Electronic Gags Read online

“After being fitted with electronic gags, citizens will have to buy airtime if they want to speak. It’s the same way cell network companies charge their clients except that this time citizens won’t be paying for phone calls… they will be paying for speaking. The moment a citizen starts speaking the electronic gag recognizes his voice and sends a signal to the main computer, activating the billing system to deduct money from his account till he stops speaking.”

  “And what will you do when a citizen speaks without airtime?” Christopher Ward snickered.

  “That’s when the electroshock belt comes into play. Each time the subject speaks without airtime, his credit falls below zero, triggering the electroshock belt to administer an electric shock into his neck.” The professor assumed a lecturer’s voice, increasing the resentment of his rivals. He had once been a lecturer at the Brandon Ward National University, formerly the University Of California, and as he lectured his colleagues, he realized how much he missed teaching. “The belt shocks the subject for exactly the same amount of time he spoke without airtime. If the subject speaks for three seconds without airtime, he gets a three second shock. After getting the shock, the subject’s account returns to zero. In other words, a citizen who speaks without airtime pays with pain.”

  “This is the strangest idea I have ever heard,” Collins said. “Reed,you―”

  “Shut up, Collins,” the president ordered. “Let him speak. This might work.”

  “Thank you, Patriot President,” Professor Reed said with a bow of his head. “The main purpose of ordinary electroshock weapons is to immobilize their target with as little pain as possible. Unlike ordinary electroshock weapons which do not rely on pain, the electronic gag’s electroshock belt relies on pain to subdue its subject.” The professor scanned the room and was hurt see no one taking notes. “Ordinary electroshock weapons use voltages as high as one million volts to interrupt neurological impulses that control voluntary muscle movement, causing muscle spasms and leaving the subject dazed for minutes.” He took a gulp from his glass of water, wishing he had a blackboard where to write points for his audience. “Unlike ordinary electroshock weapons, the purpose of the electronic gag’s electroshock belt is not to immobilize or confuse its subject. Its purpose is to inflict pain on the subject to remind him that he has crossed the line. To achieve this, I lowered the voltage of the electroshock belt to only 3 kilovolts and raised its current to seventy milliamps DC.” He looked at President Brandon Ward and was pleased to see him nodding his head. “When it comes to electric shocks, it is current that causes pain and death, not voltage. After getting a ten second shock from the electronic gag, the subject remains in good physical and mental state to take corrective measures to stop the electric shock.”

  “Go on, Patriot Reed,” urged the supreme leader.

  “Thank you, Patriot President. I have also configured the system to recognize certain words that rebels use. The moment the subject says words like democracy, justice, good governance, human rights, American dream, United States or elections, the electronic gag sends a signal to the computer system to start recording the person’s conversation.”

  “Brilliant!” interjected President Ward. “Brilliant! Go on Professor.”

  “Thank you, Patriot President,” the professor said, trying his best to contain his joy at the supreme leader’s acceptance of the electronic gag. “The system also recognizes banned songs. Since the electronic gag has GPS and cellular trackers, CIB agents manning the central computers will be able to pinpoint the subject’s location. The system will also identify all the people sitting near the subject and this will make it easier to arrest all those who take part in political gatherings. On top of that, the system gives the CIB a trajectory showing the subject’s movements in the last seventy-two hours.”

  “Wonderful!” extolled President Ward. “Go on professor.”

  “Thank you, Patriot President. Right now, with your permission, I shall entertain questions from members of the Cabinet,” Professor Reed said with growing confidence. With the supreme leader on his side the professor had nothing to fear.

  “Patriots,” Brandon Ward announced, “the good professor is open to questions.”

  “What will happen when a citizen tears an electronic gag from his neck?” asked Dr Kirk.

  “The moment a citizen breaks any of the electronic gag’s wires, an alarm is sent to the server, showing the subjects last known location. The culprit’s face automatically appears on TV as a wanted person and the CIB and the police rush to arrest the culprit.”

