the whole spectrum. We see what others don’t see. We know everything. Almost all of it. Of course, one shouldn’t be lost in a fit of obsession,’ Robert held up his index finger. ‘And those…people will serve as a screen for us. Everything will be fine. Don’t get nervous, Antonio. Maybe you need a day off? Go to see your folks in Perugia?’
‘Now? In the midst of a campaign! I don’t think it’s appropriate.’
‘Your twitching is also inappropriate.’
‘Listen, Robert, I’m also worried about our Russian friends.’
‘What’s wrong with them?’
‘They can put everything we do like a puzzle together, easy peasy.’
‘I think they’ve put everything together for some time already. What are you so worried about?’
Antonio looked at Robert confused:
‘And it doesn’t bother you that the Russians may know that we are using the analytical capabilities of the quantum system to plan an election campaign?’
‘D’you think they use the system themselves only to develop a plan for planting hydrangeas in their gardens? Or do you think that our Cabinet has not figured out how to use the AI in their work?’
‘I don’t know, Robert.’
‘I know. That’s why I’m sitting here with you, Antonio. I know, Robert paused for a moment, looking in the direction of the PR people. ‘I think you’ve heard about the forty-fifth President of America, Donald Trump?’
‘Of course I have!’ Antonio responded indignantly. ‘An odious guy.’
‘Well, then you probably know that he was accused of being actively assisted by Russian special services during his election campaign. Besides, they say that it was for the first time during his campaign that extensive database analytics of social networks was applied at large-scale.
Based on a deep analysis of user profile information, adjustments were made to the campaign. What’s the result? The results of the investigation indicated that all the allegations were unfounded. No facts have been discovered, nothing has been confirmed. That’s it, Antonio.’
‘Well, you’re not Trump yet, Robert.’
‘That’s right,’ he smiled. ‘But only for now. Listen, you and I are in a business where, all is fair in love and war, as they say. The way things used to be, the way they are now, or tens of thousands of years ago—nothing has changed. Human nature is the same as well as the possibilities of manipulation are. The only question is, which side of the barrier you will settle in—on the receiving side, or you have something to say. That’s it with the moment of reflection, enough, my friend. We are sprinting towards the deadline, and the outcome is close. Leave all your doubts aside!’
Robert slapped the assistant on the knee:
‘I want you to go to see your family for a couple of days. Get some rest. And don’t worry about the campaign. If we act in a competent and an intelligent way, everything will be according to the plan. Do you understand?’
‘All right, Robert. Point taken.’
‘Well done! Go home and get ready. And remember, we have obligations to the people!’ Getting up from the sofa and heading to the consultants in the kitchen, Robert winked at Antonio.
Uncle Chuck
‘Katerina’s birthday is next week. She’s already invited me. Are you coming?’ Bella asked her friend as she walked out of the school door.
‘I don’t know yet. She didn’t tell me anything,’ Vera was trying hard to put on her backpack. ‘Let me help you,’ Bella said, eager to help. ‘That’s it. Is that your mom standing there or what?’
‘Yes! Mom! Mom!’—the girls ran to the exit from the school grounds.
After hugging her daughter, the mother greeted Bella:
‘Hello, Bella. And who’s meeting you?’
‘Nobody, Mrs. Mennor. I’m on my own.’
‘Well, what d’you mean? Are you going home alone?’
‘I live very close from here. Round the corner and that’s it.’
‘Let’s take you home, Bella.’
‘No, Mrs. Mennor, thank you. Dad tells me to drive in other people’s cars.’
‘Your dad is right, of course. Well, you do know me.’
‘No, I’m on my own. Thanks.’
‘Are you sure? Vera and myself are ready to give you a lift home together.’
‘Well, I’ll do it myself. Bye, Vera. See you tomorrow. Goodbye, Mrs. Mennor.’
