Solomon's Private File #364
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 32 in this story, in the Spring of 2058.
Solomon's Private File #364 "With Martial Arts"
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The director of the space base on the Russian East coast, asked to
speak with me. I shifted in, and after polite things, he said, "One of
our security people has said some unbelievable things. That some
contractors are selling us substandard parts. That some employees are
deliberately making mistakes." He stopped. I said, "There is more." He
said, "I doubted his reports. Then a strange hard man full of violence
came to me and said I should believe the report and repair the problems
if I wanted to stay in this position. I don't know what to think. He
even hinted I would be killed!"
I said, "Why don't you know what to think? Seems to me, they told
you." He said, "But it can't be true!" I said, "Why can't it be?" He
was confused. I said, "Why have you asked to speak with me?" He said,
"Because you know all. You could tell me it isn't true." I said, "No, I
can't do that." He said, "But I thought you know all!" I said, "I do. I
can't tell you want you want. I can't lie. They're correct, and you're
stupid. I suggest you resign, and let somebody with an actual brain do
this job." He looked shocked and unbelieving. I said, "Your President
and PM are watching this. Better resign before they put you in prison
for criminal incompetence. A person has been injured because of this.
Want to feel that yourself? You've got 24 hours, or that's yours. Close
the door on your way out." I left.
I shifted to the office of the person who had first told the director
of the problems. He was surprised. I said, "The director didn't believe
you. Or your demon producing teacher." He grinned. I said, "Frightened
him but good, though." He chuckled. I said, "Here's a crystal of what I
just did." He read it, and grinned widely. I said, "I didn't approve
that one. New one, I did. Still, he'll need help in fixing things. He
hasn't a clue about security, so you'll have to lead him by the hand to
do the right things. He's been warned to let you do your job. He might
recover. Hmm, I think you know who did that." He laughed, and said, "I
think I do!"
I said, "You're head of Security here. You have a lot of people
working for you. Big responsibility, but you're still doing field
work." He said, "Still in my blood." I said, "While you still HAVE
blood, don't let your knowledge be lost. Teach." He nodded, and said,
"I have to agree. My mentor would. I'll never be his equal, but what
I've learned from him, I should pass on." I said, "Not much call for
demons." Chuckles. I said, "You've stopped your martial arts training."
He said, "So little time for that." I said, "Give some of your work to
your assistants. Part of teaching, is to let them have some
responsibility." He nodded, and said, "We don't have good martial arts
teachers here." I said, "If you would accept, I'll give you one." He
said, "Oh, that would be very good! What would he teach?" I said,
"Senior Master, so, anything. This one isn't public, so he'll only
teach those in security, and anybody else YOU want in the class who can
keep good security. I know that look." He was embarrassed, and said,
"You're giving me some leverage here." I grinned, and said, "I knew
that." He grinned, too.
I said, "You want to know why I'm doing this. Space programs are
something like my babies, er, without the mess. Oops, my children are
poking me about that." He laughed. I said, "For the future of humanity,
I fully support them. Here's his papers." He said, "Oh! Official
assignment." I said, "When you've set up where he will live, and it
must be a private room, I'll port him to you." He said, "Will he be
available for assignments?" I said, "That wouldn't work well. He's
better than you. He would lead, by just who he is. Better for you he
just does that in class." He said, "I see. This is going to be
interesting! Will he give me private lessons?" I said, "Of course, but
it would be better if you had somebody of your own ability to practice
with, too." He said, "I understand." I said, "I've set up my system in
the gym here. He can operate it as needed." He said, "Wow! This is
going to be great!" I said with a smile, "And very tiring." Chuckles.
We hugged.
I said to Howard, "So, what do you think? Entirely voluntary. I could
do it myself, but sharing is good." He said, "I'll take it. I can still
do Corps things in between classes. Teaching regular people martial
arts. Nobody else of us is doing that on Earth. I can't pass on this!
Russian style first, with some ninjutsu. Then we'll see. I'm to be
regular?" I said, "With the new disguise. Better that way. Politics."
Nods. We hugged and kissed.
