The meeting opened with prayers offered to The Creator; prayers seeking His answer to the best way to resurrect and reinstate the past glories of Terra Nova; glories that have been left in tatters by Ezra’s tyrannical governance of a once proud, peaceful planet. Jonah Decimus Canus, High Priest of all Terra Nova, offered prayers while those on the rostrum and those in the surrounding garden, knelt in obeisance.
As the prayers drew to a close Amos rose and walked to the podium. He placed his arms around Jonah, uttering softly spoken words intended only for the recipient.
Amos placed his hands on either side of the podium and motioned towards Jonah.
‘We are privileged to have Jonah Decimus Canus here with us today,’ he announced, his voice sounding strong and confident. ‘Or should I say “supporting us” today? For that is what he is doing today by standing fearlessly alongside me and all fellow LEP members.’
He paused, waiting for scattered bursts of applause to subside.
‘Today we must act. Today is the day when the future of Terra Nova must be decided.’
Again he paused. His hands were shaking as he picked up a glass and took a sip of water.
‘Forgive me,’ he said, sorrow evident in his quivering voice. ‘It pains me to have to tell you that Ezra has contrived to commit a deed most foul. This morning our dear friend Obadiah, after being ordered to attend a meeting at Ezra’s Secretariat, was forced to deny that he and Esther knew each other and also that they are members of LEP. Not given to duplicity, Obadiah’s embarrassment was clearly evident to my brother and. as a consequence, by very devious means he attempted to have them ingest a poisonous concoction.’
Gasps of horror interrupted his address. He paused again, surveyed his audience and then held up the palm of his left hand before continuing.
‘With The Creator’s help Ezra was denied the satisfaction of causing their joint deaths.’
Richard, standing next to Esther, removed a clenched hand from his open mouth.
‘My God Esther,’ he said breathlessly. ‘Is it true, did he really try to poison you?’
She nodded.
‘’If I hadn’t been so clumsy, we would have died,’ she said. ‘Ezra’s poor little dog saved our lives.’
‘Why? What happened?’ Richard’s voice rose above the hubbub.
Amos rapped on the podium, stared reprovingly at Richard and waited until a measure of calm prevailed.
‘After Ezra’s speech at the trial of Publius I was prepared to set aside my considerable doubts as to his veracity and wait to see if his promises were to be believed. It is clear, after his attempt to poison Obadiah and Esther, that he is not to be trusted and therefore my proposal is that he be removed from power immediately.’
Applause greeted his words. He stood aside from the podium and motioned with a curling finger for Joshua Tullius Cicero to approach. Noah mumbled something unintelligible upon seeing his brother.
‘What did you say?’ asked Richard.
‘I said I hope he agrees with Amos - to do something quickly that is.”
Joshua, his white beard now even more resplendent than when Richard had first met him, joined Amos and accepted the offered hand. The depth of friendship between the co-founders of LEP was clearly evidenced by the way a free hand was placed on the other’s shoulder.
Joshua’s voice boomed throughout the garden. Richard was reminded of a town crier who used to appear at celebratory events in his home town; the voice was the same, if not the beard!
‘I have waited, hoping, praying, that Ezra’s promises would be kept. His first two terms were full of promise; but the incomplete third term has become a disaster. I fully agree that Ezra must be unseated. The only thing to be settled is how it is to be done and what is to become of him.’
Once again the audience showed agreement by a burst of loud applause. Obadiah was then invited to take to the podium. He appeared to have regained his composure for he displayed no outward signs of distress.
‘Amos, Joshua, you have my support. The time to act is upon us. We must not shy away from doing what we know is right.’
Amos returned to the podium, clapping Obadiah as he returned to his seat.
‘ARE WE READY?’ he demanded of the audience.
Rapturous response brought a smile to his face. He soaked it up, paused, then continued.
‘Today marks the beginning of the process whereby the governance of Terra Nova will be returned to the people, for the people and by the people. Never again will we allow omnipotence to destroy that which took millennia to establish. May The Creator protect and guide us as we set forth on the road back to democracy.’
Chapter Fifty Six
The news of Ezra’s death spread throughout Leviticus with incredible speed. His lifeless body, prostrate beside his beloved Pekingese, was discovered by his faithful manservant who, through a series of intermediaries, alerted Amos Caelius Aquila, brother of The Great Leader. Those same intermediaries passed the news onto others who then repeated it ad infinitum, until the only persons in Leviticus who were unaware were probably those unfortunates incarcerated in Ezra’s jails.
Poison was the cause of death. It appears as if Ezra took Obadiah at his word: ‘Why not drink the poison yourself Ezra? It would save you and everyone else on Terra Nova much heartache.’ The untimely death of a much loved pet provided the trigger - the poison intended for Obadiah and Esther was the bullet.
