3
Dispatch → Account → Culture
by 
The Empire of Herya.
.
58 reads.
The political case of Mr.Van and Helligobolus
These days the routine was ever more pressing on young Helligobolus (her friends, the ones she had been driving away, called her by her nickname: Helly), making sure that her breathing, while consistent, remained low - a truly remarkable game of limbo.It was heavy, the weight of all the afternoons returning to an empty home - one with noone, no one spirit besides her own, failing, as the sunset shined its last set of rays through the dirtiest window money could buy.
Mr.Van was just your typical civil servant, working in Jawadeen for the office of industrial policy, directed by the Minister for Economic Development of Herya. Today his secretrary informed him that he would be wise to train his breathing and stretch frequently, as meetings would follow other meetings in one of the fullest schedules of his tenure: he would have to be quick and endure all the running from the Laser and Optical Factory, to the Timber Processing company Leafden.Inc, followed by an interview to a local Jawadeen paper, with a small break for lunch and then 5 more hours of complete mayhem.
Even so, the secretary looked hopeful, his eyes shined with a sparkle Mr.Van was unaware the young man was capable of producing. The youngster looked up to his boss and felt even a kind of warm sentiment - though he could not describe it - towards his boss, who he saw as one of the most impressive workers in their department, having risen to the Minister's right-hand man in just a coulpe of years, being voted for a 10 year tenure as 1st Industrial Policy Secretary, in the department's comission election of the year 42 a.H. (after Heirich, the adored emperor of Herya). He could not be prouder of a man he so very much wanted to emulate and who he felt very strongly towards, although with various feelings he could not describe.
The day was drawing to a close and the last meeting and finally stopped bothering Mr.Van, when his secretary called him:
- It's urgent! - his young voice even failed for a second, even as it seemed he was trying to keep the phone conversation a secret - You have to return as soon as possible!
- What is it Charles? What happened? - he said, startled.
The call ended suddenly... "What had just happened, was everything ok with Charles?", he asked.
Worried about his underling, Mr.Van rushed to his office at top speed, already thinking of all the worst scenarios - everyone who knew Mr.Van was aware of his pessimistic self in face of adversity, a characteristic that contrasted in a big way with his competence in the office, which made improbable that any adversity would ever arise, and a characteristic that made him very unpopular in the 3 years in which he served in the armed forces as an eletrical engineer.
Mr. Van was not far from the office when he barely escaped a collision with a young lady that was walking, always looking at the floor. "Boy, what a disaster that would have been. I don't even want to think about the akward conversation that would have resulted of that... more so, I'm in a hurry!", he thought to himself as he shaked those concerning worries from his mind and focused on reaching his destination.
Helly was returning home from work, again, when a man running towards her and just barely avoiding her frightened her. He continued his way, with a serious expression, while Helly was left asking herself if she should have yelled "Sorry!" or not.
Maybe it was better like this; she wouldn't want to have to talk with a stranger she knew nothing about.
She kept walking, step after step. She stopped.
- Why am I like this? My job isn't going badly and my boss is even considering recommending me to work in a partnership between Gladys (the glass-making company Helly worked for) and the Industrial Policy Office... why do I keep remembering him...?
Then, as she thought sadly about her state, she heard a soft giggle in the distance. A little girl was laughing at her and Helly quickly realized she had been talking out loud, and loudly enough at that. She got redder and redder as she tried to hide her shame and a weird smile her body was trying to direct towards the child.
Without delays, Helly just sprinted home the rest of the way, a sight that must have made the little girl laugh even more.
The door opened up while a frantic and very sweaty Mr.Van, trying to breath through every hole in his body, passed through it. On the other side, a worried-looking Charles directed his sight towards his boss and said:
- Quick, close the door, they can be trying to listen to us - he waited for the door to be closed so he could continue - It appears that one of the other 2 secretaries of the Minister, Mr.Diepval, has been observed by our colleagues here, trying to bully the workers in the archives and IT room, sometimes himself and sometimes through his underlings, into giving him information that interests you, and therefore me, and the Minister: very important and vital information to our work.
- What do you think he's trying to do?
- I don't know... maybe he's looking for ways to undermine you next to the Minister so his department will get more money, maybe he just wants you gone as a rival and will try to leak that info in an untraceable way, or maybe he is looking to sell it to a foreign government... like I said, I don't know for certain. For now, we have not told anyone outside our department yet, so we would not lead to worrying actions on his part, but he may start to suspect if we don't do anything. So, what do we do: alert him to the fact that we know what he's doing and try to stop him on his track by telling the Minister, even though he wasn't able to get the info; or do we start investigating him with the possibility that he starts to ask himself why everything is "just so quiet", as he could prepare even more drastic means of action?
- I guess the second option is the best, as I'm sure we'll be able to find what we are looking for. I will contact my friends on the secret services and military, and they will start investigating his motives and possible criminal connections. If they find anything, they will go right above the Minister's head and keep it a secret that I was the one who alerted him. Meanwhile, we should start thinking of what we'll say when asked about why we did not inform the Minister right away and keep our stories and the ones of everyone else here envolved straight.
