Chapter Twenty - 17 years 11 months before the collapse
Jim packed up his papers, having given a lecture to six students, only half of those who had enrolled in the course.
Perhaps it was this insecurity for his future that dissuaded Jim from making a stand at the university’s ceremony to swear allegiance to the Unity Party and President Roberts.
The chancellor began by drawing everyone’s attention to the sanctity of the oath and reminding them they would need to sign a printed form of the oath. Everyone swore and signed the oath, even King, Harris, Lewis and Jim.
The shout, ‘welcome Unity’, followed the verbal swearing of the oath. Then everyone crowded round the paper to sign.
The whole situation filled Jim with dismay and he felt even worse when, on the maglev on the way home, he