There was a problem in our office in New Scotland Yard. I walked into
it, and said, "What's going on here?" A sec said, "Dr. Nimbol! This
gentleman is challenging us to fight with him." I said, "Oh. He didn't
like being told to leave?" She said, "I think that's what caused it." I
said, "Where is security?" She said, "Most are elsewhere for a special
protection detail." I said, "So detail won't wag this dog." Staff tried
not to laugh. Perp was very angry. He said to me, "Who are YOU? I said,
"I'm Dr. Nimbol, psychologist and supervisor. Do you need some
counseling?" He said, "I do not!" I said, "Being angry in a police
establishment isn't the most sane thing to be doing. I think you DO
need help. Can't find the door?"
He said, "I can so! This woman says I'm disqualified!" I said, "She's
obviously correct! Who would want you to work for them, with who you
show yourself to be with this? Would YOU hire somebody like that?" He
looked very odd, and calmed down a little. Then he said, "I get it. I
can still beat you." I said, "No. I'm not armed. Nobody in this office
is. Want to guess why?" He said, "Ah, no." I said, "Because we don't
need to be. You fight here, you lose." He said, "I don't believe you!
I'm a black belt!" I said, "So are my psychologists." He said, "Oh!" I
said, "Being alone with people like you, well, I want my people to be
safe. You have a choice. You may leave peacefully, or in pieces. How
many, is up to you."
He ran at me. I sidestepped, and held out my arm. He ran into my open
hand, and stopped cold. He dropped to his knees, holding his chest. I
said to him, "Don't say it! Wasn't like a brick wall. I don't actually
like bricks." Staff had to laugh. I offered to help him up, and he was
surprised at my strength. I said, "Ready to go now?" He nodded. I
walked with him to the main door, nodding to some others along the way.
He said to me, "They respect you a lot." I said, "I noticed that. I
think you can guess something of why." He said, "Right. I was wrong.
You could have done worse to me." I said, "True. Think they were
placing bets?" He grinned, and said, "I wouldn't be surprised." We
shook hands, and he walked down the steps.
I walked back to our office. Staff were all grins. I said to Marnie,
"You could have handled him yourself. You just wanted to see me do it."
She was embarrassed, but said, "You always say, best tool for the job."
I said, "Don't listen to me. Oh." Laughter. I hugged all of them.
I walked into a martial arts school in Kowloon, looking Chinese,
small, and old. I let some Chi flow. Some people there bowed to me,
which I returned. The argument stopped. I said, "Please don't stop your
discussion. I have come to hear it." A young man said, "This style is
nothing. I can beat any man here." The Master there, said, "That
doesn't interest us. We train for health, not to cause ill health in
other people." The stranger didn't see me nod in approval. He said,
"But it's for fighting! I can do that better." Master said, "Anything
can be used for fighting. A cane, for instance. It can also be used to
aid the infirm. Most important with what you learn, is what you want to
do with it. If you want to fight, you use what you know that can help
you do it. If you want to not fight, but improve your health, you use
what you know for that. That some of the same skills work for both, is
not to say they have a purpose in only one thing."
I said, "Fighting is a waste of energy. When you are older, you will
know this very well." Some grins. He turned to me, and said, "You are
nothing but an old man." I said, "No thing, no person, is nothing but."
He said, "I can beat you, and prove it." I said, "No, you cannot. I
will not fight." He said, "You are not of this school?" I said, "I am
not." He said, "Then I will fight you." I said, "You will not." I
indicated to the others that they should let it happen. He didn't
notice. He came at me with a cross step side kick. I moved aside with a
Tai Chi circle step, and he lost his balance and fell. I waited calmly,
for him to get up. He tried to punch my face. Still using Tai Chi, I
flowed around to behind him. He spun with a backfist. I guided his arm
up and over my head. He lost his balance again. I said, "What they
teach here, can help you to remain standing, with what you're doing.
That can be very helpful, when you dislike the comfort of what you
would otherwise be standing on."