When she nearly made it home, Bella recalled that Dad had asked her to buy some bread for dinner and stopped by the store. There she took her time walking through different departments, looking at beautiful dresses, shoes and accessories at first, and then, going up to the second floor, where household goods were displayed, she chose a birthday gift for Katerina, which she could ask her mother to buy later. Having decided on the choice of a gift for a friend, Bella again went down to the first floor, where she decided to study cosmetics and perfumes on display.
One of the shop attendants approached the girl:
‘Hello. Can I help you with anything? Where’s your mom?’
‘Hello. I came here for bread.’
‘Ah, I see. So you go to that department over there, darling,’ the attendant pointed to the other side of the store.
‘Yes, thank you. I know.’
‘Well, that’s fine. I’ll buy some bread and go home if everyone is so worried,’ Bella thought.
‘Bella, is it you? Bella Chapska?’ a guy in a grey tracksuit and a cap caught up with her on the street when she was already approaching home.
Bella looked at the guy and walked on.
‘Bella, where are you going? Don’t you recognize me or what? I’m Uncle Chuck. Your dad’s cousin. Dad asked me to meet you and keep an eye on you while he’s busy. Look,’ Uncle handed
Bella a communicator with a video message recorded by dad: Chuck, hi. Could you meet Bella today and look after her for a couple of hours while I’m at work sorting things out. I have to stay a little longer today. Help me out, my friend, would you!».
Bella looked at Uncle Chuck again:
‘I don’t remember you,’ she said uncertainly.
‘Well, you remember your dad,’ Uncle Chuck smiled. Bella nodded in affirmative. ‘Well, that’s great then. Give me your hand and let’s go. We’ll wait for Dad at my place. I live not far from here.’
Uncle Chuck called a capsule to make sure not to miss Dad and in 15 minutes they were already at his house in the living room.
‘I told your dad that we are here and waiting for him. He sent you a big hello.’
Bella was sitting in an armchair and watching cartoons on the wall panel.
‘What do you like better—ice cream or chocolate? Bella?’
‘Mom won’t let me eat ice cream. And Dad says that eating chocolate is bad for my teeth.’
‘Yeah, good. And what do you think yourself?’
‘I love ice cream and chocolate.’
‘I thought so, Bella! I just happen to have a chocolate ice cream! Let’s make a deal like this. I’m going to make two servings of ice cream for you and me, we’re going to eat it together. And then…and then we’ll play with you! Agreed?’ Uncle Chuck smiled and looked at Bella almost like Dad.
‘All right, Uncle Chuck.’
‘Well, there! That’s quite another story! Wait here. I’ll be right back.’
There was some noise in the corridor. Someone entered the place.
‘Uncle Chuck! Ow! Are you home, Uncle Chuck?’
Uncle Chuck suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Stunned and taken by surprise, he stood in the kitchen with two bowls of ice cream in his hands. Having recovered from shock, he put the ice cream on the table and went out into the corridor, where his mother was standing in the doorway.
‘Ah! Here you are, my dear Uncle Chuck. How are you?’
He looked his mother straight in the eye, his heart racing.
‘Where’s our sweet little Bella?’ the mother went into the living room. ‘Ah, there she is! Hello, Bella! You’ve grown up so much! You are such a beauty! Damn it!’ Entering the room, the woman hit a coffee table. She was still wearing her sunglasses, even though it was dark in the living room. The trees in the backyard, where the windows looked out, blocked the sunlight.
‘I’m sorry, Bella. Swearing is not good at all. Oh well. My name is… Tina. I’m your Uncle Chuck’s mom. It turns out that I am your great-aunt. I’m really glad that we finally met, Bella.’
The girl, confused completely, sat quietly in a chair, not knowing what to do next. She felt like crying.
‘So! Grandma commanded. ‘Crying is the last thing we need, Bella. It’s all good, isn’t it?! I’m taking you home now, baby. Your dad will be home soon. Come on, pack up and let’s go, honey. I’ll call the car now.’
‘Bella, say your uncle bye-bye,’ grandma took the girl by the hand, and they left the house.
Uncle Chuck was still standing in the dark corridor, motionless.