There was no rejoicing. There was no sorrow; simply an acceptance of a timely death as a God-given remedy to halt Terra Nova’s seemingly unstoppable plunge into a bottomless quagmire of tyranny. Amos Caelius Aquila accepted his brother’s death with equanimity, displaying grief only in the privacy of his home. He also accepted, under some duress, the provisional role of Great Leader until elections could be held throughout the planet. Ezra was buried, his pet sharing the same coffin, in a secret location; the reason being twofold. The place of burial must not become a shrine to be coveted by his supporters; neither should it become a place where those who suffered, directly or indirectly, under his onerous laws could vent their anger or revenge.
Terra Nova’s ten millennia history would forever be tainted by Ezra’s rule but the painful lessons learned resulted in a raft of new laws designed to halt any possibility of a move towards another omnipotent government.
The weeks that followed were filled with high promise and expectancy. The streets of Leviticus became free to roam without fear. The populace, patricians and plebeians alike, shed the inhibitions imposed by Ezra’s laws and mixed freely once again. The Coliseum’s jails were shut, its prisoners rehabilitated.
But, for Richard Moss, the certainty of a return to Earth remains as illusive ever, as does the belief of Julia Brownstone and their son Alexander of ever seeing Richard again.
***
The loneliness felt by Julia since the disappearance of Richard Moss is, sadly, not assuaged by the busy life that she is now leading. Her enforced absence from work over the past three years meant her full-time position at Robert Hunt’s dental surgery became untenable and consequently her former assistant Ava Penfold-Jones was promoted to Julia’s former role of senior hygienist. But she was keen to return to the job and requested (and was granted) a four-day working week which helped her cope with looking after her little boy while earning a wage to pay for life’s necessities. Julia’s mother, Annie, took no persuading to look after Alexander while her daughter worked; in fact she quickly came to realise how much she missed the maternal role that fell to her while raising Julia.
The dreams continued. But where they once provided a degree of solace, they now impinge upon her daily life to such an extent that she kneels by her bed each night praying they will not recur, never to hold promise, never to torment, any more. Richard still figures prominently, conveying the impression he remains alive and will
eventually return. The most recent dream, although compellingly positive, tore ferociously at her heartstrings. It contained scenes appearing to suggest that the negative circumstances which created a barrier to Richard’s return are no more.
Julia, normally very positive by nature, gains little or no satisfaction from the dreams, and so she defers from talking about them to her closest friend Emily Moss, knowing it would raise expectations only to have them shattered.
Meanwhile Alexander is developing into a well adjusted, happy little boy, seemingly unaffected by the tragedy that is causing so much pain to his mother and to the Brownstone and Moss families.
***
Eight weeks have passed since Ezra committed suicide. Although several Council of Ministers meetings have been held during that time, today’s gathering promises to be the most important so far. The main item on the agenda is the selection of candidates for the Terra Nova-wide election of a new Great Leader. An exhaustive list has been drawn up, a copy of which is now on the table in front of every minister. Sitting two seats to the right of Amos is Joshua Tullius Cicero, Noah’s brother. He is now a member of the Council but only after Amos, Obadiah and Quintus pressured him to stand for office by constantly reminding him that the future of Terra Nova remains fragile and his wealth of experience was nothing less than invaluable. Never one to succumb to the insincerities of what he perceived as flattery, Joshua took his time to commit but finally, reluctantly, he accepted the role of Minister for Science and Technology.
Once again Amos declined to take the throne-like seat once occupied so grandiosely by Ezra but, as at previous meetings, took the centre seat on one side of the huge rectangular table with senior ministers seated to his right and left. Opposite were seated the Council’s remaining members.
Amos stood. ‘Welcome,’ he said, with a broad smile. ‘And a special welcome to a newly appointed minister seated here to my right.’ He gestured with an open palm towards his friend and LEP co-founder.
‘Joshua and I are colleagues and friends; our relationship is as solid today as it was when we first met at infant’s school too many years ago to remember! He has been a tower of strength through the difficult years of my brother Ezra’s rule. His resolve has never wavered. I propose we welcome him with a round of applause!’
The ministers rose as one to their feet and clapped in unison. Joshua remained rooted to his seat. His flowing white beard swayed to and fro as he shook his head with embarrassment. He waited until the clapping subsided and everyone was seated before rising.
‘I am not worthy of such applause.’ He held an upraised palm and waited patiently until silence fell. ‘I stand within touching distance of ministers whose courage and fortitude are shining examples for us all. I speak of Obadiah, of Quintus, of Marcus and of Publius; these men have shown loyalty to Ezra ever since he became Great Leader these ten years past. They stayed true to their calling when Ezra set out on the road to omnipotence, knowing the only way to rein in his drive towards total dictatorship was to constrain him by subtle persuasion and demeaning obsequiousness. Where they prevailed, I would have failed. I bow to them and thank The Creator for guiding them safely through the last two years when the future of Terra Nova was balanced precariously on a knife edge.’
Joshua bowed to each of the four separately. The meeting responded with a further round of applause. Amos, beaming munificently, rose from his seat and motioned for silence.