  “That’s not enough, Patriot Reed,” the supreme leader said. “When someone tampers with an electronic gag, the device must explode, instantly killing the culprit. The CIB and the police should only come to make sure that the criminal is dead.”

  “That’s a brilliant idea, Your Excellence!” Reed said with boyish enthusiasm. “I will install that feature onto the electronic gag.”

  “How accurate is your tracking system?” asked John Wallace, the Minister of Information.

  “Outdoors where it’s possible to use the hybrid tracking system that combines GPS and cell tracking, the system can locate the subject with an error margin of less than a meter.” Professor Reed looked at President Ward and was pleased to see him nodding his head. “However, GPS doesn’t work indoors because the receiver needs to be in the line of sight of at least three GPS satellites. When the subject gets indoors the system resorts to cell tracking, which uses multilateration of cell towers to determine the location of the cell receivers in the electronic gags. I urge the government to increase cell towers in some rural areas to make cell tracking more effective.”

  “What will the state do when a citizen sabotages the electronic gag and claims it died on its own?” Campbell said, thinking he had finally got the professor.

  Reed suppressed a smile. He had anticipated the question. “I suggest that the state gives citizens electronic gags for free and make each citizen liable for the safety and maintenance of his gag. When a gag breaks down, the state will replace it at the citizen’s cost. Since we shall make electronic gags explode when people tamper with their circuits, citizens won’t take the risk.”

  “What about battery?” asked Retired General Steven Sanders, the Minister of Defense. “How long does the battery last and what happens when it goes flat?”

  “Good question, general,” Professor Reed said. “The battery lasts for at least four days and it will be the duty of citizens to make sure that the batteries of their electronic gags have power. We will issue every citizen with a charger. When the battery is about to go flat, the electronic gag administers electric shocks into the subject every fifteen seconds to remind him to charge the battery. Ten minutes before the battery goes flat, the electronic gag sends a continuous shock into the subject. When the battery goes flat, the server makes an alarm, giving the CIB the subject’s last known location.”

  “When the battery goes flat, the device must explode,” Senior Minister Christopher Ward said, warming to Professor Reed’s idea.

  “We can arrange that, senior minister,” Reed said.

  “Arrange it,” Brandon Ward said. “The device must explode when the battery goes flat. That will be good punishment for those who fail to charge their batteries.”

  “Consider it done, Your Excellence. The electronic gag has a life span of about ten years. Its battery has a lifespan of four years. We will give citizens spare batteries.”

  “How will they change the batteries?” Perry, the deputy Minister of Natural Resources asked. “Won’t the device explode when a citizen removes the battery?”

  “It won’t,” Reed assured. “The system has a backup battery that lasts for twenty minutes.” The professor paused, joy blazing in his heart as he looked at Collins and Campbell who were hanging their heads in defeat. “The system also has geographical fencing.”

  “Patriot Reed,” growled the supreme leader, “spare us the technical jargon. What the hell is geographical fenc
ing?”

  “Forgive me, Your Excellence.” He cleared his throat. “We mark a virtual boundary over a satellite map. When a subject crosses this boundary, his electronic gag shocks him and an alert is sent to security agents guarding the boundary. We can set virtual boundaries round Your Excellence’s residence, round army barracks and Cabinet House. We can also set a geofence at the country’s borders.”

  “Wonderful!” enthused Vice President Butler. “Electronic gags will improve the country’s security.”

  “Thank you Patriot Vice President,” Reed said. “Fifty meters before a subject crosses a virtual boundary, he receives warnings and electric shocks. If he crosses the boundary, he receives a continuous electric shock till he retreats from the prohibited area.”

  “This is a brilliant idea, patriots,” President Ward said. “I think we must adopt it.”

  “Long live Patriot Brandon Ward, the great statesman!” Derek Henderson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shouted, punching the air.

