2050: The Changing of the Guard

By G.J Giddy

The year is 2050. Most of the Western World was in a state of unrest. Fossil fuels finally became almost nonexistent; the much-hyped alternative power such as solar, wind, and tidal barely kept the countries going. Australia is a republic cutting all ties with England. England continued rearranging the new Kingdom; they banished Sundays, ousted the royals, then divided all cities into twofirst class citizens one side of the fence and second class on the other side.

Caught up in all of this in his beloved country, Australia, George and his wife, Elizabeth, considered they are lucky to be selected from a worldwide advertisement for a computer analyst. On arriving in London, George was slowly noticing the former United Kingdom, now called the Kingdom, was on the same footing as Australia, if not worse.

Settling into work, George takes interest in an unauthorised site; this site will eventually turn his life and Elizabeths into a nightmare. George, facing certain death as he is hunted, disguises himself as an Afghani refugee. In this awkward position, George still manages to download this site as Elizabeth and Georges ex-boss, Henrik, search high and low for him.

Henrik eventually finds his whereabouts; George once again changes back into normal street clothes to try and avoid certain death. This time, George is saved by a rebel leader of second-class citizens rebellion named Sky Blue. George joins forces. George is faced with another battle: Sky Blues sexual advances and his love for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, now in the same position as George, finds herself on the other side of the barrier. Daily, she searches for George while sharing an apartment with several working girls. As time goes by, Elizabeth accepts being a second-class citizen. This leads her to become a well-known vaudeville performer on stage and very handy with her hands backstage.

As the revolution nears, George and Sky Blue encounter Georges ex-boss, Henrik. The multinational company is desperate to silence George and anyone else who knows the formula. George knows this secret to revitalise a permanent substitute to fossil fuels that will last as long as human beings remain on earth. To save himself from this nightmare, George takes shelter in the Canadian Embassy only to be deported back to Botany Bay on a prison container ship while Elizabeths search for George continues.

God couldnt save the King; the new revolution party will.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503551893

G.J Giddy

G. J. Giddy grew up in country New South Wales, with a taste for adventure, and dropped out of school to follow his dreams joining the Royal Australia Navy. After consent trips to Asia, G. J. Giddy left the navy to broaden his travels to Europe to study screenwriting and further adventures. This took a toll on him until he met his wife who reefed him out of the gutter. Life was now viewed at a different angle, and when his three children grew up, he took his family to travel to the corners of the world to allow him to continue dreaming. This is G. J. Giddy’s forth novel.

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Copyright © 2015 by G.J Giddy.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015935664

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 03/13/2015

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 1

How fast the world was changing. Australia had become a republic, England dethroned the Royal Family. England replaced the title United Kingdom to simply the Kingdom. Australia and the Kingdom adopted a class system dividing rich and poor. The once strong friendship between both counties severed their relationship. The Kingdom was never to be referred as the mother country again. The once Anglo Saxon image was slowly becoming a thing of the past. The new look population has changed the whole demographics with everyone having to except change. This thought crosses the mind of an elderly man saying farewell to his son and his newly wed wife. The elderly man seemed to be struggling with age and emotions on this day at an airport close to Sydney.

The elderly man watches his son and his wife wave good bye for what he imagines for perhaps the very last time, he shakes his head trying to control his emotions. However tears manage to find their way towards his rugged facial cheeks, he turned his attention away from his son to look at the way Sydney has progressed. So much has changed in such a short space of time he thought as he turned to walk towards the exit he stopped to look at the runway.

Walking to the enclosed viewing platform he stopped to look over the sprawling tarmac, bright shinny solar panel covered planes were lined up ready for departure. The elderly man was thankful his son and daughter in law was one of the few lucky people fortunate to leave and live in another country.

Enough dwelling on the past, he walked towards the exit, followed the signs to the sky rail. Continuing to follow this sign until he came to a barrier, he followed the instruction for him to show his ID implanted on the back of his right hand wrist. This done, the barrier allowed him to continue and proceed to a waiting sky train.

