Deportation translated - part 2
2. Magna Carta and the world press.
After having shower and wrapping himself in a lava-lava, Graendal finally felt fully at home. The whole family gathered on the central terrace, which doubled as a living room. However, Irji was already sitting at the computer and doing something on the Internet, and Sabi slept wrapped in a blanket, in a wide armchair in front of the TV in the far corner of the terrace overlooking the garden.
- Seeing again the cartoon about these stupid polar bears? - He asked, patting her behind the ear.
- They are pandas, not polar bears - she mumbled without opening his eyes.
- You think that makes a difference?
- It does. They are not stupid, they’re funny - she did open her eyes, - Hey Dad, when did you come back?
- About ten minutes ago. Honey, do you think it would be better for you to sleep in the kids’ room? We're going to make noise here.
- Do make noise, - she said generously, turning to the other side - does not bother me. It’s boring in the kid’s room.
- Come on, leave it, - intervened Laysha - let the girl sleep here. And go to the table already. I poured you Ein-Topf, it should be eaten hot.
- Ein what?
- Ein Topf. It’s a Bavarian soup.
- Ah, - he said, coming to the table - smells delicious.
- Yeah, eat already - Laysha said - and by the way, explain me what happened there? On the TV it looked like a circus. I understood nothing and turned it off.
- I didn’t understand either, - he said, swallowing the first spoonful of soup - we should have sent Jelle or Macrin instead. Or, at least, Ashura. After all, they are judges by rating, and I - by draw. They could explain much better.
- Macrin called yesterday and said that it’s good that you went there.
- What else did he say?
- He said they divided your work among them, to give you a day off. Kind of a gift from colleagues.
- Very nice of them, - muttered Graendal with his mouth.
- Do not grumble, Gren.
- I’m not grumbling, - he said - by the way, where is the grappa?
- To your left in a plastic bottle.
- Ah, I see - he filled his glass and licked his lips.
- Pa, what does "fascist" mean? - Irji asked.
- Are you too lazy to look up in encyclopedia?
- Yeah, it says that the Germans were criminals, they created a state, banned criticism of the government and killed everyone who disagreed with the way they organized the community. And they started a war, even though nobody attacked them.
- Well, it’s more or less correct.
- Pa, why then «Europe monitor daily» writes that you are a fascist?
Laysha turned to Graendal, shrugged and said:
- Tough luck. Now you'll have to explain the child about the Nazis.
Graendal shrugged, took a small sip of vodka and:
- Irji, do you know why I had to fly to Strasbourg?
- Because you're kicked some fags out of the country and some other fags raised a fuss about it.
Laysha clasped her hands:
- Hey, where did you hear that word?
- from you, ma, - calmly replied the boy, - this is how you explained it to uncle Wang Ming. And who are fags?
- There are those who turn sexual orientation into a political issue - intervened Graendal - but let's first deal with the Nazis. Firstly, I did not make the decision to deport by myself, there was the panel of supreme judges chosen for this year. You know how ...
- I know - Irji interrupted - they teach it in the first calss.
- Good boy. Now please print out the paper that calls me a fascist.
Irji made a few mouse clicks, and the printer spew out several sheets of paper. The first had a bright headline:
"Shocking statements by Meganesia Inquisitor." Below was a picture of Graendal and commentary: "For the first time in its history the European Union provided a tribune to a fascist", said Nurali Abu Saleh, Commissioner for Human Rights, in the European Council.
The text went on, with fragments of Graendal’s speech in bold italics. The selection was impressive - the journalists did a good job with scissors.
"Magna Carta stands above all moral authority and all religions with all their history"
"We have the right to use moral terror on any group of people and their customs"
"If some people do not like our rules - they should leave our country"
"There are no compromises. The court issued an order, and the police is obliged to fulfill it "
"Your democracy is a fig leaf covering the slave collar on your neck"
"you will be put on your knees by anybody who knows that your tolerance is just cowardice"
"The government has no right to allow itself such luxuries as conscience and compassion"
"We keep an efficient military corps so that they can use the weapons without hesitation"
- Wow, - said Laysha, looking over his shoulder - could be worse, you’re only called a fascist and not, say, a cannibal. It deserves being called cannibal. Gren, did you really say all that?
