Doctor Who_ Rags - Mick Lewis [43]
Jeremy Willis glanced down at the headline:
STOP THIS EVIL TOUR!
The subheadings were even more lurid:
DISBAND CONVOY OF DEATH-HIPPIES AND HATE-PUNKS!
SHADOW CABINET DEMAND GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION
AGAINST ‘CONVOY OF SEDITION’
‘Convoy of sedition, eh?’ Pole sneered. ‘One of yours I take it?’
He picked the paper up and read aloud: ‘Jeremy Willis, shadow transport minister, yesterday launched a full attack on what he describes as a complacent, ineffectual Government, prevented from taking firm action against the sinister hippie convoy and its cult band because of indecisive leadership and inefficient policies.
Willis blamed underfunding of the police force and an uncommitted cabinet for allowing such obscene "outrages against humanity"
to
remain
unpunished,
demanding
stricter
amendments to criminal bills concerning the unlawful gathering of peace-threatening movements.’ He put the paper down again and smirked at the minister.
‘Got a way with words haven’tya?’
‘Oh, but so have you, Mr Pole,’ Willis smirked right back. ‘I only have to pick up a copy of your magazine to realise exactly how eloquent you are.’
Pole lost his smile. ‘I’m glad you’re a regular reader.’
Willis smiled graciously. He gazed around the seedy little transport cafe. A yellow sign read BIG BOY’S BREAKFAST Below that invitation were similar appeals to lesser waistlines. ‘Are you sure you couldn’t have chosen somewhere more insalubrious for our meeting?’
Pole ignored this. He tapped the paper again. ‘I’m making light 105
of all this shit, Willis. But I don’t like it. Not one little bit. Too many people are making too many assumptions about this tour.
And they’re linking it to my magazine. What with the papers screaming class war and everything, it’s no wonder the Old Bill’s been sniffing around my place.’
Willis raised an amused eyebrow.
‘You think it’s funny? Remember I’m working with you on this.’
‘Is that a threat, Mr Pole?’ Willis waved the waitress away. Pole called her back and ordered a cup of tea.
‘It’s whatever you want it to be, mate,’ Pole lit a cigarette, blew some smoke towards Willis. But I think you can relax, my friend.
They got nothing on me.’
Willis maintained his smirk to prove that doing anything other than relaxing was far from his thoughts. The waitress returned with Pole’s tea, and Willis waited until they were alone again before speaking.
‘I’ve got some news for you that will take your mind off the police, Mr Pole.’
Pole leant back in his chair, tilting his head to one side expectantly. ‘Yeah?’
‘Good news. It seems fate is smiling on your little Gunpowder Plot. The very same day the princess is due to visit Bristol there is going to be a demonstration in the city centre. A pro Country Sports demo, which, if the travellers are still in Bristol - and I am doing my utmost to make sure that is the case - will almost certainly draw the two groups into inevitable conflict of some kind. After all, isn’t that what this tour’s all about - protesting against the affluent in our society? And who’s more affluent than the rural country sports brigade?’
Pole was smiling. He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, tapping his cigarette into the ashtray, he leant forward again.
‘You know, I could almost get to like you,Willis. But then I realise what you are, and I regain control.’ Willis bowed his head with mock graciousness, an oily smirk on his face. ‘Are you absolutely sure the princess won’t cancel her visit because of the protest?’
106
‘Why should she? It’s her set after all, isn’t it? And with enough pressure in the right places, the police can be convinced that the travellers and the royal cavalcade will not stretch their resources too much to warrant a rescheduling. Of course, you’ve got to make sure that if - and I’m sure it’ll be when - the travellers arrive at the protest, some of your agents kick off and start a little... excitement, shall we say. And then the police will most definitely find they have a lot on their plates...’
‘Leaving the darling princess at my mercy.’ Pole’s voice