Coven - Part 11

We all face dilemmas at certain times in our lives. How we deal with them helps to make us who we are. But very few of us come up against life or death decisions that must be made regardless of consequences – or do we? We can never know all the repercussions of all our actions and perhaps it’s just as well. It’s bad enough for the butterfly in Tokyo that causes a hurricane in Cuba by flapping its wings once too often, but just imagine what happens when you cough or drive at 70 kph in a 60 zone or refuse to eat your greens. There might be some effects you could be quite proud of but at least a dozen times a day we must do things that contribute to outcomes it would be impossible to live with if we knew about our part in them. What if one of the distasteful effects of one of your casual actions was suddenly shoved right in your face – right now?

(Korky and the rest of the competitors in The Greatest Obstacle Race in the World have had the ‘Dilemma’ obstacle explained to them and they stand at the bottom of the ramp. With only a few moments hesitation most of the competitors climb the ramp and stand on the platform. They deliberately stand with their backs to the playing children. It will do no good here to record which competitor climbed the ramp first and which next and so on, it is enough to know that Korky did not move. She stays at the bottom of the ramp – alone and racked by indecision.)

Andy McDuck: Get up here, Korky. Let’s get this over with!

Ayatollah O’Shaunessy: It must be done. It is for the greater good.

The Pope: Pray for guidance but perhaps you will pray with me up here on the platform.

Korky: I can’t! How can any of you even think of such a thing? There are one hundred children for pities sake.

Rabbi Slivovitz: Supposing it was only one child would be better, is that it?

(A figure detaches from the Waffen SS ranks and walks slowly back down the ramp. The man stops in front of Korky and looks at her. Korky looks back. The hypnotic, piercing stare has dwindled from his eyes and the face is puffed, exhausted. The only remnant of the earlier man is the scrappy, Chaplin moustache.)

A Monstrous Evil: Why do you not take your place at the head of your army?

Korky: Why didn’t you?

A Monstrous Evil: Ah. But then I was not trying to save the Universe, Frau Korky, - only Germany.

Korky: And, of course, you believe it would be perfectly all right to sacrifice a few children. You would consider it to be an acceptable means to an end. I don’t know why I’m even talking to you.

A Monstrous Evil: You are talking to me, Frau Korky, because you have deliberately placed yourself on the horns of what you consider to be a most dreadful dilemma and now you wish to test your rationality. Who better to play the Devil’s Advocate than I?

Korky: There isn’t anything rational about this! No sane person could accept this situation!

A Monstrous Evil: What nonsense! Just because I am suffering an eternity of punishment doesn’t mean I don’t see the television occasionally or read the news. Indeed, that is sometimes part of my punishment. It is clear that sane people ignore the suffering, torture and death of other peoples children every day. They might vaguely notice it like reflections in water churned by the wake of their passing but, in the main, they quickly move on and forget what little they have seen. These people used to tut and weep a tear or two, drop a dollar in the slot, but now they often simply shrug and turn to other things. How much of that attitude is them and how much is instilled by conditioning their responses? Or is that just another excuse for their dreadful apathy?

Korky: I hope you’re not attempting to excuse your own actions?

A Monstrous Evil: Of course not, I am well beyond searching for redemption. I am merely pointing out that sometimes there are things that have to be done. The reasons for doing these things may not always be agreeable but they must still be done. When this happens it is sometimes best to turn away so you don’t have to watch.

Korky: That’s grotesque!

A Monstrous Evil: But true.

Winnie Quark: Korky!

Korky: Winnie? Is that you? Where are you?

Winnie Quark: Right beside you, Korky. I’ll always be right beside you.

Korky: I don’t understand. I can’t see you.

Winnie Quark: You don’t have to see me, Korky. Just listen. The Monstrous Evil is right, there are sometimes things that just have to be done.

Korky: But not this! I can’t do it! I won’t do it!

Winnie Quark: You must be the one to face The Beano in The Final Battle; no body else can defeat him.

Korky: So let him win! Nothing is worth this sacrifice – they’re just little kids!