- No, Laysha ... I mean, I really said it, but that’s not all. This is all taken out of context. They just collected all the pieces and made a spaghetti, devils ...
- On TV it sounded much beter - Irji supported him - you should have seen it, Ma. By the way, I recorded it all. For the history and you know, if it ever comes useful.
- I couldn’t see it, it was so long, and to listen to all the nonsense from those self-important idiots...
- They're fun, - said the boy - they speak in English, but make no sense at all.
- It's called "political rhetoric", - explained Graendal - a trick to confuse the audience and distract them with all sorts of nonsense.
- You do the same thing when you're too lazy to do your homework - added Laysha
The phone beeped.
- Here it starts - sighed Graendal - hello, ... Oh, hi mom ... Okay ... Yes, no, not really ... Well, all of them ... no, honestly, I do not want and will not ... Ok, give him the phone ... Yes, dad ... Wait a minute, I'll explain ...
Graendal explained for quarter of an hour. Then he hung up the phone and silently poured himself another glass of grappa.
- What is it? - I asked Laysha.
- The parents also read about the "fascist", - he said - my father urged me to write an e-mail to the coordinator of Foreign Affairs to send a note of protest to the European Commissioner, and deny Abu Salih and and those journalists a visa to the Confederation.
- And they are contractually obligated to do it?
- Yeah, - he said, slurping the cold Ein Topf - dad even quoted the paragraph number something, obligations in case of hostile acts of foreign officials upon public officers of the Confederacy. But why? Well, deny the visa to these freaks, what next? It's like suing your neighbor when his cat pooed on your porch. Might win a coin, but everyone will know that your porch stinks.
The phone beeped again.
- Eat, Gren, I'll take this, - threw Laysha - Hello, who is that ... What ... Oh, I see ... Me? Laysha, people say I’m his wife, could be true ... what ... In fact, he is eating soup ... are you sure you have to do it today ...?. Maybe just over the phone? ... Ah, and review the notes? Okay, I’m asking him.
- Who's that? - I asked Graendal.
- Press. The guy from «Pacific social news» asks for a visit. He says that it is written in your contract ...
- I know. It says "immediately". Dumb, why didn’t he drive up to the aircraft. Good he didn’t ask to come in the middle of the night.
- So, let him come?
- Well, yes, what can we do.
- You can come, - said Laysha into the headset - we’ll meet you in the lagoon, just call 20 minutes in advance ... You need no help? Well, if it’s the latest model ... Ok, call if you get lost.
- What did he say? - asked Graendal.
- He has some fancy satellite guidance device, we’ll see. His name is Malik Sekar. He promised to be an hour and minutes.
- Is he a journalist? - Irji asked.
- Yes, son.
- I hope he will not be as voracious as the last one. He ate all the apricot jam. How he managed to not get sick ...
3. . Malik Sekar, reporter for «the Pacific social news»
A military-style hydroplane jet landed at such a speed that the audience was nervous - first for the fate of the reporter, and then, for the fate of the pier, which came close to getting crushed by the heavy machine. However, the landing ended smoothly, the aircraft stopped after slightly scraping the deck. Almost immediately, a young sporty guy jumped out. He looked Indonesian, was in his 30s or maybe even younger. He brought a huge fruit cake, which immediately improved Irji’s opinion on the reporter folk.
- Sorry for the late hour, - he said, shaking hands with Graendal - I thought you had nothing for tea.
- That’s how you think of me? - interrupted Laysha.
- Oh, sorry
- That’s fine, I'm kidding - she interrupted again, - take your stuff and sit down at the table. Want some vodka, sen Sekar?
Sekar looked at the half-empty glass in the corner of the table and nodded.
- A little. If sen Laysha also...
- I’ll join - she snorted, taking another two glasses - how much is that brutal thing you came on?
- I do not know, it's the company’s - he said, plopping on the table cake, a laptop and a small video camera - the newspaper bought it from sea patrol when they upgraded. It’s outdated for patrol but fine for the press.
Irji, meanwhile, prudently moved the cake closer.
- Just don’t overeat - warned Graendal, and turned to the reporter with a serious face - I'm ready, sen Sekar. Let’s start… what are you typing already?
- Introduction, the first impression - he said, tapping his fingers at an incredible rate - the usual stuff ... and what is your profession, sen Vlkov?
