Macbeth

‘But will you, sir?’ There was a loud, clear snip as the long, pointed nail on his forefinger was cut.

Macbeth shrugged. ‘You have to ponder something like that. Who knows? When the idea matures it might feel different.’

The door creaked. In the narrow opening Priscilla’s sweet over-made-up face appeared. ‘He’s here, sir.’

‘Good. Let him in.’ Macbeth stood up. ‘And get us some coffee.’

Priscilla smiled, and her eyes disappeared into her chubby cheeks, then she disappeared too.

‘Shall I go?’ Seyton asked, making a move to rise from the sofa.

‘You stay,’ Macbeth said.

Seyton resumed his nail-cutting.

‘But stand up.’

Seyton rose to his feet.

The door opened wide. ‘Macbeth, my friend!’ roared Tourtell, and for a moment Macbeth wondered whether the doorway would be wide enough. Or his ribs strong enough, when the mayor slapped his chunky hand against his back.

‘You’ve really got things buzzing here, Macbeth.’

‘Thank you. Please, take a seat.’

Tourtell nodded briefly to Seyton and sat down. ‘Thank you. And thank you, Chief Commissioner, for receiving me at such short notice.’

‘You’re my employer, so it’s me who should feel honoured that you’ve made the time. And, importantly, that you’ve come here instead of the other way round.’

‘Oh, that. I don’t like to give people the feeling they’ve been summoned.’

‘Does that mean I’ve been summoned?’ Macbeth asked.

The mayor laughed. ‘Not at all, Macbeth. I only wanted to see how things were going. Whether you were finding your feet. I mean it is a bit of a transition. And with all that’s happened in the last few days...’ Tourtell rolled his eyes. ‘That could have been a mess.’

‘Do you mean it has? Been a mess?’

‘No, no, no. Not at all. I think you’ve tackled everything beyond all expectation. After all, you’re new to this game.’

‘New to the game.’

‘Yes. Things move fast. You have to react on the hoof. Comment. And then you can say things you don’t even think.’

Priscilla came in, put a tray on the table, poured coffee, curtseyed awkwardly and left.

Macbeth sipped his coffee. ‘Hm. Is that a reference to the radio interview?’

Tourtell reached for the bowl of sugar lumps, took three and put one in his mouth. ‘Some of what you said could be interpreted as criticism of the town council and me. And that’s fine — we appreciate a chief commissioner who calls a spade a spade — no one wears a muzzle here. The question is of course whether the criticism came across as a bit harsher than it was meant. Or what?’

Macbeth placed his forefinger under his chin and stared into the air pensively. ‘I didn’t consider it overly harsh.’

‘There you go. That’s exactly what I thought. You didn’t mean to be harsh! You and I, we want the same things, Macbeth. What’s best for the town. To get the wheels moving, to bring down unemployment. A lower jobless rate we know from experience will bring down crime and hit the drugs trade, which in turn reduces property crime. Soon prisoner numbers are drastically down, and everyone asks themselves how Chief Commissioner Macbeth has achieved what none of his predecessors managed. As you know, a mayor can only serve two terms of office. So after I’ve been elected, hopefully, and then finished my second term, it’s a new man’s turn. And then perhaps the town will feel this is the kind of man they need, someone who has produced results as a chief commissioner.’

‘More coffee?’ Macbeth poured the brown liquid into Tourtell’s already full cup until it ran over into the saucer. ‘Do you know what my friend Banquo used to say? Kiss the girl while she’s in love.’

‘Which means?’ Tourtell said, staring at the saucer.

‘Feelings change. The town loves me now. And four years is a long time.’

‘Maybe. But you have to choose your battles, Macbeth. And your decision now is whether to challenge the incumbent mayor — which historically seldom leads to success — or wait for four years and be supported in the election by the departing mayor — which historically very often leads to success.’

‘That kind of promise is easily made and more easily broken.’

Tourtell shook his head. ‘I’ve based my long political career on strategic alliances and cooperation, Macbeth. Kenneth made sure that the chief commissioner’s office had such extensive powers that I as mayor was — and am — completely dependent on the chief commissioner’s goodwill. Believe me, I know a broken promise would cost me dear. You’re an intelligent man and you learn quickly, Macbeth, but you lack experience in the complicated tactical game called politics. Instant popularity and a couple of juicy sound bites on radio aren’t enough. My support isn’t enough either, but it’s more than you can hope to achieve on your own.’

‘You wouldn’t have come here to persuade me not to throw my hat in the ring for the upcoming elections if you didn’t see me as a serious challenger.’