The Horizon by Gautam Bhatia

Author:Gautam Bhatia [Bhatia, Gautam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Published: 2021-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Rama strode down the stairs, fists clenched, heartbeat loud. She crossed through the Hall of a Thousand Pillars and stopped outside the conferral room, closing her eyes and leaning against the door. She let herself breathe.

She opened the door and walked in.

‘Good evening, Elders,’ she said.

The Councillors Hansa, Raja, Paras, Varsha, and Thanu, standing together by the pillars, stopped talking. They turned to face her.

‘Could be better,’ Raja muttered.

Rama smiled. ‘Why, yes. And that’s why I’ve called this meeting.’

He stared at her.

‘For those who haven’t heard,’ Rama said, ‘the Shoortans’ coup ran into some trouble tonight.’

‘We’ve all heard,’ said Hansa, a little wearily.

‘They came because I sent for them.’

Hansa stilled. ‘You raised a militia?’

‘Not quite,’ said Rama. ‘I just found some people who hate the Shoortans more than they hate us. And I introduced them to each other.’

She saw them shift, and exchange glances.

‘We’ve got some space now,’ she went on. ‘But we’re still in big trouble. We’ve lost half the Watch. The people are not on our side. Who can blame them? We’ve hardly been on theirs. The Matriarch knows this. She is going to ask for what we cannot give, and when the people see us refuse, again, they will fight for her. Again.’

‘We know,’ said Hansa. ‘We know how serious things are.’

‘I know you do. And you also know that we can’t meet this moment in the normal manner. This is now about whether we’ll last this night—and the next. So I ask you: will you give me Special Emergency Powers?’

‘Emergency Powers? You don’t need the Council for that,’ said Hansa. ‘A President may at any time proclaim a State of Emergency, which can last for fifteen days until we vote to renew or end it.’

‘Yes,’ said Rama. ‘But I’m asking for Special Emergency Powers.’

‘Special—oh.’ Hansa’s voice died away. The glances that the Elders exchanged were longer. Rama let the silence settle, waiting for one of them to speak.

It was Varsha who did.

‘But that will let you change all that’s sacred. The property laws, that Maliot preserved so carefully in the Constitution.’ she said. ‘You’d be able to override the rule of two-thirds majority, acting all on your own. We’ve never allowed this before—because this is—’

‘Fundamental. I know. I’m not asking lightly.’

Varsha went on, her voice hardening. ‘This would make you a dictator for fifteen days. You’d have more power than even Maliot had, you’d have the power of a tyrant, a Dichio. Anything you choose to do—if you get it wrong, the scars will last a generation.’

‘I know,’ said Rama. ‘I know what it means Councillor, what I’m asking. I ask because there is no other way.’

‘So you’re telling us,’ said Thanu, his eyebrows raised, ‘that you have to destroy democracy to save it.’

‘Suspend it. For a while. I know this sounds unseemly in one so young, and that’s why I called upon you first. The Council trusts all of you, and—’

‘But what do you intend to do with this power?’ Varsha interrupted. ‘We can’t trust you blind, Rama—President.

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