The Island of Dreams Read online

  From time to time you may see our equivalent of a police force, namely the Greencoats, who can be contacted should people need some reassurance or advice on matters that relate to health and safety, the environment or procedures for remedying problems that you may encounter in everyday life. Their role is mostly advisory and their inspections tend to be confined to buildings and equipment. You would call them, for example if you suspected a gas leak or were concerned about the safety of a building or piece of machinery. They also conduct routine maintenance inspections on plant and equipment in accordance with schedules and investigate accidents. So you see the Greencoats are safety inspectors, advisors, solicitors, firemen and the police all rolled into one, designed to be approachable, friendly and competent, giving peace of mind to citizens without having the hard hand of the modern day policeman, who, in other countries, has no choice but to show strength with decreasing compassion as criminals become tougher and crueller in the sharp decline that the 21st century has now brought into the 22nd and that we are trying to reverse.

  I will now ask our two Island Greencoats, man and lady, to come forward so that you can all see them. You will note the distinctive lime green almost theatrical uniforms with gold buttons and tapered jackets. Do feel free to talk to them. Now I will leave you all to continue your work, and don’t forget, always keep your health and safety training up to date.”

  Chapter Twelve

  All the King’s Men

  Another month passed.

  Spring passed into summer and a new staff member had appeared on The Island, although the setmates did know of him.

  He was in his late forties and was broad and stocky, like The Chancellor. His accent was part Irish, part Russian, and his first task with the setmates was to provide tutorials in chess, for he was a Grand Master after all, as well as being a highly accomplished golfer.

  Outside the Training Centre, on the lawn, tables had been laid out with chessboards with setmates encouraged to compete during the long summer days as part of a broadening of their all-round skills that was expected for all future employees of the four Kamchatskiy companies.

  This Grand Master, who was otherwise known as The Concierge, was always on hand to offer tips, as well as to offer special help to those who tended to lose initially, so that they may learn and come on strong. This way, as with the skating, the overall standard of all of the recruits would rise as they all achieved a common level of ability that could then be subject to incremental improvement. The Concierge therefore was determined that none of the setmates was going to be left behind when it came to developing the thinking and analytical skills that chess demanded.

  During these games The Concierge was assisted by another, taller and slimmer gent of about the same age who also spoke with an Irish accent mildly combined with Russian. His accent, however, was distinctly Northern Irish. In contrast to the somewhat casual dress of The Concierge this man had the appearance of a clergyman, and was easily recognisable to the setmates as The Reverend whom they had seen in The Wax House.

  Like The Concierge The Reverend was also a Grand Master, but was additionally the head of The Church of The Founder Mary and was responsible for ensuring that The Island faith was promoted as widely as possible throughout the world as a means of securing religious tolerance on a global scale in the name of The Island King.

  By July all of the setmates had achieved a moderate proficiency at chess. There was no overall champion and no overall award, but there was a satisfaction from winning matches that The Concierge and The Reverend had purposefully engineered. These two men were exceptionally talented in enabling teams of individuals to achieve high standards in a relatively short time.

  By tradition on The Island the chess season lasted two months, culminating in the celebrated contest between The Concierge and The Reverend, on ice, with special guests invited to sit upon the specially designed curls that represented the pieces. On July 10th, however, the game was to take an unexpected twist for the setmates.

  That morning The Concierge, under instruction from The Prime Minister, addressed all of the setmates from The Gloriette:

  “Now that you have all become acquainted with the wonderful game of chess, and will naturally improve as the season progresses, my colleague and I have decided that we are going to make your experience a little bit different. Between us, over the next six weeks we are going to turn you all not just into accomplished chess players, but also into leaders.

  During this time, one by one, you will be called to The Great Dome to receive your instructions for an exercise. For this, each year, we invite a team of sixth formers from a school in one of our territories to play a game with you. This year our chosen school is The Karaginsky School, which is just outside Opala in southern Kamchatka.

  Every setmate will have the opportunity to play the game, but I have to ask you all, in order that the test is fair to everyone, that you do not discuss your game with anyone, including your principals, until every setmate has played the game. As these games are taking place, for everyone not involved, life will go on and, when you are not otherwise engaged, we will continue on the boards outside the Training Centre, weather permitting. Enjoy.”

  *

  The next day began as usual for Gary’s set, as did the next and the one after, although they all could not help but notice the comings and goings of the students, a few on horseback performing the role of knights, the others on foot, dressed for the parts as other pieces from the chessboard.

  It was not until five days had passed since The Concierge’s announcement that Gary’s set began to be summoned to The Great Dome. Claudia and Michael were first, then Connie and Gary. As one setmate completed the test the next was called until eventually all 240 setmates would have an opportunity to play the game and see how they fared.

  “Gary Loman, step this way,” said Joanie as she turned to face him. “Welcome to your game. Do sit down.”

