Solomon's Private File #362
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 31 in this story, in the Winter of 2057-2058.
Solomon's Private File #362 "What Is Honor?"
START Page
I was sent an invitation to appear before the Council. I walked into
the hall, and announced myself, and said, "I was asked to be here. So I
am. Are we finished?" The Chairman said, "You have an important
engagement to go to?" I said, "No, I don't, but I prefer to use my time
better than just standing here. I wasn't given a reason for this. Is
there one?" He said, "Oh. Then I will state it. You have been nominated
for a position on this Council." I was silent. He said, "You have no
comment for that?" I said, "No. I didn't ask for it, and have no
control over this issue. You do." He said, "Would you accept the
position?" I said, "I would consider it, if it could be shown to have
some value."
He said, "There is prestige." I said, "Prestige has no value to me.
Good accomplishment does." He said, "We run the country." I said, "How
well?" He was taken aback, but said, "We are trying to improve things."
I said, "I would try harder. That might be disliked." One yelled, "I
vote for him now!" Chuckles. He said, "It pays well." I said, "I don't
need it. Give it to me, I'll give it to the poor." One shouted out,
"That means you won't take bribes. You've got my vote!" Many agreed
with him. I said, "Those who take bribes won't want me here, with what
I would do to them." He cleared his throat, and said, "What would you
do to them?" I said, "It would depend on the circumstance. Expose them
at the least." He said, "Do you know of any of our members who have
taken bribes?" I said, "Many here know some who have, but are not
I said, "Council Members are immune from prosecution for slander,
libel, and defamation. I am not a member. I don't need that
distraction, which you know would be thrust on me, by the most guilty,
the most strenuously." He said, "If you were a member?" I said, "I
might, for some of the worst cases, where the result harmed the
country, if good evidence can be uncovered. But there is a problem. The
criminals have much influence with the courts, even with the laws,
being Council Members. Even with the most obvious proof, which can be
easily destroyed, who will prosecute those with the best swords? How
many here are like that man who's face I ruined yesterday, who would
win debates by killing, and not by the light of truth and reason? Oh,
and he is slightly not fit for duty at the moment. Er, even if he could
be recognized." Some chuckles.
One stood, and shouted, "I call for a vote!" There were a lot of
members who agreed with that. Some were silent, and that was noted with
interest. One of those who didn't want me, rose and said, "I challenge
the Candidate!" The chairman said, "On what grounds?" He said, "He has
insulted us, calling some of us bribe takers and murderers." I said,
"So it starts." Chairman said, "Do you accept the challenge?" I said,
"If I don't?" He said, "Then you will not become a member of this
Council." I said, "I have not yet decided to become a member. I have
yet to see the worth of it." I said to the Challenger, "If I choose not
to accept membership, would you withdraw your challenge?" He said, "I
would." I said, "So you would use the threat of my death to keep me off
of the Council. Do you, do any of you, view that as an act of honor?"
He said, "Are you questioning my honor?" I said, "I'm questioning
what honor actually is, and if ANYBODY here has any. So then we will
all know the truth. I like truth. What about you? My wholly academic
impersonal question still stands. Is threatening to kill a Candidate to
keep him out of the Council, an act of honor, or is it not? Who will
have the courage to answer this?" Many, almost half of the Council,
stood, and said, "It is not!" I said, "Make note of those who have not
said that, and consider why." My challenger said, "My challenge and
offer of withdrawal is still up for consideration." I said, "Are you
the best swordsman here?" He said, "I am." I said, "Who would be
surprised by that?" Chuckles. I said, "Do they pay you by the kill? Oh!
Your reaction tells me I suspected correctly. You're a mercenary. A
murderer for hire. This is going to be very interesting! I accept your
challenge, because it would indeed be a challenge. But on one
condition." Dead silence.
He said, "What is your condition?" I said, "That if I win, you will
resign from this council, and never seek employment in government
again. If I let you live. Now that you are exposed for what you are,
that would be the best course of action for you, anyway." He said, "I
accept that condition." I said, "Who chooses the weapons, and time and
place? Now?" He said, "You are eager to die?" I said, "I'm eager to
resolve this. Who really ever expects to die? Stop waisting time."
