Saving Tenpenny Towers
Last night I visited the Tenpenny Towers, a gated community in the vast wastelands of the post-apocalypse. You can only go inside if you’re a human. If you’re a ghoul, ie the ravages of radiation sickness have deprived you of your looks, you’re simply not allowed in.
Inside is a boutique with some pre-apocalypse fashions, an old-fashioned tea bar, and a series of apartments and penthouse suites for the well-to-do to live in. A few guards patrol the place for security, but basically it’s a pleasant escape from the relentless misery outside.
Of course the no-ghoul rule is an apartheid, and the residents seem abhorrent in their trenchant hatred of them. The human race haven’t got much hope if the sick or the ugly are turfed out into the wasteland while the rich hide in their finery. I tried a little bit of reason, but it didn’t work, though I did agree to go visit the ghouls – the tenants are scared, it’s the least I can do.
The ghouls are holed up in a corner of the metro system, in fairly pitiful living conditions. Unfortunately my worst fears have been realised – the ghouls are planning the kill the residents of Tenpenny Towers (the vicious circles of hatred) and want me to help. As a neutral/good type of character, albeit of the radical feminist persuasion, I can’t help the ghouls run riot inside the towers. Not least because I’ve got my eye on a nice little rental there.
Here’s the problem – sooner or later the ghouls will get in, everyone knows it. And who could blame them – it’s a fight for survival in such harsh circumstances. Boutiques and finery were one thing in the old world, but now – they seem peculiarly out of place, and the people in the towers seem like sleepwalking zombies. The well-to-do always seem oblivious to the fate of others anyway, but do they deserve to die for it? No. I won’t get involved, will I?
So I head back to the towers, and then the offer comes – kill the ghouls for us. There’s a payment involved of course – 700 Cola bottle caps, the local currency. Decent money in my situation. Either I just back out and let nature take its course, or I step in and sort things out. And maybe get paid for my trouble – so what?
I know what the wrong thing to do would be – to assist the ghouls with murder. Perhaps the ghoul-gang deserve what’s coming to them. Civilisation has to carry on – we just can’t throw out all decency, the rule of law. The good folk in the towers deserve to feel safe – what other hope do we have? I have to stop the ghouls.
So I side with the establishment, and I go and exterminate the ghouls. Even the innocent one got a switchblade out when it came to it. I did the right thing, didn’t I? The folk in the towers keep thanking me for saving them, and I’m hoping to move in soon. The bad guys lost and the good guys won. And I got 700 caps.
So why do I feel so guilty?
