The Shift of Numbers (18 page)

“I see,” she said, without commitment, her accent the median of all accents.

Gordon gazed upon her, pretending he knew what he was talking about and trying not to lose her interest. He could feel it slipping away from him. “Basically, it should be a quite a lot of fun. You get to meet a group of people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, build some things, live by a beautiful beach, learn some new skills and get to be on the TV. What do you think?”

“Sounds good.” She smiled and Gordon decided immediately.

“So you’re up for it?”

“You mean?” Her smile and eyes grew wide.

“You’re in.”

“That’s incredible! Thank you so much! But I haven’t really told you anything about myself.”

“That’s okay. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other on the show.”

“You’re going to be on it?”

“Yes. The show doesn’t really need any staff as it’s all filmed on state-of-the-art fixed cameras and in a video diary room, so I’ll be pitching in on the community.”

“Cool. What channel’s it going to be on?” she asked happily.

“It doesn’t quite work like that. After the show has finished, we will edit the footage and send the TV networks a draft pilot of the show which, if it’s good enough (and I’m sure it will be), they will put on the air.” Gordon glanced at his watch realising he was running very late. “I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.” He smiled. “Can you send in the next person on your way out?” He stood up with a hand outstretched.

Sophia walked around the table and gave him a brief hug. “Thank you.”

He was still smiling as the next person walked in, a middle-aged lady with sad-looking eyes and spectacles dangling from a chain around her neck. She seemed to be bowed under some invisible weight, as if her glasses were incredibly heavy. Gordon rose to shake her hand.

“Good afternoon. I’m Gordon. Sorry about the delay.”

“Hello. I’m Joan.”

Gordon shuffled around some paperwork. “Erm, where do you work, Joan?”

“
I work in
a factory that burns money,” s
he replied.

“Really!” Gordon grinned.
“Perfect. Welcome to the show.” He stood again to shake her hand.

“That’s it?” Joan said incredulously.

“Yep. S
ee you in 2 week
s.”

After a number of thank-you
s and a couple of tears
,
Joan turned to leave. As she reached the door
,
Gordon remembered something.

“Do you have a family or are you coming alone?”

“Alone,
” Joan replied in a quiet voice.

"Never eat more than you can lift.
”

Miss Piggy

DAY 1

Gordon – 18:12

It’s a bit weird talking to a camera that only I will probably watch but I thought I should give it a go. Everyone else seems reluctant to come in here. Erm… Goodbye me. Oh, I best stay in here for a bit. Give them the impression I have something to say…

Sunny – 19:06

Hi, I’m Sunny and this is all very exciting. I have officially fallen on my feet. What other student can get 6 months
’
free accommodation in a stunning location with free food and booze chucked in? Not many, I can tell you that. I’ve decided to try and do as little work as possible but I’ll keep you informed of my lack of progress. Laters.

Poppy and Tom – 19:27

I like the beach but the pool smells funny.

Yes
,
very funny.

I’m Tom.

And I’m Poppy … Let’s go explore more.

Don’t pull me.

Deborah and Howard – 21:10

Hello.

Hello. T
he kids have been in so we thought we would give it a try. Bit scary thinking so many people could watch this.

It is indeed
,
dearest.

Don’t really know what to say now…

Well
,
should come back tomorrow after a good night
’
s sleep.

Yes.

Sophia – 21:24

Hi
,
all
.
I’m Sophia. I’m really excited about this place. It’s so beautiful here and it’s nothing like I’ve ever done before. To be honest
,
I’ve never really worked before. I hope it
’
s fun.

Joan – 21:42

Hello. W
hoops, probably didn’t need to wave. T
he accommodation seems lovely. A
ll the sheets are new and everything smells like new paint.
It’s all so unbelievable
,
I can hardly believe it
! This
is
just the new start I need. I so wish my Pete could be here. Oh, I do hope they like me.

Jacob – 22:41

Good evening, I’m Jacob… Erm, most of us arrived around 4 o’clock this afternoon. We were
told to wait in the car park. W
ell
,
I say car park but it’s just a bit of ground with less grass than the rest. Anyhow
,
we waited until Gordon and the
other
s
turned up in a coach before we had a look around our new home for the next half a year. I have to say I’m very impressed so far. Oh, a bit about
myself. I’m a doctor at Mercy General in the C
ity and work in the emergency department. I
do
hope my skills are not required on this
little social experiment, ha ha
. Anyway
,
as I was saying, we arrived at around 4 today and have just about got settled in. We drew straws for the rooms we were all assigned, well
,
apart from the families
,
o
f course. I think there are 3. F
amilies, that is… Tomorrow, being Sunday, we’ve all decided to go down to the beach for some sort of barbeque as a sort of a getting to know each other session. A dam
n
good idea
,
I thought. Well, goodnight all.

Isabella – 23:04

O my god, I’m on the telly!
Hi
, mum. H
ello
,
everyon
e else. The girls down Bradley R
oad are ne
ver going to believe this! Er…
d
on’t
know what to say really…
I’m
on the tel
ly
. O my god
, it’s so nice here! L
ike being on holiday! Can’t believe ho
w long that man spent in here. W
hat on earth can you talk about for that long?

DAY 2

Ben – 07:02

Hello. I didn’t get a chance to come in yesterday. Early to bed, early to
rise
, that’s me. I work for Chemical Bank on Lexington. I’m 34 and for the better part of my life I had the honour of serving in the 12
th
Airborne. We were part of the final push on the capital in the great purges. We were there, getting rid of those greedy treacherous bastards. Can’t believe it was almost 18 years ago…I’ll have to tell Gordon I won’t be here next Thursday and Friday. Regimental reunion you see. Great bunch of lads.