He tried to sweep me off of my feet. I gracefully avoided that. I
said, "The Master here told you that they learn this for health. I
think I have shown you that it works very well in maintaining MY
health, despite your physical efforts to harm it." He stood, and said,
"Are you able to strike as well as you defend?" I said, "I am, but I
choose not to. Why would I want to harm anybody?" He said, "To prove
you are better?" I said, "Why would I want to do that? I see you are
confused. I am who I am. You are who you are. There is no better, just
different, and that is good. Oh, I see. A different way, then. The only
true competition is with yourself. Ah! I see you understand that." He
bowed, and said, "I apologize, Sifu! I have been a fool."
I said, "No more. A fool doesn't say that." He looked very strange. I
said to the Master of the school, "He is ready for you now." We bowed
to each other. I motioned to the young man to go to the Master. He did,
and bowed, and said, "I have much to learn." The Master said, "We have
much to teach. Two parts of one whole. Let it be so!" I bowed to the
school, and walked out. One of the students tried to find me, but I had
shifted out. He reported back. They wondered if I were one of the
Immortals in their religion. That wasn't too far from the truth.
Marcel dropped his point, and said, "I see no purpose to this!
Dueling is outlawed. Men no longer carry rapiers." I said, "It's true
they don't, in this city. And there's no dueling. Do you think I'm a
fool for this then?" He said, "Never! I think you have never been a
fool. There must be some other reason." I said, "Yes there are. When
you and I walk together, who do the women look at most, who don't know
who we are?" He thought some, and then grinned, and said, "Absolutely
not a fool!" I said, "In this society, there are very few activities
that can help a gentleman to learn to move his body with grace and
poise, that show to others his self confidence and power. This does it.
And the arts of unarmed combat. You DO want to be able to protect your
future family, do you not?" He said, "I do!" I said, "And this time
with me, while strenuous, is not without some enjoyment?" He smiled,
and said, "You have already convinced me." I said, "Now you will try to
convince ME." The practice went well.
While we were resting, he said, "Why do you hide your physical
development?" I made my muscles jump, and he grinned. I said, "Remember
the duel in the Council? When he was exercising before the start?" He
said, "He showed you his level of skill. You hide your strength so it
can be a surprise when you need it." I said, "Also, it tends to
intimidate people. I would rather save that for intent." He said, "I
truly understand that!" I said, "And there is another reason. Sexual
interest. I would receive too much of that, which would be disruptive.
I'll put it this way for part of it. Some men would look to be fencing,
without a metal sword." He laughed hard. When he could, he said, "I've
tried not to notice that, but it's SO true. I have felt that interest
myself, from some men. My teachers warned me about that."
He said, "You have not married?" I said, "I have, and have children."
He was VERY surprised. I said, "They live far from here in another
land. Someday I will return to them, when my work here is done. Now,
our work is to make you more able to secure your place in THIS land!"
We practiced some more. He was living with me. Two days later, he was
waiting for me, coming home from the Council meeting. I said, "Tell me
about it." He looked embarrassed, and said, "Two thieves attacked me
with clubs. It was difficult to avoid the both of them. One dropped his
club, but punched me in the eye." I called out, "Geomaner!" The servant
came into the room, "A cold bottle from the cellar, and a towel,
please. Not for drinking. And please have Hamma and Mandrek attend us
with clubs." He said, "Please sir, may I watch?" I looked at Marcel. He
said, "This interest, I have to support!" Suppressed grins were
exchanged. He left. I said to Marcel, "Well done! Those you support,
will support YOU when needed. Honor does that, without thought." He
said, "I see that. You show the benefit of honor with all you do." I
said, "Really, all?" He grinned out of his embarrassment, and said,
"Eh, most."
The men arrived. Marcel wrapped the bottle in a towel and applied it
to his black eye. We went to the practice room, where the floor was
padded in part of it. I said to the two outside workers, "Marcel was
attacked by two men with clubs. You will do that to me, for real. I
won't hurt you. If you do well." Grins and nods. They did attack me. I
controlled their club wielding arms, and tossed them around. Then I
said, "Now with these padded ones, I'll show how to make them strike
each other." I did, and Marcel was entranced. Then we did all that in
slow motion, to show him more precisely. Then I replaced me with him.
