WE missed our fines quota. We have been demoted to Grade Ones.
I blame Jordan. He blames his absences from work on his reactions to the latest vaccine.
There are consequences for missing our quota for two consecutive weeks.
We thought we had a chance at the end of the second week when we heard singing coming from a church. That would have given us up to thirty fines. Thirty is the maximum number of people allowed in places of worship other than mosques. Unfortunately the music was a recording.
Not only have we been demoted but we are required to spend a month on duty at the Re-education and Personal Development Centre on Arran.
It is bleak and cold here on the island. When there is no wind, the batteries give us power for only twenty minutes. Our accommodation is basic. The insect-based diet is debilitating. Jordan moans incessantly about his gout and the loss of his beer allowance.
The number of these places is a state secret. They are scattered around the west coast of Scotland. Rumour has it that there are more than a hundred, each with up to a thousand ‘trainees’.
People are brought here for various offences. In this camp the roll call is as follows:
Wood burning 102
Quarantine violations 34
Vaccine refuseniks 212
Unapproved travel 62
Undermining the Great Reset (UTGR) 173
Inappropriate hugging 47
Harbouring illegal dogs 26
Rearing illegal livestock 68
Failure to clap enthusiastically for our Glorious Health Workers 122
Mask Violations 44
Unspecified / Various 87
Our day begins at 7. We assemble in the courtyard and walk around in pairs waving our truncheons to the sound of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The March of the Covid Marshals blaring from the loud speakers. It is intended to intimidate the trainees: it certainly terrifies me.
Escape is impossible from these island camps. The Chinese security system monitors the movement of every trainee. In the short time they are not dismantling redundant electric vehicle batteries or repackaging Chinese masks, they are allowed to roam around the island. The fitter ones scavenge for shrimps and crabs in the rock pools.
Yesterday was the Centre Manager’s birthday and everyone got an extra slug with their dinner. I gave mine to Jordan.
