The Atua Man: A Novel

All the directors except Jason were present in the boardroom when Tony Bass called the meeting to order at precisely nine o’clock. The vote was by a show of hands. Those in favor of Jason resigning were Lillian, David, Melanie. Those opposed were Tony, Gary, Barbara, Michael, and Dorothy.

Lillian and Melanie were shocked by the outcome. Melanie looked at Michael accusingly. He just shrugged and Tony smiled.

Dorothy stood, put an arm up, and stopped Tony from gaveling the motion into the record. “I want what I have to say put into the minutes.”

She looked at Lillian with a sadness that revealed her inner struggle. “I would not remain on this board or be part of this Ministry without Jason. I could not bear to think what would become of it solely under the control of Tony. It would lose every ounce of enlightenment it has. I believe Jason can hold it together if he’s allowed to continue what he’s been doing. He needs your support, Tony, not your condemnation.”

Dorothy returned to her seat. Tony slammed down the wooden disc he used as a gavel, and stated for the record, “The motion is defeated. We will continue our schedule as planned. Jason has a healing assembly at the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow night. He has master classes this afternoon, I believe. I totally agree with Dorothy that any new work be kept confidential until such time as we can properly present it to the public.”

Tony adjourned the meeting.

Melanie walked over to Dorothy furious at her. “How could you betray us like that?”

Dorothy, having picked up some of Elizabeth St. John’s detachment, said, “You’ll understand someday, dear,” and walked away.

Lillian and David hung around in the foyer as Melanie stormed out, giving Michael what they call in Hawaii ‘stink eye.’ The other board members returned to their jobs.

“What now?” Lillian said.

“I’m going to the British Museum to do a little research,” David announced.

“I guess I’ll just go upstairs and see if my husband is still there.”

When Lillian returned to their apartment, Jason was at his computer writing. He could tell by her attitude that the vote had gone against them. He got up and gave his wife a hug.

“It’s alright. We’ll figure this out.”

“Dorothy voted against us.”

“Really? Did she give a reason? Of course, she did. She always has a reason.”

“She didn’t agree with Tony but wouldn’t trust Tony running the Ministry without you.”

“Okay. What about us? Let’s go out to lunch. I’d love some Indian food. We can walk down to Bombay Brasserie.”

“Get serious. Let’s hold hands and just disappear together.” Lillian kicked off her shoes and collapsed into her meditation chair.

“I am serious. I’ve got my wig and glasses. I can put on my fat suit like we used to do when we wanted to go out incognito.”

Jason left for the bedroom and found the extra-large suit that went over the bodysuit Gary had bought him a year ago, which he had only put on once before.

Lillian followed him into the bedroom. “I don’t have a disguise. People will recognize me.”

“Fine. You’re meeting your girlfriends for lunch and I’m your bodyguard.”

“I’ve got a fat bodyguard?”

“Why not. Let’s try it.” Jason stripped down to his underwear and stepped into the bodysuit. Lillian started to laugh and couldn’t stop. Jason began laughing too and they both fell back on the bed in hysterics.

They barely heard the knocking on the front door. “I’ll get it,” Lillian told her husband, and then looked at the rolls of foam-fat engulfing Jason and cracked up again.

She opened the door on Thomas Parker and Gary. “Is Jason dressed?” said Gary.

“Two government men are here to see him, on official business. They’re waiting in the main library.” Lillian felt Gary’s concern.

“I’ll get him.”

She shut the door and returned to the bedroom. Jason had size forty-six pants on over the fat suit and was bent over, looking for the right size shirt in his dresser. She laughed again because the suit was anatomically correct and the suit’s butt crack reminded her of a plumber who’d worked for her parents when she was a girl.

“There are some men from the government that want to see you. They’re waiting downstairs. I don’t think you should wear that, though.”

Jason entered the grand foyer of Stanford House wearing a black turtleneck, khaki trousers and boating shoes. He crossed the foyer and opened the carved doors to the library. The men in cheap government suits stood up and Jason shook their outstretched hands. They seemed genuinely pleased to meet him and showed him their identification. They were from MI5, the state security service and had a warrant requiring Jason to come with them to Thames House for questioning. Jason wanted to run upstairs to get a jacket and his wallet, but the men wouldn’t let him. They took him directly to their SUV in the garage and drove away.