- In the college I studied automated home appliances, and my second specialty is rapid technical diagnosis. So I solve customers’ problems with generators, computers, refrigerators, microwaves, stuff like that.
- Does your profession help your work as a judge?
- Hard to tell. On the one hand - yes, lots of experience dealing with angry people. On the other hand, this is why the board chose me to go to the fucking... I mean ...
- I understand where - Sekar said - go on, it's very interesting.
- Nothing interesting. All three social regulation experts were rejected. Ashur and Macrin because they are abstruse, and Jella - for extreme sharpness of judgment. Tin Fan rejected because as a programmer, she has no experience working with people, and Dolphin - because of his occupation. He’s a ship mechanic, and his vocabulary...
- Well, you also did not do much reservation in your words, - said the reporter.
- Yes, but I have kept within the regulatory language, if you know what I mean.
- I quite understand. What do you think about the actions of the social administration? I mean, about the movide that started it all?
Graendal sighed and filled the glasses, made a small sip and scratched his head.
- Briefly, sen Sekar, I believe that the police let the riots happen, while they should have prevented them.
- But police activities are constrained by Magna Carta privacy rules, - said Sekar.
- So what? - Graendal said - the company that competed for the administration contract knew these conditions, therefore, they have to deal with the complexities. That’s what the community is paying them for, right?
- They warned the government of possibility of social unrest the "Children of troglodytes" could cause - reminded a reporter - they proposed a number of general preventive measures and ...
- I expressed my opinion - interrupted Graendal, - and I think that the police will be fined. They signed up for providing concrete security, not general measures. But then, Jello Argenti is handling this matter, you better ask her.
- Yes, I know, I have an appointment with sen Argenti.
Graendal smiled.
- I bet she will invite you at one o'clock, at the rock sports clube on Akorera island.
- Yes, how did you guess?
- 4 months are enough to learn some of the colleagues’ habits.
- I see. So, what can you say about the movie? Have you watched it?
- I did. 8 true stories about the sexual experiences of our students. In the style of Romeo and Juliet. The common theme: fundamentalist families are a source of tragedy. Woman throws sulfuric acid in the face of a teenage girl, because she is "a whore" and "seduced" her son. Man shoots an eight-grader who "corrupted the innocence" of his daughter. Another man throws a homemade bomb at teens at a nudist picnic, because they "incline classmates to sin." And so on.
- Do you agree, sen Vlkov, that the film excites hatred towards patriarchal families?
- Rather to their way of life. However, it does not matter. The director has the right to show the problems of society as he sees them. If he had called for physical violence towards these families, he would have violated the Magna Carta, but he only gave a moral evaluation.
Reporter thoughtfully rolled the glass in his hand and drank. It was timely because Laysha brought to the table a large Chinese teapot and four translucent porcelain cups.
- Thank you so much, sen Laysha.
- Go on, boys - she interrupted - it's all very interesting.
- I anticipate your next question, sen Sekar - said Graendal - what if this moral evaluation is used as moral justification for terror against a particular style of life, family life, religion, beliefs? Right?
- Well, yes, - admitted reporter - I mean, these were the Vatican representative’s arguments.
- Then I'll tell you the same I answered him. Magna Carta prohibits enforcing of moral choice. We have the right to bring moral terror to any group of people whose practices are unacceptable to free people. This group has the right to do the same to us. The government is not allowed to intervene, and is only obliged to stop violence and threats of violence. This is the rule of non-interference in private life, right?
The reporter smiled and nodded.
- Of course. But, as we remember, Abu Salih had a counter-argument: the Magna Carta is the teaching of ethical nihilism. What freedom of moral choice can you talk about, if one of the ethical teachings is proclaimed supreme law and is upheld by governmental coercion?
- My answer to him was long, to you I’ll reply briefly and clearly. Everyone has the right their property, agree?
- Yes. But what ...
- Is this camera your property? - Interrupted Graendal.
- Yeah, why?
Graendal winked at him, took the camera off the table and put it on his lap.
- Now I took it and it’s my property. Any objections?
- Why is it yours, sen Vlkov?
- Well, because here I have it as you can see.
- But you have it because you took it from me, - said Sekar.
- Then you can call the police - stated Graendal - Irji, please, play a policeman for us.