18 Disintegration.
Robert limped for a week, and sporadic terrorist acts resumed.
Due to inexplicable malfunctioning of police communications from landlines to wireless and global positioning devices, officers never managed to arrive at the correct spot until long after the damage had been done.
The atrocities were always followed by warning notices on radio, TV and in print; usually a religious quotation signed JECHIS.
Individuals who were dressed inappropriately or behaving badly in public were roughed up a little by small groups of vigilantes and threatened with the wrath of god if they ignored the warnings posted everywhere. Sometimes a house or business would be bombed… usually when empty and doing little physical damage… a reminder of what was in store for those who ignored god’s commandments.
Everyone was talking about JECHIS, but no one knew who or what it was.
Official news bulletins in the corporate press and on Internet sites tended to play down the incidents, telling people not to become alarmed; the police had it under control; arrests were imminent; it was only a few isolated individuals, not organised terrorists.
Internet searches by concerned individuals failed to discover any useful reference to JECHIS. The emails received by every citizen were untraceable, as were social media posts. Alternative news and opinion websites reckoned JECHIS was distributing a virus that blocked and then deleted all references to themselves on every computer or Internet site.
Sensible people became alarmed that control of the digital system on which the civilized world depended, had been taken over. Every human service required computers linked to the Internet in order to function: from water supplies to transport of food and goods, sewage treatment to energy distribution and education. It was far too late to return to what some people were already referring to as the good old days, so what were the intentions of this JECHIS?
Not only was there no verifiable information about anything to do with them, but there were never any witnesses of attacks and bombings, and the police had so far been unable to trace the source of the explosives.
When rumours began circulating that all the incidents were acts of an angry god, millions shuddered and decided they had better learn to pray… because what else could explain the mystery? But who should they pray to? To the disgust of Fidel and friends, hundreds of thousands of otherwise rational citizens began wondering aloud if there might be a smidgin of truth in those rumours, and perhaps in the interests of a long life it would be sensible to join the invisible dispensers of god’s mercy, love and judgement. The problem was, no one knew where to find JECHIS, let alone how to become a member.
The desire to join the winning team is both natural and rational, and in this case was reinforced by the daily dissemination of simplified religious texts on all electronic media, as well as leaflets left in public places and notices pasted on fences and walls. It was a very clever campaign…enough annoyance to make people worry, not enough to cause open revolt—especially as there was no shortage of food or every other essential. In fact apart from the bombings, nothing much had changed. Confusing.
As the attacks had been widely spaced throughout the suburbs of Brisbane and regional centres, no one felt especially singled out. It was a softening up; but what for? What did they want?
What they wanted was a frightened populace that would gratefully accept its rule in order to stop the constant fear that next time it might be them.
As tension mounted, that was exactly what was happening. The voices demanding resolution grew louder and louder. But the masterminds of the take-over were not in a hurry. Their intended subjects had first to be taught not to complain for fear of possible consequences. The ‘Free Press’ rapidly learned that lesson and published nothing that might cause a bomb to explode near them. Thus when ‘Adult’ night clubs and other venues that featured strippers were raided by masked marauders who laid waste to the interiors and as many patrons as possible, the stories appeared a few days later as mere footnotes buried deep in turgid prose. Editorials even made approving noises when all nudity, sex, porn and suggestive photographs and articles disappeared from the Internet.
Perhaps JECHIS was right, the citizenry began to whisper. Perhaps people who wanted sex outside marriage, or to be entertained by naked women and copulating couples were degenerate humans, offensive to their creator, and even… perhaps… deserved to die?
Bloggers rapidly learned to toe the line when they discovered that JECHIS knew exactly who they were, where they lived, who with, and how to hurt them. The possibility of anonymity that had already been disappearing thanks to global state and corporate Internet surveillance, vanished completely, to be replaced by an unbearable awareness of an invisible omniscient force that knows and sees all and is powerful enough to do as it pleases. Organised religion’s depictions of god no longer seemed quite so preposterous.
Humans cope remarkably well and rationally with even catastrophic physical events, but they aren't well equipped to cope with impotence conferred by constant, irrational fear that eats away integrity, judgement, honesty, values and morality, fuelled by messages that appear as if by magic on walls throughout the city, one on top of the other, adding to uncertainty—an uncertainty aggravated by the following announcement.