It took a while, but he did gain in ability and confidence.
While we were resting, he said, "Why shouldn't I use my dagger?" I
said, "That will cause them to focus on that weapon, and soon you will
have a smashed hand, and no dagger. If they stay out of your reach in
doing that, what we've shown you, won't work." He said, "Oh!
Intelligence is important, I see." I said, "Reacting correctly is good,
but strategy makes it successful. We hope." Grins. I said, "The main
issue here, is clubs extend their reach more than your dagger does. And
a club requires room for a swing to make it effective. You move inside
that swing, they are practically helpless, and they have one hand
occupied. How likely are they to have your training in the REAL use of
sticks and clubs?" He grinned, and said, "Not very likely at all." I
said, "One more thing. A hand holding something, can't grasp anything
else. The most versatile weapon you have, after your mind, is your
hand." He said, "Wow! That is so profound." I said with a sigh, "It's
just fighting. Nothing very profound in that. You'll know what I mean
when you have a family of your own." We thanked the servants, and they
left to do other work.
After supper, he said, "Your care for me is astounding. It causes me
to wonder why you are not giving that to your own children." I said,
"Are you asking me to leave?" He said, "Oh! Ah, er, my big mouth!" I
said, "True. My mother and uncle are with them, and they are very much
like me, having helped to create me. We do exchange private
communications. They fully support me in my mission." He said, "This
mission. I think It's more than I know." I said, "That's difficult to
comment on, without knowing what you know. Some in my family can
sometimes see parts of possible futures. From this, we know something
of how things can go bad, or good, for the future. Even very small
things, can make very big changes in the future, over time. My mission
is to stop dueling. Only then can this society improve for the future.
When my work is certain to succeed, I will have been successful. So,
does this help you to understand why I'm here?"
He said, "I think I understand a little. Do you have this power?" I
"But?" He said, "Would you tell me what they are?" I grinned, and said,
"No." He had to laugh. Then he looked surprised, and said, "You can
command animals! I've seen you do that!" I said, "I can, but I don't.
They know how I feel, and do what they think I want, but it's out of
love." He grinned, and said, "Like me." I said, "Yes, but with less
discussion and strange expressions." He laughed.
A week later, he wasn't home when I arrived. He did come in later,
looking very unwell. I helped him to sit. I said, "List your injuries.
Full truth." He said, "Twisted elbow. Stab in the side. Hit on left
side of my head. Dizzy. Knee strike between the legs. Still hurts." I
said, "The stab in the side. Do you know how deep?" He said, "I don't.
I'm sorry." I said, "Don't be sorry." He said, "Am I going to die?" I
said, "Not today. You wouldn't want to make me wrong, would you?" He
tried to smile, and said, "Never." I said, "Remember I said something
about powers?" He said, "I do! I've thought about that a lot." I said,
"Most your age have other fantasies." He tried to laugh.
I said, "That is NOT acceptable. You are supposed to laugh at my
jokes. I think I should do something about that." He said, "Yes you
should." I said, "This requires your trust, more than most people are
able to give to another, or it may not work. Animals are much easier to
heal than people, because of this." He said, "I think I understand. I
DO trust you fully." I carried him to his bedroom, and helped him
undress. I said, "Relax. The pain is now not yours. You are free of it,
and can let it go." He did feel better. I healed him, but I didn't let
him know that for an hour, so he would think it took a long time and
great effort. I left a scar, as proof of his injury. Then I said, "It
is done. You are well. I need to recover. Don't try to see me before
tomorrow morning. Then we will discuss what happened to you, but not
the healing. That must remain a secret." He nodded. I walked out, like
I was very tired.
We met at breakfast. We both looked perfectly well. I said, "So, you
made yourself into a target." He said, "It seems so, but for my peers,
this time. Four of them accosted me, and called me bad names. They
accused me of being abusive to the sister of one of them. They wouldn't
believe my protestations of innocence. They tried to beat me. I
defended myself well, without harming them. One stabbed me from behind,
then the others struck me. They left me in the ally, presumably to die.
