II

DECREPIT SOLAR CART WAYS AND HURRY STATIONS

On the making of slow progress towards our first destination, with some observations concerning the curious modus operandi of Hurry Stations.

THE TRAVELLER. During passing of one hour of the clock the line of Solar Carts had not advanced more than twenty leagues and by way of discourse to lighten our static condition, I remarked that surely this delay, frittering time and substance, must prove vexatious to many travellers.

ALBERT. “By The Thuddock of Saint Tossbairn,” he expostulated “My Dear Sir. heavy but equitable taxes are levied on all Solar Carts and Solar Wagons. The revenues accrued thereof an invaluable means for of refilling the treasury coffers. Consider if this highway were to be widened. The surface maintained in smooth order. Solar Carts and Solar Wagons would then be enabled to move at greater velocity. What would the outcome of this be? Hard usage and greater wear and thus the need to repair more often than is customary. Ensuring gentle velocity at all times, our current provision is sufficient to permit movement in a forward direction, but not in a manner so hasty that would prove deleterious to the highway. Thus by keeping the road in a less than ample condition, unhurried traffic, thus overmuch expenditure to fund more frequent renewal constrained.”

THE TRAVELLER. “But surely” I expostulated “What of the wastage of much time to the citizen? The loss to pocket-book and ledger? The loss to industry and enterprise? Surely the inevitable results of such delay. If monies were expended to improve the dispatch with which men and goods could move between cities could not a sound argument be presented that shewed that resultant improvements could in all probability exceed the perceived benefits of customary practice?”

ALBERT. “A plausible notion Sir. But contrary.”

All concerns shall be sufficient unto themselves and be not considered related to other divers matters.

The Mnikin Blue Book. Saw IV

“The Minikin Blue Book is definite with regard to such politick. It can, and has elsewhere been argued, that viewing the whole, as opposed to the consideration of constituent factors of is expedient. But such modes of thinking are considered alien within these noble shores of Herttach. Tis our wont to let such conceits be the polity of other nations.”

THE TRAVELLER. “Consider,” I replied pressing hard my argument. “The ease with which I crossed The Greater Continent on fine straight highways, well maintained, well ordered, when thus compared to our current rate of ambulation along this highway. Surely no reasonable observer could not but infer that ……..”

ALBERT. “No Sir,” he interjected, cutting short my intended remarks in a firm but kindly manner. “Such tis not our manner of doing. And indeed Sir, I am assured by the highest authorities in the land that time will convince other nations within The Great Continent that our modes of policy and politik are matchlessly superior.”

THE TRAVELLER. Laying my case hard, I proposed that seeing the advantages of philosophy and practice current within the territories grouped on the far side of The Straits Scission, the citizens of Herttach must compare and wonder.”

ALBERT. He smiled and retorted in a manner with which one might address a dullard child. “Comparison Sir! Have you already erased from your mind the scene you observed hard on your arrival, when I directed your gaze to view The Pont Cent Quatre-Vingts Ans and the city and port across The Straits of Scission? That is without doubt the universally perceived reality when looking outward from any vantage point within the boundaries of The Island of Herttach.”

THE TRAVELLER. Feeling somewhat rebuked and not wholly convinced, nevertheless held my own council for sometime after.

The surrounding countryside was amiable enough but dull, being somewhat flat and featureless with nothing much to excite the attention. Presently, I could not but observe large numbers of people of both sexes walking quickly alongside the highway passing by without a sideward glance at the line of slow moving Solar Carts and Solar Wagons. Without exception they all bore heavy and laboured expressions upon their faces. Each and everyone of them carried on their backs a small canvas bag of identical colour, design, and manufacture. Every five leagues distance apart, were situated, close by the highway, small buildings painted in drab colours, all in a poor state of repair, where waiting with dull resignation outside of a single doorway, knapsack carrying files of perceptibly burdened people.

ALBERT. Noticing the direction of my glance. “Hurry Stations.”

Our Solar Cart moved on for not less than four minutes and then again halted.

ALBERT. “Consider the instance of people lacking gainful occupation. Are they to loll about all day receiving without effort the manifest benefits The State of Herttach so generously allows them? Why no Sir. Such a mode of life would be without value both to the individual or the common good. Following a fulsome examination by certain officials to ascertain their case, such persons are given the small canvas bag you observe them carrying, the value of which is of course deducted over time from future emoluments. Each day they must travel between an allotted number of Hurry Stations, and on arriving there are given a small disk of valueless coloured stone, a different colour for each particular office. At the close of each day they must then present themselves to the official who oversees the district wherein they dwell, there to display before him the set of stones they have gathered, and thus having proved completion of the circuit demanded for that day, thence receive a portion of food, money, or goods in kind, calculated by the proper authority as being sufficient to sustain persons of this class.”

THE TRAVELLER. “Hurry Stations?” I inquired of him.

ALBERT.   “Just common parlance. No less, no more. There are a fixed number of hours within which the claimant must complete the day’s circuit or suffer the possibility of forfeiture of benefits.”

THE TRAVELLER. The Solar Cart again moved on. “Knowing that you will excuse my profound ignorance of such matters,” I said just at a moment when the line of traffic came yet again to a halt, our Solar Cart then opposite to a Hurry Station that was mouldering amidst a particularly unpleasant and marshy piece of land. “Would it not be better to employ these people with useful work. To maintain the highway in good order for example? Thus receiving recompense for productive employ?”

ALBERT. “Goodness Sir. Would be deemed unwise,” He paused for a moment to blow an amused nose into a large white, red and blue edged, pocket handkerchief. “Such notions would encourage those without work to imagine that The State of Herttach is responsible for their condition. Oh! No! Sir! It would be neither wise nor seemly. The Minikin Blue Book states without equivocation.”

Belief in cause and effect is a profound delusion.

The Mnikin Blue Book. Saw XII

THE TRAVELLER. This was something to which I felt unable to reply without some prior consideration, so I inquired of Albert, by way of gleaning information. “And what number of unfortunates such as these, treading such dismal paths, are there throughout this The Island of Herttach?” sweeping a demonstrative arm whilst we slowly drove past the bunched line of trudging supplicants.

ALBERT. “That depends Sir. The answer to such an inquiry begins at the point at which you commence your considerations and what is the mode of calculation is employed.”

THE TRAVELLER. “Surely numbers are numbers,” I stated with certainty. Holding up my hands and continuing. “My hands have ten digits. Ten equals ten in universal application. Ten people are ten people. Ten thousand people are ten thousand people.”

ALBERT. “To consider thus is an unschooled view of the workings and application of Statistick. Let it rest now, but I venture to suggest Sir that on our eventual arrival at The Capital, of Herttach your observations of the concerns and procedures of our government and administration will indeed prove to be a time of searching reflection and enlightenment.”

THE TRAVELLER. Our discourse seemingly having reached en passe and The Solar Cart proceeding at a moderately quicker pace, I took the opportunity during the ensuing silence to reflect and jot down a few lines in my aide memoire thus to assist, when at greater length, write within the pages of my Travel Journal, if there would be an unfilled period of time available that coming nightfall.