JECHIS is the invisible instrument of our creator who has decided it is time to sift goodness from evil in preparation for the End Times, which are upon us. Do not waste energy seeking us out; instead seek out the evil in your hearts and repent and mortify yourselves in the hope of mercy on the day of judgement.
Hylas finished his school year with relief and a certificate that assured any future employer that he had completed Year Twelve at St. Tightwad’s College. He always enjoyed the monthly dinners with Monique and Sanjay, and soon became Sanjay’s favourite when he discovered they shared the same dry, oddball humour that left the others shaking their heads. The sole topic of conversation expressly forbidden during these relaxing and enjoyable get-togethers, was JECHIS.
The attacks stopped; but this time no one relaxed. Everyone kept looking over their shoulders expecting to be blown up, mugged, attacked, abducted…
Then one evening every screen attached to the Internet, mobile phone, TV and radio station suddenly broadcast the same message… “The State Governor has accepted the resignation of all elected representatives in the Queensland Parliament, and on the advice of JECHIS, has appointed a triumvirate of three moral and spiritual men; Caleb Saloman, Augustan Calvin and Muhammad Zurca.” The screen darkened for exactly fifteen seconds, followed by a blast of trumpets that made watchers jump and announced the arrival of a dot of golden light in the centre of the screen that gradually enlarged until it revealed a tall, well-fed man in long black robes and a skullcap, sitting behind a large and ornate desk.
‘Good evening. I am Caleb Saloman.’ The voice was nasal and intense—irritating. ‘I am here to tell you that in the interests of fiscal stability, all the banks, building societies and other financial institutions have been taken over by JECHIS. Interest will be pegged at three percent for borrowing and two point five for lending. All deposits by individuals are safe and all transactions will continue as usual unless there is civil unrest when changes may have to be made. Share market trading is suspended and all corporate assets are frozen pending investigation into the true state of their finances. Twenty-seven executives who objected to these essential measures were executed this afternoon in front of their staff as an example.’ He nodded and the screens went blank for a few seconds before everything returned to normal.
Everyone was relieved to know their money was safe—at least for a while, but wondered what it would do to the value of the dollar internationally.
In vain did rabbis, mullahs, priests and ministers of the three biggest corporate religions exhort their dwindling flocks to reject the blandishments of JECHIS and trust in their version of god, telling them to pray and refrain from heeding the call of self-serving maniacs. Over the following days, loyal JECHIS officers of truth and justice confronted every publicly rebellious leader and strangled them in front of their congregations inside their temples to false gods.
By the end of the following month, all places of worship that refused to preach the JECHIS doctrines were blasted off their foundations and bulldozed into flat spaces for future tennis courts and other useful social activities.
Their erstwhile adherents then wisely discovered that god was on the side of JECHIS, and being only human, joined him.
Homeowners began receiving visitors dressed in black accompanied by guards with powerful assault rifles, knives and handguns, presenting search warrants that they used to remove computers and take people away. Sometimes they returned, sometimes they didn’t. The police, when informed, shrugged and told the complainants to let sleeping dogs lie.
All mainstream media hailed the Triumvirate as a triumph of good government, bringing peace and stability.
And time passed.
Hylas became an assistant trainer as well as handyman. He turned eighteen.
Bart’s mother, who had withdrawn from all social activity and become virtually catatonic from long term anti-depressant addiction, finally took the plunge off the observation platform at Picnic Point in front of about fifty people, whose determination to get a better view of the body splashed onto rocks fifty metres below nearly shoved a few more people over.
Bart was simultaneously relieved and guilt struck. It had been two years since he had visited her, finding it too distressing to sit with a woman he still loved, who would do nothing except sit silently and refuse to speak or move or listen or react. He knew it was his father’s bullying and violence that had made her life unbearable, but couldn’t throw off the notion that her strict Catholic upbringing and consequent inability to cope with having a gay son, had contributed perhaps even more. She had never visited him since Robert moved in—refused to see Robert under any circumstances.’
The patrons of Arnold’s gymnasium, while not unaffected by the on again, off again violence, managed to forget the horrors for a while at Natural Fitness, blanking out problems while burning off fat on the equipment. To most, the gym had become an island of sanity in a sea of hysteria, run by trainers whose innocent decency set them apart from lesser mortals. When asked to explain how they felt about the staff they fumbled for words.
‘It’s as if they are pure,’ someone said.
