main menu | youngsters categories | authors | new stories | search | links | settings | author tools |
The Voice of the Revolution (standard:drama, 3471 words) | |||
Author: TJC | Added: Nov 09 2006 | Views/Reads: 3676/2384 | Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes) |
A radio talk show host finds out that the new America he helped create comes with a price. | |||
Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story “He is telling students that radio is the last market to express free ideas. That the newspapers and print media are now controlled by a corporate government , just as the entertainment industry is. He is telling them that talk radio with open phones, though dominated by the powers that be, is the only place from which to get ideas out there. One student wrote in their school paper that ideas, even the most unpopular, have to be expressed openly for freedom to survive.” “Hugo Edwards is an idealist,” said Rob. “He's always been that way. A liberal dinosaur to be sure, but he's harmless and he does so much good for the students in his charge. He inspires and makes people believe in themselves. That's what he did for me. Once these kids get in the real world they'll soon learn that the old ways didn't work and this new era is one of prosperity and order.” “His ideas are archaic and dangerous.” Alf then walked behind Rob and patted his shoulder, speaking quietly, “You know, Rob, 'Our teachers should teach, not pass on their own political beliefs to their students.' Remember who said that?” Rob nodded, hearing his own words in his ear. He'd said it when a history teacher was pointing out parallels between the President and how Adolf Hitler incorporated power in the early 1930's. After Rob spent two days talking about the man's past, his alcohol-related car accident, which happened when the man was nineteen years old, it was only a matter of time before he was forced out and gone. “Can I count on you to have a chat with him, Rob?” Alf Reynolds sat down at his desk and looked at Layton as he sat back in his chair, hands behind his head. “Just a friendly talk?” Rob Layton nodded. He wasn't at all sure what he was going to say to his former professor, but he had to at least try. Somehow he felt like he was betraying Professor Edwards, but if he refused he'd be betraying Alf Reynolds, the man who had made him The Voice of the Revolution. The office of Hugo Edwards had always been perpetually dusty and cluttered. Rob hadn't been to see him in years, mostly out of fear, for when Edwards stopped answering his e-mails word had reached Layton that his old professor felt that his once prized student had become the crystal example of what was wrong with the country. Rob hadn't had the courage to go see him, nor say anything about it to anyone. Now, though, he had no choice. The old professor was sitting and looking at some papers. His gray hair a mere patch on a bald head, his glasses down on his nose and wearing a white shirt mapped with wrinkles up and down and every which way. He didn't even look up. “The voice of the revolution has arrived,” he said evenly. “To what do I owe this honor?” “Hello Professor Edwards,” replied Rob, still standing at the door. “It's been a long time.” “It has indeed, but not long enough,” his voice filled with controlled contempt. “May I come in and sit down?” Rob started in but stopped abruptly when his old mentor shouted. “I didn't invite you in! State your business and leave.” “I'm sorry you hate me, Mr. Edwards, but I have always held you in high esteem and will never forget the lessons I learned from you.” “You forgot what I taught you a long time ago.” “That's not true, I just have different views than you do. I....” Layton hesitated. He hated what was happening and was desperate to leave. “I was trying to help get the country going in a more positive direction. That's not why I'm here, though.” “Why are you here? To offer condolences?” “What?” “I was told I either resign or get fired. Tenure no longer matters in this country. You and your kind have seen to that. If I resign, I retain some dignity and my pension. If I'm fired I will be publicized in a negative light and they will do all they can to wipe out my pension. It's my choice, the board of directors said. I have until tomorrow.” Layton was stunned. Alf Reynolds had said nothing about Hugo Edwards being given an ultimatum. Perhaps he hadn't known? Of course he'd known. The powers that be would prefer that the old man go quietly, perhaps even with a dinner in his honor. “I didn't know about that,” was all Layton could say. “What are you going to do?” “They can fire me. I will not make things easier for your friends.” “You've done a great deal for many students, including myself. Why not take the retirement and not only get the pension you so richly deserve, but also give many of us who have learned so much from you the chance to say thank you?” Rob finally inched inside the doorway, but as soon as he did Hugo Edwards stood up. “You're here to convince me, huh? I have to go.” “So you're mind is made up?” Edwards shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with