Solomon's Private File #374
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 Fall of 2058.
Solomon's Private File #374 "A Run-in The Dark"
START Page
The Chairman of the Council nodded his grey skinned feathered head to
me, in a private meeting, and said, "Eloquent speech today." I said,
"Thank you. Will any remember it?" He sighed, and said, "Probably not.
Does that anger you?" I said, "No. How can one be angered by the
expected?" He said, "Then why do it?" I said, "Some fruits take time to
grow and ripen. Does that mean we shouldn't plant the seeds?" He looked
at me strangely, and said, "You are the wisest man I have ever heard
of." I said, "Oh. Revenge by embarrassment?" He smiled, and said,
"Possibly. I plan to retire soon. There will be a need for a new
Chairman." I said, "There will. I hope he will be able to work well
with me. I see I should explain. Were I in your position, there would
be little needed debate. I would be treated as a ruler, and not as a
facilitator, which the position should be. That would be unhealthy for
this land. Ha! You almost said it again."
He had to laugh. I said, "And soon, probably in less than a year, I
will be leaving this land to rejoin my family." He said, "Oh! Does
Marcel know?" I said, "Yes, and has for some time. He's been a great
help in managing my properties." He said, "What will become of them,
when you leave? Will they be held for your return?" I said, "I will try
to answer that in a round about way. Have I done well for this land in
my time here? Has it improved?" He said, "Yes, it has, very much so!" I
said, "I have done this work in other lands before this, and so have
other members of my family. There are still more lands that we can
help. I don't know how long such work will take. I may never return
here, or I may just visit infrequently. Hmm, you wouldn't be tempted to
make a mess of things, to cause me to return?" He had a strong mix of
unusual feelings. I said, "I have to admit, I do enjoy doing that a
little too much at times." He chuckled, and said, "I can't disagree."
I said, "Some of my properties are being managed by a trust." He
said, "Few know that you are the benefactor of the women's and
children's houses." I said, "As it should be. I don't know if one can
die of receiving of too much gratitude and admiration, but I don't want
to test that." He said, "An unusual statement!" I said, "Sure. Why
stop?" He laughed. I said, "Someday that trust will run dry. I expect
the Council to correct that then." He said, "I will pass that on. What
of that big building you are repairing?" I said, "An establishment for
doctors to do their work in, that the public can visit. Much more
efficient than house calls. I will have an office there, and may teach
a little. I'm something of a healer, myself. When the trust fund for
that is empty, the doctors should be made to pay rent for the spaces
they use. By then, they will see the advantages to it." He said, "I can
see that! Is this done in other lands?" I said, "It is. Some better
than others. When I leave, it could use a part time paid administrator,
of proven skill. Such a provision is in the rules of the trust." He was
too overcome by emotion to say anything. We hugged, and I left.
I said to Marcel, after martial arts practice, "Some of your friends
asking you to teach them?" He said, "They are, and more and more
insistently." I said, "And you have told them you aren't ready for
that." He said, "Yes. You've been in this situation?" I said, "I have.
Most martial experts have. In general, no student is more attentive
than one who insists on being taught." He grinned, and said, "I
understand what you're saying." I said, "And you will be teaching your
children this." He nodded. I said, "Having teaching experience before
that, would be very useful. And not just that it will raise your
standing in the community, significantly." He said, "I understand. A
great responsibility. What if one abuses it?" I said, "Then one does.
You will act appropriately in that situation. Justice and honor demands
it." He said, "What if I only have daughters?" I said, "Of her
generation, my mother was one of the best fighters in the land of her
birth, and is still well known and respected for that. And a little
feared. My sister is second only to me, in ability, and actually likes
doing and teaching it. I have little personal interest in it myself. If
you love your daughters, you will NOT want them to lack the skills they
need to defend themselves."
He nodded, and said, "You have little interest in this?" I said,
"True. It's necessary to learn, but I don't have to enjoy it, and
absolutely not in applying it. But dying in the middle of a task is SO
inconvenient." He tried not to grin, saying, "Oh yes. Very." I said,
"Still needs work." He had to laugh.