‘Yeah. When Fidel comes and adjusts an apparatus, or asks me in that deep soft voice how I'm going, or explains the use of equipment, I get a strange tickling in my gut, as if I'm in the presence of someone special who genuinely cares and is interested in me, not in the impression he’s creating.’
‘You sound almost religious.’
‘I almost am. I believe in angels.’
‘I don’t have a religious bone in my body, but I agree with you. I think it’s because they hide nothing we feel as if we know them. Being naked, they look vulnerable and honest and…and good.’ The speaker looked around at smiling faces. ‘Yeah, I know it sounds soft, but it’s how I feel and I wish I was like them.’
‘They certainly aren't bloated capitalists; what they charge must be only the bare running costs.’
‘My wife doesn't understand, she thinks I’ve turned queer and only come to perve. But there's nothing to perve at. You just see a whole man for what he is. If that's not the sign of an upright, honourable and decent person, I don’t know what is.’
A week later, the world was offered a glimpse into the nature of their triumphant Triumvirate overlords when on prime time TV an elderly man who looked like everyone’s sweet old grandfather made the following announcement.
“People are wondering who or what JECHIS is. It is a benevolent host of Jews, Christians and Islamists who value the fundamental values of their faiths and have watched with aching hearts as humanity disintegrates into warring tribes devoid of morals, ethics or values…intent only on securing wealth and power. This offence to the expressed desires of the one true Lord and Master of the universe, must be stopped. To this end the holy men of JECHIS have put aside two thousand years of differences and acknowledged the single root from which their religions blossomed. Strengthened by this, they have accepted the burden of returning mankind to the original beliefs and dogma of Judaism, Christianity and Islam that dictate the correct thoughts and actions for all humankind. To achieve this holy aim, all impure thoughts and actions will be punished according to ancient law. Foolish people have complained that innocent bystanders are being caught up in our cleansing expeditions. Be assured there are no innocent bystanders. Let your Lord and Master decide who is guilty and remember that you all are guilty of impure thoughts.”
A few days later, the client who believed in angels took Arnold aside and said softly, ‘Please show no reaction to what I'm about to say or I will get into trouble.’
‘Ok.’
‘You will be inspected during the evening session in two days time. Put locked doors between the men’s and women’s gyms, and agree to everything, then you will be safe.’
Arnold remained impassive and in a conversational tone thanked him and continued with the session.
At the after work conference, he shared the information and advice.
‘He is probably correct,’ Bart said thoughtfully. ‘We aren't the only people to be inspected. It’s happening everywhere. The business premises of one of the men in the 3V group was visited by black clad members of JECHIS. He reckoned they were constantly trying to trap him by making outrageous suggestions to see if he would argue, because in Deuteronomy 17:12 it states that people who don't listen to, or reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents their god, must be put to death. He survived, but knows someone who was taken out and shot for arguing with the inspector, so he’s a nervous wreck. If he’s right, and I think he is, it’s essential we remain calm and impassive no matter what they say. Never argue. We’re especially susceptible because we’re naked, although Arnold’s man suggests we shouldn’t worry about that.’
In order to impress on their own minds the seriousness, they stood and one at a time solemnly promised that whatever the inspectors might say or suggest, they would agree with. There would be no arguing, no attempt to offer a different point of view, no matter how evil.
‘But even if we do agree with everything, they won’t believe us.’
‘That doesn’t matter. I'm pretty sure they aren't trying to convince us they're right; they simply demand we accept their absolute authority. It’s normal. It’s how humans are still ruled in most countries, and have been ruled since they stopped being hunter-gatherers. The people who head Religious organisations aren't stupid, they know that humans can never agree on anything, so the only way to make them conform is to put the fear of god and his messengers into them.’
‘Our society isn't like that.’
‘What happens if you drive on the wrong side of the road, don’t pay tax, steal your neighbour’s car, shit in the street?’
‘You're right…now I feel stupid.’
‘You aren't—like most people you’ve been brainwashed to think your country’s perfect. All we have to do is keep our wits about us and agree with them…but not like creepy sycophants. They're only impressed by what they call ‘real’ men. Our beards will help.’
The other trainers were apprised of the inspection and told to stay completely away from the gym on full pay until they heard from Arnold. All six were fiercely independent men, and for that reason unlikely to remain calm in the face of absurdity dressed as reason.