disappointed anger. “Professor, what would be the point?” Rob took a step toward his former teacher but Edwards took a step back and waved him off. “You've had a distinguished career, why ruin it all? Just because you disagree with the government?” “Don't you see that by making them fire me, by standing up, I'm teaching my students the best lesson. The lesson that we don't have to become a mouthpiece for the state.” “Is that really how you see me? That I've done nothing of any worth?” Hugo Edwards was clenching his teeth. Layton wondered if his mentor was going to punch him. “Freedom of expression curtailed, judicial branches neutered, elite police forces able to search and detain without warrants, and all these things happened with your voice on the air nationwide cheering them on.” “The people wanted this. There was no military coup or anything like that,” Rob said. “You know full well how powerful your position voice is and how you can influence people. You could have used it to protect people from what came.” “Had I done that I wouldn't have been on the air. Besides, most of the changes have been for the better. I really believe that.” “Goodbye, Robert.” The old professor walked out, leaving his office unlocked and open, presumably never to come back. Rob looked into the hallway and he was gone. He shut his door and decided it was time to go home. He'd tried. Hugo Edwards was a stubborn man, a decent man but too stubborn for his good. That night, Rob lay in bed with his fourth wife, Karen, a young woman he didn't love but did love sleeping with. None of his four marriages were anything to write home about. All the women he'd married were distant seconds to his career. At least he'd been smart enough not have fathered any children. He presumed it was no different on Karen's side either- she didn't love him, but did love what he did for her. Why else would a twenty-eight year old blonde and blue-eyed model be with an overweight fifty-five year old radio man, except that his name could help her career? Despite this, he decided to tell her about what had happened and how it was bothering him. Her response shouldn't have been a surprise. “He made his choice to speak out and now he can live with it. He's jealous that you were smart enough to see the writing on the wall and become useful to those in control.” “Is that what I did?” Rob rubbed her shoulders as she kissed his chest. “You think I made some calculated decision based on who was in power?” “Didn't you?” Her hand reached inside his briefs and he shut his eyes. “I did what I thought was best for the country. We needed to be protected against terror and the nation's values were a mess. Now the people can be proud of what America stands for.” “They better be proud or else, huh Baby?” She slipped him into her mouth. “No, I mean it.” Rob pulled her off him. “What I do is right and just for the country.” “Oh what does it matter? Can we do it now or are we going to just sleep?” When she took him back into her mouth he stayed quiet but his mind was racing. They better be proud or else, huh Baby? He kept hearing it in his head. Alf Reynolds already knew that Hugo Edwards had told Layton to get lost and he was in no mood to discuss options. “I want you to hit him on the air,” he said. “And I want him hit hard. Understand?” “On what basis?” Rob stared out the window at the sun splashed city below. “I mean he's been fired so what's the point?” “To send a message. Did you know his daughter had an abortion?” “She did? Is she in jail?” “No, he had the money to send her to Europe.” Abortion had been outlawed a couple of years earlier, but European countries, at least most of them, still allowed them. People with a little money could get across the Atlantic and still take care of an unwanted pregnancy. “I don't understand, Alf. Then what are you getting at?” “What the hell is the matter with you?” Alf Reynolds stood up and leaned against the front of his desk. “We can't have him thumbing his nose at us. He has to be discredited. His daughter's abortion, his dangerously liberal views and his refusal to accept a generous offer of retirement clearly indicate his subversive tendencies. You will make sure the nation hears about them.” Layton nodded but said nothing. “You okay, Rob?” “Yeah. I'm fine.” “Go give him hell,” said Alf Reynolds, ending their meeting. That afternoon, Rob Layton spent the four hours of his radio show informing his revolutionaries about several people who'd been detained on terror and conspiracy charges, one of which was a known former member of the now defunct American Civil Liberties Union. He went on to lay out the reasons why searches and detention were a necessary part of the new order and protected the values and principles of the righteous people of the United States. During the broadcast he got several messages from the top floor that they wanted his piece on professor Edwards, but he ignored it. He just didn't see the point. The man had been fired. He'd paid a price for his misguided but well-intentioned thoughts. Rob saw no need to hurt a man who'd been such a help to him in developing his talent. After he