Esther settled into the seat next to Wallis and took both of her hands.
“Money corrupts nothing but power infects like a virus and can only be contained, never completely destroyed. For centuries that power was centralized in monarchies that ruled all of the civilized world and there was some order to everything. At least the greed and manipulation was out in the open. But times changed and the old orders were coming apart. Those in power weren’t going to let something like a revolution or a few beheadings separate them from the lifestyle they believed they deserved.”
“Really?” said Wallis, annoyed. “You’re really going to go back 200 years for this fairytale? Norman is caught up in a 200 year old power struggle?”
“See why it’s so brilliant? More like four hundred years if the rumors about Management are to be believed. But really, why wouldn’t there be shenanigans going on behind all off the pomp and circumstance? And make no mistake my dear, you are just as caught as Norman.”
“Why, because I’m a Republican?” said Wallis sarcastically.
Esther smiled. “No, my dear. Those parties, Democrat, Republican really are just games for the average citizen to play to distract them from realizing that so much has already been decided. Always remember that the most effective schemes are meant to inspire suspicion and cause a distraction. The election ads certainly fit that bill,” said Esther. “Violence is always the move of someone who is truly panicked. Besides, the real manipulations go across all lines, including the artificial borders set up by governments and have more to do with the bloodlines that can’t be chosen. That’s what has caught you in its web and I’m afraid, Ned as well.”
Wallis felt a shiver go down her back at the mention of her son. “What are you saying?”
“Ned is Norman’s son as well, which makes him a zwanzig, a twenty and the other side is beginning to wonder about Norman’s heritage. You see, Tom, Norman’s grandfather, wanted to give his family a clean slate and made a point of destroying all records of where the family started. No one outside of the immediate family knew how close they came to being annihilated in Nazi Germany and no Weiskopf has ever mentioned it. The new back story was that they emigrated earlier. You believe your in-laws came to America long before the murderous rampage across Europe but that’s a lie. But I’m getting ahead of myself and you will not understand if I don’t fill in some missing pieces.
“Norman would never lie to me.”
“Norman has been lying for so long I’m not sure he realizes anymore that it’s not the truth. You see, back when this country was beginning to form there were two groups vying for power. One side believed in the old system of keeping all of the power for a few favored bloodlines and raising the subordinates that would be needed from a few trusted families. It was all they had ever known and of course they thought that was best. But a new spirit was gripping this country and there was a revolutionary idea that even a commoner should have the right to decide his own fate. It sounds commonplace now but really, it takes quite a bit of faith to believe that so many people will vote for the greater good, ever.
“It was a spectacular beginning, really, but it didn’t last past the first few administrations. The other side, which came to be known colloquially as the Management learned how to ingratiate itself into power through the grassroots. They used an old method and tweaked it just a little. Soon, all of those good intentions were slipping away, not only here but all across the world. Remember the old saying, the sun never sets on the British Empire? Just one example. Technology only helped Management to grow. But there were still those who believed in a purer form of democracy and they were determined to be free. They have tried again and again but for an entire century all of them failed miserably. It is never good to come at a giant from the front. They step on you like an annoying bug. A new idea formed to infiltrate the seats of government and the financial world with a second set of eyes and ears and they became the Circle.”
Esther pulled back one side of the cardigan she was wearing to reveal the small lapel pin with the circle of stars.
“That’s scratched into the side of my car,” said Wallis, feeling her heart beating faster. “There’s a line scratched through the middle.”
“Yes, a warning, I’m not surprised. Does Norman know?”
“He was with me when it happened. Someone stole a file I had in my purse.”
Esther grasped Wallis’ hands tighter. “They got the file? What was in it, what exactly? Did they get anything else?” she hissed, spitting out the words in a rapid fire.
“No, no,” Wallis stammered, “It was a BIGOT list, that’s all, I think, as far as I know.”
“Who told you that word, BIGOT?”