Now seated for a very short time, the doors of the sky train closed. All of a sudden a short jolt was felt as the train sped from the platform. The train wizzes through a clean glass like tunnel above the ground heading towards Sydney. The elderly man looks at the panoramic views.

As far as his eyes could see, high rise building reaches for the sky. These buildings seem to reach in to the heavens with cranes in all directions trying to compete with each other in an attempt to reach the stars. What else was about to change the elderly man thought as the sky train neared the cosmopolitan city? This was no longer the mid-nineties when he was a teenager growing up. This was twenty fifty.

Unfortunately this was progress and progress has a price. Looking down thru the glass tunnel at once was a peaceful outer suburb; a lot had changed in the past twenty five years.

High density housing replaced this dream of owning a house on a quarter acre block and slowly over the years, neglect and changing of Governments every four years as it now applies, it was obvious they were only elected to line their own pockets.

Graffiti was sprawled on buildings that weren’t too damaged to paint the message from the discontent. Rubbish was scattered without a second thought and only when it became impassable the councils in charge would tend to the matter.

This was noticeable as the sky train whizzed above concentrating on the hordes of people below dressed in tatters wandering around looking for anything of value or to recycle. Why couldn’t the council employ some of these people to assist in the clean up? The unemployment was sitting above forty per cent.

What happened and why? No longer was there public housing, no welfare unless you were severely disabled. Retirement age was scrapped but you could retire at any age if you had the wealth. That was a problem; the average person from suburbia had no chance in gaining wealth these days unless he won the lottery or became a politician.

To win the lottery was the preferred choice; the word politician was becoming a bad word. Matters where made worse when oil production finally after years of forecasting ceased with only a trickle meeting the demand, this was the final blow to modern society. The demise of modern day living with the fossil fuel replaced by solar never fully recovered the economy. The Western World slowly declined changing directions; everyone neither rich nor poor knew oil was the life line. For too long the two party systems chopped and changed with an all too familiar outcome, the voting public was on the verge for a change. Both parties could see this and always managed to stay one step ahead.

How did they achieve this? Using the old spin formula they banned any social pages on the internet taking complete control all for the good of the children so they would say. Well that is what they said and when both parties agree, then that’s the law. The pooper of society became discontent showing little regard to whichever party was in power constancy complaining on deaf ears. The rich in turn became discontent wanting to be distance from them. All of a sudden both sides rioted for years until a solution was reached; divide the classes, the wealthy won.

The elderly man watched the city swallow up the slums of the suburbs. The sky train slowed down to a halt. The doors quickly opened and announcement was made. ‘Beginning of city limits,’ there is a pause and again the announcement is re broadcast with, ‘this is a final warning.’ The elderly man looked around to see if anyone was getting off.

Behind him a well-dressed couple quickly alighted. The elderly man continued to look around and as the doors closed he turned his attention to the city coming in to full view. Another changing of the times, no longer can just anybody come and go were ever they please. The city area and certain coast lines were only for the few. The elderly man was thankful he was one of the lucky ones.

By now the views changed for the better. The streets were cleaner, there were no signs of graffiti and everyone wore respected clothing and had a good reason to live. Once the sky train pulled into the terminus the elderly man made a quick exit.

With his right hand held out and his palm of his hand open, he scans his hand to verify he has money to pay for the trip. The green light is given; he waves the back of his hand once again. This time it is to verify he has the right to enter the city and again the green lights allow him to continue as a first class citizen.

On this day the elderly man was in a hurry and never wasted time getting out on the street. Stopping on the spot away from the crowd, he took a small flat dark square out of his pocket. Placing it in his hand he looked at the screen asking it to show flight paths. This came up and with voice command identified the flight he was after and straight away the flight came up. Pointing the screen skyward, the screen replied the plane was about to go over head.

The elderly man walked to the side of the road looking skyward enabling him a fleeting glance of a hint of pale blue sky peeking through the smog for a simmering glance of the shiny silver plane his son was on fly over. Straining his eyes a smile graced his face as he watched the tail of the plane accelerate in to the sky then out of sight. The elderly man continued to look at the empty pale blue sky raising his head back as far as he could then softly said out loud, ‘Good luck son.’