Jacob – 16:23

Afternoon, all.
I can inform you that the barbeque was a great success. We all got introduced to each other properly and had a splash of wine. The food…
mm
mM, Howard and Deborah can
really
cook. I will have to pop into their restaurant at some point. I’m a little worried about
some of our younger inhabitants.
I do hope they don’t drink too much and stay out all day in the sun. I’ll take them some sunscreen. Yes.

Gordon – 18:46

This is brilliant.
I’ve met some fantastic
people. The food is fantastic. S
hould have brought more drink down to the beach
,
though… What the hell am I doing in here?

Sunny, Isabella, Sophia and Gordon – 01:17 

We’ve had a great night,
ain’t
we?

YES WE HAVE.

O my god! There’s some boring people here though, sooo bad. Bet they moan tomorrow. Pass us the bottle.

You’ve only known them for a day…

They’re old before
their
…you know?

What?

I
dunno
…time.

Who’s older than their time, Isabel?

You know…Jacob, Ben
,
and all them.

I’m sure they have the
ir
plus points. What are we doing in here
,
anyhow?

They don’t
have
much hair between them…

I can cut hair, that’s what
I
do. I could do it lovely... Gordon, GORDON.

Just leave him.

Why?

I think he’s gone to throw up. H
e’s yummy.

Sunny!

O my god!

Well…

I’ll go find him.

Do you think?

What?

You know…Sophia…and…

Those pair?

DAY 5

Deborah – 07:12

Had a terrible night’s sleep. A few of my
uncommunity
-minded colleagues woke us up last night as they made their way back from the beach. I wouldn’t mind but they woke Poppy up and she finds it terribly hard to get back off to sleep when she’s been woken. I can’t believe Howard. He didn’t even stop snoring! Ah well, I best get off to work. I’m going to surprise everyone tonight with some treats from the restaurant.

Jacob – 08:10

Good morning, all. A
nd as 1 of the fortunate few who
loves
their j
ob I am continuing to work full-
time. I believe Howard and Debo
rah might still be working full-
time but I’m not entirely sure. I will have to follow that up and get back to you. The community workers are still working on that ho
rrible pool and clearing fields.
I do think some of them are treating it a bit like a holiday camp… Oh dear
, is that the time?

Sunny – 16:01

This is the easiest, most entertaining few days I have ever spent, and you don’t even have to chip in for the beer! We haven’t really achieved anything towards sel
f-sufficiency yet. All I’ve
done is work on the pool, hardly a priority.

Joan – 17:40

Handed in my notice today so I only have 2 more weeks of work. Really looking forward to being able to pitch in round here. I’ve always wanted to grow my own veg and stuff. Might ask everyone if I can start
a
herb garden.

Gareth – 17:59

Hullo, everyone. We marked out some fields this morning and should be getting ’em tilled and planted within a couple of weeks. Some of these young ’uns
ain’t
done a day’s work before. They’re enfusiastic though. I’ll give ’em that.

Isabella – 19:56

Feeling SOO
O ill.
O my god.
I couldn’t even go to work today. I hope the girls weren’t to
o
swamped at the salon. I’m NOT drinking t
onight... I really like Sunny. H
e is SOO
O
much fun. Think I’ve found a real friend there.

Sophia – 20:04

Hello, having a great time. Gordon has gone out of his way to make me feel welcome and
,
although the jobs have been a bit gruesome, that pool for starters, the vibe is really laid back and relaxed.
Just what I n
eeded after the last 6 months.
A
nyhow I better go.

*

Gordon walked slowly into the dim light of the TV room,
then
leaned
against the door at the back of the room. He glanced around to see if she was here. He could just make out the side of her face painted by the flickering light from glowing box. His e
yes lingered briefly before be
ing accosted by the moving images.

“…
the
hour-
long speech, available to watch
in full on the C
hannel 6 website, add
ressed before Assembly and the H
ouse of Sub-Commanders was filled with references to the terrorist threat posed by Visio Targus. Here are some exce
rpts:
”

“Today we rise, like an eagle circling the battlefield, fully awakened to the danger imposed upon every soul of this great land, a land once again draped in the shrouds of war. A grief felt by a nation from a coward’s attack has shifted to stern resolution and a demand for swift and unyielding justice. Let me shoulder your fears, your worries, and let the tears of our great nation be the judge of these crue
l and merciless terror-mongers.

“I will not stand by idle as the enemies of liberty loom above us, threatening to attack the freedoms we hold so dear. We must not forget lessons taught to us during the great purges, an era rife with surprise attacks and mass civilian casualties. We must never forget the sacrifices
of
our soldiers, our great warriors, our glorious dead, who laid their lives down for the liberties and the freedoms we now take for grante
d.

“All our evidence points back to Visio Targus, the collective name for a group of affiliated terror cells fractured during the purges. They are now renewed and are spread throughout this country like cancer with terror and anarchy their allies in this dreaded resurgence. Again, let me take your fears and let me use our nation’s soldiers as an antidote to the plague threatening us in the darkness to come. We will respond. We will be victorious.”

“The Commander, in his lengthy speech, summ
ed up by asking the Sub-C
ommittee for additional resources to combat the terrorists and to urge people to continue to go about the
ir
day-to-day lives, calm and determined in the face of this new threat. In response, today has already seen a record number of arrests
by police, MSD and army units, t
he detainees being held f
or questioning in a
temporarily-
converted
army barracks. Prominent civil rights protesters are questioning the use of these tactics and
have urged the House of Sub-C
ommanders to withdraw these additional powers.
These
arguments were rejected by the Sub-Commanders
and the new ‘L
iberty
’ act was passed
shortly after the speech. The civil right
s advocates found themselves lo
sing even more support after the speech with this afternoon’s march being postponed due to lack of
support. Tonight at 10, Channel
6 will be probing th
ese issues further with an hour-long special.