Chairman said, "The challenged has the choice of weapons." I produced a
big fat grin, and said, "Can I choose a weapon that would be too heavy
for him to lift?" He tried not to smile, and said, "Yes you may. What
would that be?" I said, "A nine foot solid steel halberd?" He said,
"That would be very interesting. You have them?" I said, "I do, and I
can use them effectively. Great for strength training."
The Challenger said, "He can't do that! It's not fair!" I said, "What
do you know about fairness? You've never abided by it. You deliberately
challenged others who you knew couldn't beat you, for PAY. Now that's
turned on you, by your own foolishness, and you can't beat me. Oh, poor
little cowardly you! Little baby wants it to be fair. Let me tell you a
real truth. Murder is NEVER fair. So, what are you going to do now? Die
like the man you're not, or concede the end of the duel now, and accept
cowardly defeat, and resign from government service? Choose now, while
I'm feeling generous." He sighed, and said, "I concede the duel. I am
defeated."
Fast, he reached into a fold of his tunic, and drew a small pistol.
My throwing knife was in the air. It stuck in his wrist, and the pistol
went off when it hit the floor. Nobody was hit. He screamed, "My hand!"
I said, "REALLY a coward. No honor at all. Attempted murder." The
Chairman said, "Guards! Arrest that man with the bleeding arm! For
attempted murder of our new Council member!" They actually cheered.
I said, "There are still some questions from this. Who paid him to
kill members of this Council?" One said, "How can we know that?" I
said, "Somebody here decided I should die, and had to convey that
decision to the killer. I doubt that went totally unnoticed. If any of
you have, don't say it! He wasn't the only hired killer here. Chairman,
is a witness to a known crime exempt from being challenged by the
accused and his agents?" He said, "By law, yes. In practice, mostly
not." I said, "In the pursuit of justice, is that 'mostly not' reality,
a good thing?" He said, "It is not." I said, "And is this Council
responsible for creating laws that should make the enforcement of that
rule work?" He said, "It is." I said, "Why hasn't it been done?" He
said, "It's because of duels."
I said, "If dueling were outlawed?" He said, "Then this Council could
indeed manage this country well. When it comes up for a vote, the
proponents are challenged and killed." I said, "If I proposed it, would
I be challenged?" He tried not to laugh with the others, and said,
"There is some doubt of that." I said, "Still, it would require unusual
courage among the members, who would rightly fear future revenge for
their vote." I said to the group, "Those of you who have killed to
prevent the outlawing of duels, please stand." They didn't. I said,
"Hmm, don't all do it at once." Laughter. I said to the Chairman,
"There is a record of duels between members, and the issues that led to
them?" He said, "There is." He presented to me one of the ledgers on
his desk. I flipped through the pages. I gave it back to him. Then I
called the names of all of them who had done that. One not in that
group said, "You knew this before?" I said, "I have a complete memory.
I never forget any experience. I read as fast as my eye sees the page.
You swordsmen train mostly just your bodies. The mind can also be
trained, as mine has been."
I said, "To you I have named, you are preventing this Council from
properly managing this country. You deliberately make the courts
powerless to stop you, all so you can rule your people as ruthlessly as
you desire, for your personal enrichment, and absolutely disgustingly,
for your perverted pleasure! You are traitors to your people! And
despicable cowards of the worst kind!" More than half in the room stood
and cheered. I motioned them to stop. I said to my victims, "If you
have nothing to offer in opposition, you must accept the truth of my
words. That would mean you have to resign." They all looked at one man.
I said, "The leader of the pack, betrayed by your own cowardly people.
Well?" He stood, and said, "To call you out on this, would be unfair.
You would choose a weapon we are not able to use." I said, "And how is
that different from what you caused?"
He said, "That is a past issue. Are you going to perpetuate that
unfairness yourself?" I said, "Oh, a surprise. One of you can actually
think! So, what do you propose?" He said, "Would you choose a weapon
others can use as well as you?" I said, "There is a problem with that.
I have to be honest, and inform you that I can use any weapon better
than any in this room can." He said, "How are we to believe that?" I
said, "That's not my problem. Here's another. I never lie." He said,
"Any weapon, would include the rapier?" I said, "Yes it does. I
practiced with it last night. I am now proficient." There was a muted
buzz of comment. He said, "If one of us were to challenge you, to be
fair, would you choose the rapier?" I said, "I could, but it wouldn't
be fair. I would win, easily. There is only one way to make this as
fair as possible. You may use any weapon, and I would use none. With
one condition. If I win, all I named traitors must resign from this
Council. You may yell, er, talk among yourselves, to decide this. Don't
take long. I have other things to do today."
