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Chapter Text

Top State Secret File: Village (0-10R-7M1-9B6-7)

Codename: Red Iron

Private Message: “When the time comes, we must strike while the iron is hot, even if it burns our fingers.”

Incident No. 010268
Security instigated 'Operation Diaspora' as per emergency protocol. Able-bodied residents were successfully evacuated and relocated to another safe haven. The physically and/or mentally vulnerable were detained at the Village hospital and the Old People’s Home. Our specialized task force has been activated to ensure the welfare of the remaining villagers.

Ground assessment showed a large number of deceased delegates in the remains of the Assembly Chamber. Further analysis concluded that the first wave of fatalities was caused by sustained gunshot wounds; the second wave caused by the premature launching the rocket Orbiter 1, resulting in multiple injuries, heart attack or suffocation of the victims in the immediate area.

'Operation Aftermath' was instigated, where governments with mutual interests joined forces to deal with the deceased, lest the bodies become a biohazard. Unmarked ambulances were deployed for the corpses and euthanasia kits used in extreme cases where treatment would prove impossible.

Closure of case: 19-03-68

Chapter Text

The bright spring day brought forth blossom breezes. Flat-capped, boiler-suited men broke the silence of the empty idyll by the percussive sounds of hammering that echoed around the complex. The cold wind blew across the lawn and onto the faces of the five children, who were singing ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,’ as they held hands in a circle. They were the sons and daughters of high-ranking officials; some of them were children of former Village inmates, others the offspring of missing diplomats outside the Village. The sound of a small helicopter overhead made the children look up and shield their worried eyes.

Number Twenty-Eight, supervisor of the Village, watched the children with disinterest and then strolled along the path to the café near to the old people’s home. He stood on top of the granite wall that overlooked the solitary stone boat. He was a slight, balding man of about fifty, who stood in his supervisor uniform of black jacket (with the circular number badge neatly-pinned); khaki polo neck, and the regulation dark trousers. He appeared unremarkable in every way, had almost a slavish devotion to his administration job and counted every bean carefully, paying attention to the smallest of inconsequential details. Number Twenty-Eight's gimlet gaze scanned every nook and cranny, daily noting each villagers’ movements. Before his assignment to the Village, he had been a senior bureaucrat, but his 'promotion' to the Village was a surprise for his fellow colleagues, and whispers soon circulated about his ‘suitability’. Number Twenty-Eight had taken the position voluntarily and solemnly and he quickly found that position in the Village would be far different from his previous post. His present job as main supervisor had seen in charge of coordinating security, his posting had given him higher level clearance and therefore access to some of the top secret files in administration.

His pen-pushers pride had been sorely tested, though. Number Twenty-Eight was used to deadlines and bosses breathing down his neck. With the Village depleted, he had to while away the longer hours, which included repeatedly peering through the long range telescope that overlooked the lawns and out to the sea. He had observed the increase of surveillance ships on the horizon. There had not been this amount of boats since the war, he thought. Number Twenty-Eight continued to watch the horizon from the wall and considered the vast stretch of sea, the waves as curls of silver against the weakening sun. Who was it that wrote “We may sink and settle on the waves…the white petals will be darkened with sea water”?* He could not remember; these days he wasn’t sure if it had been an old access code. He was further lost in thought, until footsteps broke the solitude.

He turned to see a petite, androgynous figure behind him. He recognised her as the Peter Pan figure from the Grand Ball some months ago. His previous dealings with her had been limited as she was had been a comparatively fleeting figure. She had the natural air that denoted that she was one of his superiors, though the differences between who were the prisoners and who were the warders had been blurred of late. “They told me that I’d find you here,” she said, with some amusement. They briefly held eye contact, and when he did not answer, her eyes flickered over his shoulder to the sea, “No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow,”^ she said, the clipped vowels and smoker’s voice had a mocking tone to them.

The Supervisor squared his shoulders and turned his back to resume his watch of the horizon. “I am not sure whether that is a welcome or a warning,” he said which was met with a rueful chuckle from Number Two. He continued “I'm told that you are used to much colder climes. I trust you had a pleasant journey?”