  Gary duly sat on the chair as Joanie began to explain to him the rules.

  “Outside, in The Town, the students are divided into two sides, black and white. Your task for the day is to locate the goose that lays the golden eggs. It is up to you to decide whether you play black or white and in this connection you should not be afraid to question pieces from either side about matters relating to your assignment. It is up to you to decide for yourself as to the reliability of the information that is fed back to you. I can tell you that this is a test of leadership skills and that your ability to supply accurate information and unambiguous requests or commands will be carefully scrutinised for inclusion in my report to the Kamchatskiy Auto executive.

  Once you have chosen one side, you can hardly expect favours from the other, and they will be out to take your pieces should your leadership prove to be inept. The players on both sides are, however, at liberty to persuade you to change sides. You should think carefully before accepting. I cannot disclose to you which of the two sides is the stronger, or which may be when subject to your own personal form of leadership. What I do advise is that you do not delay in making your choice for too long, for if you do you will be in danger of being perceived as indecisive, with neither side wishing to be led by you. Difficulty will then be experienced in commanding respect in the ranks. The fine line which separates confidence on the one hand from arrogance on the other, must be negotiated with care. You may now begin your game. The students are all wearing headsets so that messages can be relayed instantly. Good luck.”

  As Gary left The Great Dome he was immediately confronted by two pawns, one dressed in a black costume, the other in a white.

  “What be it for which ye be a searchin’?” demanded the white pawn.

  “The goose of course,” replied Gary.

  “There be plenty of geese about ’ere,” the white pawn replied.

  “Plenty,” repeated the black pawn.

  “They be that way,” said the two pawns in unison, as they both pointed in opposite directions.

  Gary
hesitated.

  “Follow me,” said the white pawn.

  “Follow me,” said the black pawn.

  Gary could not decide from words alone, so he studied the expressions on each of their faces. The students tried to make the decision a little easier by presenting different expressions to the candidate. The white pawn who, by tradition, always answered first, had adopted a sterner appearance. This could suggest that the white team would be the stronger by first impression, Gary thought. On the other hand, black could be more calculating and more cooperative, and therefore a better team to lead.

  “Follow me,” demanded the white pawn again, this time with a greater sense of urgency in his voice.

  Then, before he had had any further opportunity to choose, the white pawn shook his head and walked off. This left Gary with Hobson’s choice of black.

  A black knight then quickly joined the black pawn.

  “He’s gone. He must have seen you coming,” said the black pawn to the black knight.

  “Greetings, o noble one,” said the black knight to Gary. “To whom do I owe the honour?”

  “Tis our noble majesty the black King,” replied the pawn. “He be lookin’ for a certain goose.”

  “A goose? A goose?” replied the knight. “What manner of goose?”

  “A goose that lays golden eggs,” answered Gary.

  “Then that be a very special goose,” said the knight, who turned to the pawn and asked, “Did he tell you that he was looking for a goose that lays golden eggs?”

  “No sire, he just said a goose, and I said I knew where there were lots of geese. I know that makes things more difficult, but his information was unclear. Ambiguous.”

  “It certainly does, my lord,” replied the knight to Gary. “Now I must keep a stronger lookout for danger. You go with my friend.”

  “This way,” urged the pawn, as he guided Gary down the lane past The Deputy PM’s residence and spoke of his delight that he had chosen black.

  “Did I choose you or did you choose me?” asked Gary.

  “Well you didn’t choose them, did you? Anyway, we will help you find the goose.”

  “How will you help?” asked Gary.

  “In this world you have to fight for what you want and what you believe in. I have a plan”

  The pawn pointed to the Triumphal Arch that now lay in front of them.

  “It’s alright,” the pawn continued. “The black rook is guarding the Arch offering safe passage behind enemy lines. The knight will provide protection from the rear. Once we are through the Arch we will make haste to the chapel for there the white Queen is vulnerable as she is alone in prayer, and may be made to confess the whereabouts of that most precious of geese. We must beware though, as her knights are known to lurk in the forest. Also, she is protected on both sides by her two bishops, but remember we have two also. Sadly our own Queen is imprisoned betwixt the two white rooks. Should she take one, she will immediately be taken by the other.”

  When they reached the Arch the black rook approached Gary and told him that he was in need of reinforcements.

  “Fine,” said the pawn. “But I have to advise that if we choose here to call upon the services of another piece it could leave us dangerously exposed elsewhere on the battlefield and potentially diminish the resources that are available to us later.”

  “Without reinforcement though checkmate in the chapel is a real possibility as well as heavy casualties,” advised the rook. “So I suggest you be decisive, lest we should be taken by surprise. You may summon the bishop, his pawn or the King’s knight from the rear.”

  “The bishop’s pawn,” Gary replied, cautiously.

