by Sue Townsend
Violet and Wilf Toby were twirling together on the dance floor. Violet was wearing spangled backless high heels, a matching scarlet frock and a happy expression.
The Queen sank back onto the leatherette banquette seat next to Anne. She willed herself to relax.
Spiggy strolled up to the bar, taking out a roll of money as he went, and ordered their drinks and food.
As Norman, the lugubrious barman, assembled their order with his grubby hands, the Queen remembered Crawfie saying, “You must eat everything put in front of you. It’s awful bad manners not to!”
When the food and drink was in front of them Anne lifted her pint of bitter and said, “Let’s not talk about our family, eh?” to the Queen. A silence fell until Spiggy, after gulping down half a scotch egg, mentioned Gilbert. Then all three of them began an animated conversation about horses they had known and loved, which was only interrupted when Jack Barker’s sombre face appeared on the television screen.
“Summat’s up,” said Spiggy, after glancing at his watch. “They usually ‘ave kids’ programmes on at this time.”
He shouted, “Eh up, Norman, turn the sound up on the telly.” By the time that Norman had fumbled for the correct knob and adjusted the volume Jack Barker was saying, “So, in view of the world financial crisis, which threatens this country’s stability and indeed the very continuation of our way of life, your Government has decided that it will be necessary to make far-reaching constitutional changes.”
The Queen drained her glass of white wine and said sceptically, “We have no written constitution. Barker is obviously going to write his own.” She leaned forward, eager to hear more of the proposals. But she was to be disappointed.
Jack Barker went on, “Since I took office as Prime Minister it has been my privilege to introduce a radical programme of reform, despite opposition from many quarters. Whatever office I may hold in the future I will always endeavour to serve my people and my country.”
“Does that mean he’s about to resign?” said the Queen.
“I ‘ope not,” said Spiggy. “It was only yesterday ‘e abolished the cowin’ poll tax!”
“Shush, Spiggs,” said Anne.
Jack finished abruptly, “Tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock I will make a full statement to the nation. Good day!”
A presenter in a dark suit said in a sonorous voice, “All programmes scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled to make way for a special outside broadcast. These changes will affect all channels.”
“Christ!” said Norman, who, when he wasn’t working, was a television addict. “Must be the end of the cowin’ world.”
∨ The Queen and I ∧
49
TEA FOR THREE
Jack hurried out of the Westminster television studio and was ushered into his car for the short return journey to Downing Street. Though the tyres of the car were rubber and the road beneath them was coated in tarmac, he fancied he could feel the iron rims of the tumbril beneath him as it went bumping over the cobbles.
In the bedroom of her pied—à—terre a suite at the Savoy Sayako stood in front of a looking glass. She was drinking in her reflection. It was perfect, perfect, as befitted someone who would soon be a world icon. Her servants had helped her off with the latest and most exquisite of many creations that had been specially designed for her and hung it, draped in tissue, inside a closet. Then Sayako, dressed elegantly but less gorgeously in one of her new Sloane Street suits, gathered up her bag and a copy of Debrett’s Peerage and went downstairs to where a car was waiting to take her to tea.
When Jack’s car drew up outside Number Ten he did not immediately get out, even though the driver had opened the door for him to emerge.
“Owt wrong, Jack?” asked the driver as Jack continued to sit. The word ‘owt’ resonated in Jack’s head, again evoking the memories of his childhood and the principles he had formed then. His body stiffened. He looked like a dummy about to be used in a controlled collision for road safety purposes.
“Cramp,” lied Jack. “Give me a minute.”
Inside Number Ten tea was being prepared on a low table by a pale-faced woman wearing silk. Jack’s honoured guests waited in an ante room. When Jack eventually joined them he strode across the carpet shoeless and with his hand outstretched, only at the very last minute did he remember to drop his hand and bow instead.
∨ The Queen and I ∧
50
BIRD ON THE WING
As the Queen was paying for her groceries at the Food-U-R checkout that afternoon Victor Berryman dropped something into her shopping bag. He whispered, “Don’t look now.”
When the Queen arrived home and unpacked her shopping she saw that the mystery object was a letter addressed to her in Charles’s handwriting.
The Wilderness,
Far North
Mummy Darling,
♦
A hurried note (I am constantly on the move) to tell you that I am ‘over the sea to Skye’ not absolutely literally over the sea to Skye. But I am certainly in the vicinity.
I sleep during the day and move and forage for food at night. I try to be as one with the heather and, I think, succeed. It helps that my shell suit (blessed garment, so comfortable) is purple and green.
Before winter sets in I hope to find an abandoned croft and make it my home. My requirements are few: a peat fire, a bed of heather, simple food and perhaps a glimpse of the Daily Telegraph now and then.
One thing, Mummy, before I finish this letter. Please remember me to Beverley Threadgold, tell her that there was no time to say goodbye. And, of course, my regards to Diana and the boys.
A new life calls me. I need to feel the wind on my face and to hear the shriek of small animals as they are captured by winged predators.
