'The Visitors', Part 25 - 3WW, The Serialists - 13/3/2013

The Visitors

Part 25

     PTMNMQe, a.k.a. Lucy Diamond, was discovering the delights of instant coffee mixed with Marmite, as recommended by Wat Shures.  The gang of five (now that Lucy had joined them) was in Sebastian's car, on their way to a meeting of college professors that was to take place in the Great Hall of Caius College, Cambridge.   The coffee came from a large thermos flask that Pigsly had prepared before they set off.  A second flask, minus the Marmite, rested between the Professor's feet as he sat in the passenger seat at the front of the car.  Sebastian was driving, and the three Its were crammed together in the back.   Lucy was being very careful not to spill coffee on it's smart suit, a not too difficult task considering it's 'mind over matter' powers.  Nevertheless, it still allowed itself a mild grumble:  'I do think it was a mistake to travel jammed together in this car.   We could all have been in Cambridge now, having coffee in some smart and comfortable restaurant.'

     'This instantaneous jumping about was making my head whirl,' said Sebastian.   'I haven't had the car on the road for weeks - not since I first met Pigsly.  I just felt like a change - that's all.'

     'I agree with Lucy,' said Wat Shures who, because of it's bulk, was feeling a bit squashed against the off-side window. 'We could  have made the jump, and you could have brought the Major and the Captain with you, instead of leaving them behind.  They would have enjoyed the trip.'

     'I think not,' Charles Darwyn said, 'they are better off hiding away in my place.  They are not academics and would have been out of place at the meeting.'

     'To be quite honest,' said Sebastian, 'I can't see the point of this meeting at all.  Why can't you Its just change everyone's minds for them, so that they all think the same way.   That goes for the governments and military and big business as well.   Just make them all see things differently, the way we want  them to.  After all, the Grey Tit has agreed that they don't have to like it - so let's force them to change.'   He stopped talking while he negotiated a tricky traffic situation, then went on:  'You said that Grey Tit would allow us to beat the ruling bodies against their will - so let's do it!'

     'Oh dear!' said Lucy, 'I'm afraid you are misinterpreting Grey Tit's pragmatism.  At first, It hoped that the 'one percenters' as you call them would come round to our way of thinking of their own accord; of their own free will, but it seems that that will not happen.   It was wishing for a 100%, free will acceptance of the concept of mind over matter.  Since it cannot see that happening, it is prepared to go along with a degree of coercion.  The job must still be done by the 'free minds'.  D'you see?'

     'Hmmph!,' snorted Sebastian.   'So in spite of Grey Tit easing off with it's principles, we still have to do all the hard work.  No change, as far as I can see.'

     'Of course there's a change,' said Pigsly.  'Don't you see?  Before, we would have had to convince the 'one percenters' to voluntarily come around to our way of thinking.  Now, with Grey Tit's blessing, we can force them to - given the chance.'

     'And that's going to be a damned sight easier said than done,' the Professor said.  'They've got all the weapons they need - and then some!  And they have already begun to use them.'

     'And you've got us,' said Lucy Diamond sweetly.   It finished it's coffee, screwed the cup back onto the flask and leaned back comfortably, causing Wat to press even harder into the window.

     'How do you think this meeting will go?' asked Sebastian.  'This is your show today - I'm not too attuned to academe myself.'

     The Professor said:  'Rather stuffily, I should imagine.  They will probably dig their heels in; they always resist change as much as possible.'

     'Why didn't you choose one of the 'red-brick' colleges, or even the LSE.  Something a bit newer.  Sussex University would have been good.'

     'No,' Charles was adamant, 'It has to be Caius.  My old place you know.  You wait 'til you see the Great Hall - wonderful panelled wainscoting, and stained glass windows above.  Beautiful place.  I'm looking forward to seeing it again - haven't been back for years.'    He crossed his arms  and hugged his shoulders, rocking boyishly from side to side.   'I'm quite excited,' he said.  'How far to go now?'

     'Not far, just a couple of miles.'

     'Good!' groaned Wat Shures, from the back.

To be continued.......