Back to top Chapter 3

Several hours' worth of chanting and marching around in circles was starting to get on Vincent's nerves. It all seemed liked an act, going through motions, as if such a protest was simply done as a matter of course. But no one really cared. Was he the only one wondering this?

As the group stopped for lunch Vincent couldn't help but stop and ask Cogil what was going on.

"Cogil, tell me again: what the hell is the point of this?" obvious annoyance to his voice.

Cogil was eating an apple. "Alright, look. I'm really only here because this is a fun group and it's an easy form of income. It seems weird to me as well sometimes but it's my best prospect right now. Ask me about it again tonight I'll tell you some more."

When lunch was over everybody was back to the protesting. Vincent still didn't know why he was doing so but participated anyway. Finally, the day was over.

On the way back to the protestor apartment Cogil caught up with Vincent. With a gesture the two dropped back behind the main group of people.
"Vincent, of course we're all just going through the motions here. This is all a charade, and always was.", Cogil tried to explain.
"What do you mean it's 'all a charade' ?", Vincent thought he might be about to get some answers.
"The powerful are more than simply in charge. In some ways they can control a perception of reality. It's all about presentation, positioning, and establishing control.", Cogil again seemed to be edging back towards the cryptic.
"Cogil, what are talking about?" This was starting to annoy Vincent on more than one level.
"Well think about it. Protesting is a symbol a freedom to voice concerns toward the powerful. As long you see that you can't be trapped in someone's dictatorship. So the powerful made that function an official policy." This was starting to sound really lame. What the hell was Cogil talking about?
"Cogil, I still don't understand. It's all fake. Everyone knows it and yet it continues. Why?"
Cogil continued, "Vincent, officially we are out here protesting the Hall of Happiness. The powerful have made that so. This policy did not start in its' current form. This form of protesting took decades. But eventually it became the status quo. And now it is an official function. You must have noticed the lines on the curb as we came over here this morning?" At least Vincent seemed to getting some place.
"Yes, of course I did and was wondering what that was all about. You're saying that line was actually put there specifically for protestors to follow?"
Cogil continued to walk for a moment before answering. The apartment was only a few blocks away now.
"Yes, a long, long time ago. There are so many things we all take for granted as mere formalities even though we know these things are rather pointless. Given enough time is it really a surprise that something like protesting could become the same?", Vincent paused to think a moment. To his surprise this was starting to make some sense.
"So you're saying reality is only as we perceive it to be, and as every person alive by definition has a built-in bias to his perspective no possible perception of reality could be fully accurate?" Vincent was surprised to hear himself say such a thing. Either he was becoming a philosopher or he was losing his sanity.
"Well I don't think I have ever put it quite that way but yes, that is one way to look at it." Cogil responded.

The two of them were finally coming back upon the apartment. The apartment was several floors up in a relatively well-maintained building. The residential district was mostly maintained at the whim of local residents. No had ever thought to mandate the maintenance.

Cogil and Vincent finally finished climbing the stairs to the third floor and found their apartment. But upon entering the room it became obvious something was up. The group of protestors, all twenty or so, were all gathered in the room and staring at Vincent and Cogil. Finally one of them stepped forward.
"I don't think you've met me yet Vincent. I'm the leader of this little band, Adrian. Some the group has been talk and we've decided the two of you should leave." Cogil was more stunned than anything. "What the hell are you talking about, Adrian?" Cogil's voice was still calm at this point.
"Look Cogil, we know you and Vincent have been having some doubts about our purpose. You don't think we have ways of tracking you?" Adrian definitely had the signs of a leader. The question was clearly rhetorical and he was in clear control of the conversation.
"Hey, I was only explaining the way things are to the new guy. You knew how I was when I started with this 'band' as you call them." Cogil said, sounding half defensive. This, Cogil actually knew, was part of the way in which control of a situation or conversation could be established. And by kicking both Cogil and Vincent out in front of the group Adrian had clearly won a public relations victory and further established himself as the leader. Though more respectful, had this same task been taken care of in private and Cogil and Vincent simply disappeared one day Adrian would not have accomplished the same thing. Finally, Vincent chimed in with "Why you stuck up, pig headed, hypocritical son of a bitch. You've handled this incredibly poorly. I'm leaving now and wouldn't come back even if you asked me.
"Well that's fine", Adrian responded with quickly. "Because we don't want you back. Anybody else who'd like to question the way things are now is free to live with these two."
This also, Cogil knew, was simply a ploy. Thanks to peer pressure and the need to fit in to the group no individual would dare come foreword in such a circumstance even if one of them did want to leave. This would only further establish Adrian as the group leader.

