Doris Lessing - The Sweetest Dream

Julia said, ‘I need to have something explained to me. Why do these people complain so much that the government is making provision to shelter itself and the Royal Family?' A persistent jeer was that ' the government is making very sure that it will be protected, never mind about us' . ‘I simply do not understand,’ said Julia. ' If there is a war then it is essential to maintain a government, surely that is commonsense?'

‘I do not think commonsense has much to do with this campaign,’ said Wilhelm. ' These are people who have not experienced war, or they would not talk so foolishly. '

' They think like this,’ said Colin. ' A bomb will fall and everyone in the world will be dead. Therefore there is no need for shelters.'

‘But it is not logical,’ said Julia. ' It is not consistent. '

Frances and Rupert were looking at the wodges of articles and cuttings, from The Defender, they looked at each other, they shared resignation. The Defender was committed to the campaign's 'line'. Members of its staff were on the campaign's committees. Its journalists wrote its articles.

' The argument is,’ said Colin, ' that if the government thinks itself protected and safe, then it will be more ready to drop the bomb.'

'What bomb?’ said Julia. 'Why one bomb? What is this bomb they keep talking about? In a war there is not one bomb.'

' That is the point, Julia. It is the point we have to get across,’ said Sylvia.

' Perhaps Johnny could enlighten us,’ said Wilhelm. ' He is on their committee. '

‘What committee is Johnny not on?' enquired Colin.

‘Why don't we telephone him and ask him to come and defend himself?’ suggested Rupert.

People were impressed with this idea; it had not occurred to the family. Andrew went to the telephone. He dialled, Johnny answered. He was told there was a meeting, and he agreed to come.

While they waited they studied Sylvia's cuttings, and Julia said, ' This is the strangest thing I have ever known. These people are like children. '

‘I agree,’ said Sylvia, ' they are. '

Grateful for this little crumb, Julia took Sylvia's hand and held it. ‘Ah, my poor girl, you do not eat, you do not look after yourself. '

'I'm fine,' said Sylvia. 'We all eat too much.'

Frances's stew, rebuked, was nevertheless being offered for second helpings.

Johnny arrived, but not alone. With him was James. Both men wore Mao-style black jackets, and boots from the army surplus shop. Johnny, who had recently been in Cuba with Fidel, wore a scarf in Cuban colours. James was a large man now, smiling, affable, everyone's good fellow. Not pleased to see James? Impossible! He embraced Frances, he clapped Andrew and Colin on the shoulders, he kissed Sophie, he hugged a bonily resistant Sylvia, he gave Julia the closed-fist salute, at shoulder level -modified for social purposes. 'Good to be here again,' he said. He sat in an empty chair, looking expectant, and Johnny came to sit by him, but, feeling lowered from the perpendicular and on the same level as the others, stood up and resumed his old stance, back to the window, arms out, hands resting on the sill. 'I've eaten,' he said. 'How are you, Mutti?' ' As you see. '

James was heartily at work on the food. ‘You' re missing a treat, ' he said to his guide and mentor. He spoke in cockney, and Julia went Tsk, tsk, in annoyance.

Johnny hesitated, then succumbed and sat down as a plate arrived in front of him, Frances having known that this would be the outcome.

Sylvia said, ' This is serious. Johnny, James, we are having a serious discussion. '

‘When are situations not serious?’ said Johnny. He had nodded at his sons on arriving, and now said to Andrew, ' Pass the bread. '

' Life,’ said Colin, ' as we all know, is intrinsically serious. '

' Seriouser and seriouser, as far as I am concerned,’ said Andrew.

' Stop it,’ said Sylvia. ‘We've invited Johnny here for a reason. ' ' Shoot!’ said Johnny.

' There is a group of young doctors. We have formed a committee. We have all been worried for some time, but the clinching factor was a letter brought out of the Soviet Union...’

Johnny, with dramatic intent, laid down his knife and fork and held up a hand to stop her.

She went on. ' It was from a group of doctors in the Soviet Union. They say there have been accidents at nuclear plants, a lot of deaths and people dying. Large areas of country are contaminated with fall-out...’

‘I am not interested in anti-Soviet propaganda,’ said Johnny. He resumed his place, back to the window, leaving his plate. James, with reluctance, left his and stood by Johnny, captain and lieutenant.

Sylvia said, ' This letter was brought out by someone who was there on a delegation. Smuggled out. It reached us. It is genuine. '

'In the first place,' said Johnny, his speech becoming ever more clipped, 'the comrades in the Soviet Union are responsible and would never permit nuclear installations to be faulty. And in the second place, I am not prepared to listen to information which so obviously comes from fascist sources.'

‘Oh, Lord,’ said Sylvia. ' Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Johnny? Just going on and on saying the same old stuff everyone knows...'

‘And who is this everybody?’ sneered Johnny.

Julia broke in: 'I want to know why your – mob – insists that it is in some way criminal for a government and the Royal Family to be kept safe in the event of war? I do not understand you.'

' It is perfectly simple,’ said Andrew. ' These are people who hate anybody in authority – as a matter of course.'

James said, laughing, ‘And quite right too. ‘And repeated it, ' An' qui' righ' too. '

' Children,’ said Julia. ' Idiot children. And they have such influence. If you had lived through a war you would not talk such nonsense. '

‘You forget,’ said James. ' Comrade Johnny fought in the Spanish Civil War. '

Now, a silence. The younger ones had scarcely heard of Johnny's feats, and the older ones had long ago tried to forget. Johnny only looked modestly downwards, and then nodded, taking control again, and said, 'If the bomb falls then that will be curtains, for everybody in the world.'

'What bomb?’ said Julia. 'Why do you always talk about the bomb, the bomb?'

' It's not the Soviet Union we should be worried about,’ said Johnny. ' It's American bombs. '

Sylvia said, ‘Oh, Johnny, I do wish you' d be serious. You always talk so much nonsense. '

Johnny, goaded by this nonentity, this squit of a girl, slowly losing his temper. ‘I do not think I am often told that I talk nonsense.'

'That is because you only mix with people who talk nonsense,' said Colin.

Frances, who was silent because from the moment Johnny had entered she knew nothing sensible could be said or achieved, was removing the plates and putting down glass bowls of lemon cream, apricot mousse and whipped cream. James, seeing this, actually groaned with greed, and resumed his place at the table.

‘Who makes pudding these days?’ said Johnny.

' Only lovely Frances,’ said Sophie, tucking in.

‘And not often,’ said Frances.

Sylvia said, ' Very well, Johnny, let us assume that these terrible nuclear accidents in the Soviet Union never happened...’

'And of course they did not.'

' Then what is your objection to the people of this country being protected against fall-out? You won't even agree to information about how to prepare a house against fall-out. You won't agree to any kind of protection for people. I don't get it. None of us can. The mere idea of any kind of protection and you all start squealing. '

' Because once you agree to shelters then it assumes war is inevitable.'

‘But that is simply not logical,’ said Julia.