“If by this you mean uneventful, then yes” she answered. She removed her gloves and sat at one of the café tables by the wall, gesturing to one of the waiting maids for service. Number Twenty-Eight let the silence envelop them, the warm sun countered by the coarse spring wind. Her cropped hair was greying and ruffled by the breeze, the cream woollen jacket sealed tighter against the cold. “We hadn’t expected to be back quite so soon,” she continued, crossing her legs, “Most of the matters had been dealt with, even if the clear up operation took far longer than our masters had imagined.”

Much longer, he thought. When ‘Operation Aftermath’ had been implemented, the Village had been in emergency lockdown and at first, the place was buzzing with low flying helicopters and sharp-suited men. Meetings were held inside secluded board rooms, while outside, plain-uniformed army medics conducted the gruesome clear up operation. Since then, there had been silence, punctuated with flurries of building activity, then standstill once more. For a while, it had been worryingly quiet from those in charge. Number Twenty-Eight had found it both most unsettling and isolating. He was secretly relieved to see the workmen resume the project two weeks ago, though he had not recognised any of them as previous Village residents.

“We can’t take much longer; we’re three months behind as it is….”he said, exasperation rising in his voice.

“Patience, my dear fellow,” she interrupted, dismissively waving her hand, “It is an ongoing process. We couldn’t dispose of the bodies in the usual way.”

Number Twenty-Eight clambered down from the wall and sat heavily on the small white seat across the table from Number Two. His shoulders were hunched, arms folded. “I know,” he said, bleakly, not meeting her gaze, “I’ve already seen the report.”

“Then you know that this has to be seen to be handled sensitively.” She sniffed and continued, “Our friends are watching and waiting, scrutinising our every move. It is more important to get the job done correctly than on time. It’s all being taken care of," she added, “You needn’t worry yourself on that score.” She paused as the maid served tea on a silver tray. You can’t beat the English and their formalities, he thought. If indeed she was English.

“Thank you, my dear, “said Number Two, stirring her tea and watching the maid depart before bringing the cup to her lips.

The seagulls circled and wheeled, a cacophony of screeching chorus. The sun dipped behind the clouds as they watched a succession of black Mariahs silently steal up the beach. Some green boiler-suited men with white safety helmets marched from the vans and installed protective tents on the sands, forming a barrier against obtrusive onlookers. “Now,” Number Two said, “for the matter in hand.”

”What will happen to the new bodies?” asked Number Twenty-Eight, looking down and drawing his arms even closer to his body.

“They will be removed and, of course amended. They will be buried near the woods in unmarked graves. It was unfortunate, but I am sure the children will recover. Girls, particularly, are remarkably resilient.” Number Two’s face remained emotionless as she sipped her tea.

Number Twenty-Eight sighed, “Let’s hope so.”

The afternoon shadows began to creep in, the curlews called to each other and the dead hydrangea heads rustled in their cold, earthen beds. Along with the first shoots of spring, were fresh blooms of new, unaccounted bodies.  Number Twenty-Eight had supervised the emergency excavation and immediately recognised one of the corpses as the Howling Number Two, whose breakdown during Number Six’s ‘game’ had been well documented. The incident had caused serious ripples further up the chain of command. There was another body who had been unrecognisable to most; Number Twenty-Eight observed the thin square gold-rimmed spectacles still attached to the corpse's head and reflected that this Number Two would no longer be needing his midnight milk. High-ranking men in simple shrouds, buried in sand, with their hands neatly folded. The Supervisor had little love or respect for the former Number Twos, but felt that something respectable should be said. “They were said to be great men …”, he began, but was again cut short.

“Hardly,” she scoffed, “they were both on their last warning. They should have been dispensed with years ago. Both were flounderers who had lost their way.” Number Twenty-Eight began to object, but Number Two quickly intervened, “We don’t tolerate failure here. Some do it for the power, that it would grant them "precious prestige". Some were coerced, knowing that they weren’t fit for office, but thinking that they could cast a gloss over their tarnished reputations. Of course, they were set up for a fall. "We play, as so we are played", as the Admiral used to say.”