Dearest Mummy, I send you my love,
C.
The Queen drummed her fingers on the kitchen table and said out loud, “If I were a smoker I would certainly need a cigarette now.” She hated to think of Charles alone and on the run. How would the silly boy manage during the bleak Scottish winter when the very air froze? She opened a tube of Smarties, emptied it onto the kitchen table and picked out all the red ones.
∨ The Queen and I ∧
51
TEETH
She had set her alarm clock for 7.15. Harris had not come home the night before. “The wretch,” said the Queen. “He knows I worry.” She set out to search Hell Close.
An hour later, the Queen switched the television on in the living room. The screen was filled with the front view of Buckingham Palace. The flagpole was bare. Martial music was playing the Queen thought it sounded like the band of the Royal Marines. She dragged the vacuum cleaner free from its entanglement with the ironing board in the understairs cupboard. Though the picture hadn’t changed since she switched it on, she still kept one eye on the screen as she vacuumed the carpet, cursing occasionally as the cleaner sucked up the loose strands at the edges that Spiggy had failed to attend to.
The Queen was anxious that the house should look its best. She had invited the family and some of the neighbours round to watch the outside broadcast with her. As she dusted and polished she noticed that her hands were trembling slightly and she realised that she had a terrible sense of foreboding about the nature of Jack Barker’s announcement.
At 10.55 the small living room was crammed full of people. The Queen had to step over and around them as she served them coffee and biscuits. The television now showed the front door of Number Ten Downing Street and the crowds beyond, temporarily contained by a line of policemen with linked arms.
At exactly 11 o’clock the glossy black door of Number Ten opened and Jack Barker came out alone. He looked pale and tired, thought the Queen, as though he had been up all night. He walked over to the bank of microphones and held up his hand to quieten the cheering crowd. He looked down at his feet then lifted his head and said, “My fellow Britons, last night I signed a document that will change all of our lives for t
he better. The other signatory was his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Akihito of Japan.” Jack reached inside his jacket pocket and took out a piece of paper which he held in the air for the benefit of the television cameras and the hordes of newspaper photographers.
The Queen said, “Get on with it, man!”
Jack eventually replaced the paper inside his jacket pocket and resumed speaking. “As from today, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have entered into a Treaty of Friendship with Japan, which will cement the special relationship and the ever-increasing ties, which already exist between our two great countries and bring us new security and prosperity.”
The Queen said, “Cut the platitudes, Barker. Get down to it.”
Jack forced himself to look into the lens of the camera in front of him, as if, by maintaining eye contact with the millions watching, he could convince them of his sincerity. “I am proud and happy to be able to tell you that this treaty will put Britain back on the road to greatness. Once more we shall be part of a worldwide empire on which the sun never sets.”
Most of the crowd cheered.
The Queen muttered, “What’s he up to?”
Jack went on, “Since April the tenth I have served you as your Prime Minister. From today I shall continue to reside here at Number Ten Downing Street and to serve you in my new role as Governor General of Great Britain.”
The Queen shouted, “Governor General!” but the others in the room told her to be quiet.
Jack went on. “We now share the sovereignty of this country with the Empire of Japan.”
The Queen could not restrain herself, “He’s sold us,” she shouted, “as though we were a commodity!”
Jack continued, “As a result of these constitutional changes, the temporary loan of 12,000 billion yen which my government negotiated on April the thirteenth, and which was due to be repaid by June the first, has been extended indefinitely. Our new federal relationship with the growing Japanese empire which will be carefully balanced by a strong element of subsidiarity will ensure that, at long last, we have the resources we need to rebuild our great country, as we want and deserve. It only remains for this political and financial alliance to be cemented further by a personal alliance. I am delighted to announce that this is happening, at this very moment!” The black door opened and Jack scuttled inside.
“What was all that about?” said Spiggy, baffled by all the long words.
“Jack Barker has mortgaged this country to the Bank of Japan,” cried the Queen.
“Christ!” said Violet. “Will we all have to talk Japanese?”
“Well I shan’t,” said Wilf. “I’m too old to learn a new cowin’ language and anyroad I can ‘ardly talk English.”
Beverley Threadgold said, “I knew a bloke who went to a Japanese restaurant once. He said it was ‘orrible. All ‘e got to eat was raw fish.”
Violet said indignantly, “Well, they needn’t think they can come over ‘ere thinkin’ they can stop us cookin’ our fish, ‘cos I for one won’t stand for it.”
Philomena Toussaint said, “Who we pay our rent to? Is it still the Council or the Bank of Japan?”
Margaret drawled, “If we had a proper written constitution, this couldn’t happen.”
The Queen had to leave the room. She thought her head would explode. Was she the only one to realise the full significance of Barker’s announcement? A coup had already taken place. Britain had been annexed and was now just another Japanese offshore island. She went into the back garden. There was still no sign of Harris. Yesterday’s food was still in its bowl. The Queen threw it into the pedal bin under the sink.
She thought, it’s a good job that Philip has gone mad. If he knew that his beloved adopted country had been sold like a fish in the market place it would send him, well, mad.
