Winston made it to the room above Mr.
Charrington’s
shop. He placed Willa there for the time being. It was not safe to hide
her in
his apartment. Now the only problem was, should he stay with her or not.
When Winston opened the door, he found Willa
sitting
on the floor. She was setting up thirteen black dominoes evenly.
Winston walked
over to her. Willa looked up to see her father standing over her.
“Hi dad.” she said. Winston looked at the
line of
dominoes. “What are those?” he asked. “Dominoes.” Willa answered. “Come
and
sit. I’ll show how to play.” Her father complied. “Now,” Willa began.
“You
knock down the very first domino and the rest fall as well.” Then, she
pushed
down the first one and rest fell.
Winston was amazed. “Impressive.” he said.
Willa
just grinned. “You know,” she went on. “While you were out, I began to
play
with these. As I was doing so, I began to think, these dominoes are
like the
Party.” As Willa spoke, she set up the dominoes again. This time, Willa
added
more. Winston began to see her logic. It did make sense that these
small black
blocks of plastic were the Party.
When Willa was done, she had made a circle
around
them. She turned to her father. “Now it’s your turn.” she said. Winston
paused.
“Me?” he asked. “Yes,” Willa said. “You can even pretend they are Big
Brother.”
Winston just eyed her. This was defiantly Julia’s daughter. They both
had
danger in their souls.
“Just knock down anyone of them.” Willa spoke
again.
Winston reached out to one of the dominoes in front of him. He
hesitated at
first, but then, he pushed it down quickly. In an instant, the rest
collapsed
down one by one. Strangely, Winston found delight in this game. Both
father and
daughter were amused when the last domino fell.
“Willa,” Winston spoke up as she set up the
dominoes
again. “Yes?” she asked. “Where are you from?” her father asked. “North
Country.” Willa answered. “Ah.” he said.
North Country was a province in Belgium. It
had
declared independence from Eurasia five years ago. It was a bloodless
political
battle. But North Country won out. They were strictly capitalist.
Different
things were always in demand to sell. Right now, red diamonds were in
high
demand.
The people of North Country were almost free.
Women
held high-paying jobs, couples could marry and divorce, technology was
advanced, people could have feelings and say what they wanted, truth
was
allowed, and all forms of media were free. But there were some catches.
Belgium
had constant energy crisis and had strict power limits during the day.
Winston noticed his daughter’s engagement
ring. He
took her hand and looked at the ring. He took her hand and looked at
the ring.
“Do you like it?” Willa asked. Winston couldn’t speak. This ring was
too
beautiful for words. Winston began to understand why North Country was
red
diamond crazy. “Brian gave it to me.” Willa said. Winston looked up
from the
big rock at his daughter. “Who’s Brian?” he asked.
“Brian is my fiancée.” Willa answered.
“This is why
I am here. I want to invite you to the wedding.” Winston froze. “Your
wedding?”
he asked. Willa nodded. Her father didn’t know what to say. “Uh…” he
began.
Winston didn’t know how to answer. He wanted to go but he couldn’t
leave.
Willa placed her hands on his. “It’s all
right.” she
said. “I’ll give you time think on it. Now, you should go. It’s better
that I
get caught then hanging both of us get caught.” Winston felt better. At
least
now, Willa was quick to understand. “Okay then, good night.” he said at
last.
“Night.” Willa said.
Willa watched Winston leave. Once he was
gone, she
put away her dominoes, undressed to her underwear, and went to bed.
Brian was not so swell. Julia was breathing
fire.
One single word could send her into a tirade. Brian was praying “Hail
Mary” in
silence. The trip to the tube was an awkward icy still hell-ride. And
that was
just on the way there!
Brian tried to call Willa Julia caught him.
“Dial a
single key and you’re dead!” she hissed. “Yes ma’am.” he whimpered as
he put
his cell phone away. Julia watched him like a hawk.
Brian about texting Willa but was caught up
on how
to do so without Julia watching. Why didn’t he talk his girlfriend out
of
meeting her father?
On the tube, two women passed them. Brian
looked
destitute at them at them. “Please don’t ask! She will bite!” he seemed
to say.
Julia shot a death look at the ladies. The women rushed away.
Brian hung his head. He was in hell now. He
hated to
see the outcome of this one. “Willa,” he thought. “I hope you
are
okay where ever you are!”
Winston was dreaming again. He was walking
home in
the heavy night. An icy feeling was in him this time. Willa was by his
side as
well. Even though things were tranquil, something was amiss.
Then, Willa stopped cold in her tracks.
Winston
stopped with her. “Dad,” his daughter spoke in a strong tone. Winston
kept
silent. “What would you say if I were to die right now?” Willa asked.
“What do
you mean?” Winston asked.
Then without warning, Willa shoved him away.
Her
father was confused. Willa turned around to face the firing squad. She
held out
her arms with her fists clinched tightly. She parted her lips and
mumbled
something. This time, Winston heard what she said.
“Daddy, I forgive you.” Willa murmured. Then,
gunshots rang out into the dead night and Willa fell back into a pool
of her
cold blood. “Willa!” Winston yelled as he raced to his dying daughter.
He held
her close. Willa mumbled something inaudible and died.