Pieter Lawrence 364 As once again the image of the Prime Minister was faded from the screen, Blake switched off the television. He poured fresh drinks, returned to the couch and looked across to Rachel. She sat still, obviously moved by the Prime Minister’s message. Her eyes were damp with emotion, Blake was also impressed. As ever, the Prime Minister had risen to the occasion. Whether his words had been sincere or had been conveyed with a cynical use of fine language was difficult to know and barely seemed to matter. He had spoken with warmth, said what was needed and what the country wanted to hear, 'And that was your draft?” asked Rachel. of it were mine,” he said. mention of war years was the “Bits “The Prime Minister’s. He now sees himself as a great war leader.” 'As for getting back to normal,” she said, of us prefer “some things as they are. I see it in the hospital. We can also monitor the mood of the country less stress and people are more confident.” spite of the dangers?” Blake asked. “In In of the dangers there’s less anxiety Even you’ve ‘‘Yes. changed, so why would you want to get back to all that argument and frustration? Who in their right mind would want to get back to normal?” the reason for the cashless economy Don’t you mind not “It’s getting your salary?” a dutiful citizen, I’ll do what the Prime Minister says. I won’t “Like desert my patients and so long as we get what we need, I can’t see much difference. But I can see why you bought all that wine. You took advantage of privileged information. That was unethical.” notice you’re drinking it,” he said. “I She smiled as she held up her glass up to the light. talking “I’m about your ethics, not mine.”
364 Pieter Lawrence As once again the image of the Prime Minister was faded from the screen, Blake switched off the television. He poured fresh drinks, returned to the couch and looked across to Rachel. She sat still, obviously moved by the Prime Minister’s message. Her eyes were damp with emotion, Blake was also impressed. As ever, the Prime Minister had risen to the occasion. Whether his words had been sincere or had been conveyed with a cynical use of fine language was difficult to know and barely seemed to matter. He had spoken with warmth, said what was needed and what the country wanted to hear, 'And that was your draft?” asked Rachel. “Bits of it were mine,” he said. “The mention of war years was the Prime Minister’s. He now sees himself as a great war leader.” 'As for getting back to normal,” she said, “some of us prefer things as they are. I see it in the hospital. We can also monitor the mood of the country less stress and people are more confident.” “In spite of the dangers?” Blake asked. ‘‘Yes. In of the dangers there’s less anxiety Even you’ve changed, so why would you want to get back to all that argument and frustration? Who in their right mind would want to get back to normal?” “It’s the reason for the cashless economy Don’t you mind not getting your salary?” “Like a dutiful citizen, I’ll do what the Prime Minister says. I won’t desert my patients and so long as we get what we need, I can’t see much difference. But I can see why you bought all that wine. You took advantage of privileged information. That was unethical.” “I notice you’re drinking it,” he said. She smiled as she held up her glass up to the light. “I’m talking about your ethics, not mine.”
the-last-conflict-pieter-lawrence.docx