spoke.
‘Arun, how can
we take their demands seriously? They ask us to stop aggressive actions in the
Deadland when they are the ones attacking and provoking us. They ask us to stop
all contact with the Biters when you know how much we owe the Biters in our war
against the Red Guards. They ask us to open trade routes when you know that
means that they will take what they have always wanted: labor to work their
camps and farms to feed the Mainland. What do we get in return?’
‘Legitimacy.
Alice, let’s face it; the world is in ruins and the only nation still standing
is the Chinese mainland. They would recognize us as another nation, and commit
to a ceasefire. We would get access to their technology; our people would stop
scavenging for food and bare necessities. We could once again start afresh as
civilized people.’
‘Does having
the comforts of so-called civilized living ever make up for the loss of
freedom?’
Arun was now
almost pleading with her. ‘Alice, stop thinking in absolutes. You were born
after The Rising, but before that nations fought great wars and then worked
together driven by pragmatism. We can do the same.’
Alice stared.
There was nothing she could say to convince him.
‘My father used
to say that our willingness to defend compromises with tyrants as pragmatism is
what has led to our ruin time and again. We cannot compromise with the Central
Committee.’
Arun sighed. He
took the tablet back and said, ‘I was trying to convince you because there are
still people in Wonderland who look up to you, and I know how much you have
sacrificed for the people here, but I am not asking for your permission. I am
the elected Prime Minister of Wonderland and I have already agreed to the terms
the Commissar wanted.’
‘Did you even
listen to what Vince and the doctor had to say? Those attacks that killed our
children were carried out by Biters created by the Reds.’
‘Yes, the
attacks were committed by Biters, but there is no evidence that the Red Guards
sent them, and as for your last battle, there is no proof of what you say other
than your own testimony – and we both know you have a vested interest in making
your precious Biters appear clean.’
‘So why did you
want us to come here? What do you want of me now?’
‘You have a
clear choice. Stay with us in Wonderland and abide by the new rules and I’ll
ensure that people don’t pin any blame on you for the Biter attacks. If not,
you will be evicted from Wonderland and I’ll ensure that the Central Committee
knows that Wonderland has nothing to do with you and your actions.’
Alice could
feel Satish reaching for his gun, but she placed a hand on his arm. So it had
finally come to this. After all she had done and sacrificed, she was to be sold
out in a political compromise. Part of her told her to fight the decision, but
she knew that even if she managed to convince some of the people in Wonderland,
more than enough of its residents would side with Arun. The only thing worse
than a false peace with the Central Committee would be open civil war in
Wonderland.
Satish pulled
her aside.
‘Alice, you
cannot seriously be considering what he says.’
When Alice spoke,
she could not look at him. ‘If we go on our own, what will the handful of us
achieve in the Deadland? We cannot free those who want to be enslaved. Our best
bet is to be in Wonderland so that when the time comes, we can at least be of
use here.’
Satish was
furious– but deep down, he knew Alice was right.
***
Back at the
Ladakh airbase, Chen could see the smirk of satisfaction on Hu’s face as he
listened to the barrage of complaints from Li.
‘Comrade
Commissar, send me out again. This time I will smash that White Queen and her
forces! How can we make peace with those terrorists?’
‘Comrade Li,
not every war is to be won with brute force alone.’
But that only
made Li grow more agitated, so Hu stepped closer with a conciliatory wave of
his
‘Arun, how can
we take their demands seriously? They ask us to stop aggressive actions in the
Deadland when they are the ones attacking and provoking us. They ask us to stop
all contact with the Biters when you know how much we owe the Biters in our war
against the Red Guards. They ask us to open trade routes when you know that
means that they will take what they have always wanted: labor to work their
camps and farms to feed the Mainland. What do we get in return?’
‘Legitimacy.
Alice, let’s face it; the world is in ruins and the only nation still standing
is the Chinese mainland. They would recognize us as another nation, and commit
to a ceasefire. We would get access to their technology; our people would stop
scavenging for food and bare necessities. We could once again start afresh as
civilized people.’
‘Does having
the comforts of so-called civilized living ever make up for the loss of
freedom?’
Arun was now
almost pleading with her. ‘Alice, stop thinking in absolutes. You were born
after The Rising, but before that nations fought great wars and then worked
together driven by pragmatism. We can do the same.’
Alice stared.
There was nothing she could say to convince him.
‘My father used
to say that our willingness to defend compromises with tyrants as pragmatism is
what has led to our ruin time and again. We cannot compromise with the Central
Committee.’
Arun sighed. He
took the tablet back and said, ‘I was trying to convince you because there are
still people in Wonderland who look up to you, and I know how much you have
sacrificed for the people here, but I am not asking for your permission. I am
the elected Prime Minister of Wonderland and I have already agreed to the terms
the Commissar wanted.’
‘Did you even
listen to what Vince and the doctor had to say? Those attacks that killed our
children were carried out by Biters created by the Reds.’
‘Yes, the
attacks were committed by Biters, but there is no evidence that the Red Guards
sent them, and as for your last battle, there is no proof of what you say other
than your own testimony – and we both know you have a vested interest in making
your precious Biters appear clean.’
‘So why did you
want us to come here? What do you want of me now?’
‘You have a
clear choice. Stay with us in Wonderland and abide by the new rules and I’ll
ensure that people don’t pin any blame on you for the Biter attacks. If not,
you will be evicted from Wonderland and I’ll ensure that the Central Committee
knows that Wonderland has nothing to do with you and your actions.’
Alice could
feel Satish reaching for his gun, but she placed a hand on his arm. So it had
finally come to this. After all she had done and sacrificed, she was to be sold
out in a political compromise. Part of her told her to fight the decision, but
she knew that even if she managed to convince some of the people in Wonderland,
more than enough of its residents would side with Arun. The only thing worse
than a false peace with the Central Committee would be open civil war in
Wonderland.
Satish pulled
her aside.
‘Alice, you
cannot seriously be considering what he says.’
When Alice spoke,
she could not look at him. ‘If we go on our own, what will the handful of us
achieve in the Deadland? We cannot free those who want to be enslaved. Our best
bet is to be in Wonderland so that when the time comes, we can at least be of
use here.’
Satish was
furious– but deep down, he knew Alice was right.
***
Back at the
Ladakh airbase, Chen could see the smirk of satisfaction on Hu’s face as he
listened to the barrage of complaints from Li.
‘Comrade
Commissar, send me out again. This time I will smash that White Queen and her
forces! How can we make peace with those terrorists?’
‘Comrade Li,
not every war is to be won with brute force alone.’
But that only
made Li grow more agitated, so Hu stepped closer with a conciliatory wave of
his
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