Free Electronic Gags by Kudakwashe Muzira

seats.
    Everyone
rose from their seats and the security chiefs saluted when President Brandon Ward,
Vice President Butler and Senior Minister Christopher Ward, the three members
of the High Council, entered.
    “You
may sit down,” President Ward said.
    Everyone
sat down except the president’s bodyguard.
    “Let’s
get on with business, patriots. Professor Reed, the inventor of NASP is here
with us today. Patriots, NASP is part and parcel of our security system and you
are going to cross-examine the professor about his invention and help us
improve it.”
    Director-General
Sullivan raised a hand.
    “Yes
Director-General,” President Ward said.
    “Thank
you, Patriot President.” The director-general cleared his throat and
straightened his jacket. “What happens when a citizen travels outside the
country? Will citizens go out of the Ten Districts of America with electronic
gags?”
    “Good
point, director-general,” Professor Reed said. “I think it will be unwise for
us to let citizens go out of the Ten Districts with electronic gags. There will
be lots of international outrage if our citizens go abroad with gags on their
necks. I suggest that when citizens leave the Ten Districts, they must
surrender their gags at the port of exit and get the gags on their return.”
    “Good
point professor,” Vice President Butler said. “We can’t allow citizens to go
out of the country with our gags.”
    “Some
citizens might try to sneak out of the country with the gags just to embarrass
us,” the police commissioner said.
    “Yes,”
added Collins. “Imagine what will happen when our citizens appear in Canada or
in Europe with the gags. Our detractors will have a field day.”
    “Some
citizens might try to sneak out of the Ten Districts with the gags, but they
won’t succeed,’ Professor Reed said with authority. “We put a geofence round
the country’s borders. If a citizen comes to within five hundred meters from
the boarder, his electronic gag gives him repeated shocks to warn him.” The
professor looked at the supreme leader and was happy to see him nodding his
head in agreement. “The system also sends an alert to the border patrol. If the
citizen advances to within two hundred meters from the boarder, he receives a
continuous electric shock till he retreats. If the citizen manages to cross the
border illegally despite the electric shocks, the gag will explode and kill
him.”
    “Professor
Reed, you continue to make us proud,” President Ward sounded like the father of
a brilliant student.
    “Thank
you, Your Excellence.”
    “Your
Excellence, are we going to put electronic gags on soldiers, policemen and CIB
agents?” asked General Robinson, the commander of the armed forces.
    “My
sentiments exactly,” added Retired General Sanders, the Minister of Defense.
    “Let’s
gag every soldier below the rank of captain and every policeman below the rank
of inspector,” President Ward said.
    “That’s
wise, Your Excellence,” entered Christopher Ward, never one to argue with his
brother in public. “The gags will make it easier for us to monitor our security
forces.”
    “But
won’t that lower the morale of our servicemen?” General Robinson asked.
    Professor
Reed avoided making a comment, knowing the security chiefs would resent
anything he said in this purely military matter.
    “They
will get used to the gags,” the supreme leader said. “We gag them but they
won’t have to buy airtime like civilians… they will speak for free. That way,
policemen and CIB agents can investigate crimes without worrying about airtime.
Is your question answered to your satisfaction, General Robinson?”
    “Yes,
Patriot President,” lied General Robinson. He thought NASP was a waste of time
and resources. The government was wasting money on Professor Reed’s toys instead
of strengthening the country’s military. China, Iran and North Korea were
amassing arms, threatening the Ten Districts’ position as the