The two of them finally turned around and left. Vincent actually felt more hurt than Cogil though Cogil had been with the group so much longer. "You want to tell me what was really going on there?" Vincent finally inquired.
"Well Adrian and I didn't really get along that well when I first joined. And independent thought is dangerous to a group like that. Anybody exhibiting independent thought is a threat the established leadership. I'm not sure how he knew what we were talking about but Adrian obviously had to do what he did eventually to someone."

Vincent thought a moment. "I think I can see you what you mean. So what are we going to do now? Any ideas?" Cogil wondered if his secret past that so intricately entangled itself with Vincent's would ever come to light. He supposed it eventually would but was not looking forward to it.
"No, I don't really have any ideas. But you were relieved of your livelihood by the bureaucracy right? Maybe there's someone else who can help you with that. I took the liberty of grabbing your protest check this morning before we started. I on the other hand have saved my checks for last month and half. We should have enough to live on for a few weeks at least."

"That's fine about the check. I'm glad you grabbed it. So where is this other government official then? Back in the government district?" Vincent responded.

"No, I think he's in another part of the city. Possibly the eastern side. That is where I think we should start walking."

The two simply started walking east along the road back towards the government district. It was getting dark now; the moon was starting to come out. The city of Towz actually had a working rail line that ran freely from one side of the city to the other but neither Cogil nor Vincent considered this as a possibility. Some how the city had been designed in such a way that though walking from one side to the other was a fair distance the layout still seemed to some how invite this. At least Vincent didn't seem to mind too much. Cogil on the other hand found walking to be the most annoying and tiring of prospects. Still, riding the rail never really occurred to him.

The two of them were about to come upon the all-familiar earthen barrier separating the Western section from the Government district when a dark figure started to come up from behind them. He was about caught up with them when Cogil finally sighs and says "Yes? Who are you and what do you want?"
Finally the figure came into the light: it was Ryan. "I want to come with you. I find your willingness to exhibit any amount of independent thought appealing." Ryan explained. Cogil looked at him for a moment. Finally he responded. "Oh really? You're some kind of weird spy maneuver by Adrian are you?" This sounded overly suspicious to Vincent. But he listened for the answer. Ryan finally responded: "Oh cut it out Cogil. You know we planned all this."

"Fine, fine. We're headed to the eastern district to see if there's more info on Vincent's recent re-location --"
"Woe wait a minute", Vincent interrupted. "What does he mean you planned all this?" Vincent sounded almost upset with this question.
"Ya, Ryan and I have been planning it for a while. I didn't tell you so your reaction when I was kicked out was that much more authentic." Cogil's explanation was about as close to a real explanation as Vincent was going to get. So he finally accepted this answer.

The three finally started walking off again eastward, past the barrier to the Government District.

As they passed the barrier Vincent asked, "So Ryan, what made you want to leave that 'merry band' as you called them?" Ryan paused a moment as if pondering the answer.

"Well it was just some place to work. Like any other job. You were only there for a day so you didn't notice: there was a lot more going on among that group then was obvious. Adrian is actually not that bad of guy --"

"Oh boy, here we go again! Damn it Ryan I told you not to go into this..."  ¶ 8:01 PM