left the air that day, Rob Layton - The Voice of the Revolution - was fired. He'd been given no offer of retirement. A month following his firing, Rob sat in a bar he'd heard was frequented by Hugo Edwards. Supposedly the old professor had done well saving money and was doing pretty decently. He would come and play darts and drink some beer with neighborhood friends a couple times a week. Rob envied him. He also wanted to see if the two of them could patch things up. That hope was all Rob Layton had left. Overnight he'd lost it all, or so it seemed. The day he'd been fired he came home to find his house being searched. Karen was frantic and angry, not at the police, but at Rob. “What the hell did you do?” She screamed. “Why the hell is the house being searched?” “I have no idea. I got fired today, but I have no idea what this about.” “Fired? Why? Can they just fire you for nothing?” Rob ignored her and went into the living room and stopped one of the officers. “What is the meaning of this? Am I charged with something?” “No, Sir,” said the nervous policeman. “Not that I know of but your name was on today's list for precautionary search. I'm sure it will be nothing, Mr. Layton. I love your show.” Layton nodded his head and sat in his chair and watched the government officers go through his belongings. He heard Hugo Edwards in his head; elite police forces able to search and detain without warrants. He knew they'd find nothing subversive, if there was anyone completely on the government's side of things, it was Rob Layton. This was punishment. This was a message. After a couple of hours the police apologized for the mess and announced they'd found nothing and would give him a good report. A dazed Layton shook the lead officer's hand and shut the door. Karen was fuming and started pounding his chest. “What the fuck happened? Why did they fire you? What in the hell did you do?” Rob pushed her away, sending her into the wall with a hard thud. He then went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of bourbon. “I'm sorry,” he said quietly. “They must have given you a reason, Rob? Don't you have some sort of union?” Rob almost laughed. “Union? We did, yes. The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians.” “Can't they help us?” Rob shook his head. “They've been disbanded for several months now. They weren't interested in the betterment of the country. All they did, like most labor unions, was protect people who didn't want to work, or so I said when hit them on the air.” Karen left him later that week. Hugo Edwards came into the bar and shook hands with several of the regulars and was immediately set up with a beer. One of Hugo's best qualities was his down to earth attitude and working man personality. Rob always considered him better than those academic elitists that always viewed themselves superior to everyone else. Was that how he still felt? Was he still believing all the things he used to say on air? Walking up tentatively, Rob said hello to Professor Edwards. “Well if it isn't the former voice of the revolution.” His friends looked up. Layton had lost a great deal of weight and his features had seen better days. Few recognized him on the street anymore. Edwards' friends muttered to themselves without saying anything to Rob. “What do you want?” “I wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened.” “Don't be sorry for me. I have my savings, my friends and my self respect.” Hugo Edwards took a long drink of his beer and then went on. “I have a wife who loves me and children and grandchildren. Some of them even espouse to your views but we still love each other.” “That's good. I'm glad to hear it.” “You, Robert Layton, on the other hand, have nobody. Four ex-wives, no friends, a shattered career, a career that was forged by attacking decent people who simply didn't like what was happening. The people you destroyed are gone or silent now. We have the country you and yours always wanted.” “Look we don't have to..” “Don't have to what? You don't want to hear it, Robert? Then go.” Rob stood there silently. Coming to see Professor Edwards was a mistake. “To Rob Layton,” Edwards said, raising his beer. His friends joined him. “The voice of the revolution.” They all drank. Rob stood like a stone holding his bourbon, then finally shook his head and placed his glass on the bar. “I think I'll go.” Rob headed to the door. “Robert, you forgot a very important lesson from history.” Rob turned and looked at Professor Edwards, who for the first time was looking at him with something approaching kindness. “Once the revolution is won, they have no need for revolutionaries. A post revolution revolutionary is more dangerous than the enemy.” Robert Layton, the once powerful man of the airways, now a pariah to the government he helped create and hated by those who fought against it, walked out of the bar without a clue as to where he was going. TC Tweet
Authors appreciate feedback! Please write to the authors to tell them what you liked or didn't like about the story! |
TJC has 19 active stories on this site. Profile for TJC, incl. all stories Email: topcatrunner@gmail.com |