Chapter 4 How AGM Became a Bad Word?

As Minister of Home Décor, steering Gargantua to the safety of the Elite Group of Nations, was PCs single minded mandate. It directed all his actions and all his policies. In fact his election campaign centered around Kaltz and what Kaltz meant for Gargantua. He said in his speeches to the general public, “I have worked with the greatest foreign mind on interlandmass tectonics, a man from a place no less than Kremtia, a man from the very core of the EGN. And he has shared with me the secret. I now have a plan to steer Gargantua clear of the margins and bring her speeding up to Kremtia. I even met with the Kremtian ministers and they have agreed to help. Vote for me to see your future to safety. Vote for me so that your nation doesn’t fall in the unknown abyss that is the Limitless Universe. Just imagine!” In a speech to the students he continued, “What is there in the LU( pronounced Loo)? If you looked down from the edge of the universe, and I have because of my vast travels, you will see nothing but darkness. Imagine your children steeped in darkness, your grandchildren weeping for the light. Is this what you want for your children? Is this what you want to leave for future generations?” He would say to the a group of industrialists, “Gargantua has the opportunity of rising as a power within the EGN. Imagine our world like that of Kremtia. That is what we have waiting for us. With such a prospect looming large, it is ridiculous that the opposition is not focusing on steering Gargantua there, instead we will fall off the face of the world. And then what? What is there in that darkness? New business opportunities? Ha! (short, mocking snort)No. Ask them. The truth is they don’t know. Nobody knows what is going to happen if we fall off the face of the world.”

At this point in his speech, he would wipe the beads of perspiration that had slowly formed on his upperlip, while the surroundings resounded with applause from his audience, who, obviously, didn’t want the worst for their children and future generations. He would raise his hand to the crowd and they would immediately cease and he would carry on, “The opposition says ‘let’s talk about the here and the now. Forget all this worry about the future generations. Let us secure our present’. Tell me; is it possible for us to forget our children? Are we that callous a generation that we cannot think of anything else but ourselves? I say, NO.” Again resounding applause everywhere even the heavens welcome these unselfish words.  “Sir, no sir. We are as beings given to worry. We are unselfish and always thinking about our children, grandchildren and so forth and only the thought of their security will bring peace to our hearts.” He takes that perspiration-wiping break yet again, while the audience gives a deafening applause lest anybody should be thought uncharitable.

As he gave more and more speeches, his speeches became more sharp and cutting. One of his final speeches made to a large mass of the general populace ran somewhat like this, “Have you heard the opposition? Have you heard them wax eloquent about what the people need and require right now? They say they will bring food and shelter to all. Tell me, do we really care about how we live when we are faced with the reality of the insecure lives of our future generations. When we know our children and grandchildren will not be born in the kind of Gargantua we know. They will be born in the darkness of the LU. Has anything good come of it? Tell me, have you heard of anyone who grew up in the vast LU who came to any good? Tell me, have you heard of anyone who grew up in the vast LU at all? There! That is the point, isn’t it? I fail to understand the opposition. It is almost as if they want to steer our landmass off the face of the earth. They don’t seem to care about their children and grandchildren. They are just a bunch of selfish optimists who are keen on bringing to end Gargantua and all her glory. They are not for the people and future of Garagntua. They are anti-Gargantua! Hmmm ( strokes his chin in a thoughtfull way). Which makes me think they have some links to the Anti-Gargantuan Movement. When I come to power, I will wipe the AGM off the face of the earth.”

And, thus, it was that AGM became Gargantua’s and PC’s bête noir.