NOWHERE MAN CHAPTER 4 THE PROTEST
When Jude got to the university he was relieved to see that the demonstration seemed quite peaceful. Protestors formed a human chain and chanted but there was no violence yet. Jude looked around for Lucy but he couldn't spot her.
The chanting went on for some time while helpers went around with petitions asking the crowd to sign. Jude signed, wishing that alone could stop the war. From what he could gather the Defence official hadn't turned up but had sent a few low ranking advisors to address the university so storming the building would be a waste of time.
Jude scoured the crowds for Lucy. He desperately wanted to apologise and put things right between them. He hope she hadn't taken his remark about splitting up seriously. He couldn't believe he had said it himself. Lucy had been under so much strain lately and it had been wrong of him to try and stop her. He should have offered to go with her so he could keep an eye on her.
In the distance he could see people going up to a platform and speaking. Some were veterans, others had lost loved ones in the war. Jude moved to the edge of the crowd and he had to admit he was moved by the stories. He knew something about the loss with Max's disappearance – but some speakers had lost several family members or seen them maimed or psychologically scarred. One legless man was helped to the platform in a wheelchair. Another woman had lost her three sons. The stories were heart-rending.
Then Jude saw a slim young girl with long blonde hair mount the platform. She took the microphone and spoke in a clear, emotion-charged voice.
"I lost my boyfriend in this war when I was only 18. And now my brother is missing in action. I don't know if he's dead or alive and every day is hell for me. For years this country has fought to fulfill its imperialist aspirations –and for what? What has it achieved when so many young men are coming home maimed, psychologically scarred or in body bags? What has the slaughter of Vietnamese civilians achieved? I can't take any more of it! It's time to stop and I appeal to all of you to fight for an end to this war."
Jude pressed forward, trying to fight his way through the tangle of bodies. "Lucy – Lucy," he murmured. He tried to make eye contact with her but she was too far away. And no matter how he tried to elbow his way through the crowd, more bodies crammed in front of him, separating him from his girl. She spoke with passion about her own loss and her opposition to the war, pleading with the government to stop it. Jude stopped as he heard her voice break towards the end of her speech and her hand went up to her eyes. She was crying silently as a few people patted her shoulder in comfort while the crowd applauded enthusiastically.
"I'm the one who should be comforting her," thought Jude as his arms ached to hold her. He wanted to wipe away her tears, kiss her eyes, caress away her pain. He couldn't reach her through this sea of bodies, which were pushing him further and further back – and now she was stepping off the platform and disappearing into the milling crowd. He would never find her there – never be able to fulfill his urge to ask her forgiveness. Lucy, Lucy, come to me, he pleaded with her silently. I can't lose you again. Let me heal your pain.
But she had vanished into the swelling crowd. Dejected, Jude turned away and walked towards home. He only hoped that Lucy would realize that his words had been said in anger. And when she came home he would beg her forgiveness on his bended knees if necessary – anything to get her back.