| III.2.094 |
|
Bluemud had been gone three days from the valley when the Sister came to the cottage to
find Carl. She said, 'Muriel asked me to come here, Carl. She's very upset with Mr.
Bluemud, poor woman. He told her she mustn't cut back the miners food. She's afraid our
people will have to go hungry instead. Can you come and see her with me? I said we'd
meet her at the library.' When he arrived at the library Carl found Muriel looking more distraught and unhappy than ever before: it was the same look in her eyes that had been in O'Grady's. 'It can't go on like this, Foreman Relyt. Something must be done. I don't know what, though.' Carl regarded Muriel sympathetically. 'If you want me to help you Muriel then you must agree to be on my side and do everything I say the way Vincent does. It must be that way. Then, by working together, we can show the Bluemud's what we need.' 'What does Mr. Bluemud care what we need?' cried Muriel. 'Bluemud's heart is in the right place but he doesn't understand our people and he doesn't try to. The quota he has given O'Grady is impossible to meet.' 'You even presume to lecture Mr. Bluemud now?' Muriel spoke acidly in spite of her fear. 'It could be achieved, but not in his way. It's the same problem as with the food. I don't know what your problem is, Muriel. It was a good summer. The winter has been mild. There should be plenty of food.' 'We have a good amount in store,' said Muriel sadly, 'but Miss Elizabeth, before she went away, said we must cut back rations for everyone. She doesn't want to risk what happened last winter.' 'You see, Sister?' said Carl contemptuously, striding up and down,' just like O'Grady! The Bluemuds say jump, they jump like insects!' 'I think you should say Mr. Bluemud, Carl, 'said the Sister primly from her desk. 'And I don't think Muriel is an insect. She has a problem and she hopes that you can solve it. Isn't that so, Muriel?' Muriel nodded but Carl ignored the Sister. He continued, 'Bluemud has visited the mine just once this year. He has never bothered to find out what the real situation is. Elizabeth is the same. She didn't take the trouble to find out what the real situation is. They leave everything in the hands of idiots! If feel like walking up to Bluemud's door and shouting "come on out, you fool, and see what a mess you're making!"' 'And if Mr. Bluemud did come out?' said the Sister, 'What would you say then?' 'I'd say "here I am, ready and waiting to help you organize everything, Mr. Bluemud. At your service, Mr. Bluemud",' Carl laughed brightly but he was not joking. 'Why don't you then, Carl? said the Sister, now also with contempt. 'Go and work for the Devil if you must.' 'Well, Sister, I'd only be joining you if I did. Seeing how we're sitting here in the Devil's library!' 'I am a subversive agent of the Lord, Carl' the Sister retorted angrily. 'I've done a lot more than you have to fight this man, I... ' 'I don't understand!' shouted Muriel almost hysterically. 'Will you please stop arguing?' 'You don't need to understand, Muriel,' said Carl, at once subdued and irritable. 'All I need to know is if you're ready to cooperate with me?' 'I suppose I am,' she said. 'Good! Then here is what you must do: return everyone at once to normal food rations and keep them that way until O'Grady breaks. O'Grady gives the orders but he relies on Bluemud to back him up. Bluemud will be gone until April and without him O'Grady is vulnerable.' 'Then tell us what is going to happen,' said Muriel. 'In the speech Bluemud gave he spoke of freedom and the rights of man which were the basic principles of a Great State which existed long ago in this land. I found these same words in a book and now I know their meanings.' 'It was Elizabeth's book of history. In it I found another word: it means to stop working, to refuse to work, to strike.' 'But Mr. O'Grady is your friend,' said the Sister. "you owe him your position.' 'I have many friends,' said Carl. 'Ursus, Willis, they are my friends. And I owe O'Grady nothing. He'll get no more than he deserves.' 'How will you do it?' Muriel asked in awe. 'I won't do anything. It's a word, that all. You're right, Sister. O'Grady is my friend. I don't want to make him my enemy. I don't want to ruin his life. But he will do it to himself. I won't tell the miners not to work but, if they come to me for advice I will give them what I can. If they stop working O'Grady will be helpless. He can't afford to loose a single day. But, just as you have done Muriel, the men must come to me. Until they are ready they can go on suffering.' |
|
|
