26 The Speech

26 The Speech The crowds around the lake had really started to amass. So had the decorations. The sky was full of balloons and kites, and hundreds of citizens held colourful banners proclaiming their love of Chroma. Folks from all twelve districts had made the journey to the centre of the city to witness this historic moment— the refilling of the Rainbow Lake. This restoration of colour and creativity was, everyone agreed, the perfect way to mark the end of Mr White's tyrannical reign. A vast number of RAZERs, now under the supervision of 67, were lined up behind the cheering crowd on all four sides, forming a robotic border around the festivities. Some people still eyed the machines suspiciously, but most were beginning

to get used to their new role, which was, they'd been told, to keep the citizens of Chroma safe. For some reason, the sight of the RAZERs reminded Peanut of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, which she'd been to watch when she was little. She supposed that the robots were destined to fulfil a ceremonial role from now on, just like those guards. This made sense because, whether people liked it or not, the RAZERs were now a part of Chroma's history. Anyway, Peanut rather liked the way that they were being repurposed as a force for good. Even the enormous Big Xs were playing a part in the revelry. All twelve were lined up on the far bank, again just behind the crowds. Mr White had once used them in his plan to mono Chroma, but now one of them had even been painted in bright rainbow colours. Suddenly, a microphone crackled into life, and a voice very familiar to Peanut began to boom out of the huge speakers. 'CITIZENS OF CHROMA,' said Mrs M, who was standing with her husband and Doodle on a raised platform on the far side of the lake, 'TODAY IS THE DAY.' Her opening line was greeted by deafening cheers, which drew from her a warm smile that lit up the huge screens broadcasting the speech. 'WE HAVE SPENT MANY, MANY YEARS,' she continued, 'DREAMING OF A TIME WHEN THE

ILLUSTRATED CITY- OUR CITY- WILL BE RETURNED TO US. MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY.' Peanut smiled. Who knew that Mrs M was such a great public speaker? 'OUR INKWELLS RAN DRY, OUR PAINTBRUSHES STIFFENED, AND OUR PENCILS WERE BLUNTED, BUT WE HELD ON TO HOPE AND TRUSTED THAT ONE DAY OUR PALETTES WOULD BE WET WITH COLOUR ONCE AGAIN. MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY.' More cheers.

'THEY WHITEWASHED OUR WALLS, THEY MONO- ED OUR MEADOWS, AND THEY LOWERED OUR LAKE. BUT ONE THING THAT MR WHITE AND HIS CRONIES HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO IS ERASE THE RAINBOWS THAT LIT UP OUR HEARTS THEN, AND CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP OUR HEARTS NOW.' Even louder cheers. 'WE KNEW THAT A DAY OF RECKONING WOULD COME FOR WHITE. AND, MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THAT DAY!'

The cheers from the crowds now were so loud that Peanut picked up Little Tail and quickly drew herself and Little-Bit some ear defenders. Once the noise began to die down, Mrs M continued. 'WE, THE RESISTANCE, FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE HEINOUS ACTS AGAINST US, AGAINST CHROMA, AND AGAINST ALL CREATIVITY, SHOULD BE HERE TO BEAR WITNESS TO THEIR FAILURE. WE WANT THEM TO SEE IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES.' She gestured to her left. 'PLEASE BRING THE PRISONERS FORWARD.' From behind the platform, Mr Stone and Alan were led to the edge of the lake by two RAZERs. Their hands were tied behind their backs. Stone, still wearing the fedora and black suit, looked confused and terrified. Alan, on the other hand, looked very relaxed. In fact, Peanut thought she saw him smiling.

'What is it with that guy?' she said under her breath. 'MR WHITE AND ALAN,' said Mrs M over the speakers, 'WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO SHOW YOU THAT, DESPITE YOUR EFFORTS, CREATIVITY CAN NEVER BE DESTROYED. YOU CAN'T KEEP ART DOWN. IT WILL ALWAYS RISE TO THE SURFACE. AND YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHILE YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR DAYS IN PRISON. IN FACT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE UP PAINTING. IT MIGHT HELP TO PASS THE TIME.' The crowd went even more wild. The atmosphere was electric. 'AND NOW CITIZENS OF CHROMA, FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR...' She turned to her husband, who looked to 67 before nodding. '... IT'S TIME TO LET THE WATER FLOW!' Mrs M held up a small remote control and theatrically pressed one of its buttons. Water of all different hues started to pour out of spouts in the Rainbow Lake's wall, and it began to fill up. As the surface of the water rose, the crowd started to chant the same word in unison, over and over. 'CHROMA! CHROMA! CHROMA!'