Pressing Problems

Roland the Younger (aka Roland 1)

See, that is one of the problems my older brother and his father (the new one) had discussed earlier.....

The way my elder brother explained it was very savvy and reasoned out, leaving me staring in surprise and my father openly gaping at him for a moment or two there. As it turns out we apparently had forgotten for a moment about just how old the elder Roland was, despite his youthful appearance. If nothing else, over those long years the fellow is going to learn and to reflect on the causes of why his Gilead fell. That and before this meeting he had long discussion with various other parties about just how to overcome the hurdles facing my Gilead.

An what strange parties they were, those people that my older brother has spoken with on the issue of saving a kingdom! Some are from proper kingdoms....at first glance. But whatever the case, I shall give them their dues in saying that they had faced adversity and as such are not arrogant neophytes.

We have those from the kingdom of Aqualaria Astra's sister, the Queen, who's ancestors had come out of a long bout isolation to find themselves not ahead of their "backwards" neighbors, but the roles reversed! It had been a long, hard road for Aqualaria (with the added troubles of an unimaginable war touching down on Terra Prime), but now Queen Astra was the ruler of one of the premier nations there!

We have those from the Military, (a.k.a. the Military Protectorate Systems, the Golems, Alias, and once known as the Alliance), a non-kingdom that has seen....hard fighting. As it stands, parts of their society had been like slices of that one realm the Jesus-men keep harping on and a bit like several parts of the Bible my father insisted I learn when I was younger. The struggle still continues, but at least they are moving away from the brink. Probe may not be the quintessential "political analyst" of his time, but his views carry much weight.

As Gilead is in danger, any advise given by such parties seem like a Godsend.

Now, the "Good Man's" words sound sweet as honey to the common folk, but it would be sheer folly if implemented at this point of time. See, as the elder Roland has pointed out (and given enough evidence to support his claim for consideration) democracy needs at least two basic things to succeed. First, the masses must desire democracy, for self rule can not be forced upon an unwilling population. As I wont, the "Good Man's" rabble rousing has raised that desire in some of his less worldly followers (unlike those who have not joined under his banner in the hopes of garnering more wealth and power if the "Good Man" is able to wrest control away from the Affiliation). The problem here is, however, according to Roland the Elder is that while the desire might be their for some....the education is not present within those would be democrats. Meaning, to be blunt, the damn fools will be easily duped up until the time the Good Man no longer needs them....and then easily eliminated.

Now, the Good Man (a.k.a. Martin Broadcloak.....my father's advisor for God's sake!) Has opened up a door that I and my father would rather had been left closed. The discontent and distrust in the Gunslingers will be in the people's hearts even after the Good Man and his cronies are put down (if we can put them down). I sensed it actually flair up a bit more on the day that Hax, the castle cook that was involved in a plot to poison the children of the aristocracy. On that day, the folks' pity was more for those who'd murder innocent children than the would be victims....

My father had known such would have happened but had had his hand forced when it was discovered by I and my ka-tet for that very reason.....

Now, while we can not go back in time to undo the past (or that is, not without "Hell to pay" if we tried and succeeded), the next best thing would be to use the movement that the Good Man had started and turn it against him. Make it work for us rather than him.

That appeals to me, actually. Turning evil's efforts back on itself. Somehow has a.....romantic ring to it.

.....

Oh God, I just realized something. It's as clear as a vision. It's the side of myself that I hide from the world, a secret. It's the probably the only thing, at times, that kept my older self going when everything seemed lost in his quest for the Dark Tower. It was my...er....his romantic side that kept him going. It was an extra layer of armor, letting him wrap himself up and insulate himself from the outside. Kept him going despite everything that Broadcloak (a man who he keeps calling Randal Flagg) and his allies could array against him! And he is....was me....

I think I shall have a fine, outstanding headache when this is all over...

But for the time being, I must say that by my father agreeing to implement a slow process here (first by making a "Bill of Rights" and such).....a slow process of turning Gilead into a "constitutional monarchy" as what has been happening on Terra Prime....well. ...it might perhaps defuse this explosive situation. In the end, if Ka is willing, Gilead will survive and civilization will continue. Meaning that while a radical move, the Gunslingers shall still be able to maintain order and such. When one gets down to it, it is that and that alone what a Gunslinger is for, really. I believe it and I know that my father, Steven believes it as well (despite how painful some changes might be).

Now that we now realize what that.....lack of "wrongness" in the air means, it...just might actually work. That and now....at long last Midworld can look forward to a future that actually goes forward....instead of eventually breaking down.

Indeed, for the longest time Gunslingers have been doing all we can on just maintaining civilization. Now.....we can....advance..... Advance and mayhaps even surmount the Great Old Ones? Grandiose sounding as that seems, the "others" that the elder Roland has told me and my father of have done just that in many areas, so my brother believes. Seeing that the "others" somehow managed this without it "blowing up in their face" to put it the parlance that Susanna used.

See, another major concern by most folks nowadays here on Midworld is a certain belief that the ways of the Old Ones were the ways of death and eventual self destruction. If the "others" managed to advance so far without falling into the same trap as the Old Ones had.....

Well, that's for later. Right now, there are more immediate matters to attend. Some concern those folks who are still under the Good Man's banner in rebellion against the Affiliation. Flagg may be gone, but his mischief still is about...... Then there are other things.

One being, of course, going out soon here to try to win the hand of "my" Susan. The Susan who wed my older brother is very special and I sense Ka's hand pointing me in that direction for the one of.....well....who still is here on Midworld...

As for other problems and issues..... Some of it concerns the crowd that's gathering around the Door we still have open.

"What is Cort doing up?" I blink, remembering the torn up condition my teacher had been after I'd used David in my challenge.....

1. Though unsteady on his feet, he looks unwounded!

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