“They’re claiming they can’t get product to the gas pumps because of the lack of transportation facilities like pipelines and rail.”
“Excuses. We’ve analyzed their claims and find them groundless. It’s their way of putting pressure on us to cave in and let them run roughshod over the interests of Canadians. I’m proud to belong to a government that is willing to stand up to them.”
“Even if people are suffering from a lack of fuel? There are reports that over ten thousand people died last winter from the cold. Isn’t there room for working with the oil companies?”
“We are not insensitive to the plight of Canadians. We have several committees studying the issue, and we are doing all we can to help our hard-working middle class. Unfortunately, these things take time. And those deaths you mentioned? You can lay them directly at the feet of the oil companies who put profits before people.”
“But Minister, what profits? If they can’t sell oil and gas, they don’t make any profits.”
“Mark, I’m not going to sit here and debate basic economics with you. Our government is committed to policies that benefit hard-working, middle-class Canadians. That won’t change.”
36
THE FUTURE OF WISHBONE
Almost two hundred people filed into the Wishbone community centre. Baxter, introduced as Ivan Kryss, noted a tension that built as each new person entered the room.
The meeting started as a series of reports. A man talked about importing large quantities of tempered glass while it was still available so he could build a greenhouse. A couple gave a presentation on their study of the town’s waste disposal system and what was needed to maintain it. Another speaker reported on her progress in setting up a horse ranch to provide transportation and delivery services. The botanist handed out samples of pseudo-coffee, which received guarded compliments.
Yet despite the normalcy of the reports, Baxter observed an unease as if people were expecting a confrontation. When they filed in, there seemed to be some care on which side of the room they sat, like opponents facing each other across a battlefield. They were united in their support for the speakers, but it was clear there was discomfort, even hostility, between the two groups.
After the final report, Sangster took a deep breath. “We have reached the point in this meeting where we have to decide what direction we want this community to go. We have two options and I know you all have strong views. I also know that just one side can prevail. It’s now time to make that decision. I’ve asked each side to name someone to present its case.” She held two clenched fists out to Baxter. “Ivan, pick a hand.”
Baxter tapped her right hand. She examined a slip of paper and said, “Jerry. You’re first.”
A man in his thirties wearing a plaid shirt strode to the front of the room and acknowledged the applause from his side. “You all know my opinions of where we should be going with this town, so I’ll be brief.” He looked around as if seeking support. “We have an enemy. The government and its tool of oppression, the Peaks. We’re here because somehow each of us has been targeted as a subversive slated for some kind of punishment. That pisses me off. I’m a subversive? Because I don’t agree with the government? Because I hate where this country that I love is going? If that makes me a subversive, bring it on.”
Another round of applause rose from Jerry’s side of the room. “So what do we do about this? We have two choices. Either we hunker down here and hope that enough people out there come to their senses and overthrow these bastards in Ottawa, or we earn the label subversive and take on the job ourselves.”
More applause and a few hear-hears came from his supporters.
“I know that many of you are afraid of the Peaks and what they would do if we fought them. Believe me, I’m as afraid of them as anyone in this room. But I can’t stand on the sidelines and let other people fight that battle. Or worse, have nobody fight it. We need to lead a resistance. We can recruit people who are as mad at the government as we are. We can train saboteurs. We can launch attacks against the Peaks. Once people understand we’re fighting for them, we’ll have people lining up to join us.”
Jerry looked around the room, half the people nodding, half scowling. “Now I know the argument against this. The Peaks will attack and destroy us. But that’s not so easy. We can prepare defences. The road in here is treacherous as it is. We can undermine it. Plant explosives so any military force would collapse if they tried to invade us. And we can get weapons. They’re still available out there. We can arm ourselves and make it clear to the Peaks that any force that tries to attack us won’t return. People, I know you’re scared of the Peaks. So am I. So what? I’d rather die in a battle for my country than cower in some wilderness until it’s safe to come out. What about you?”
He sat down amid cheers and applause from one side of the room, silence from the other. Sangster said, “Alan, you’re up.”
A man, his face obscured by a graying beard, faced the audience. “Okay, let me get this off my chest. Jerry, I resent the implication I’m a coward. Anytime you want to take it outside, bring it on.”
Sangster interrupted. “Alan, if you can’t present your side of the argument rationally, sit down. We don’t have the time or inclination to listen to a personal attack. What’s it going to be?”
Alan glared at her. The room hushed. He nodded. His posture eased. “You’re right, Ellen. I got carried away. It won’t happen again, okay?”
“Okay.”
“First, let me say I hate the Peaks and the government every bit as much as anyone here. I’m also on the subversive list, and it’s hard for me even to talk about it without going into a rage. But we can’t make long-term decisions based on emotions. We have to be realistic, and the reality is that if the Peaks decide we’re a nuisance, they’ll squash us without raising a sweat.”
A man from Jerry’s side of the room shouted, “Bring it on. We’ll give better than we get.”
Sangster said, “George, if you can’t listen to Alan’s side with respect, you can leave. Otherwise, sit down and let him finish.”
Alan said, “If I thought we could do some good, if we could disrupt the government’s power, if we could lead a revolution, I’d be at the ramparts in an instant. But I don’t see it. I see a population that is either cowed by the authorities or worse, supports them. And in this room, I see a tiny handful of desperate people who are angry and frustrated, but who have no ability to do anything except annoy the people with the power to just swat them away.”
A few claps from Alan’s side of the room. “You want me to state my opinion of what we should do. Okay, here it is. I know most of you won’t like it because I don’t like it. We should concentrate on our own survival, on our own lives. This place will be tough enough on all of us without adding a war. We haven’t even lived through one winter, and this part of the world is not hospitable. My suggestion, and that of those who have named me spokesman, is to create a home that will sustain us. Once we have done that, maybe we can revisit this question. But for now, just staying alive will be hard enough.”
He paused as if debating with himself. “I’d finish there, but I do need to make one more point. Jerry, you talked of setting up defences, of undermining the road in. I agree with you. We should do that just in case the Peaks get bored one day and decide to call. But attack them? Invite them to attack us? No way. Could we hold them off? Forget it. One helicopter gunship would reduce this town to ashes and a pile of dead bodies before we could even load our rifles. No. I want to live. That’s not cowardice, that’s logic.”