As the elderly man made his way home, his son and wife sat back in their seats playing with the inflight screens in front of them. Long gone are the day’s seatbelts were required to be used for take-off or landings. Air travel was considered the safest form of travel if you were lucky to afford it.

As the plane continued to climb at whisper quite speed, George the elderly man’s son looked out the side window at the solar panel wings harness the suns energy and a little further into the heavens the high radiation levels would kick in to generate added speed for the eight hour flight to London.

George turned to his wife Elizabeth, ‘Less than eight hours you will be back home,’ he said with a grin as he took one last look at Australia below as it disappear from sight. Elizabeth waited before she replied; George looked at the cloud below wondering when Elizabeth was going to reply. Silence got the better of him; he turned to her asking the same question. This time she answered with a different question. ‘Will you miss Australia?’ Elizabeth asked as George shook his head with a sorrowful expression his face. ‘I never thought I would say it, no.’ George said looking at Elizabeth smile to try and humour him. This worked; George smiled then asked her once again is she excited. ‘Yes but I can hardly call England home, I was one year old when I left,’ she said taking hold of Georges hand rubbing it. George relaxed thinking deep down how thankful he was meeting and falling in love with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth also felt the same way as she could see he was content, she returned to watch the screen in front of her. George took one fleeting glance at her beauty; sighed with great relief adding another good reason being married to her, a good chance to reside in England with permanent residency was his main goal. How quick he wanted this flight to land in London leaving the horrors of being an Australian behind him.

George wasn’t the only one wishing the horrors of the past could be erased. A young girl dressed in faded blue jeans, a sloppy style pullover takes cover close to an overhead surveillance camera looking a little nervous. The girl in her early twenties is named Sky Blue. Sky Blue is a member of the revolution party belonging to the second class citizen’s area. As her nervousness seems to decrease, Sky Blue sends an eye signals to a young man similar to her age shaking an aerosol spray can. Sky Blue is also holding a can in her hand and begins shaking it as she looks up at the surveillance camera. Sky Blue shakes her head twice looking in the direction of the surveillance camera; the young man runs along the side of the building, dashes up the wall aiming the spray can at the camera. In striking distance he presses hard on the nozzle aiming at the camera. In perfect timing the surveillance camera is coated in paint disabling it.

The surveillance camera temporary out of action, Sky Blue is joined by several other revolutionaries all screaming and yelling as they run towards the wall under the disabled camera shaking their cans. Within seconds red paint is sprayed on to the wall, the excited crowds around screams with approval as Sky Blue and her team franticly paint their message until the crowds screams change warning them of approaching danger.

The crowd informs them the clean-up crew is frantically heading their way. The painting of the wall cease’s, Sky Blue whistles out loud, all revolutionaries conceal their spray cans before mingling in the crowds eventually becoming unrecognisable.

Sky Blue and her crew regrouped at a prearranged site as the clean-up crew left no evidence the walls where once covered in graffiti. Happy with their results they have annoyed the government of the day, Sky Blue told the group they still had time for several more graffiti hits before their eight hour day was over.

As Sky Blue planned the rest of her eight hours, George and Elizabeth eight hours flight went without incident and before they knew it, the seats they were sitting in wrapped around each passenger firmly taken a grip on them for the landing. Now tightly tucked in to his seat, George looked out the window only to see clouds. George turned to Elizabeth telling her there still was no sign of England. Elizabeth replied they must be over the ocean still. A passing air hostess heard the conversation. ‘This is you first trip to the Kingdom,’ she said looking at the two. George looked at Elizabeth, the two smiled back at the hostess as George replied. ‘Yes this is out first time,’ he said before pointing to Elizabeth, ‘although my wife was born here.’ The hostess acknowledged this asking when was her last visit to the Kingdom? Both George and Elizabeth chuckled explaining she was one year old when she left. ‘Then expect many changers,’ the hostess said and as she was about to walk away she continued, ‘then since you were so young you wouldn’t know we rarely see the sky through the pollution.’ This said the hostess headed for her seat for landing. George looked at Elizabeth raising his eye brows then commented, ‘I heard the pollution from China, India comes all the way to choke England.’ All Elizabeth could do was to shrug her shoulders and agree with what George had said.