- Ok, that seems like a good course of action. Until this is resolved, we'll have to keep the utmost secrecy. There's a batch of new workers, two I think, that you have approved and that will arrive here next week. They'll have to be kept in the dark about all this.
- Yes, I trust that you will take care of that.
It marked a few months since her brother, the last member of her close family, passed away. Helly and her brother had been raised by their grandma, but she died when Helly was just 19 and her brother was 18 years old. Then just a few years later, at the age of 24, he died as well. Helly was left all alone. By that time she had already gotten a job she enjoyed designing glass ornaments that would then be mass fabricated to be sold in all of Herya and even abroad. Even as she rose through the ranks and the company ladder, Helly was still bothered by the loss of her grandma and even more by the loss of her brother; though she did not show it to her colleagues and boss, mantaining a persona very alike to a unmovable rock, Helly was just in auto-pilot mode, and the days seemed darker and darker, with less and less meaning.
A few weeks ago, her boss, very happy with Helly's performance told her about the plans the company had: creating a partnership program with the Industrial Policy Office and sending one or more of the more skilled workers to learn and develop ties with the government, creating a favourable image of the company. It seemed like an exciting proposition and also a tiny speck of light that shined in the dark room she felt locked in.
With an enthusiasm she seldom displayed next to others, Helly started making a case for herself, until her boss stopped her, and said she was already thinking of recommending the now hyperactive young lady to the programme. "Finally, a win!", she thought to herself.
As the weeks passed by, the day finally came and it was announced that Helly and one of her colleagues - his name was Brandon, but as with anyone called Brandon, he doesn't really matter to our story - had been chosen to go through with the partnership and would be starting in just a few days.
This was just what she needed, a chance to find meaning, a breath of fresh air, a different place, where she could start again.
Some days later, she was in front of the building she would be working in for the next months. She was nervous, walked up the front stairs and open the door of the reception and entered the building at last.
Just two days had passed since their last conversation, but Mr.Van hosted Charles in his house so they could talk more privately about the matter.
- I have great news! My connections found out the probable story behind this case: Diepval is colluding with one of the most important Bigtopian mining companies, to give them information about government activities and priorities, so they can better insert themselves in our small mining sector and be aware of their competitor's disadvantages and of opportunities other companies in Herya would know nothing about. In return, Diepval would be given a seat on the board and receive a big paycheck, which in Bigtopia has much more value than in our social democratic Empire.
- So, what are they going to do? - asked Charles.
- They are getting ready so they can catch him leaving his apartment tomorrow morning. In just a few hours, all of this will be over.
She walked inside the building and went straight to reception where she asked for one Charles Martel who was supposed to guide her in the first few days.
A man touched her shoulder and she rotated herself 180 degrees to talk to him
- Hi, I think I'm the one you wanted - said Charles friendly.
Embarrassed, Helly shaked his hand with quite a bit of strenght. After rubbing his hand like it didn't hurt at all, Charles showed her to her desk.
- Come with me, I'll show you to your new workspace: it's really close to my desk and, therefore, Mr.Van's office.
- Oh, will I be able to meet Mr.Van?
- In time, yes. Well, you were right on time today, keep up that habit. Your colleague seems to be stuck in traffic or something.
- Yeah... traffic - she knew very well that Brandon was just lazy. Why would anyone recommend him or anyone called Brandon was beyond her.
They walked some more until he pointed to an empty desk. It was hers from now on.
On the wall there was a big television, usually on mute, but the sound was on today. Helly turned to the TV and saw in big bold letters: '1st Natural Resources Secretary arrested by police in front of his house'.
- Mr.Martel - she was still uneasy to call him Charles - what's going on?
- Well well, your first day and already a very momentous one at that. Focus on the reporting, Let's find out what he did and then we have work to do - he said, trying to look serious and not at all envolved in the entire affair, as he did not know what had been revealed to the media.
When the noticiary ended and Helly was aware of the allegations, she looked to Charles and told him:
- Did this office collude in any way with Mr.Diepval? I cannot work with people who would do harm to our Empire!
- I like your enthusiasm, but no, we were in no way helping that man screwing over our mining companies. Mr.Van and I were working hard to prevent just that, as soon as we learned that something was wrong.
- I'm sorry for getting so worked up. It's good to see I'll be surrounded by people who take their work seriously - unlike Brandon, she thought to herself - I can't wait to start my functions here!
- Good, then I'll show you what we were thinking of having you wor - he was interrupted mid-sentence.
- Hold up! - she exclamated loudly.
- What is it, is anything wrong?
- Will I be able to meet Mr.Van today?
- As you can imagine, today Mr.Van will be very busy explaining everything to the Minister. Let's hope he does a good job.
The implication was clear: the minister didn't like people keeping things from him and if Mr.Van wasn't convincing enough, the department would probably suffer at the hands of the Minister and any replacement he found for Mr.Van. Although the latter had been elected, the ministers were always able to sack their 1st Officers if they presented just cause to the Emperor.
- Yes, I wouldn't like to have a bad 1st day - she said, jokingly, but at the same time a bit disappointed for not getting to meet Mr.Van right away.
- Yes, yes. Now, let's get to work shall we?
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