I had a Dream

Last night I had a strange dream about an Animal Farm.

I dreamt that a strike broke out in the small Animal Farm.

These were foreign horses  who were brought in from another large Animal Farm (Frederick’s Farm) a distance away. Apparently they were highly dissatisfied and had huge grievances that had not been attended to.

Now, the law in Animal Farm is that strikes are almost strictly forbidden no matter what unless 14 days notice has been given and only if the pigs have given permission for it to proceed.

These foreign horses did not follow procedure and Squealer (another pig leader), announced on Animal Farm’s TV on the the 2^nd night that there is zero tolerance for such a thing to happen in Animal Farm.

The farm’s dogs have been activated to investigate and procedure will follow in due course.

Meanwhile my dream drifted into the background of what was going on.

Napoleon (the Pigs supreme leader) was on the phone to Frederick, the owner of the large Animal Farm where the foreign horse had come from.

“Fred brother”, said Napoleon, “Those horses we brought in from your farm, they have revolted and gone on strike, something that has not happened in Animal Farm for 26 years! Now, if we do not do anything drastic, all our animals will revolt and we, the Pigs will lose control. What do you think?”

Now Frederick understood how control had to be maintained because his farm was larger and there were more than a billion animals who would break loose there too if control was not FIRM. It was not too long ago when student horses broke lose in revolt in his main city square and he had to send in the dogs with heavy weapons. Unfortunately, some horses had to die that day!

So Fred said, “Nap small brother, don’t worry, just go ahead and do your thing as you always do. Go get them and if you have to slaughter a few of our horses so the other animals fall in line, go ahead. I think your farm is small and you need not do as we did in our main square, a lighter touch will do I believe. These cheap horses are less influential than the pedigree horses we had to deal with.”  

“ I have to persuade our animals here that we are taking care of their brothers on your farm. We will make some small noises about respecting your rules there and to treat our horses there with due consideration OK?” “ I will also call our key Pig based in your farm to make some small noises and stand around for ceremony while your dogs do their thing. Go ahead but, with a lighter touch and if you need to be a little severe, select a few stubborn horses. “

“Oh, and when my fellow pigs here retire, please continue to accept them there. They will certainly bring much of their hog-fare with them so that your farm’s gross domestic output will increase, just keep the door open ya. Who knows, my former leader is perhaps headed that way cos Pingkilton’s farm has accused him of having too much produce hidden away.” “ By the way, I am teaching them that the Ferrari horsecart needs to be pulled carefully. That bolting horse was just too fast at 170kph!”

 “If you need more horses after this, you are still welcome, we have too many here.”

With this clear understanding, Napoleon called in his elite pigs and instructed the chief of dogs to proceed.

Investigations, detention and interviews followed with the result that the a total of 5 ring leaders amongst the rebelling horses were identified and charged in Animal Farm’s court while more than 20 other horses were also identified to be sent back to Fred’s farm with full ration pro-rata. Pigs have to show that they are “fair to other animals despite their bad behaviour.” At the least, the horse named Boxer who instigated the other horses will be sent to jail.

At the same time, Squealer ran around the media and other communication machinery in the farm to ensure that the other animals received a coordinated message – the line had been crossed and there was zero tolerance for rebellious animals both local and foreign. It did not matter if the other animals had other ideas in support of or, in condemnation of the foreign horses. They had to know that the Pigs rule and if you disobey, the severe punishment would follow.

Now, it was also standard operating procedure in Animal Farm that horses who rebelled would not be allowed bail to return to their place of abode. They had to be locked up in a cold cement floored stable with no straw nor cover except that they would be given airconditioning!

Even the horses selected to be returned to Frederick’s farm will be prevented from going back to the stables, and would be locked up in similar cold cement floored stables with no straw, nor cover and with airconditioning. Yes, Animal Farm’s Standard Operating Procedure is to let the other animals have a taste of animal farm’s prison even before they are actually sent there!

Napoleon is determined to hold on to power in Animal Farm and ensure that the Pigs prevail in ruling the farm, in particular, those sired by him.

He made a quiet toast to himself for another job well done in ensuring this chuckling, “Damm horses were getting smarter and the foreign ones from Fred displayed some fiery qualities. However, horses are all the same. Show them a whip and lash them hard and they will fall in line. Daft animals!” In any case he knew that horses had short memories and could easily be persuaded with some cheap horse-feed.

A most frightening dream, I wonder if it could be true.

http://www.litcharts.com/lit/animalfarm/characters