The Road to Hell (24 page)

The ceremonial guard was resplendent. With dress uniforms, boots polished to perfection and sharp creases in each fold, seven soldiers from the old Congressional Guard stood to attention beside the casket.

Rain fell softly, adding to the misery of the day. The grass was green but muddy under foot. The official party sat in silence beside the grave, black umbrellas warding off the cold rain.

Senator Johannes' family consisted of four generations, his ageing ex-wife, his two elderly sons, their grown sons and daughters and nineteen great grandchildren, the youngest of whom was still being weaned.

As it was a family affair, only a select group of twenty of the most senior senators were present. Limited television coverage was offered, showing the memorial service, the military salute and the senate address, but avoiding coverage of the family out of respect for their period of mourning.

The minister stood at the head of the open grave, the casket mounted above a broad, muddy gash in the earth. Speaking from Socrates, the minister spoke of the joy of life, the sorrow of death and the rich heritage of those that would follow. He was sincere in his praise of a man he never knew, thought Kane, standing at the back.

Officially, Kane had no reason to be there. He was not invited as no one would have thought to invite him. He'd simply hopped on the jump-seat for ceremonial guard and had come anyway. He felt awkward and out of place, but he felt he should be there, he owed that, at least, to the old man.

Justice Dianora spoke on behalf of the senate and the council.

“
Like all who pursue public life, Senator Johannes was both loved and hated, admired and despised, but one thing all agree upon was that he was respected.”

“
He was a man of values, a man of conviction. Being one of the few who stood through the Overthrow. Having lived in our Egypt and having journeyed to the Promised Land, he knew both triumph and failure, he knew both heartache and victory. And like those upon whom this country was founded, he lived with principle, never swayed by fads and trends, never swayed by the political interests of the moment.”

Dianora wiped his eyes, clearing away the tears before continuing. The whole speech was extemporaneous, without notes or cue cards.

“
He was my colleague. He was my friend. Through forty years we served together in the senate. We saw the rise and fall of presidents, the terror of war, the challenge of peace. We stood shoulder to shoulder as our nation rose from the ashes.”

Initially, Kane was impressed with how Dianora spoke from the heart about the life of the senator, but after a while he grew suspicious. Dianora seemed to be laying it on a bit thick.

“
As the senator for reconciliation, it was Senator Johannes' heart, his passion, to see our nation rise again like the phoenix, rising from the ruins of civil war to walk again in newness of life. As senator for reconciliation, it was Senator Johannes that showed us how to put the past behind us and to move forward together into the future. He found meaning and purpose in the resurrection of life our nation enjoys both now and into future generations.”

For a man that seemingly despised religion, there were an awful lot of biblical references, noted Kane. His bullshit-o-meter was flashing red deep within his mind.

The senator's ex-wife sat wiping her eyes. Dressed in black, with lace gloves, she seemed so frail, so vulnerable. She deeply appreciated the words of the Justice.

“
Death is never warranted. It is always tragic, always a waste. We live our lives for all that is sacred and valued but in the end there is always loss. It is the fate we all share, separated only by years. No greater sacrifice can any man make than that he gives his life for those he loves, and Senator Johannes gave his life in service to us, to our country.”

“
His murder was an injustice, a grave assault on the sanctity of public office. And so it is with thankfulness that I am able to announce here, today, for the first time publicly, that his murderer has been brought to justice in a covert operation carried out by the Special Branch last night. The terrorist leader, Artemis, has been executed.”

There were gasps in the crowd and a series of soft murmurs, especially amongst the senators present.

“
Justice has been served. We have prevailed. To those that would undo the accomplishments of the past few decades, to those that rebel against the new order, I say that the we shall not retreat, we shall not surrender the ground that has been gained. And so we honour Senator Johannes here today. Not with flowery words, not with hollow sentiment, but with righteousness in our actions and with a new found sense of conviction for our future.”

Justice Dianora directed his closing comments to the polished wooden casket seated before him.

“
My dear friend,” he began. “Your death has not been in vain. You shall be honoured. Your contribution to our society has not gone unnoticed. You shall be remembered.”

From the senators present there were cries of “here, here.”

The minister oversaw the twenty-one gun salute, the presentation of the nation's flag to the bereaved widow, the commendation of the senator to the Earth and the descent of the casket into the grave.

As the funeral came to an end the family and the senators each paid their respects before leaving. Kane stayed behind. The rain soaked through his heavy coat, through his suit and into his shirt, but it didn't matter. As the others made their way to the waiting cruisers he stood silently by the graveside, thinking.

