Solomon's Private File #390
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in the
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 33 in this story, in the Summer of 2059.
Solomon's Private File #390 "Before Marcel's Marriage"
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The twice frightened crime boss came to see me in my house in the
city. Marcel wasn't there. He said, "Congratulations on the forthcoming
wedding of Marcel." I said, "Thank you. I hope it doesn't make me so
poor, I'll have to go to work for you." Grins. He said, "I've been
wondering why such an honorable gentleman as yourself has allowed my
kind of business to continue. I know you could have removed all of us."
I said, "I don't mean to insult you with this, but if one kind of
vermin were removed, those other vermin they controlled, would
increase." He said, "I don't take offense, but that has some truth in
it." I said, "There will always be people who simply can't exist in the
society in which they reside. Something in them opposes it, and
society. Some are less skilled in things that would enable regular
gainful employment. Some need to take more personal risks in their
lives. Some desire more direct personal power over people. Some people
need to steal, even things they don't actually need. Some want to
belong to society, but society rejects them."
I said, "Yet they must live, and so they do, any way they can. And
that's a good thing. A society without crime and criminals becomes
week, and eventually degenerates until more criminals are created.
Criminals keep a society alive and dynamic, and action against them
helps people come together and give them a common purpose. People are
easier to motivate to be against something, than in favor of something.
Being against actual criminals is better than if they make innocent
people, usually a disagreed with minority or foreigners, their victims,
and so forcing them into becoming criminals. So, all that is why I
haven't removed all the criminals. It wouldn't be successful. More
criminals would be created to take their place. With all that's out
there to steal, SOMEBODY's going to try it. Great temptation can make
even the most honorable do things where they think they won't be
discovered. YOU know that." Grins.
He said, "I did NOT expect this from you!" I said, "Good. I like
that." Chuckles. He said, "I hadn't thought of most of that, but it
makes sense. I think some won't accept what you said, and might even
think you're crazy." I said, "Those who oppose society are forced to
think outside of the unconscious restrictions of that society. That
enables them to sometimes see some things more clearly, than others
can." He nodded, and said, "That is wise. I'm here because of the
wedding." I nodded, and said, "Of all those involved, I was the only
one who thought about this." He grinned, and said, "I should have
expected that!" I said, "The wedding itself is taken care of. Many of
my servants are very good fighters. Some will be performing escort duty
for the most enticing targets. I've shown pictures of the people who
they should most watch out for. There is one issue I am unable to er,
cover. Some attendees will be leaving their homes less than fully
protected. Some will have only small children and weak servants, if
that, in them. I offer to pay your people what they would earn in two
weeks, to watch those homes, and intercede in things as necessary.
There will be a bonus for needed successful action, and for you. Best
that the public doesn't know of this unless necessary, or both our
reputations will suffer." Grins. I said, "If your watchers are noticed
and questioned, they can say I hired them to guard, for the time of the
wedding. They can show these tokens. They had all better be returned
after that, or I'll come for them. There might be some pain involved."
He laughed. We shook hands on the deal.
I told all that to Marcel, and he said, "I find it hard to believe
that, myself, but with how you treated the servants, and how well that
worked, I have to believe you. You understand society like no other." I
said, "That's true. I've lived in many societies. Comparisons can
reveal a lot." He said, "As I expected. I didn't think of the
unprotected homes situation. I feel some shame for that." I said,
"Good. Will help you to think outside of your own interests. You're
going to need that, as you become more of a leader in society." He
nodded, and said, "I could never have expected I would learn so much I
didn't know could and should be learned, just from having a wedding!" I
said, "Yes, I know. Life is strange. It has much to teach us, if we are
open to learning it." We hugged.
I met with the crime boss the day of the wedding. I said, "I told
Marcel about our meeting. Well, I like astounding him." He laughed. I
said, "Have you wondered how I would verify an action I'm hiring your
people for?" He said, "Yes I have. I have the same problem with my
people. We're not known for full respect for the truth." I said, "Well
said. Marcel would say you've been listening to me too much." He
laughed. I said, "I sometimes have a kind of connection to things I
make. I can sometimes know where they are, and the feelings of people
who are handling them. I can do more of that by intent, as I did in
making those tokens. They work even more, when those people are doing
something related to me." He nodded, and said, "I've heard of that.
We've lost some er, gains that way." Grins.
He said, "I've been thinking of opening another house of chance." I
said, "Chance? You actually allow that?" He laughed. He said, "Yes we
do, mostly." I said, "Some people with wealth need to actually DO
something with it, and find the risk exciting, in their otherwise
useless boring lives. The greedy want to increase it by stupid means,
and fail. For some, gambling is a sickness they can't control, and that
causes their entire family to suffer." He said, "Yes, we don't like
them. They make trouble, and some have even tried to kill my people." I
said, "I suspect some of them did it to make your people kill them. A
kind of forced assisted suicide." He said, "We've thought about that."
I said, "Your problem is you can't enforce a ban on selected
individuals who are losing to you. Other customers just won't
understand that. In most situations, people would recognize your
business need to do that, or think you are being strangely
compassionate, but not your regular customers. They won't see beyond
their own needs and desires, and will think something's wrong, and be
even less trusting of you."
He stared at me, and said, "I've never heard of any person who is
more wise than you." I said, "I hear that a lot. Annoying, actually. My
family says I have to live with what I cause, and stop complaining
about it, and take out the trash." He had to laugh. He said, "It's been
said that you will be leaving soon, to return to your family." I said,
"That's my plan. The nights will return to you, making people
appreciate what I did, all the more. And appreciate you, less." He had
to laugh. I said, "One request. Doctors and midwives." He said, "I
agree. They should be protected. I'll pass the word." I said, "Young
have a real purpose in society!" I said, "Yes. Who would have thought
it?" Grins and a hug.