A man came to see me at my house in the country. Marcel was with me.
My guest said to me, "I prefer to see you alone." I said, "That
wouldn't work. If I were truly alone, there would be nobody here but
me. Not being here, you couldn't see me." Marcel did well in concealing
his amusement. He was confused, and said, "I don't want him here." I
said, "I think he is relieved at that, planning to marry another." That
almost got to Marcel. I said to the guest, "You said you wanted to talk
about something. When will you start?" He said, "Your activities at
night." I said, "Have you been looking into my bedroom?" He said, "NO!
What you do in the city at night. You are attacking my people." I said,
"You should turn around. You said that backwards. It's true I sometimes
wander the streets in some sleepless nights. Some rough people seem to
dislike me doing that, and try to stop me. That's very difficult for
them to do, sometimes causing themselves some injuries. Maybe they
should just not do that."
He said, "That's not what they say." I said, "Hmm, are they in the
habit of being totally truthful, as I am known to be?" He said, "True,
but some have said you interrupt them when they are talking with other
people." I said, "I try to be sociable and polite, but when your people
are talking to my friends with chubs and daggers, instead of polite
words, I tend to feel a little more insistent than in other
situations." He said, "Oh. Well, that can be turned around. You have
people and property. They are not as protected as you are." I said,
with a small smile, "Are you sure of that?" He said, "We will discover
that." I said, "And what about yours?" I told him where he lived, and
even how it was built and managed. Then I listed the names of his
people. I said, "I have allowed you and your people to live, and have
not seriously injured them. Do you wish me to change my policy on that?
One hint of action against me and mine, may well cause that happen. Do
you understand?"
He tried not to look afraid, and said, "But you are only one man. A
hear him, in the range of any weapon, no matter what other sounds would
try to disguise it. I can react faster than you can think. You even
attempt to injure one of my people in the slightest, I will not kill
you, no matter how much you beg me to end your suffering." I grabbed
his shirt front with one hand, and lifted him up to my face, and said,
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" He squeaked, "I do, Sir!" I dropped him, and he
staggered out of the room, and out of the front door.
I said to Marcel, "Do you think he noticed I didn't say I would
actually harm him?" He grinned, and said, "Now, no. Later, probably
benefit in the presence of fearful people. Not a perfume I would
choose." He laughed. I said, "He wouldn't believe me if I told him that
I could sense an attack, without hearing it." He said, "That's amazing,
but more so that you can teach that! I thought it was impossible, until
I became able to do that."
I said, "Umm, he just frightened his horse away." He said, "I think I
heard some of that." I said, "Good. You're improving. I know you can
hear his oaths." He grinned, and said, "Saved for later." I said, "He
has a long walk ahead of him. Hmm, I have an idea." His grin widened. I
said, "Exercise is good. I think I'll take a little run, and be there
when he arrives." He laughed. When the gang leader was at his door, I
said behind him, "Even your horse doesn't like you." He jumped high,
and turned around. I said, "Oh, very athletic. I see the walk did you
some good. I ran. Better exercise. I do that a lot in the country.
Can't do that much here in the city. I recommend you do this kind of
thing regularly, for better health. Eh, you can skip the being
frightened half to death part." In spite of himself, he had to laugh.
He said, "You carry no weapons." I said, "Oh, but I do. My first duel
that wasn't, in the Council." He said, "Oh, the thrown knife!" I said,
"With my strength, even a little stone can kill, and within the range
of accuracy of a pistol. Much faster reloads, too. A thrown coin can go
through one's neck." He said, "You are even more formidable than I
thought." I said, "Did you think I wouldn't have expected this, and
prepared for it?" He said, "I do now. Did you cause that duel in your
house, deliberately?" I said, "I did, specifically to gain entrance
into the Council, which I said to the judge later that evening, with
Marcel." I said, "I am convinced. I will instruct my people to give way
to you." I said, "Marcel is going to be SO disappointed I won't have a
better story to tell him on my return." He laughed. I bowed, and left.
