2032. Andrew Jennings
landlords.” Jacinta said. She was about twenty five. Very neatly dressed. Suit. Power dressing type thing.
“What, all of them?” Noah asked
“Of course not. It’s a gathering though. A hall full. They will be on edge. They supported the previous government very strongly. There are precious few young landlords.” She continued.
“Some though.”
“Three percent. City wide.”
“We do the meet and greet. Do not fear your new rulers. All will be well. Don’t believe what you’ve heard about us. We really are not socialists.”
She grinned. “That would would be good, but that’s not all of it. You remember the policy.”
“Changing the balance.”
He should have paid more attention. Jack interjected.
“Stability. Once a renter has successfully completed a six month contract, only they have the option to terminate the contract. If the landlord wants to terminate, they have to find an equivalent rental for the tenant. European style.”
Jacinta grinned more widely. Impressed.
“Exactly. It’s an inversion. Along with the massive expansion in supply of rental properties. You remember the discussion on bringing rents down by at least 50%?”
Noah leaned back in his chair.
“They are going to be very unhappy. How do we calm them down?”
“Welcome to the new world. Learn to love your new rulers or get a canoe and paddle in the direction of the United States.”
They all laughed, and Noah and Jack were dismissed. Out on the street they were both quiet. Thinking it through as they headed in the direction of the meeting.
“We could just detain the lot of them as enemies of the state. Seize the properties and rent them out ourselves.” Noah said. Jack frowned.
“Yes, we could. Of course we could. A real incentive for new landlords to enter the system. Before you know it we are running every rental in the city. Nobody volunteers a property. We are running everything.”
“Why not?”
“Because we have better things to do with our time. You really want to go that way? One big housing office that runs everything?”
As if to focus their attention, they passed a homeless camp just next to the station at the corner of Collins Street and Swanston. In the shadow of a wall there were about ten campers. A loose pile of clothing, bedding. One or two of them recognised them.
“Way to go, Noah.” An old guy who had quite obviously been sleeping rough shouted out to him. Noah and Jack exchanged glances.
“Where is it?” he asked
“Northcote Town Hall.”
“The 86?”
“Yes.”
“World’s slowest tram ride.”
“The very same.”
“Have you checked? That it really is the world’s slowest tram ride?”
“No.”
“There is probably a really snaky route in Hiroshima that beats it.”
“No doubt.”
Noah checked in with Ruby’s office.
“We right to go?”
A quiet female voice, one of the many in her office replied.
“It’s looking clear at the moment. Also ground. You will be met at the hall. You will need the codes.”
“Is this really necessary?”
“I’ll hand you over to Ruby for the lecture if you like.”
“No thanks.”
The tram turned sharp right at Gertrude St. Seeming to jump out of the tracks. But it always did that. True to its title claim the tram was held up by a series of traffic lights all the way down Smith Street. This was inner city central. Very New York like, with the expensive real estate on the left and the housing commission on the right. As if the very rich and the very poor had a preference for co-location.
Noah turned to the task at hand.
“Persuade the landlords. That’s the mission.”
Jack smiled.
“Yes. We are all in it together. One big happy family.”
“I would rather be shooting predatory capitalists at the border.”
“Maybe you would. But your skill profile says you are quite good at talking and actually quite poor at shooting.”
It went silent as the tram sat at Alexander Parade. Watching the car convoys speed east. This was the beginning of the autonomous zone. Cars locked onto a convoy in front, and the drivers became passengers. They could quietly snooze until they got closer to home.
“Homeward bound.” He said.
“A bungalow in Templestowe awaits you.”
“Yes. Well, no, actually.”
“No.”
The life unlived. Neither of them would have considered the quiet suburban life. Now that it was clearly out of reach though, in a weird way it looked attractive. How was that? The lure of the impossible.
“What’s the pitch again?” Noah asked
“We are re-making the industry. In a new and caring way. Your future is secure.”
“Yeah, right.”
“You looked at the analysis?”
“No.”
“You should have. They are worried that we are crazy socialists. Intent on taking ownership of their properties without compensation. Rumour has it that we plan to sweet talk them to calm them down and just seize the properties later when they aren’t looking.”
There was a momentary silence as they scanned for the stop. Jack realised that it was a long time since he had been to this part of town. It was a seriously old building. Now quite out of character with all those around it. Northcote was strange like that. A mix of the decrepit and the rapidly developing. Sort of typical of the inner north. Mazeratis and bicycles.
Noah and Jack walked towards the hall. Two young men in dark suits approached them, and the electronics started bleeping. Their wearables talking to theirs. Probing and exchanging codes. This was their personal security detail. It was spooky stuff. If it failed then Noah and Jack would have to walk away really quickly. But it didn’t. Noah didn’t like to look, it wasn’t obvious, but both of these guys were heavily armed.
“Is this really necessary?” Noah asked.
There was an exchange of glances between Jack and the detail.
“I’m Michael, this is Hilary. We are pleased to look after you tonight.”
Noah didn’t persist. Of course he knew why they were there, and why they were necessary. It just seemed incongruous.
The hall was full. Seriously full. All eyes turned to them as they entered. Around the perimeter there was an impressive array of security. Lots of it. About a guard every five metres all around the aisles. Noah glanced at Jack, who raised his eyebrows and then looked resigned. Yes, it was excessive, but yes, it probably was necessary. Also, yes, it elevated the emotional temperature in the room.
Noah walked out onto the small stage, feeling very exposed. It was silent. He began.
“Thank you for coming. I ask you to