The plane started to descend; a brief silence greeted the planes cabin. This silence was broken when the voice of the captain told them they would be landing in a few minutes. George took hold of Elizabeth’s hand, squeezed it before looking out the window hoping to spot any signs of England. This wasn’t to happen; all that could be seen was grey coloured clouds. George was starting to worry a little as he felt the plane level out in what looked like the clouds were never going to end. What a relief when the clouds suddenly gave way and below a hint of life is finally in sight. In this misty looking scene the tarmac could be just made out and a section of the airport housing a few planes could just be visible.

Once the plane landed, the broadcast came over informing passengers the weather details for the day. Rain was forecasted and in the event of rain, persons were forbidden to get wet, unless they were wearing special clothing. Acid rain was so potent these days death was imminent if you receive a good soaking. With the broadcast over, all George could do was say to Elizabeth, England might be getting as bad as Australia. Elizabeth replied, ‘I hope not,’ the plane came to a halt, the seats returned to normal and before you knew it the doors on the side of the plane opened and everyone started to disembark.

George was all smiles as he walked forward in a small queue stopping in front of the immigration officer. The immigration officer was in his early twenties and looked like he was of mixed blood, perhaps Indian and African descent and as George looked around it seemed almost every woman either wore a burqa or jihad. The officer took a look at his monitor then asked George to place his hand on the screen, then asked Elizabeth to do the same. ‘George you are twenty five years old?’ The officer asked then looked at Elizabeth, ‘Your twenty four years old and you’re originally born in the Kingdom?’ The officer looked at Elizabeth and after a brief second she replied yes she was, the officer acknowledged her answer on the computer. The officer then turned to George, ‘you have been together for over one year?’ The officer asked as George shook his head agreeing. ‘Do you plan on returning to Australia?’ the officer asked. ‘No, I plan to live in England with my lifetime partner,’ he said with a smile that was about to be wiped off his face. ‘The Kingdom know longer is referred or associated with the word of the past, England.’ The officer then reminded them it was a punishable offence under the act of parliamentary racism act to mention the word England. Straight away George apologised confessing he forgot. The officer accepted his apology and as he was about to grant entry to the both of them, he remarked on Georges name. ‘The last king of the kingdom was named George,’ he said as Elizabeth butted in. ‘He was named after young King George,’ she said as the green light for entry lit up and the two were about to walk through, the officer spoke to Elizabeth, ‘and I suppose you were named after Georges great grandmother?’ he said referring to the late Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth shook her head, ‘No, my parents thought it was a lovely name.’

With that said, the two made their way into the terminal with their hearts full of hope and glory. Unfortunately this was starting to look a little shaky the two thought as they walked into the arrivals hall. This wasn’t what they were expecting. It was so bare and drab looking filled mainly with locals looking equal to the building. The two were hoping for better as they looked around for one of George’s fellow company workers. George had never met him before and likewise for the person organised to greet them. All they could do was walk into the direction several well-dressed men stood holding anything they could write on with persons or company names on them. This was the appropriate decision as the second person in line had the back of a cereal packet with George’s name on it. George went straight over to introduced Elizabeth and his self to him.

The man waiting for them, was somewhere in the same age bracket as George, he introduced his self as Muhammad and by his Middle Eastern appearance George was right in guessing he was of the Islamic faith. In fact as Muhammad helped take the luggage to his car, George noticed very few whites in this particular terminal. George joked about this as he prepared to play spot the white man. Muhammad stopped pushing the luggage and courteously reminded him any form of racism would not be tolerated. He also told George he had the divine right to arrest anyone who did incite racial disharmony.