They did do some talking, which included some who weren't on the
list. Some other members, and the Chairman, were busy writing. When
they stopped, I let them know I knew. There were a lot of suppressed
grins. When the conference was over, the leader said, "We agree to your
terms. We will resign if you win. I will use a pistol." I said, "I
suggest you change your mind. I choose here and now for the duel. You
shoot and miss me, you could kill another." I said to the Chairman, "If
a duelist kills another in a duel, is that murder?" He said, "It is,
even if by accident." I said to the challenger, "A lot of witnesses
here. And you have only one shot. You would then be defenseless. Well,
more than usual." He said, "Good advice. I will use the sword." I said,
"You know no other weapon?" He said, "I do not." I said, "Too bad. A
rapier is not the best weapon to use against a trained unarmed
fighter." He said, "We will see."
I said, "You may use any protective equipment you wish." I took off
my formal jacket. My loose shirt bloused out, hiding my large muscles.
He did some warm up exercises. I said, "First mistake. You are showing
me your level of skill. You lose the advantage of surprise with that."
There were some murmurs of agreement. Then we were in our ready
positions. I said, "You may start when you will." He swung his blade
across my chest, not intending to cut me. Before he could recover, I
was beside his hand, and taking the sword from him. I said, "Second
mistake. You intended to frighten me with that. I don't know fear. That
should have been obvious to you. You foolishly missed an opportunity to
kill me." I walked over to his empty chair, and put his sword on it,
and backed away. I said, "Try again." He looked at me strangely, and
went to pick it up. I said, "Don't wait for some notice from me, attack
as you will."
He tried a running lunge. I sidestepped the blade, and gave him an
arm across the upper chest. He went onto his back in a hurry, and his
sword went flying. I went to pick it up, and put it on his chair. He
had the breath knocked out of him, but by then he was ready to get up.
I offered him my hand, and he accepted it with caution. I pulled him up
and let go. I whispered to him, "Not all lack honor." He nodded
slightly. We stepped back. I said, "Third mistake. Total commitment to
an attack, leaves no room for correction or defense. You miss, you
lose." He nodded. He picked up his sword, and then slowly advanced,
weaving the sword in small patterns in front of my face. I dropped, and
swept his feet out from under him. As he was getting up, still holding
the sword, I said, "It's the person who attacks and defends, not the
weapon, which is merely an added tool. To a well trained body and mind,
anything can be a weapon, even the floor that I caused to hit you. In
that action, you kept to a pattern too long, so you had slowed your own
reflexes." Another nod.
He went en garde. I did a very fast wheel kick to his hand, and the
sword went flying. I said, while he was holding his hand, "It's not a
good idea to assume a standard still position that your opponent can
have prepared for." He massaged his hand some more, and retrieved his
sword. He said, "Those things you did to stop me. Could you have killed
me with them?" I said, "Yes, easily. Or broken selected bones. I can
use any weapon better than all here, including the body. I think the
truth of that is becoming more er, noticed." Some chuckles. I said,
"You have showed enough courage in continuing this. I think, more than
most would. More of this isn't necessary. I do not enjoy harming
people." He said, "In consideration of your feelings, I must withdraw,
and accept defeat." We bowed. I said, "Well done, and with honor!" I
offered to shake hands, and with a tear, he accepted. I whispered,
"Friends?" He said, "Such honor! I must accept." I said, "Your
associates may be violently displeased." He grinned hard, and said,
"Let them be!"
The astounded Chairman said to him, "You had accepted the conditions.
That means by this defeat, all members of the named group are now not
members." He said, "Yes, that is true. We will leave." They clearly
didn't want to, but the well armed and ready guards convinced them to
leave without argument. I said, "I request that my former opponent
here, remain for a discussion." The Chairman said, "Granted." After
they left, I said, "I request that my former opponent and new very
honorable friend be granted a probationary membership in this Council
for one year, made full, or dismissed, on majority vote after that
time. His help and his willingness to provide it, will be invaluable in
some of the issues at hand." He said, "This is very unusual!" I said,
"Today, yes. Why change?" Chuckles. He said, "Do you vouch for him?" I
said, "For the newly awakened good man he is, I do." He said, "The
conditions you imposed in your duel, for which we agreed, are yours to
change. So let it be done!" We bowed, among the cheers.
