The Children of Men

At the museum, Theo looks at Victorian art and then at dinosaurs, thinking that they lasted longer than humans will. When he meets with Julian, he tells her that his visit with Xan was futile. She suggests that a small group get themselves transferred to the island penitentiary on purpose, to try to change things. Falling back on his instinct not to act, Theo counters that soon no one will have the energy to cause evil, so there may not be any point in drastic interventions. Julian has a larger perspective, however. She says God wants her to work with the group of dissidents. She is not interested in power, and she knows she may fail.

After she leaves, Theo wonders if he is wrong about Xan. Is Xan actually evil, and Theo just can’t see it because of their shared history?

Two weeks later he sees a message from the group: a list of demands to the Warden of England, signed by The Five Fishes. The group demands an election, greater rights for the Sojourners, and the end of the Quietus, prisoner transport to the Isle of Man, and mandatory gynecological and semen testing. Theo is impressed by the simplicity of the demands, but frustrated by their assumption that they could force their will onto the state.

Helena invites Theo to see her cat give birth to kittens, as one of six people invited to watch the litter being born. It is one year to the date that Helena left Theo for Rupert. He briefly remembers their sexual history. Sex has become relatively unimportant to the post-Omega society, and there are oddities, such as women reporting painful, distressing orgasms. The porn shops have not reignited desire as Xan had hoped.

After tea, Rupert shows Theo the pamphlet from the Five Fishes. Rupert thinks the Sojourners should have protection, but Helena wants to tear up the paper so they can’t be caught with it. Theo is glad for Helen’s new life, and that he is no longer responsible for her happiness. Before leaving, he sees her and Rupert holding hands, and feels “Envy and regret, not for something lost, but for something never achieved” (139).

Two SSP officers—Rawlings and Cathcart, who is an Omega—visit Theo at home. As they search Theo’s residence, Rawlings gently mocks Theo’s area of expertise, saying that he would have studied the Tudors instead. Rawlings explains that the Council is concerned about certain peoples’ activities; their media’s strategy is simply to avoid showing “unwelcome news” (143). For instance, two of the Quietus ceremonies have been interrupted recently when explosives destroyed the dock ramps, but news of this has been suppressed. Finally, Rawlings shows Theo the leaflet from the Five Fishes. Theo suggests that Rawlings shouldn’t take it seriously unless Xan has opposition within the Council. Theo is relieved that they do not find his diary.

Theo puts his diary in his desk and thinks about his writings. He has never chosen to censor the diary, because it would defeat the purpose. He feels lonely as he worries about the SSP officers’ visit. He wonders if Julian was arrested, but knows that he can do nothing but wait.

When Theo meets with Julian again, he tells her about the SSP and asks her to come to him if she needs help. That evening, he worries that he has never felt love, like a tone-deaf man struggling to appreciate music. He plans on tearing up the diary and forgetting his promise to help Julian.