Abacus

we choose who survives?” They appeared to consider his newest scenario.
    He tapped the paper with the back of his hand. “I’m looking at this article here about Somalia, and it seems to me that anarchy is what we have to look forward to if we don’t make tough decisions soon. Put yourselves in the shoes of say the UN or the President of the free world, what are you going to do to save mankind.”
    Leann e broke the rather long silence. “Well, boss, this is quite a grim lunchtime topic, but to answer your question we have to choose quality people to live on.”
    “A nd how do we deal with the riffraff?” Randall asked eagerly.
    “We ste rilize them?” The response came almost expectedly from the Sheik.
    “Why do that? ” he asked, already presuming his response.
    “ To stop them breeding.”
    Randall looked at Jesse. “What do you think, Jesse?”
    “I reckon you all sound like members of the Nazi party, you know , the perfect race, blonde hair, blue eyes, six feet tall and all the rest. It didn’t work out for Adolph and I can’t see it working for anyone else.”
    “Two different things , Jess,” Randall argued. “We’re talking about people’s attitudes and behaviour, not the way they look.” Looking around the table he doggedly continued. “The thing is, in recent times we have had incidents that give us an insight into what it would be truly like to live in a world where anarchy rules in times of hardship.”
    “What times? When are you talking about? ” Leanne asked inquisitively.
    “Do y ou remember Hurricane Katrina and the severe flooding of New Orleans, USA, in two thousand and five? Everyone was homeless and food and water was rationed. The only shelters available in some areas were the huge sporting stadiums into which entire communities were crammed. Inside the stadiums, there was next to no police presence and a severe shortage of food, water and clothing. What happened next was unimaginable for a civilized society. Gangs of criminals took advantage of the lack of police presence and roamed the stadiums like a pack of hyenas, victimizing those they saw as easy targets. Law abiding citizens were robbed, raped and murdered by gangs. The authorities were seemingly powerless to do anything about it. I believe this is a clear indication of how things will be in the future if tough choices are not made soon.”
    All the detect ives looked puzzled as to why he had such passion about the subject. As Leanne had initiated the topic, she seemed compelled to speak. “Right, boss, yeah, I remember when that all happened, it would have been quite terrifying for the families. It is hard to believe that things can deteriorate so quickly in modern society.”
    Randall looked at Hobbs. “You’ve been quiet, big fella, what do you think about all this?”
    Hobbs , with clasped hands, spoke calmly. “Well, I hope it never gets to a point where we have to decide who lives and who dies. I’m sure our Lord would sort it out before it gets to that point.”
    “What if he doesn’t?” Randall asked. “He’s doing bugger all in So malia now,” he said, pointing to the article in the paper.
    Hobbs fidgeted in his chair uncomfo rtably. “Boss, it’s not our place… We don’t make those decisions. We can’t make those decisions.”
    Randall could see that Hobbs was unhappy about the topic of conversation, so he dropped it and continued reading.
    * * *
    With lunch concluded, Randall looked around the table and chose the most appropriate time to speak. “Hobbsy went to a break-in yesterday at an old dear’s house. Her late husband’s war medals were stolen. No doubt one of our local crooks is responsible. I want the big fella and you, Georgie G, to dedicate today to going to all the pawnshops and give them a twist. They have to turn up. Can all of you speak with your informants today and see what else we can come up with? I know it’s only a relatively trivial matter but it is quite important to me that we get a quick kill. I need someone in the dock tomorrow, okay?”

CHAPTER 8 - HIGHRISE HELL

    Randall finished off his sandwich. He looked down at his right sleeve on his white long sleeve shirt and scratched at a small faint spot.
    “Don’t tell me you have still kept that shirt, boss?” Hobbs asked, smiling.
    “I told you before, it is a quality shirt. Matter of fact , when it got the stain it was the first time I had ever worn it and it was a bloody expensive one too. Anyway, you