I said to CNN, "Got a long action. Has some lessons in it. No problem
if you don't want to run it." He read the crystal, and said, "Wow! They
look strange, but what you did! You changed them, and without killing
anybody. We'll give this two hours. We don't want to skip any of your
biting wit." I said with a grin, "I know the feeling. You know I loved
it." Big grins. I said, "Here's the action with breaks." He said,
"Good, thanks."
Mario introduced me, and said, "Today we will be presenting a longer
than usual action. I've seen it. It's very entertaining." We grinned.
When it was done, he said, "I see many parallels to a particular time
and place on Earth." I said, "That's why I'm showing it. Easier for the
public to relate to." He said, "With the exception of the dark grey
skins and feather topped heads, it looks like France, after the
Revolution." I said, "A little, yes." He said, "That party was for the
purpose of setting the whole action up." I said, "Yes it was. That was
the difficult part. One of the men I wanted to challenge me, well, it
took a lot of provoking to make that happen. They don't usually do that
to hosts." He said, "The wineglass was deliberate?" I said, "No, I
couldn't make him do that, but I did have the judge at my back, in case
something like that happened. It did, and I used it."
He said, "Our recording ends rather abruptly." I said, "The rest was
boring. We did vote to ban dueling for the whole country, but it took
months to make it stop even in the capital city. It will take years to
do that for the whole country." He said, "Are you still working that
action?" I said, "Yes. The judge died almost a month after my last
duel. Marcel had no protector, no other father figure. You know." He
said, "Yes I do know. You couldn't leave him." I said, "And I had a
problem with leaving, as related to the action. I had to protect it. A
lot of hired murderers around there. And my estates. I had to do
something with them. The many outside workers needed to be supported,
and protected from people who wanted to take revenge, and couldn't get
to me. The inside servants were all er, me." He grinned, and said,
"Very convenient." We went to break.
Back from break, he said, "There are many lessons there, but the
biggest to my mind, is about honor." I said, "Yes. There are two kinds
of honor, that are sometimes thought to be the same, falsely. One kind,
is being responsible, ethical, fair, and considerate. The other kind is
just pride and community standing, which is used to violate real honor,
falsely, in its name. Honor killings, for example. There is absolutely
NO honor in any kind of killing!" He said, "Do you think some people
here won't agree with you?" I said, "Those who value pride over real
honor, won't agree with me. Such a condition should bother them, more
than me, with what can come of it." He grinned hard. I made the camera
see that.
He said, "In the fighting, did you use any psionics?" I said, "In
what I showed of the action, I used only the skills of my body and
intelligence. I didn't even use Ki. Doing more, would have not been
honorable." He said, "You even told them you could beat them in
anything." I said, "Yes. I had more planned, too. I was going to use
different martial arts. For the one after the last one where I kicked
the sword out of his hand with a wheel kick from Hopkido, I was going
to demonstrate judo. I was a little disappointed in not doing that, and
more." He laughed, and we went to break. Back, he said, "Did you know
you would turn him?" I said, "I didn't know what would happen in that
last duel, but I knew of all the possibilities, and worked to encourage
the ones I wanted." He said, "The situation manager!" I said, "Exactly.
If he had kept it going, I was eventually, before he became too beat up
and tired, going to turn my back on him, to test how improved his honor
had become." He said, "That would have been interesting!" I said, "I'm
sorry, but it didn't happen. He became a good man, too soon for our
entertainment. He stayed that way, too, and was very helpful and
effective on the Council, and still is. Marcel might marry his
daughter. If that happens, my estates will be my wedding gift to them."
He said, "Wow!" I said, "I expect to hear that from them, too."
He said, "How did you come by those properties?" I said, "They had
belonged to a slain Member of the Council, and were in disrepair. No
heirs, so a trustee was managing them. I offered a lot of gold.
Everybody was happy with that. The party was kind of my grand opening
and personal debut. It er, succeeded." He said, "That it did! Thank you
Solomon, for being with us, and sharing this action." I said, "You're
welcome. Sharing is good." Off air, he said, "Very entertaining!" I
said, "I can't do most of that here, so I have to make aliens victims
of my barbed comments." He said, "Such a loss to us!" I said, "Ah, yes.
Well, I'll try to do more. Boss likes them, too." He said, "Great!"
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|