I didn't." He gave me more details. I said, "You did well. They didn't.
There is a problem. You are not to leave this house for a week. Wait!
that!" I grinned. He was embarrassed. I said, "I will visit the father
of that girl, and discuss this with him. No, we won't be fighting.
Somebody caused this. I will discover who and why. Exposing it, could
prevent it from continuing." He said, "More thinking I should have
done." I nodded, and said, "Now you will have time for that."
I asked to enter a gentleman's house, and was allowed in. We met in
the library. I told him what had happened, and said, "He was left for
dead. Somehow he made it home. If he hadn't, he would have surely died.
I'm a good healer. He lives. But the cause of it still exists. He says
he didn't say those things." He said, "Do you believe him?" I said,
"Yes, for two reasons. He came home to tell me that, before he expected
to die. And the other reason is, do you think he would dare to lie to
me?" He had to smile, and said, "I see what you mean." He called for
his daughter. Before she arrived, he said to me, "I know of your skill
with words, and questioning people. Please do as you will. I will trust
you in this. I hope I'm not in error." I nodded. She came in, and
didn't react to me. I said to her, "Was it your intent that Marcel
should die?"
She looked absolutely horrified. I said, "Well?" She said, "No it was
not!" I said, "I believe you. Did you tell your brother that Marcel had
treated you badly?" She said, evasively, "What do you mean?" Her father
caught that, and said, "You must tell the truth. All of it! You almost
made your brother a murderer!" She wanted to cry, but didn't, quite.
She said, "I did say something, but it was only to make Francho to be
more protective of me." I said, "Exact words, please." She said them,
trembling. I said, "Did any of that actually happen?" She said, "It
didn't. He has always been very polite." I said, "Your brother and his
friends attacked Marcel, and came very close to killing him. They left
him in an ally to die all alone in the dirt. He crawled home. If he
hadn't had the supreme courage and fortitude to do that, to tell me he
didn't insult you, he would now be dead, and your brother would be a
murderer." She cried. Her father comforted her. I said, "You must do
what you can to repair this, or those boys will keep trying to kill
him. You must tell them the truth. No, your father can't do that. They
won't believe him as they would you." He said, "This is true. You must
do this." He called for a servant to send word to those other families
to come to his house for an urgent emergency meeting, and with their
boys, specifically, and his own son. I said, "It would be best if they
were told this without me present. With their rightly placed fear of
me, well, who needs to hear all their knees knocking?" He had to smile,
and said, "You are wise. You will come in after that, to tell them of
Marcel?" I said, "Yes."
And that's what happened. After I said all that, I said, "Attempted
murder is a serious crime. Marcel lives, and can testify. But you were
defending the honor of a woman, falsely, but you didn't know that.
Still, four against one, isn't the height of bravery. And a stab in the
back? Yes, you should be ashamed. VERY ashamed! I don't know how you
can live with yourselves, but you must." Francho's father said, "My son
must apologize to Marcel!" I said, "Yes, but I will NOT have him
visited by his attackers while he is not in the best of health. He
doesn't need to feel what he would feel then, now." Nods, and
appreciation of my care. My host said, "It is your right to bring
charges. What is your will in that?" I said, "I prefer that this remain
a family matter, and not for the public. As much as it can be. Those
involved were changed by this, and some of this change is continuing.
It will be noticed, and questions will be asked. As you know me, you
know I do NOT support lies." Nods.
I said to them all, "Act with dishonor, more bad things will happen
than you intend. That is the nature of things. Consider if I had acted
as you had. All of you would already be dead. You trusted to MY honor
to not do that, didn't you." Some surprised nods. I said, "You have a
debt to pay. There will come a time when I will leave. I have a family
elsewhere. He will be alone then. You will be of service to Marcel when
he needs it. Do you pledge this, on your honor?" They did, with a will.
I said, "The truth is here. May it always be so. I see a question. We
have all learned from this, from which we can improve ourselves. He and
I do forgive you. We remain friends in will, and hopefully, in future
desire. Now we heal." They had tears. I told all that to Marcel, and he
had tears, too.
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Grant
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