From Treason To Troubles

Kobo is opening her book again.

(Ageless is filled with chagrin).

Roger Casement is now in Peru. If anything, it is worse than the Congo.

The indigenous people are whipped, tortured, and mutilated, on the rubber plantations. Roger is writing a report, interviewing perpetrators and victims.

As much as she feels sorry for the victims, Kobo also feels sorry for Roger Casement.

 He has malaria, and piles and arthritis.

He is gay in a time when being gay is a crime.

And he longs for an independent Ireland.

One day this will be his downfall.

Ageless knows he must top this fine story

Saturday was hot, says Ageless, and we all got up early.

No answer.

We had to go out, says Ageless.

No question.

All of us, says Ageless. We were each allotted a task. Mine was to go with the Under Nine Girls and observe them.

No interest.

Kobo turns a page. Roger is writing something incriminating, in his diary. Don't do it, Roger!

And Jean with the Under Eight Boys, says Ageless. But it was my group who had the controversy.

Was Butterfly in your group? asks Lavender.

At last! A question, but not from his beloved.

He sidles over to Kobo. Scrapes his claw on her stony facade.

Get OFF! says Kobo. Roger Casement is in Pentonville Prison, facing the gallows!

(Yes, it does jump about a bit).

What for? asks Ageless, in spite of his other agenda.

Treason, says Kobo. Roger thought that the Irish should fight on the side of the Germans.

This means nothing to Ageless.

Or as much as the idea that the Germans should fight on the side of the English. (And there is no one who thinks this).

At least Lavender seems to be interested.

Yes, Lavender, says Ageless. Butterfly was in my group. And all went well until the eight hundred metres when she came third, beating Rachel. I saw it.

But Rachel was given third by the spotter.

Butterfly complained, but Rachel insisted that she had come third, and screwed up her face in faux-crying.

There was no way to achieve justice for Butterfly.

But you saw it, says Lavender.

As an honorary member of Butterfly's family, I kept quiet, says Ageless. To speak up would have smacked of nepotism.

Honorary nepotism, says Kobo, looking up from the troubles of Roger Casement. That's a good one. How did Butterfly take it?

With equanimity, says Ageless. It was I who was most affected. I made my way up to the sausage sizzle for a slice of the advertised watermelon.

To soothe yourself, says Kobo. With watermelon. How pleasant.

Except that there wasn't any, says Ageless.