Sir Lawrence
‘That damn middle-aged dandy Richardson is ahead of me by 7 points. And this is only the middle of the campaign. Do you get it? By seven points! What are we going to do?! What?! What are we going to do with it?! The election is in four months. We have lost. Damn it!!’ Peter was pacing up and down the room like a wind-up toy. His noble profile was reflected in the mirrors of the bright living room, where his assistant and personal secretary were watching him going hysterical. Lord Lawrence’s evening program included a visit to the Royal Albert Hall. He was almost ready, just to change for a dinner jacket.
‘Please calm down, sir. You can’t torment yourself like that. It could end up bad. Peter, you’re not a hundred years old. So think about your health first, sir,’ his assistant tried to calm down the patron.
‘What do we have on him? Have you collected the material? Have you been able to collect any material at all? Damn you!’ He plopped down in a chair opposite his employees and his lean body jumped slightly in it, making him even more unhappy.
‘Elsa! Elsa!’ Sir Lawrence called the maid in a shrill voice. ‘Where the hell did she get to?! ELSA!
Elsa floated into the living room in a hurry:
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Tea, please, bring us tea. And cookies, as I like it.’
‘Of course, sir. I’ll do it straight away, sir. Is there anything else you’d like, gentlemen?’ She looked at her master’s guests.
‘No, thanks. Although… please bring some water without gas.’
‘Why do you need water, Mao. We’re going to have tea…well, if that’s what you want. Thank you, Elsa.’
‘So, gentlemen, what do we have on this pygmy?’ The lord persisted.
‘Sir, at the moment there is information on hand that is common knowledge. We are working on…’ Peter Lawrence took a newspaper from the coffee table and started beating with it mercilessly on the side of the chair.
‘Do you see? It was clean here a minute ago! Now, having worked on it with a newspaper, I have knocked out all the dirt and dust from this chair. Do you know how old this silk is?’
‘Excuse me, sir?’
‘That damn golden silk!’ Peter started hitting the chair with the newspaper again. ‘Almost as old as that fop and filthy American immigrant. He goes, you know, back and forth! 100 years! This chair is 100 years old and its silk upholstery as well. You have to work better! Dirt and dust are everywhere! Is it clear to you?!’
‘Yes, sir. Quite clear,’ the assistant replied.
‘Peter, the problem is that there is nothing on him at all. It’s just that everything is clean,’ Secretary Mao joined the conversation. ‘I can hardly imagine this possible at all.’
‘Here we go again! Did you both plot together today?! Are you kidding me?!’
‘Peter, I’m trying to give you the real picture, not only what you would be pleased to hear. Well, excuse me.’
Elsa brought in tea and cookies served on a small cart. After taking a few sips, Peter calmed down a little:
‘Good. Of course, I understand your arguments. But I’m sure, I’m 100% sure, more than 100% sure that this scoundrel has skeletons in his closet! Just look at him,’ Peter gestured to a panel on the wall, with the picture of Robert Harold Richardson—the lord’s main competitor in the upcoming elections to the British parliament.—He’s just perfect. Young. Handsome. Fit. His clothes perfectly chosen. His program ideal. He even has a pedigree. Although it limps a lot. And what about his wife or husband, or who does he sleep there with? What about the family? Did you search?’
‘Yes, sir. We didn’t find anything worth mentioning there. So far.’
‘It’s good that you’ve got the point—not found yet. Well, I will not go around in circles.’
‘And what about his stupid mother? With this weird kind of an actress who dragged the whole family over to the States? Worked as a cook there or whoever. I don’t remember exactly anymore,’ Peter bit into a cookie and took a couple of sips.’ I used to know her for once long time ago. When I was still very young. More than a hundred years… exactly more than a hundred years ago. Even before she emigrated to the U.S. What about her?
‘Sir,’ the assistant started, ‘when Robert got back on his feet, returning from America to England, he moved the whole family back. His mother now also lives in London. We couldn’t have gathered anything interesting on her. There’s no information at all. And his father died in the States. Liver cirrhosis. But this story has been around for so many years that it makes no sense to use it somehow.’