George said sorry, Muhammad accepted this sighting George was new to the country telling him all Australians should be reminded they are visitors and must obey the Kingdom rules. All George could do was apologised as they followed and listen to Muhammad spruik about his adopted country all the way to where the car was parked.

The first initial shock out of the way, another one was waiting as the car left the terminal. Outside the terminal was as dull as the interior of the airport. George tried to imagine what it was like if the sun ever shined; eventually this was overcome by an annoying bleeping sound that could be heard every now and then. George commented on this. Muhammad pointed to a small flashing light on the cars dash. ‘The sound represents a charge for driving in certain areas and when it screams at you, you’re out of your zone.’ Muhammad told him the Kingdom picked this idea from the Australians who used congestion taxes to raise extra money for there over spending.

Another puzzle, along the freeway an illumining sign flashed cars ahead where verging into the left lanes. George nudged Elizabeth who had also noticed this. ‘Why so many cars turning left ahead.’ George asked as he was now able to read the illuminating sign that read, restricted area ahead. ‘That doesn’t apply to use, they are middle class citizens not entitled to go any further,’ he said turning on a screen in the centre of his dash board. On the screen, George could see a picture of all three, under each picture was the word clear to enter.

Muhammad pointed to the screen, ‘we all have clearance to enter the city of London.’ Muhammad said as the flashing indicator gave them the all clear to enter.

Like most western worlds, the two party preferred political system had the political system all sewn up. Whenever the voting public tried desperately to try and change the landscape, the two party systems always managed to secure it back. It never mattered what party was in power, it was a case of monkey see, monkey do. There were no longer two classes of people, rich or poor. Now it was a matter of rich, very rich, extremely rich or filthy rich. If you weren’t any of them then you were classed as poor, very poor or what is the use of you living. The latter usually worked in lower paid jobs, if they succeeded jumping a massive queue ahead all trying to work for a very small marginal wage just to survive.

George and Elizabeth knew all too well the two parties had virtually ruined the western world and to be truthful the outlook was grim. Well not to all, as the car travelled at correct speed being monitored by transport authorities. Muhammad once again told the two the virtues of being a well-paid working class. As he rambled on, George noticed fresh graffiti being washed away from buildings. As he tried to work out what the message was being erased, he noticed another crew running as fast as they could to another building. This crew was in hot pursuit chasing Sky Blue and her crew who as always managed to be one step ahead of the authorities. This time George managed to see the red painted graffiti clearly. ‘Communism is the answer’. George commented on this, ‘the same is happening all throughout Australia,’ he said. Muhammad agreed telling him most of Europe was under the same ternary but under today’s voting system it would never succeed. George also agreed it was highly unlikely. Once again Muhammad agreed but what he said next was the unexpected. ‘Most of you white’s want Communism.’ When George heard him say whites, he queried him. ‘I thought referring to a man’s colour was forbidden?’ George asked. Muhammad took his eyes off the road briefly. ‘It is for a whitey but we are the exception.’ Yes Muhammad was right, since the beginning of the twenty first century governments changed the laws that really focused on long term citizens and not new arrivals. The new arrivals were allowed lee way; unfortunately this lee way gave them the upper hand. ‘You whites ruled with a big stick for too long.’ Muhammad said, as he waited for a reply that seemed wasn’t going to happen said, ‘yes,’ to speed it along then continued, ‘what comes around goes around. Your turn is over.’ With that said, George and Elizabeth knew were they stood, virtually remaining quite until the car stopped at a gated city in St Johns Woods.

Muhammad stopped the car and pointed at the unit in the gated community telling them after the next election the name St Johns Woods and any other name referring to Christianity would be renamed to rid the Kingdom of racial tones. Slowly Australia was looking equally on par when it came to racial stupidity.

All three out of the car, they walked through a highly sophisticated security system. George asked Muhammad why so much security. Muhammad explained there was always a danger of second and third class citizens entering the restricted zone as cleaners and home-helpers abusing their trust and try to be a social menace, hence the high security. Talking of security, Muhammad gave them a temporary pass to hang around their necks until a permanent one is inserted in the back of one of their hands. With the tags dangling chest high, he welcomed them to London.