Winnie Quark: Think about what you’re saying. Life preordained, pre-programmed, one thing leading inextricably to the next and all taking the path of least pain, no pain at all in fact. No sorrow, no grief, no agony, no hate, an endless belt of glorious sunsets and gentle rain and soft scented breezes drifting down from snow-capped purple mountains. Many will suffer in the period when some adapt faster than others and then the whole human race will die from total lack of need. There will be no bloody point to it all. Not just a hundred children dead but billions who will perish in the blank-gazed, contented, inevitable stupor induced by the lure of a perfect, changeless void.

Korky: Show me a way out of this.

Winnie Quark: There is no way out. The children must fall into the gully. It’s fate.

Korky: I thought you didn’t want anything to do with fate?

Winnie Quark: The Beano IS fate. When you deal with him there is no choice. Only by defeating him can you choose to save ALL the children.

Korky: But not these children?

Winnie Quark: No.

A Monstrous Evil: Frau Korky? We are waiting.

(For one more glorious minute Korky hesitates then begins to walk up the ramp.)

A Monstrous Evil: Welcome to the Monster Guild, Frau Korky.

Korky: Shuddup you loathsome Nazi cunt.

A Monstrous Evil: Ah yes! That is the spirit, my Fuhrer! Please be careful where you tread, this ramp can be a slippery slope.

(As Korky steps onto the platform it shudders and, with a rumble and a lurch, it begins to move. Korky squeezes her eyes tightly shut and clenches her fists. It is not long before the childrens high-pitched squeals of delight become troubled whimpers of concern – and then the first helpless shriek. Korky throws back her head and roars with rage and grief. She beats at herself with her fists and stamps on the platform as if to break it up. She screams a long and agonised wail that seems to last longer than her breath can possibly sustain it and in that time Korky desperately needs to die. From then on only rage keeps her living and a burning need to kill that grows with the expanding image of The Beano in her mind. Until, with sudden clarity, she hears the giggling and joyful cries of excited children. Korky opens her eyes. The platform is at the edge of the gully and its foam rubber nose pushes the last child over the edge and into the net a few centimetres below. The child gleefully bounces with the others who are rolling helplessly down the gently sloping net until they reach the latex boulders scattered far beneath. All of them are now bouncing on the boulders. Giggling, squirming, playing and as happy as any children could possibly hope to be. Korky is on her knees weeping uncontrollably. A hand rests on her shoulder gently kneading at the flesh.)

A Monstrous Evil: Sometimes, Frau Korky, …..sometimes.

(A little later Korky stands at the far side of the gully. The others are already galloping away from her and she has four minutes to wait in lieu of the time she spent dithering on the other side. She looks down into the gully and sees two adults talking earnestly to eight of the children.)

Winnie Quark: A few of the children have gained teachers.

Korky: Who are they?

Winnie Quark: One is the Monstrous Evil and the other is an old Mossad operative who, as a child, survived the camps even after seeing his parents slaughtered.

Korky: What do they want with those children? Should I go down there?

Winnie Quark: The children are in good hands. They are being taught a most valuable lesson.

Korky: What lesson is that?

Winnie Quark: They are teaching the children to hate.

Korky: Oh, come on! There’s nothing valuable about hate, I’m going to stop this!

Winnie Quark: Hate is the most powerful weapon in the survivor’s arsenal. When hope is gone only hate can keep you alive. Surely you discovered this only a few minutes ago?

Korky: I’m really beginning to doubt you, Winnie. You’re starting to piss me off!

Winnie Quark: It is almost time for you to continue your race. Will you go on or will you rescue these particular children from their only chance to live through the transition that will inevitably follow your decision to stay here and save them?

Korky: Fate again?

Winnie Quark: Until The Beano has been defeated – yes!

(For a few moments, Korky watches the scene in the gully. The two old men talk earnestly and, as they wave their arms gently in the air, they smile and nod at the children and each other. It is as though they are carefully explaining the rules of cricket to the little ones who look up, their bright faces trusting, their young minds open to the flow of new truth. Korky shudders and turns away. An official says it is time and Korky leaps onto a tank. She faces her army, shouts “BLITZKRIEG!” and points the way. The tanks roar and lurch. The SS infantry scramble onto the tanks and those that can’t, run hard behind as the army thunders down the course. Diesel engines bellow. Tank tracks rattle, clank and squeal and rip the ground to dust. The first shot is fired.)

TO BE CONTINUED.