"Endless peace, a headless city follows a fall. How lucky!" Lord Havelock Vetinari cast his eyes heavenward. "You know Drumknott, if I didn't know any better I'd be inclined to think our 'Puzzler' is trying to make a point."
Drumknott gave a sage nod, as the Patrician neatly filled in the crossword clue in copperplate script. "Would you mind making an extra trip to Pelicool Steps today? Pick up some more dog biscuits for Tinker, perhaps?" He absently scruffled the pampered pooch behind the ears. Tinker made a breathy wuff and his Master gave him a treat.
There was a knocking at the door. Vetinari wasn't expecting anyone but there again he was always expecting someone. "See who it is would you, Drumknott?" He laid down his pen and continued to quietly fuss his little dog all the while keeping a steady gaze fixed upon the door.
"Lord Samuel Vimes and his daughter, Victory," Drumknott announced, ushering them in.
The Patrician raised a brow a mere millimetre, "An unexpected pleasure Vimes…and daughter." He afforded them both a smile which did not quite meet his eyes. "Is it not the usual state of affairs that I summon you?"
"Sometimes it does you good to break with tradition," Vimes answered. "But tradition is why we're here."
"Oh?" Vetinari looked at the young lady who, now she was in the Oblong Office, had already lost much of her bravado. Vimes Sr nudged Vimes Jr with an elbow and she almost jumped out of her skin.
"Um…uh…Sator Square," she began. "You need to reinstate the freedom." She swallowed. "The freedom of speech I mean. Now, actually."
"Do I now?" The Patrician exchanged a look with her Father, then, "Leave us please if you will, Lord Vimes. I see we will need a private audience to discuss this important business." He addressed Drumknott, "I believe Tinker requires his daily walkies?" Drumknott obliged, picking up the fluffy object. Walkies consisted of Drumknott taking a walk whilst carrying the thoroughly spoilt dog.
They both made to leave, Victory turned to her Father, "Uh, Dad?"
"Yes dearest?" he answered sweetly.
"I'll see you later, yeah?"
Vimes glanced at the Patrician then back at his little girl. "You probably will." And he left.
-
Well, she'd got what she'd asked for and was suddenly reminded of how you had to be careful with that. "You have a dog," she said, falling to defensive small talk as the tirade she'd been practising in her head for days had evaporated totally.
"Does that surprise you, Victory?" He steepled his fingers and looked the girl in the eye, reading her like a book. He saw Sam, he saw Lady Sybil and even a little of his Godson. "How is your brother? I hear he's taking a 'gap year' in Howondaland?"
"He had enough of the crap here and decided to try the crap somewhere else," Victory said with a little more cheek than she'd planned to.
"Yes, quite. One does have to admire his passion. Yours too. Please, do take a seat." Victory sat. Vetinari's tone had that something her Mother's did. "Tell me, what is it about the freedom of speech that has you so troubled?"
"It's our basic human rights! I mean of all species," she quickly corrected, "I speak therefore I am listened to. We are all equals."
"I believe the phrase is I think therefore I am. The power of speech renders one no guarantee of being heard, and," he paused for effect, "Some of us are more equal than others."
"Well, that's just wrong!" Victory countered.
"Have you heard some of the free speech at Sator Square? Do you know what started the 'Soap Box Debacle'?" Vetinari knew. He made it a habit to know everything that went on in his city.
Victory however, had not been there and reports differed wildly depending on who you spoke to. Even the Times had not managed to pin down the exact trigger of it all. "Well…" Victory nervously ran a hand through her dark blonde hair. "It's not about what was said, its about the fact that no-one can say it any more. People don't always say or do the right thing, Patrician, but if you take the right of free speech away you take away the chance for them to learn. Or for people to make decisions for themselves."
"In my experience it's not always wise to allow people to make decisions for themselves. You'd be amazed at the notions the man on the street has."
"What about the woman on the street? Or the Orc? Or the vampire? Or the troll? Or the Dwarf under it?" She sighed. "People got hurt but isn't that enough of a lesson?"
"Do you know what my job is Miss Vimes? What I am for?"
Victory considered this, "Dad says to maintain the status quo."
"But what do you think it is?"
"I think you just do whatever you like." There. She'd said it. An image of kittens crossed her mind and she bit her lip.
The Patrician laughed. A mirthful laugh that went on just long enough to make Victory uncomfortable. "You might want to consider that they might be one and the same thing." He leaned back in his seat. "I can't just reinstate the soap boxes at the Square. It is important that one be consistent is it not? But perhaps the 'people' could earn the right back?"
Victory frowned, "I don't understand…"
"Well young lady, let me explain…"
-
Five minutes later Victory Vimes left the Oblong Office in not only one piece, but with a mission and this time it had Palace approval.