Muhammad then took them in to their small one bedroom apartment. Once they settled, he asked them to go into London first thing tomorrow and have the resident approved implants inserted and be ready to work for the company the following day. When Muhammad did leave, they were glad to see the back of him. Unfortunately Elizabeth warned George he would be working side by side with him in a couple of days. Elizabeth hoped moving to the Kingdom would show George Australia wasn’t the only country changing its demographics to be multi-culture coloured society rather than mainly white.

The two unpacked then settled down that day. After a short nap, Elizabeth cleaned her teeth. This was a chore she did more times than needed but that didn’t matter, her teeth was so important. George joked about this telling her to hurry up and use what daylight was left to explore the old entertainment district of Piccadilly.

After a short walk out of the gated community, it was on to a hydro fuelled bus and into Piccadilly Circus. From the minute they stepped off the bus, they were abuzz with all the colour and excitement. This place was electrifying and because they were wearing casual entry tags, they gave the impression they were tourists. They just had to wait till tomorrow for their implants as they couldn’t take the passes hanging from their necks off as they were required every fifty meters for identification through street transponders. Anyway why worry this atmosphere was worth the trouble getting to London.

George and Elizabeth visited a few pubs and after a lot of searching finally came across a hamburger joint. Where ever they went it was nothing but Chinese, Kebabs and curries this and curries that. Surely all the kingdom wasn’t like this. Anyway after their hamburgers it was back to St John’s Wood and a well-deserved sleep.

The following day George and Elizabeth went to greater London for their implants. After waiting in the queue this was over and done with George receiving a twelve month middle class passes. As for Elizabeth, she received her permanent residency and a twelve month middle class pass while her life partner is employed. This middle class pass allowed them access to all first class areas.

That out of the way, they headed straight for the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. These two old favourites of London were worth the visit and considering their historical age, both enjoyed the tour. While they wandered around the Tower, they had these sights virtually on their own; George could remember looking at old photographs of the turn of the twenty first century. In those photo’s he could see tourist’s walking shoulder to shoulder trying to get a glimpse of the past. This was irrelevant most of the blame for the western world’s down grade in their economy falling into the greed of the ruling parties. Unfortunately political correctness prevailed; any sign or mention of the word England was not to be seen any were.

After enjoying the sights of the bridge, the tower and a walk along the Thames, the striking dome of St Pauls could be seen. George suggested they go take a look, in the brochure he was holding; only Westminster Cathedral was mentioned as the only true surviving former Christian Church.

Today there was no mention of St Pauls in the brochure except for a small museum in the basement. George who could remember reading old paper made books with pictures of St Pauls belonging to his father when he was a teenager. George again insisted the two take a look. After two thousand and fifty years of Christian belief was disappearing, the word God was removed from all government documents. Certain religions to the Kingdom were tolerated allowing them to continue using the word God or similar to avoid hostilities.

How different it was in less than forty years according to the paper book George had read. As you climb the top of the main stairs, Middle Eastern patrons sit around small tables and chairs sucking on water pipes. The first thing Elizabeth noticed there were no women. The closer they came to the patrons; they could see a sign saying, single men only. The two passed the single men seated sucking on water pipes to enter St Pauls. Inside this former church, little remnants of its former self remained except for the odd religious structures and ornamental artefacts; the rest was an eye opener.

Just inside the entrance, families sat in side sucking on water pipes and sampling Persian foods. The centre was transformed into an oval shaped market place selling a variety of herbs and spices, beautiful designed mats and rugs and several food stalls with a wafting smell of curry and spices.

