The Pardon
by Lochlan Bloom
There was a moment, several years ago, when it looked like they might do it.
Everybody in the country, every citizen, was to receive a full, official pardon.
A press release was drafted and the government instructed the judiciary to set the appropriate wheels in motion. It was marvellous news, quite unheard of.
The pardoning was to be comprehensive and final, no discrimination. Every individual would be completely pardoned of all sins and officially expunged of guilt by the authorities.
It was, everyone agreed, a remarkably gutsy move by our leaders.
There was a lot of buzz around the legislation and the civil service was a flurry of activity. For several months that summer, as news started to spread, there was even some laughter and excitement on faces in the wider public sector.
In the end, of course, bureaucratic wrangling delayed the regulation, and since there were elections looming and persistent questions about the economy, they decided it might be best to bury the whole thing.
About the Author:
Lochlan Bloom is a British novelist, screenwriter and short story writer. His latest novel, The Wave, was published by Dead Ink Books in 2016.
