17

As soon as he landed, Barrow and the Association grabbed Franklin and made him swear to secrecy about the whole thing.¹

‘You have been through quite an ordeal,’ Barrow said, after Franklin told him what had happened on the Investigator.

‘It wasn’t that bad,’ said Franklin.

‘Flinders’ death, and running out of food—and everybody eating each other—and this horrific cat...if that doesn’t count as an ordeal, Mr Franklin, I don’t know what does.’

‘We were all just trying to survive.’

‘I believe that, Mr Franklin, I really do. And I think it is important that the rest of the world know about all the brave people of the Investigator Expedition.’

‘I’m sure the recordings from the capsule survived,’ said Franklin.

‘Yes, well, I think people will want to hear what you have to say about it.’

‘I don’t mind if you tell them what I’ve said.’

‘Ah, but they do not want to hear it from me, my boy.’

‘Okay,’ said Franklin. ‘Do you want me to go on TV or something? I don’t mind talking about it.’

‘I don’t think that will be necessary,’ said Barrow. ‘Especially, since it sounds like some of the things that happened were a little more of necessity than not.’

‘Well, what do you want me to do, then?’ asked Franklin.

‘I think we need to make your story known, but perhaps we can refrain from mentioning some of the more physical details. I don’t think anyone wants to hear about people eating each other or things like that.’

‘But that’s how everybody died,’ said Franklin.

‘Yes, yes,’ said Barrow. ‘As you said. But—I don’t know any other way to say this—we are just going to have to come up with something less gruesome.’

‘But it’s on all the recordings.’

‘And we are reviewing them as we speak,’ said Barrow. ‘But I don’t want the world to think that the other people on this mission—your friends—were a bunch of deranged, bloodthirsty maniacs. We have to be truthful to their memory, not just the facts.’

‘I don’t understand,’ said Franklin.

‘Neither do I,’ said Barrow. ‘But that’s what you and I are going to work on for now. We’re going to figure out what we should tell the world about this great expedition of yours.’

Barrow, of course, had no intention of letting Franklin tell the story as it really happened—such a catastrophe could only prove to be a great black eye for the Association. Therefore, he intended to keep Franklin in hand until he could convince him to tell a far more sanitized version of the ordeal, one where no one was really at fault, and which made the crew look more like heroes than monsters.

‘When can I see my wife?’ asked Franklin.

‘As soon as possible, my boy,’ said Barrow. ‘But of course you understand, having endured such incredible hardships, we have to ensure that you are thoroughly competent before you are able to interact with anyone of the public, even, I am afraid, your wife.’

‘What about this teeping thing?’ asked Franklin. ‘I mean, from what I heard it’s almost like being the in the same room.’

In this matter, as well, Barrow was stalling. Once Franklin could teep, Barrow would no longer have control over the spread of information. Therefore, he intended to keep Franklin until he was certain that Franklin would provide the correct version of events.

‘We will have you teeping before you know it,’ said Barrow. ‘But the doctors say they want to be sure of your mental state before they allow you to undergo anything like the procedure to get teeping. It’s a little intense, if you haven’t already heard.’

‘I want to go home, Mr Barrow,' said Franklin.

'And the Association wants you home,' said Barrow as he closed and locked the door.