The bodies of the rank and file Number Twos were quickly dealt with, ahead of the tidal change. Two Mariahs trundled across the sands to the mortuary, leaving the final van; the tent still evident. Number Twenty-Eight gestured towards the beach and made reference to the remaining body, “What about him?”

Number Two’s eyes darted. “The Rook. It’s a shame. Some people would say that he was one of our most promising innovators,” she said, topping up her tea.

“Indeed.” The last man must have had the most recent death, the Supervisor reflected. Compared to the tidy, decomposing bodies of his immediate superiors, this man's departure looked hasty, executed in a hurry. "The man had been buried at sea, the March storms bringing him to shore," were the assuring words of a previous Number Two, who had avoided the Supervisor’s eyes - he too, had noted the obvious lack of decomposition to support his own claim.

Number Two sighed, “We were sure that once we convinced him of his placement within the Village, he would happily continue his good works,” she said, “A pity, really. He showed promise, but ultimately such a small fish. His death…was regrettable, but he had outgrown his initial usefulness and had become expendable. Flounderers, each and every one. And we can’t allow that to happen – can we?”

Flounders. Number Twenty-Eight considered the face of the Rook, who unlike his deceased superiors, was found face down, mouth choked with sand, eyes pearled like a fish on a monger’s slab. Number Two seemed to read his mind. “Don’t look like that. There are always plenty more 'fish' in the sea, old chap.” Her voice changed tone, “Anyway, we must move on.  Every town needs its sheriff,” she said, with a playful smile, “You are it.”

Number Twenty-Eight gave a start. Number Two gave another rueful chuckle. “I thought you would be surprised. You are a modest man, by all accounts. It appears our masters have noticed your wonderful work over the last few months and have decided to reward you handsomely.”

Number Twenty-Eight’s heart plummeted at this sinister proclamation. During the inquiry, he had been 'rewarded' within an inch of his life. He had given evidence about the timeline of events, but had been seen as either being in collusion with Number Six, or as a coward who mysteriously escaped the chamber when the rocket had been prematurely discharged. They implied that he had also been in collusion with the newly-resurrected Number Two, Number Forty-Eight and the diminutive butler. Number Twenty-Eight had been released without charge, but he knew he was being set up. Just like most of the hapless Number Twos before him, he would become another powerless pawn in their games.  Number Twenty-Eight somehow managed to keep his voice steady. “I would be the new Number Two?” he asked, watching the tent being packed away and the last van leaving the beach.

Number Two threw her head back, scornfully laughing, her gapped front teeth adding to the forced gaiety of her outburst. Number Twenty-Eight registered this as a slight, but was slightly relieved at her incredulity, “Modest men don’t usually make such assumptions. No, my dear fellow, you will the primary overseer until order has been restored. Just think of it as having your old job back, but with added responsibility. When we resume business, you will be each incumbent Number Two’s right hand man.”

“More or less as I did before.” The note in Number Twenty-Eight’s voice suggested that he did not relish the prospect.

“This time, you will have special dispensation. You will follow each Number Two’s orders, but will be reporting straight to us at HQ. You will be our eyes and ears, our fingers on the pulse.” Number Two finished her tea, “Don’t worry; your lovely Village will soon be populated with others in no time.”

“More spies to find.” He watched her drain the last drops from her cup. He had not touch his tea, leaving it to turn as cold as the sentiments of their conversation.

“More vacancies to fill. As it always is...in places like this,” assured Number Two.  She stood up and straightens her topcoat. “We will be ready for their funeral tomorrow. We will mark it as a reset for the Village and then we will talk about your new position. No, don’t get up.” Her gesture suggested that their meeting was at an end, “You have plenty to do, I'm sure.”

He swallowed, but kept his tone even, “What will happen to Number Six?”

She stopped short, but recovered her composure quickly. “I would be surprised if he is alive twelve months from now, “ she said dismissively, her expression blank, “As for our last Number Two and Number Forty-Eight, they don’t know that they are already dead.”

Number Twenty Eight looked despondent, the late afternoon breeze colder than he had felt before, “They say that April is the cruellest month...”

“You must remember to take your Stetson** with you,” she mocked and turned her back, walking away at speed, “Be seeing you...old chap.”