‘How did he get on his feet here, as you say? Who helped him and how?’ the lord definitely was not going to calm down.
‘An uncle. His uncle did well in the PR business. He had his own successful company, which he handed over to his nephew. That is to Robert. His uncle was one of the prominent gay activists in England. He invested a lot of money in the gay community support fund when this topic was relevant in the society. I mean, once the so-called gay community needed support, protection and money to lobby for its interests. Which, of course, is irrelevant now at all. But at the time, Robert’s uncle made a notable contribution to this cause.’
‘I know what you mean. There’s no need to chew everything up here for me. So maybe this Richardson likes boys too,’ Peter said hopefully.
‘Who cares now, sir,’ assistant Mao objected.
‘Well, what can one expect of this society! Nothing is of interest to anyone anymore! What are they interested in at all!’ Peter was getting excited again.
‘In my early days, having such secretive adventures, one could have paid with his career. There were times! Not interested… Look around! Search! There must be something! If you are not able to solve the issue on your own,’ the lord continued, ‘let’s check how much it will cost to delegate such job to professionals. How much is the work of a detective agency? Based on the story you have yarned to me here, I see two possible directions that should be pursued.
First. There is nothing, and everything is cleaned up.
How could it be that a person nowadays would not have a digital footprint? Well? It’s obvious even for me. And I’m already, excuse me, over 150! Second. Let’s call it boys. Let them dig into his crazy uncle and himself. Who is he dating? Who is he sleeping with? Work! Dig in, guys!
Dig in!’
Plan
Robert was sitting at his desk in his home office. Dusk was falling down. It had been dark in the office for a while, but he didn’t turn on the light.
‘Why are you sitting here in the dark, dear?’ his mother came into the office and turned on the light.
‘I was waiting for you,’ his eyes narrowed with bright light.
‘Hello, Robert,’ she came up to him and kissed him on the back of the head. ‘You look smashing as always, my boy.’
‘The genes are yours.’
‘Well, yes. What else. Maybe we’ll have some tea?’ she asked.
‘What is it?’
‘I just wanted to see you. Find out how you’re doing. How’s your campaign going? And, by the way, where is your friend… Antonio, I think. Stallion! An Italian thoroughbred stallion!’
‘A stallion in Italy.’
‘You mean in Italy?’
‘Antonio, Mom, is in Italy now. Do you need him for any reason?’
‘No, my boy. That’s just my way. Well, is everything going according to the plan?’
‘Yes, exactly.’
‘I’m very happy for you.’
‘It’s too early to celebrate yet. There are still four months to go until the end of the campaign.’
‘Of course. I remember, Robert. Tell me, do you have any kind of contingency plan?’ she gestured quotation marks. ‘How do you plan to solve problems, should they arise, of course?’
Robert took a deep breath and looked at his mother:
‘I’m working on it.’
‘I want to tell you, my boy, that I think the risks are minimal.’
"If unforeseen circumstances hadn’t interfered with my plans, Mom, there would have been nothing to solve.’
‘There’s nothing to discuss here, Robert. There are things—, she looked at him and shifted her gaze to the window, in which the golden foliage on the trees were rhythmically counting down the remaining hours until the end of autumn. ‘You know, because I never told you. When I was little, almost like that little girl, I also found myself in a similar situation. And you know, my boy, no one came to my help then.’
There was dead silence in the room.
‘Well, that was a long time ago,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I have been living in this world for almost 150 years. And I’ve seen a lot. It is, what it is. I want to tell you that I hardly see any risks.’
‘There are risks,’ Robert replied. ‘And they’re rather high. I am a public person. My voice sounds often, and it can be heard. This may be the main problem that needs to be solved. That’s how I see the situation now.’
Getting up from the chair and coming up to the door, the mother turned to him:
‘I will love and protect you always, as it has been in any circumstances, my dear boy,’ she quietly closed the door.
Robert was sitting at the table for a some time, staring into an empty aquarium, where two fish were lying on the bottom. The sticker he left a few days ago was still on the glass: Do not feed! RGR.