I didn't have to, but I ran back in the dark. It felt good.
Marcel was waiting for me with a grin. I told it to him, word for
word. He said, "Wow! Words are your best weapon, by far!" I said, "Much
less expensive, too."
I was asked to meet with my dueling friend from the Council, in his
home, privately. He said, "I see how Marcel and Emirmis look at each
other. What is your opinion on this?" I said, "May I get right to the
point?" He smiled, and said, "Please." I said, "It's obvious they want
to marry. It's not as if either of them would never marry, or be
allowed to stay unmarried, being such very desirable people. I would
support their decision. And you?" He said, "In feelings, mine match
probably within a year. My estate in the country, and my house in the
city, and other assets contained therein, will be given to them as a
wedding gift, as I have recently told to Marcel. Er, standing well
back." He chuckled, and said, "My concerns are allayed. I know he's
been well taught in managing them." I said, "He has experienced some
increase in motivation for that." He laughed.
He said, "Your way of speaking is humorous in a strange way, that I
think in the beginning caused some people to think the less of you,
even take offense." I said, "I did that more er, intensely, in my first
party, specifically to cause somebody to challenge me. It took some
work, actually." He said, "Oh!" Then after some thinking, he said,
"Well done!" I bowed my head, and said, "Thank you. Have you wondered
how I have come by my wealth?" He said, "I have, but couldn't ask
that." I said, "Same for Marcel, causing him a severe itch in his
mind." He laughed. I said, "You know I enjoy speaking like this." He
smiled and nodded. I said, "For over two hundred years, my family has
been involved in the making and trading of jewelry and gems. That has
created some embarrassing wealth, which we work to share with others in
ways they don't become dependent on. I mention this, because I ask that
you allow me to, er, decorate Emirmis with them, for the wedding, as my
personal gift. Hmm, your wife should have something, too. We don't want
her to look out of place. Others don't have to know the source of these
things. Oh, I'll wait."
After he recovered, I took from a pocket two fancy cufflinks with his
family crest on them, and gave them to him. I said, "A gift. A sample
of my work." He said, "Wow! Such talent!" I said, "The return gift of
embarrassment isn't necessary." He tried not to smile. I said, "This
meeting hasn't been exactly as you had anticipated." He said, "Very
true!" I said, "I might enjoy that a little too much." We shared grins.
I said, "When I leave, I will be taking my inside servants with me.
Please be thinking of helping them to be replaced, for the new
household." He said, "I will." We hugged, and I left.
I told Marcel about the meeting, and he had the expected reactions.
Then he said, "Itch in the mind? Well described!" Grins. He said, "I
still have an ongoing one. What other powers you might have." I said,
"I thought that was a fantasy." He growled. I said, "Alright, I'll tell
you of one. Better, I'll show you." I thrust my palm at a candle, and
it lit. I said, "Those who are at the highest levels of the fighting
arts, are sometimes able to do that, and to strike with their own
internal energy outside of their bodies." I thrust my palm at it again,
and knocked it off of the table.
He said, "Wow!" I went to pick it up. He said, "That's another thing
that's unusual with you. Most others in your position would require a
servant to do that." I said, "I have no pride that requires support.
Nor would I accept unnecessary help for what I am able to do for
myself. How much of what people require of their servants, is to
purposely demean them, in an exercise of cruel dominance?" He said,
"Wow! I never thought about that! I see it's true." I said, "How smart
is it to make the people who work for you, who you DEPEND on to live,
who prepare your food, to hate and despise you?" He said, "Not smart at
all. Thank you for this very valuable lesson. It could save the lives
of my family!" I said, "Actually, yes, it could. True loyalty, and
love, can't be bought or sold. They must be earned with the same. Oh,
alright, you can say it." He said, "That's SO wise!" We hugged.
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|