  A second pawn now joined the first and the black rook displayed an expression of relief as they entered the wooded area.

  “My line of sight will cover you to about halfway between here and the chapel,” explained the rook “After that you will have to manage without me, lest I leave my post and expose you to check from behind from one of those white rooks. It’s your choice. Of course, I will come with you if you order it.”

  “What is to be gained in having you come with us?” Gary asked the rook.

  “A new line of sight, which may allow me to give early warning of impending danger.”

  “Not advisable to let a rook leave his post,” suggested the King’s pawn.

  “Let’s get halfway, then decide again,” Gary commanded.

  At the half-way point the rook was lost from view and their path was immediately blocked by a white pawn. Gary’s pawn drew his sword and froze for about five seconds, after which he was struck down by his opposition as he waited for Gary, the black King’s orders.

  “I don’t understand,” said Gary. “It’s our move surely?”

  “He was afraid to take action without orders,” explained the bishop’s pawn. “So much for working in a company where people are used to doing as they are told. I would have done the same. Strong leadership can also be weak leadership if people are afraid to act for the good of the team because they have to wait for orders. We need more authority to act without orders. You do not have to compromise strong leadership for a culture of empowerment. Quite the reverse. In the meantime, I think the opposition will exploit our weakness, or should I say your weakness, your majesty.”

  “Okay, we will have more empowerment,” said Gary

  The challenging white pawn was quickly joined by another.

  “Check,” shouted the second white pawn.

  “Take him with the knight,” Gary’s remaining pawn whispered to Gary.

  Gary nodded, and the offending white pawn was taken, but a white knight then arrived on the scene.

  “Oh dear. I forgot about him,” said Gary’s bishop’s pawn.

  “Now what do we do?” Gary asked the pawn.

  “Don’t assume that all information that you receive is accurate,” replied the pawn. “But you can assume that some information invariably will be accurate, like the fact that we have been protected from the rear by our own knight by virtue of our policy and strategy.”

  “Policy and strategy?” questioned Gary. “What policy and strategy?”

  “A component of business excellence which tends to result in improved accuracy of information when properly communicated,” explained the pawn. “Fortunately we are one up on white in this respect, as they have been trained to demand faster responses than us. That’s why in the end you were denied the opportunity to lead them, but also why we are able to outscore them on reliability sometimes. It’s a trade off.”

  The remaining white pawn now turned theatrically violent and a makeshift duel ensued between Gary’s bishop’s pawn and the white knight’s pawn. Gary’s bishop’s pawn fell, but Gary still had his rook’s pawn as well as the knight and, though he didn’t know it, his own rook for protection. This did not, however, prevent the white knight’s pawn from also taking Gary’s rook’s pawn in the absence of action from the black knight. The black rook’s pawn therefore fell, as the two opposing knights stood glaring at each other.

  “You can take this pawn yourself you know,” shouted the rook’s pawn as he fell.

  Gary assumed that his rook’s pawn was now lost, but wasted no time in taking the challenging white knight’s pawn, who dropped to the floor with a stroke of his plastic sword. Now the chapel lay ahead. The white knight retreated as the black rook came forward to threaten the knight and join his apparently slain pawn. Outside the chapel Gary met one of his bishops.

  “I have grave news, sire,” said the bishop. “I’m afraid one of your knights has been taken by a white rook.”

  “And they still have the Queen?”

  “Yes. It’s a shame. You threw that knight away. You really shouldn’t have allowed the rook to come forward like that. In doing so the knight lost his only protection.”

  “But what could I have done?”

  “Ordered the rook back to his post,” explained the bishop. “He would have stayed there, but he presumed th
at he was now empowered to come forward, given what you said to my pawn. The rook thought that the knight could defend himself, but against that white rook he didn’t stand a chance. Empowerment can be both misused and misdirected. Anyway, it’s your move.”

  “What’s the situation in the chapel,” Gary asked.

  “The white Queen is in prayer. But beware as you enter, as you are liable to be checked on entry by her bishop.”

  “Can’t you take this bishop?” Gary asked his own bishop.

  “Sorry, different squares old boy. You should have asked me about that one. Where there is doubt a good leader always makes certain. Your problem, old boy.”

  “Where’s the other bishop?”

  “Covering the white Queen’s retreat.”

  “And the other rook?”

  “Making sure the coast is clear on the other side of the chapel.”

  “And the other knight?”

  “In reserve for later.”

  “So what are my options?”

  “We could think of freeing our Queen.”

  “At what cost?”

  “I could take one rook out and put white in check. I would be lost of course, but your Queen would then be free and she would certainly get the second white rook. The net result would be you losing a bishop and them losing two rooks. It’s a gamble with the odds in your favour. First, however, we have to get you out of check. It’s quite easy. You can just step round him.”

  Gary stepped round the opposing bishop as he entered the chapel.