“Norwegian student leader and valedictorian at Lillehammer University, Lisbeth Ostlind, was additionally quoted, saying, ‘I don’t know much about this. In truth, I don’t know much about alternative expressions at all. And before this, I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Now I see what all the fuss is about: in a world where people are murdered for private aspects of their own personal life, everyone must take pause—even those of us who aren’t of those private aspects. The laws that Norway has passed this year alone should be an example to the rest of the world.’
“Berkeley University in America is holding a silent vigil as well, playing Anti-Gay propaganda videos produced by the American government for 48-hours to raise awareness.”
“This…” Lena said, as tears began welling up. “I don’t know what to say…”
“I know it’s absolutely atrocious,” Grandfather consoled her. “It’s an act of supreme and unwarranted violence, but I wanted you to know that he didn’t die in vain. I’m sure he would have preferred to stay alive; but I’m sure he would have been proud to see the shockwaves his death caused. Scandinavia, Lena! This Lisbeth Ostlind woman is someone to watch, mark my words. And I’ve heard they are even having small protests in Canada! The entire world has taken notice!”
“I don’t like my friends being used as propaganda.” Lena said plainly.
“Oh, it’s not Propaganda, Lena. The protests are real, and the people are experiencing real solidarity.”
“You know, I never understood… uh, him.” Lena said honestly. “I never got him and his ‘thing’. He wasn’t a man, according to him, and he wasn’t a woman. But he was a man. Wasn’t he?”
“I don’t understand it myself,” Grandfather sighed. “This movement is a strange one indeed. But it’s new, so I cut it slack. Besides, I don’t think it’s meant to be strictly understood in one way. I think it’s a matter of the contention itself—that a bunch of artists are doing what they are supposed to do and arguing with convention. They are questioning things, and that’s important for young people to do. And it’s working. It’s making people who wouldn’t normally ask questions ask them. I don’t agree with his point of view, personally, but I can appreciate that it meant something to him, because he meant something to me.”
“I don’t understand,” Lena said. “Why would you of all people, doing what you do, care?”
“Because I’m an individual, Lena. When I’m at work, I’m at work; but when I’m not, I’m not. I’m not gay, and I don’t approve of gay behavior. For that matter, I don’t approve of most young-peoples’ behavior, or young people in general. I think almost everything you all do is utterly foolish. But I can still love gay folks and young people, and I can still rally to their defense when someone is picking on them. That’s what being in a community means, Lena: putting aside individual personality quirks and preferences to ‘love thy neighbor’. Vortecx, for all his individual weirdness, was still my neighbor. Just like everyone else is.”
“I like that,” Lena said with a sniff.
“Except for you, of course,” he added with a wink. “You’re my granddaughter. I don’t have to approve of or support your nonsense.”
Lena smiled. He had such a good heart, and it inspired her. But she was extremely bothered by the news of Vortecx’s murder. He and Lena hadn’t really been all that close… but this…
“Grandfather? Who murdered him?”
“Oh dear,” Grandfather said slowly, “It’s… it’s complicated.”
“I’d like to hear it.” she replied resolutely. “If you know then I’d like to know. He was my friend, after all.”
“Lena, I need you to know firsthand that this is partially my fault. And I need to ask your forgiveness for that before I begin.”
“Your fault? But why?”
“My intention with all of this was to get you and Matt York into the same band. I knew that the youth in the GDR would accept his views, especially since they accepted yours as ‘The Mad Bunny’. I wanted to get him on this side of the wall so that we could create a punk scene that the youth would rally behind. One that would be more in line with the good socialist values that help our community grow strong.
“In order to do that, I needed to facilitate interest. For that to happen, I needed a few of your band-mates to disappear. So, I gave them some resources. I lined their pockets with a few marks, and put them in a position to safely defect to the West where they could live out their lives doing what they wanted to do, instead of tooting our horn. They get their freedom and we get a rock-star. It should have worked. It would have worked, but…”
“But what, Grandfather?”
“Oh, Lena. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for what, Grandfather?” Lena asked, leaning over and putting a hand on his forearm to comfort him.
“The Americans murdered them, Lena.”
“The… the what?” Lena asked, startled.
Oh, this changed everything. This was absolutely crazy. Mr. Collins and Matt wouldn’t have… they couldn’t have! They were with her the entire time. And Mrs. Schroeder would have told her. Surely, she wouldn’t have supported an organization that would… suddenly, Lena felt like throwing up.
“I should have warned you, Lena. You work for the HVA. The HVA and the Americans obviously have separate interests. They must have known what I was up to and decided to cut my efforts off at the head. Thank God they didn’t get you, or else I would have never been able to forgive myself.”
“Wait…” Lena stuttered. “I… I don’t understand. The… the Americans? They killed Vortecx?”
“They did indeed, I’m afraid. And now I’m left in an uncomfortable position… and it’s a position for which I have to ask your forgiveness for once again.”
“W-what?” Lena asked, taken aback.
“Lena, I need you to trust me.”
“I do trust you… b-but…”
“Lena,” he repeated, “I need you to trust me.”
“I do!”
“…because I’m going to ask you a question that you don’t want to answer, and I need you to trust that it’s for your own good… and trust that I can protect you.”
“Ok?” Lena half-agreed, although she was so very confused now.
“I need you to tell me who you are also working for.” he said plainly.
The cold sweats came on faster than she was prepared for. A shiver ran up her spine so quick, and her vision tunneled so rapidly, she legitimately thought that she would faint on the spot. She had been caught. Or if she hadn’t, she soon would be. She only had two choices, and both of them were terrible: lie, and be found out eventually; or come clean and face the wrath immediately. Once she admitted what she had agreed to with Mr. Collins and Matt, that was it.
The only way out of this was to lie, and lie quickly. She imagined what it would feel like being unceremoniously chucked into a rock quarry, roughly colliding with rock and cliff as she screamed towards a maggot-filled death—all to the cackling amusement of Dragon Lady. No, she had to lie immediately. But was she prepared to lie to her beloved Grandfather? Especially on behalf of the ones that had murdered her band-mate?!
“Grandfather, I d-don’t…” she started. She realized that she had stuttered. That, in turn, made her swallow. Once she swallowed, she knew she was caught.
“Lena, you need to trust me. If you don’t trust me, I can’t help you.”
“B-but…” she stuttered again, as she began to cry, “I’m…”
“Lena, take a leap of faith.” he said in a comforting tone. “Trust me. Trust that I care for you, and will protect you. Take that leap of faith.”