This fantastic smell of food was too much for Elizabeth and George, they couldn’t resist the temptation. The two walked through the obesity barrier receiving the green light to enjoy this taste sensation. After a good feed feeling very blotted they walked back to Piccadilly Circus to burn off the energy from their meals then they were off home. One thing they had to do first was shop at the local convenience store to stock up on a few items. When they arrived, they seen the same system Australia adopted nearly twenty years ago applied here. Before you entered any store that sold food that was considered unhealthy you had to pass the obesity test. If you were over the prescribed weight, you were forbidden to enter and make a purchase. This was regarded a silly law, if there was another person with you who was able to enter, could buy the junk food for you. Both Elizabeth and George had no trouble entering to make a purchase.

The following day, George was up bright and early. After a compulsory thirty minutes at the gym every first class apartment building had, it was off to work. George caught the tube into the city. Like most of the western world had unemployment running above forty per cent. This was noticeable riding the tube at peak hour in the special zone.

George only had a short walk to his employment. George was starting work as a political analyst manager for a world renowned multi international company supplying medical equipment, food, beverages and household goods. George was very lucky when he secured the position in a worldwide ballot. So when he first walked through the doors this morning he was feeling on top of the world.

First he had to have his security and position verified. This done another chip was transplanted above the one he received yesterday. All done, he was allowed full entry to the floor where his work station was. The first person he met as he entered his floor. Muhammad. Muhammad was waiting for George to arrive and now and then he kept one eye on the elevator to assist him to his desk once he arrives.

Muhammad got to his feet walking over to greet him. George was happy to see him, held his hand out to shake. Muhammad started shaking his head left to right. ‘We no longer shake hands in the Kingdom the old way’ Muhammad raised his right hand straight out then with his lower arm brought it up straight then held in that position. ‘Now you do the same,’ he asked. George did what he had done waiting with the rest of the office watching on. ‘We both lower our hands till they join, grasp each ones hand giving it three shakes in succession.’ Muhammad said lowering his hand to join George’s hand. This done they rattled off three quick shakes. Muhammad was first breaking away the hold. George started to do the same and when he seemed he was going to lower his hand all the way down, Muhammad told he to stop and stay still. ‘We are not finished yet,’ he said smiling as he brought his hand back upright to his chest. Holding it straight he closes his eyes the bows his head once resting his chin on the tips of his fingers. George did the same and wondered how many times a day this would occur. He never had to ask, Muhammad went on to tell him if he was of the Islamic faith both hands would join before the tips of your fingers touch your chin. ‘If you where the divine Islamic faith as myself, on greeting you would have brought your hand to your chest and said, As Salamu Alaykum.’ George waited for him to finish but apparently that was that, he had to ask Muhammad what it meant. ‘Peace is with you.’ Muhammad said feeling proud of his self as he then returned back to his desk.

George would learn later this procedure only took a few seconds longer than it would to say hello. Once he started to settle in, it was obvious he was the only Caucasian. The whole office floor was mainly made up of Indian, Middle Eastern and Chinese. Later that day he did manage to see another Caucasian. This person was now in his late sixties, Harvard and Oxford trained in the turn of the twenty first century. George tried to make contact but his body language gave George the indication he was not interested.

As the day progressed, it never took George long to get the hang of things. Truthfully with the experience he had working in a similar environment back in Sydney; the only difference was the unusual hand shake. At least the Indians and Chinese still shook hands. This puzzled him and the best way to solve a puzzle was to ask questions. This chance came when he had to confirm a query with Muhammad, once the discussion was over, he asked why this form of greeting? Muhammad rose to his feet and held his hand out. At first George thought he wanted to shake hands, but no Muhammad said. ‘You are a temporarily part of the Kingdom, not the old UK as it was known as when your genetics ruled.’ Muhammad smiled, tilted his head to the left before straighten it up and continued, ‘and to please you, I never referred the genetics as whites,’ Muhammad then brought both hands together at the finger tips raising them to his chin that lowered. ‘The old way shook hands, the new way is an old way generations who once despised the British Rule for centuries finally had justice prevail,’ he said and as he was about to be re seated, ‘now you can see why the new generation of Kingdom dwellers love this country now.’

That all said and done, all George could do was smile and thank him for helping out with his query. What else could he say; George had to remember he was a temporary