  “Long live!”

  “Long live the National Party!”

  “Long live!”

  “Long live the Ten Districts of America!”

  “Long live!”

  Henderson cleared his throat. “Your Excellence, Patriot President, I’m worried the electronic gags will attract a lot of international criticism of our government.”

  “We are a sovereign nation,” Brandon Ward said, banging the table. “We are the most powerful country in the world and we have veto power in the UN Security Council. Other countries can shout themselves hoarse but they cannot interfere in the internal affairs of our country. Long live our sovereignty!”

  “Long live!” replied the Cabinet.

  “Long live our super power!”

  “Long live!”

  “Anyone else with something to say?”

  The foreign minister sighed. He knew he would have a hard time defending the electronic gags on international fora.

  “Long live Patriot Ward, the supreme leader of the Ten Districts of America!” Dr Kirk shouted, waving a fist.

  “Long live!”

  “Long live our economic prosperity!”

  “Long live!”

  “Your Excellence, the program will cost a lot of money.”

  “Dr Kirk, this is an important program and you must give it the priority it deserves,” the president ordered. “Cut down on education and health. We need electronic gags to end this problem of rebels once and for all. The economy cannot grow without peace and tranquility. The gags shall guarantee peace and tranquility in our country. Besides, the state will make money when citizens start buying airtime. Arrange money for the program.”

  “Yes, Your Excellence,” Dr Kirk said sadly. She knew the president was being paranoid. There was no rebel threat to warrant such waste of money. It wasn’t easy being Finance Minister of the Ten Districts of America. President Ward always started expensive programs outside budget. It was a miracle the TDA’s economy was still running.

  “Test the gag on the prisoner,” President Ward ordered Reed.

  “Yes, Your Excellence.”

  The professor’s rivals watched, hoping the device would fail.

  “Say democracy,” the professor ordered Michael.

  “Democracy,” echoed Michael.

  Immediately the laptop beeped.

  “Say human rights,” President Ward ordered, enjoying the spectacle.

  Michael obliged, sending the laptop beeping.

  “Say United States.”

  “United States,” Michael echoed and the laptop bleeped.

  “His location, picture, name and ID number will also appear on the computer and the system will record everything he says. If the subject is in a political gathering, we will know the names of all the people in the gathering. One more thing... the electronic gag recognizes distorted human voices. If a citizen tries to fool the system with voice-changing devices, the electronic gag will immediately send an alarm to the main computer. If a citizen starts whispering the system will charge him three times the normal rate.”

  “Give him ten seconds of airtime,” the president said with a child’s delight at the sight of a new toy. “I want to see how the electroshock belt works.”

  “Okay, Patriot President,” Professor Reed said, tapping the keys of his computer. “Count from one to ten,” he ordered Michael.

  Michael counted nervously. Before he finished saying seven, an electric shock enveloped his neck, jerking his head. He felt as if a thousand needles had pierced his neck at once. “Oh God!” he moaned, bringing back the electric shock.

  “Wonderful,” President Ward said. “Professor Reed, you are a genius. The electronic gag will give us total control of our citizens.”

  The professor giggled, basking in his newfound glory.

  “Can you hear me, Mr Rebel?” the supreme leader asked Michael.

  Michael nodded.

  “What is your name?”

  Michael remained silent.

  “Are you ignoring me?” President Ward demanded. “What is your name?”

  “Michael,” he replied, his voice triggering an electric shock that spread all over his now sweaty body, sending him into fits.

  “I didn’t hear you?” the supreme leader asked, enjoying Michael’s suffering. “What did you say?”

  “I―oh―said... my―oh―name is Michael,” he answered, squinting with pain.

  “Now I heard you,” the supreme leader said, breaking into laughter.

  The whole Cabinet joined in the laughter.

  “Professor, you will work with our defense industries and help them manufacture enough electronic gags to fit every citizen over the age of fifteen. After that you will help the CIB set up the computer network that will control the electronic gags.”

