The Black Wolf

How else are we going to survive,” he told them, “unless we also see the kindness, the courage, the decency in people? There’s more goodness than cruelty in this world.

No one is as bad as the worst thing they’ve done.

If that had worked, they’d be in the transition phase now, that netherworld between complete chaos and utter control. The War Measures Act would have been declared and in place for a few months. Any protests would have been quashed, the protesters rounded up. Most Canadians would not only have accepted the draconian measures but welcomed them, as a bulwark against anarchy. They’d be getting used to living in, essentially, a police state. They’d happily trade freedom for safety. History had taught those in power that frightened people always did. Which made fear of an attack a far more effective weapon than any actual attack. And less messy.

The ludicrous happens every day. The unthinkable is made real not through rational thought, but feelings. We’ll follow a charismatic leader if they tell us that we have a legitimate grievance. That they’ll give us back our dignity. Our threatened way of life. If we follow them, our enemies will be vanquished and we will be heroes. Who doesn’t want to be part of something bigger than ourselves? Who doesn’t want to be a hero? Even if it’s all fabricated.

If he were in charge of the attack, how would he go about it? First, a covert war. Create a common enemy. Subvert the media. Form their own outlets, broadcast media, newspapers, social media platforms, to spread lies. Scare the population into believing their way of life, their very lives, were threatened. Condition them. Groom them. Then, when the moment was right, get rid of any leader likely to oppose them and install a dummy regime, including a charismatic but not overly bright bully sold as a strong leader who could bring order to chaos.

Politics was not just becoming more polarized, it was far more dangerous, with people on all sides giving themselves permission to act in the most horrific ways. Ways that their grandparents would never recognize or approve of. That they themselves would not have approved of just a few years ago. All in the name of patriotism. A word, a concept, that had become weaponized, even toxic.

Lauzon was far from the first politician whose reins of power were around the necks of their citizenry.

Hate bound a person to the one they hated. They were taken prisoner by that loathing, while the one they despised went merrily about their life, often oblivious. He was tired of being tied to this man. And yet he was so used to it, part of him did not want to be unbound. And a big part of him did not want to be in the position of having to say, I forgive you. And then work toward making that true.

Gamache knew, better than most, that hate bound a person to the one they hated. They were taken prisoner by that loathing, while the one they despised went merrily about their life, often oblivious.

Three Pines is a state of mind. A place we carry with us always and live in when we see the chance for the clever, often cutting, remark, but choose kindness. When we are forgiving, as we sometimes need to be forgiven. When we choose decency, and acceptance. When we have integrity and the courage to stand up for what we know to be right. Even at some personal cost.

Dom Philippe was the one who’d first, years earlier on the shores of a pristine lake, told Armand the tale of the grey and black wolves, engaged in battle. The one advocating for decency, for peace, for civility and the courage to be kind. To forgive. The other pressing forward with an agenda of hate, of aggression. Of retribution. Of a quest for power and domination, through fear.

A tyrant posing as a strong leader, manipulating public opinion,

Thank you to all the booksellers

But the huge painting that all this led up to

To a man who had the courage to feed the grey wolf,” said Armand.

villagers snug and safe in their homes. “You could have told me.” Jean-Guy’s words came out black and blue with hurt.

But Armand trusted everyone at the table

May you be a brave man in a brave country.

They were deep inside the Parliament Buildings

What Gamache had not anticipated was that Woodford would also order his guards to attack a journalist. Take her phone

You’re right,” said Woodford with a huge sigh. “War Plan Red is the American strategy for invading Canada. Making this nation the fifty-first state.

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household,” muttered Jean-Guy. “What was that?” Lauzon asked. “Matthew 10:36. Something the Chief Inspector learned from his first boss in the Sûreté and passes on to all his agents.” “I wish he’d told me.

He and Lacoste both knew from bitter experience that this was how tragedies occurred. Not on purpose

Mein Kampf is a manifesto. A hate-filled

The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war

Any nation that would invade a friendly country is not a friend and certainly cannot be trusted.