The Queen picked up her Sony portable radio and hurled it against the kitchen wall. Anne appeared in the doorway and said, “Mum, come and see this.”
The television was now showing the Mall which was lined with crowds of people. Some were waving little union jacks but others were waving flags which depicted the rising sun. It was obvious to the Queen, who was an expert on such matters, that the crowds had no idea why they were there. They had gathered because crowd barriers had been erected.
Fitzroy was explaining to Diana that his job could be at stake. He was a recession accountant, he reminded her, and if there was no longer a recession where would that leave him?
The camera switched from the faces of the crowd to show a golden coach being pulled by four plumed white horses as it passed under Admiralty Arch and processed up The Mall. The crowd cheered automatically, even though the curtains inside the coach were drawn and it was impossible to see the occupants.
The Queen yelled, “They would cheer for chimpanzees, the fools!”
Anne said, “That’s what we were, Mum. We lived in a bloody zoo to be gawped at by the public. I’m glad I’m out of it.”
The Queen noticed that Spiggy had inched slightly closer to Anne on the sofa. The room had become oppressively hot. She felt she would have to get some fresh air soon. Her temples throbbed.
As the coach turned into the gates of Buckingham Palace, Tony Threadgold said, “‘Oo’s inside the coach then?”
“How on earth would I know?” snarled the Queen.
The image on the television screen changed to show a Japanese frigate passing under Tower Bridge. Sailors, British and Japanese, were lined up on deck, saluting. The Queen snorted contemptuously. Then suddenly the picture changed again to show the balcony of Buckingham Palace where two tiny figures appeared. The camera zoomed in to show that one was Jack Barker, dressed like a lead soldier in a war game. He was wearing a tricorn hat with a white plume and a scarlet jacket, hung with decorations that the Queen couldn’t identify. The person standing next to him was the Emperor Akihito, resplendent in a silk kimono.
They waved to the crowd below and the crowd automatically waved back. Then Jack stepped to the left and the Emperor stepped to the right and two more figures appeared, one in a shimmering confection of white silk and chiffon and a headdress trimmed with orange blossom. The other in grey morning dress, complete with top hat.
“Who the hell is that?” shouted the Queen. The camera obligingly closed in even more to show her. It was her son, Edward, glassy-eyed and unsmiling, holding the hand of his new bride, Sayako, daughter of the Emperor.
The Queen watched incredulously as the Emperor smiled at his new son-in-law and Edward bent forward like an automaton and kissed his new wife. The crowd below cheered so loudly that the Queen’s television vibrated.
“They’ve hijacked Edward!” raged the Queen. “He’ll be forced to live in Tokyo as her consort!” The Queen jabbed her finger against Sayako’s image on the screen. She had already taken against her new daughter-in-law.
Her head was filled with a roaring sound, like thunder. The camera switched to show the sky over Buckingham Palace with the empty flagpole in the foreground. Overhead, the former Red Devils, now resprayed yellow, screamed into view and executed daring twists and rolls over the palace, delighting the crowds below. Edward’s glum face watched as the aircraft disappeared over South London.
And then it happened. A flag slowly inched its way up the flagpole and flapped arrogantly in the wind. It was the Japanese flag. The Queen shouted, “Has the world gone completely bloody mad?”
Sayako, supported by Edward, was bending down and appeared to be lifting something she hoped would endear her to the millions of watching animal-lovers. When she straightened up, the camera moved over to show what it was that Sayako held under her arm. It was Harris, wearing a collar trimmed with orange blossom.
“Harris! You cowing little traitor!” screamed the Queen.
Harris gazed sycophantically up at Sayako. The Emperor put his hand out to pat the little British dog. Harris bared his teeth and began to snarl. The Emperor foolishly persisted in his attempt to pat the dog’s head but before he cou
ld do so Harris had snapped irritably at the Imperial thumb. The Emperor struck out at Harris with a glove and instantly lost the sympathy of the entire watching British public.
Harris bared his teeth in a malevolent grin and then began to bark furiously. The camera continued to close in on Harris until his head filled the screen. The Queen and her visitors drew back in alarm. All that could be seen were Harris’s sharp teeth and his red, liver-coloured tongue.
∨ The Queen and I ∧
APRIL
∨ The Queen and I ∧
52
THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
The Queen woke with a start. Harris was jumping up and down in front of the television set barking with record-breaking ferocity. She was drenched in sweat. The heavy linen sheets pressed on her, clammy and cold. She looked, as she always did, towards the damp patch in the corner but it had gone and had been replaced by what appeared to be a fine silk wall-covering. “Oh do be quiet, you cowing little dog,” shouted the Queen.
Harris continued to bark at the empty screen. To shut him up the Queen found the remote control and turned the television on. It was the morning of the tenth of April 1992 and a red-eyed David Dimbleby was wearily repeating that the Conservatives had won the election.
“Oh God, what a nightmare!” groaned the Queen and pulled the sheet over her head.
EOF