Kane didn't really have any clear expectations, it just felt right to show his respect. He stood there thinking about all they talked about following the attack on the police station. He wanted to understand, but he couldn't. He understood the words the senator had used. He understood the broad concepts, but he couldn't see their relevance, he couldn't see how they applied. It seemed as though he was blind. To him, it seemed as though his electronic eyes hindered not only the world as he saw it around him but also his sense of moral perception, his awareness of reality. He wished he was a better man.

Something was wrong about all this and it bugged him. Why did Artemis kill Senator Johannes? If Artemis wanted to kill him he had ample opportunity during the siege but he left him there on the 435th floor. He let him live. And why kill this senator? Why kill the one man that wanted to unite the divided factions? The one man with a dream to restore democracy?

What was it you were trying to tell me, he wondered, looking down at the casket as it lay in the grave, replaying the dying man's words in his head.

With his head bowed, he vowed to understand. He vowed to not forget those words spoken over brandy and whiskey, to live up to the senator's appreciation of life, the richness of his thinking.

Justice Dianora came up beside him.

“
Special Agent Kane?” He asked.

Kane turned to face the Justice, saying, “Yes, sir.”

He'd heard of the Justice, seen him on news clips and read about the council, but this was the first time he'd met him in person. He was taller than he expected.

“
I have reviewed your debriefing from the incident in the park.”

Kane was respectfully silent. He felt intimidated.

“
You have done well. You have brought Artemis to justice. And you have captured his wife and a few others. I am delighted.”

Kane nodded.

“
Your deeds have not gone unnoticed. Your dedication and loyalty have been recognised within the senate and discussed in the council chambers.”

Loyalty, Kane thought, he really hadn't heard anything else beyond that one single word. Senator Johannes had not valued loyalty, he'd valued honesty. Strange, he thought, how two men so similar in their position and function, so close in terms of the power and authority they wielded, could be so different in their outlook.

“
The celebrations begin tomorrow. There was some talk of delaying their onset because of this tragedy, but I think Bradley would have wanted this. He would have wanted us to move on.”

Kane wasn't sure why the Justice was telling him all this. He figured, like most men in a position of power, he just liked to hear the sound of his own voice.

“
And the executions will give the public closure.”

“
Executions?” Kane replied in surprise.

“
Yes, of the woman and the detective. They were complicit, I understand.”

Kane did not care for Harrison, there was too much bad blood between them, but Olivia, he'd promised Artemis she'd be freed.

“
Sir,” he began, struggling to think how he could put this but knowing it had to be said. “I gave Artemis my word she would be shown clemency. It was the condition of his surrender.”

“
Your word?” the Justice replied, surprised by the notion. “I appreciate your sense of honour, Agent Kane, but clemency was not yours to give. Your role is one of law enforcement not judicial reckoning. These are terrorists. The public outcry and sense of injustice at the very thought of letting them go is intolerable.”

“
But-” Kane began, but Dianora cut him off as swiftly as anyone in a senate debate.

“
But nothing. The widows still grieve for their fallen husbands. You yourself were there, you saw the carnage that night, and she was there. She must pay, and she will pay. She will pay for that massacre with her life. Anything less would be an insult.”

Kane's head lowered. He felt scolded, cornered. There was no arguing with Dianora's logic, but still he didn't like it.

“
Do not feel bad,” Dianora continued, resting his hand on Kane's shoulder. Kane hated being touched, he hated his personal space being violated without his consent. When Senator Johannes had placed his hand on his shoulder, Kane barely noticed as it felt natural, but with Dianora it felt forced, fake.

“
Your intentions were noble,” Dianora continued. “But they were misplaced.”

Kane looked at Dianora's hand resting on his shoulder, but he didn't see what was right before him.

Dianora paused for a second, thinking before he continued.

“
There is an opportunity I hope you will consider. A man of your dedication and experience would be well placed as an undersecretary. From there, a place on the senate would not be out of order and possibly even on the council, given time."

Dianora smiled, adding, “Do not worry, my friend, your loyalty shall be rewarded.”

And that was the trigger. It was then he understood. Senator Johannes was right, loyalty is not a virtue, it is a vice, a tool to manipulate the conscientious. It was then he saw it on Dianora's hand. The answer had been there all along, resting on his shoulder, but it was the mention of the word loyalty that brought it to the forefront of his mind. Dianora was wearing a signet ring with a golden star set on a regal-blue sapphire. It truly was one of a kind, he remembered.