‘I note a large measure of good will among members of the Council,’ said Amos looking around at the animated faces of his ministers. ‘This pleases me and augurs well for our future. As we begin to consider the first item of today’s business, that of selecting candidates for election to the position of Great Leader, I ask only for due consideration from each of you. Do not let your decisions be based on anything other than that which is best for Terra Nova.’
He picked up the piece of paper showing the list of candidates.
‘You have the list before you,’ he said, waving the paper. ‘The names were submitted by the governors of the fourteen provinces of Terra Nova. As you are all aware, the law is specific with respect to the requirements of those with pretensions to become Great Leader. He must be a direct descendant of Leviticus Amadeus Romanus, our first revered Great Leader. All the candidates have provided proof of their lineage to our satisfaction. So it is now our responsibility to either endorse or reject the candidates by taking into account their experience and suitability for the highest office in Terra Nova. Beside each name is a box. Against your preferred candidate write the number one, your second choice number two, and your third choice number three. The results will be collated and the name of the candidate with the most votes will be announced at our next meeting. May The Creator’s blessing be bestowed upon each and every one of you.’
Chapter Fifty Seven
‘So, where does that leave me?’ asked Richard Moss, sitting alongside Noah at a table in the warm sunshine outside the Trattoria Panem Et Circenses, the same café where he first met Joshua Tullius Cicero, shortly after arriving on Terra Nova. ‘Surely now that Ezra has kicked it, you can arrange for me to get back to Earth, or is that still asking too much?’
Noah’s eyebrows lifted questioningly.
‘Kicked it? What do you mean kicked it?’ he replied. ‘The only thing Ezra kicked was probably his horse’s haunches when he was out riding. He treated that beautiful horse so badly that I’m surprised it didn’t throw him off every time he rode it.’
Richard laughed.
‘Noah, you really are a wally. “Kicked it” means dead, deceased, kaput, lifeless, inanimate, gone, no longer in the land of the living, right? Now, so’s you completely understand, I’ll try again. Ezra is dead, okay? Therefore, can you now return me to Earth? Simple question, simple answer, please.’
Noah nodded his understanding.
‘Oh, I see what you mean.’
He paused, thinking.
Richard, you must be patient,’ he said. ‘Things are slowly getting back to normal now that Ezra’s gone. It will take time of course but I assure you, once things settle down, all that we promised you will take place. First is an initial meeting with the Magus; that is most important if we are to fulfill the reason you were brought to Terra Nova. I will arrange that and let you know when it will take place. But I beg of you Richard, please be try to be patient and, no matter what happens, have faith in me!’
Richard nodded.
‘I’ll believe it when I see it, Noah. So far your promises have been as fruitless as the dead pear tree in our back garden in England! But, what else can I do? It’s up to you now Noah and you’d better not let me down, or I’ll have your guts for garters!’
Noah looked startled.
‘Guts for garters? What...’
Richard butted in.
‘Noah, don’t even go there.’
***
The results are in. The Council of Ministers is assembled and Amos is about to announce the name of the leading candidate for the position of Great Leader. The hum of expectation prevalent since the ministers joined the meeting, has been replaced by a quiet close to complete silence. Occasional coughs, the nervous clearing of a throat, the shuffling of sandal-clad feet, are the only signs of the high tension pervading the room. Amos rose from his seat. He ignored a sheaf of papers lying on the table before him. He looked around the table, slowly, counting, as if assuring all ministers are present.
‘Before I announce the winning candidate may I invite Jonah Decimus Canus, our much respected High Priest to join us? He will offer a prayer to The Creator seeking his blessing and guidance before we reveal the name of the person who will be inaugurated as Great Leader?’
Amos rapped on the table with a wooden gavel. The double doors at the rear of the room swung open and in walked Jonah, dressed in a voluminous white robe which brushed over and around h
is unshod feet. He joined Amos at the table and, with arms raised outward, began his blessing.
‘O Creator revered, of nature rule, provoking all things. Only thou dost supply each species with living force, thou divine controller of sky and sea and of all things. Thou dost bestow life’s nourishment with never-failing faithfulness and, when our breath has gone, in thee we find eternal refuge. Deservedly art thou called The Creator, since in duteous service thou hast surpassed the divinities of heaven, and thou art that true parent of all living species. Thee, divine one, we adore and to thy godhead we pray. May we ask this of thee? Grant wisdom to him who hath been chosen to lead Terra Nova towards a brighter future, and we will repay thee with never ending obedience to your will. Finally now, O Creator, let thy majesty vouchsafe to us all that which we ask of thee in prayer.’
Amos and the assembled ministers, standing, heads bowed, chanted Amen in unison. It was a moment in time that will remain in everyone’s memory long after others are forgotten.
‘Thank you Jonah,’ said Amos. ‘That was a blessing indeed.’
He reached to pick up the top paper from the stack in front of him.
‘Now, the result of the vote.’ He paused, lifted his head high and began to read.
‘Quintus Claudius Avitus is elected by an overwhelming majority.’
The ministers stood as one, clapping, yelling, cheering, waving hands. Amos motioned for Quintus to approach. They embraced.
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