Justice! Justice!

He spent the rest of the night drinking. When news came of the fire, he acted surprised and sad.

It’s a terrible thing when lives are taken too soon. A delegation will visit our neighboring city to pay our respects, everyone is welcome to join us.

When he got there, he noticed the looks of confusion in workers, peasants and artisans. They actually cared about their leaders, not just feared them. It was a dangerous situation. Those people were ready to blame anyone. He spoke in private to their mayor before the vote, saying,

You should deliver a condolence speech.

The mayor nodded,

If you think that’s best.

The Party leader hid in a room near the main square where the mayor delivered his speech. He wanted to stay out of sight in case there was trouble, but still be close enough to watch. The mayor began mournfully,

My friends, this night something terrible has happened. Many of our greatest citizens died in a terrible fire during a party. We will mourn them tonight, and I can promise you: if someone was responsible for the fire, he will be held accountable. But first we must focus on the referendum. To vote you must head to the ballots and—

A woman interrupted him, shouting from the crowd,

Fool! Don’t you see it’s all pointless? The people who stood up to him are dead. We’re all dead, we just don’t know it yet!

The mayor asked, in the manner of a confused dog,

Stood up to him?

Then the human artillery began firing insults at him.

Dog!

Moron!

Imbecile!

Nincompoop!

We want justice and we want it now!

Midwit nitwit!

Then insults led to demands.

We want justice!

Justice!

Justice! Justice!

The crowd broke in a chant! They didn’t let the mayor speak and soon they realized they didn’t care about democracy, law or order. They overran the mayor’s guards, trampling everything they found in their path. They took whatever weapons they could find and set out to cause chaos.

He and his brother fled back to their city to rally the whole army. Then he returned triumphnat to the neighboring city to restore order. The angry mob was marching through the streets, beating up and breaking into the houses of those they suspected of collaborating with the new regime. His army swept the city, street by street, to restore order.

He waited at the main square where the mayor had spoken. There, he heard a feint cough escape from the debris. He cleared the way to find the mayor and pulled him out. Though the mob had trampled the mayor into a broken mess, still the mayor threatened him,

The people will not take any more of your bullshit. It was you, wasn’t it? When I heard the rumour that you started the fire yourself, I couldn’t believe it. After all you wouldn’t do that yourself, you would send your minions. But oh boy, was I wrong. Yes, I’m sure now. You started the fire, you caused all this. When the people learn the truth you’ll be finished. We’re not your property! We’re free now, unfortunately thanks to you.

He stared at the mayor for a few seconds. Then he tore a piece of cloth from the debris and, without a word, he smothered the mayor with it. At first he hesitated but then he pressed harder and harder until the old man’s throat snapped. When the mayor was dead he heard steps behind him. He turned to find his horrified brother. He sighed, opened a bottle of freedom vodka and poured a glass for his brother and one for him.

Am I a monster?

I know deep down you just want what’s best for everyone, but you shouldn’t lose sight of that. You have killed… a lot of people in the name of revolution, of freedom, of peace. Were all those deaths really necessary? Couldn’t you have found some other way? Or at least tried something different.

Fuck you.

His brother had made him hate himself. He took the glass from his brother’s hand and threw it on the ground. Then he walked away with the bottle of freedom vodka. While he was drinking, sitting on the mayor’s balcony, he had a view over the city and contemplated the full extent of the chaos.

Vandals had started fires around the city. Rioters bled on the streets, some already dead. His men chased rioters and dragged them to provisional jails, which soon were filled to the brim. The city’s descent into anarchy made him realize something:

I can’t just offer people freedom, I have to shove it down their throats. Otherwise, they will reject it and mistake us for their enemies. Yes, I know what I have to do now.