We had spent two days redoing the Council Hall. We put frames on the
walls to hold the drapes, and hung them. We put the chairs into the
back rooms with the food preparation equipment we brought in. We
brought in the folding tables and chairs, and the lamps with their
stands, and a lot of scented candles. We set up the area for the
musicians. I had auditioned them, and they were very surprised that I
could play their instruments better than they could. I said to Marcel,
who had been with me during some of that, "My father made musical
instruments, and wanted me to learn to use them. I was something of a
disappointment to him, in not being overly enthusiastic about it." He
tried not to grin, and said, "But you did learn." I said, "In my
family, when we learn something, we go all the way. I was the same in
fighting arts. I was competent, but not a true expert, having no
interest or motivation to learn more, until after he died, and I was in
a situation that could have gone very badly because of that. So, I
decided to learn it all. I did." He said, "I think you did! Have you
had to use it much?" I said, "Not much. Just being able to, is noticed
by other experts, and they try not to motivate me to show them that,
except for teaching." He grinned, and said, "I'll never forget your
duel in the Council Hall!" I said, "That was a little unusual."
"The one that caused me to use my most effort?" He said, "Yes!" I said,
"I had just become an expert, and the best of my family. I was 14. I
entered a breaking competition. That's where we break things only with
our body. Stacks of roofing tiles, large concrete blocks, thick wooden
boards and posts, in differently ways. We performed one after the
other, and were judged on time, technique, and difficulty. The others
were all well experienced men, Masters, and Grand Masters. Of the
seven, I was forth. The best came after me. I watched them with a
broken leg, arm, and hand." He said, "They broke their bones?" I said,
"No, I did, in my turn at breaking, but I did complete all the breaks."
He said, "WHY? Why did you continue after you were injured?" I said, "I
was asked that, after finishing, and standing on one foot in front of
the judges. In my family, we NEVER stop while on a mission." He said,
"Wow!" I said, "That's just how it is." He said, "Did you win?" I said,
"It was close, and I wouldn't have wanted to judge it, but yes, I won.
Then I went to do something about fixing myself." He said, "Only 14!
Did you cry?" I said, "No, but my future wife who was with me, with my
mother, did." He said, "And your mother?" I said, "She was annoyed, but
proud." He grinned.
He said, "I wish I could have seen it." I said, "It could be
possible. Think of a picture, and push it out of your mind into the
air, willing that it be seen. Try again, by imagining you're behind it,
pushing hard." Something flickered in the air. He said, "Wow!" I said,
"That's extra. Most people have the ability to do that a little. Some
can do much more. It takes practice and a lot of effort, to become
proficient in that skill. I see your question. Why don't more people do
it? Well, who would see the need, or even the possibility? And being of
perfect memory, and an artist, helps." He said, "I understand. Also it
could only be of what you've seen or imagined." I said, "Everything has
limits." He said, "Can you do it?" I said, "Did you really have to
projected him as he was at my first party there. He said, "I really
looked like that?" I said, "Yes. Not quite as stupid looking now." He
growled. I said, "I wasn't joking. Er, much. Here's you after the
party." I showed him looking at me with absolute admiration and
adoration. He said, "Wow! I see what you mean. Will you show me your
family?" I said, "No, not without their permission." He said, "Oh!
Honor extends even to that. I should have known. You have my permission
to show me to your family." I said, "Thank you. They will love and
respect you." He felt very humble. We hugged.
Some invited guests to the wedding, asked to see me privately. One
said, "There is some concern about the er, richness of the wedding, and
of those and by those displaying it there." I said, "I have taken
precautions. There will be watchers, and those who will enforce the
rules of society, at the wedding, but not necessarily obvious until
needed. And I think we might guess what my presence there might cause
in those who would cause a problem." He nodded, and said, "Yes. As
them in their absence." I said, "That's also taken care of. Some of
those who would prey on our guests, are being paid to watch those
homes, and stop others from doing bad things. You might wonder if they
can be trusted. With what I would do to them, which some have already
well in hand." I said, "They will have one of these tokens with them."
He said, "Good. Er, how do you know of these er, people?" I said, "I
don't sleep well. Too much energy, and I spend that walking. At night.
I encounter wrongs, I stop them. I see almost as well as I hear." He
grinned, and said, "I understand." I said, "I've given them the list of
houses to watch. Some of my servants will provide escort services.
Those who can fight well. There will be incidents. That can't be
completely stopped, but I expect they will be well er, controlled, and
well remembered for that." Grins. We shook hands. The other meetings
went as well.
I said to Marcel, "Today is the big day. Are you nervous?" He said,
"I am." I said, "Good. Only the dead wouldn't be nervous, and they
wouldn't be getting married, anyway." He laughed. He said, "Do you know
what's going to happen?" I said, "Sure. You're getting married." He
said, "I mean extra events." I said, "The future isn't one set thing.
It changes with each decision that each person in it makes. Seeing some
of the possibilities can change how we act, which can then change the
something of that now." He said, "Yes. So how can that be of any use?"
I said, "I've often thought that." Grins. I said, "Sometimes, a very
probable event will be visible, and can be trusted to be probably true.
But there is a problem even with that. The more one is part of the
event, the less one is able to see what can happen. A self interference
issue. The more I interfere in this land, the less I can see, in a
useful way, possible futures of it, and almost nothing of particular
individuals. Yes, it's frustrating!" Grins.
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Grant
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