  Professor Reed almost jumped with joy. The supreme leader had not only accepted his idea but he had also made him manage the implementation of the idea. “I am at your service, Your Excellence,” he said as humbly as he could.

  Collins and Campbell exchanged angry looks. Professor Reed had encroached into their territory. Even the Minister of Defense, the amiable Retired General Sanders, was not happy. The defense industries, which manufactured weapons for the security forces of the Ten Districts, fell under the Ministry of Defense. He didn’t like having Reed, a mere Minister of Education, giving orders in a branch of the Ministry of Defense.

  “Professor, I’m giving you one month to finish the project,” the supreme leader said. “You will have all the resources you need. Prepare your budget and I will discuss it with Dr Kirk.”

  “A month won’t be enough, Your Excellence,” Professor Reed said.

  “I will give you six weeks then. I want people wearing the electronic gags in six weeks. Is that clear?”

  “Yes Patriot President,” the professor said with a sigh. He wanted more time to test the electronic gag and install a strong security system to protect the computer network controlling the gags. But now that the supreme leader had accepted his idea, he couldn’t risk making him change his mind. If the supreme leader wanted the system running in six months, he would get it. Professor Reed would perfect the system while it ran.

  “Patriots, I urge you all to help the professor in any way you can as he makes our electronic gags.” The supreme leader thoughtfully scratched his cheek. “Electronic gag... the name sounds inhuman. We must give the gadget a name that makes it sound user friendly, a name that tells the people what we are trying to achieve. We are not fitting people with the gadgets to gag them... we are doing it to weed out troublemakers from the population.”

  “You are right, Your Excellence,” agreed Professor Reed. “The name electronic gag sounds inhuman. We can simply call the device the National Antiterrorist Surveillance Tool, NAST in short. And we can call the whole program the National Antiterrorist Surveillance Program, NASP in short.”

  “Wonderful, professor,” the president extolled to the envy of the rest of the Cabine
t. “What do you think, Patriot Butler?”

  “It’s a good name, Patriot President,” replied the vice president. “It will do just fine.”

  “What do you think, Patriot Christopher?” President Ward asked his brother.

  “The whole idea is just great,” Christopher Ward said with zeal. Now that he had seen the benefits of the professor’s invention, he fully supported it. Unlike the other members of the Cabinet who envied the way the president was praising Reed, Senior Minister Christopher Ward was not given to such petty jealousies. He knew that as the president’s brother, he would always be closer to the president than any of the ministers. “Well done, Patriot Reed. Keep it up.”

  “Thank you, senior minister,” professor Reed said joyously. With both Ward brothers on his side, his plan would succeed.

  “Is there anyone with something to say?”

  “I have an idea, Patriot President,” Reed said, still eager to impress.

  “Speak, Patriot Professor.”

  “Patriot President, I was thinking that two or so weeks before we roll out the electronic gags we could stage manage an attempt on your life. And then―”

  “Reed are you crazy?” spluttered Collins.

  “Let the professor speak,” Brandon Ward ordered.

  “Thank you, Patriot President,” Reed said, smothering a smirk at Collins. “I think we should stage manage an attempt on the supreme leader’s life or bombings on one or two police stations. Then we blame the bombings and the assassination attempt on rebels, and use this as a pretext for launching the National Antiterrorist Surveillance Program.”

  “Antiterrorism,” Brandon Ward said with delight. “I like that word. That would be the best excuse for launching the program.”

  * * * * *

  Freddie sat in his mother’s living room, trying to drown his sorrow in beer. The Ward regime had taken a lot from him: his freedom, his best friend, his girlfriend, and his good name. A lot of people now believed he sold Michael to the CIB.

  He wanted to do something to clear his name and save Michael. He had to do something. But what could he do against such a ruthless and powerful regime? The police and the CIB would surely eliminate him if he tried to make trouble.