Solomon's Private File #410
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 34 in this story, in the Summer of 2060.
Solomon's Private File #410 "Goodbye To Marcel"
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wished to speak with us?" He said, "I am Mischunip. I'm a fighting arts
instructor. I improve myself by fighting other Master fighters." I
asked to speak, and was allowed to, with a lot of suppressed grins. I
said to him, "This fighting you do. Is it practice, or deadly?" He
said, "To when one cannot continue. That's usually caused by death." I
said, "You look, being able to speak and walk after a fashion, that
your fights ended in your favor. To what purpose other than the
selfish, do you do that?" He looked a little put off. He said, "So that
I improve my ability, so I may teach my students more and better
methods." I said, "And how many students are you teaching now?" He
said, "None, presently, while traveling." I said, "When was it that you
had full time students?" He said, "Three years ago." I said, "And was
that when you decided to travel and challenge other teachers?" He said,
"It is." I said, "Knowing if you encounter one better than you, ALL you
have learned will be lost? That no students will learn from you what
you have learned, if anything at all?"
He had a lot of emotions going on in him. I said, "I see by your lack
of answer, that it isn't for any students you do this, but for your own
selfish self. You test yourself against others, for the adventure of
it, and to justify your false pride. I suspect you only fought and
defeated those who weren't the best in their lands, because the true
Masters would not respect you enough to even meet with you. I do
appreciate their feelings." He said, angrily, "I challenge YOU!" I
said, "Dueling is not allowed in this land. Challenging is a crime." He
started to move toward me. I said, "Don't try that here! Can you block
bullets? Our guards are well armed, and I suspect they're not feeling
all that friendly toward you."
One said, "May I speak?" I nodded, and the Chairman, said, "The
speaker yields." The Doctor said, "I've traveled some. In one land I
witnessed Masters of fighting arts who could strike with their internal
energy, outside of their body, even light fires with it at a distance.
Are you such a Master?" He said, "I am." One yelled, "I don't believe
it! Nobody can do that." Doctor said, "We prefer to base our beliefs on
observations, rather than on words. Would you demonstrate?" He said, "I
would." Chairman asked a servant to bring a table and candle with a
holder. It was set down in the middle of the hall. Doctor said, "Is
this energy visible?" Master said, "To most, no. To those very few with
the proper talent, which I don't have, it's visible. Those people don't
like to fight, and never kill." Doctor said, "It is said that Masters
such as you are, are able to sense this ability in others. Is this
true?" He said, "It is." Doctor said, "Is it possible that a Master can
conceal this from you?" He said, "Yes, those who do not kill, it has
been said of." He said, "And are those people able to detect lies in
others?" He said, "Yes. How do you know of these things?" Doctor said,
"I'm a doctor. When people speak about the body and what it can do, I
listen, and even more closely, when they demonstrate it." Grins and
chuckles.
The Master nodded, and took a stance. He thrust at the candle, and it
lit. He thrust at it again, and it flew off of the table. Doctor said,
"Well done. You knocked it off. Can you put it back with the same
energy?" He said, "No, I can't. Some of those who would not kill, who
are holy, could do that sometimes." Doctor said, "This power is a
learned skill that anybody can learn with sufficient effort?" He said,
"Yes, after many years of hard practice, and a good teacher. For those
holy people, it requires an inborn talent, and much study. They do the
same as I do, but more, and with better control, because they can see
the energy, and so can manage it better." Doctor said, "Solomon, is he
correct?" I said, "He is. Unexpectedly so, in one so lacking in true
honor."
Master said to me, angrily, "Why do you say that about my honor?" I
said, "At your level, is it even possible for both to survive a real
fight? Defeat means death. You deprive that Master's students of their
teacher! All that knowledge is lost. Honor would demand that you would
replace him with yourself, but you leave them with nothing, to do it
again and again. And worse, you teach nobody in this, not even
yourself. WHERE is the honor in any of that?" He was deeply shocked.
Chairman said, "Solomon is our authority on honor. He has ruled on
yours. We disrespect you for what you have done." There was a lot of
agreement.
Mischunip said, "I was told there is a Master fighter here in this
land. I would meet with him." Chairman said, "To what purpose?" He
said, "I would discuss what I have been doing with an equal who's
opinion I can respect." I nodded to the Chairman, who said, "That you
have already done." Mischunip said, "Here? But I sense no such Master
here." Then he said to me, "YOU! How was I unable to sense you before?"
I said, "A TRUE Master is able to control the energies of his body so
as to not allow you to sense his control. You may reach that level in
time, but not as you are now. You may more usefully understand what I
said before. You didn't know of the Masters who didn't want you to know
of them. You are not welcome in this land. When you have improved
yourself and your honor, which may take quite some time, you may
return. No, I won't be here then, but my students might be. Yes, I knew
something of what you were thinking. I know fighting Masters very well,
having taught many. All of them in your position would have had that
thought." He had to smile, and said, "With that, I doubt no longer. I
will return to my own land and school, and with greater wisdom, I hope.
Thank you, and farewell." He turned and walked out. I said, "So, what's
next?" Laughter.
Chairman had to adjourn the session, because the Members wouldn't
settle down. Some asked me to demonstrate things. I said, "Your short
memories are unable to retain awareness of my embarrassment issue?"
Chuckles. I said, "Our bodies need its energy to live and be healthy.
Expending it to no good purpose is foolish. I hope you don't think I'm
foolish. Er, often." Chuckles. I said, "Wait! One more thing. It's not
polite to ask others of their abilities they haven't made public, which
might not accept such differences well." Nods, and the Doctor said, "I
agree and fully support that." I said, "You've experienced some of
that, yourself?" He said, "Yes. Some doctors oppose our new knowledge
and greater ability to help our patients." A Member said, "It's stupid.
The classes are without charge." I said, "There is a thought to charge
a small fee, just to gain their respect." Some said I should do that.
Some just grinned. Marcel the most.
Then somebody asked Marcel if he could strike with energy. Marcel
said, "I don't know. I've never tried. I don't see the need to. I know
enough of fighting skills to defend myself and my family, and assist
others in that, too. I don't need to use up valuable time to learn
more, that's also dangerous to the user. That would be irresponsible of
me." I nodded, and said, "Soon, they're going to be using that word
about you." He showed conflicting emotions. Some people grinned,
knowing what I meant. I said, "Now I need to go tell the boys what
happened, so I can see their faces do funny things. Like that one." I
pointed at Marcel, and he laughed with others. The Doctor indicated he
would speak to me later.
I said to the boys, "About time you stopped laughing." Raminor said,
"Did you cause that?" I said, "Only with what I spoke. Sometimes, when
you let people be who they are, they will do what you want, because
they know they should. Naturally, helping people to be better, helps
you in that. You don't know the beginning of this yet. I think I don't
have to ask you to watch." Grins and hugs.
I said to the woman crime leader, "You sent him to the Council!" She
jumped, and said, "Don't you ever say hello?" I said, "Hello." She
laughed. I said, "It would cause the same issue. You know I shouldn't
let other people see me here." She said, "Yes, I did send him. I knew
the Council was in session, and that you would be there." I said, "Do
you know why he came to you? Or that he even knew about you?" She said,
"Did YOU tell him?" I said, "Unfortunately, no." Grins. I said, "On
entering the city, a lowlife tried to rob him. No, not one of yours.
But that's not what he said to the questioning." She laughed. I said,
"It would be reasonably safe to assume he thought the best fighters
could be, well, the people who fight a lot. And if not, they would
surely know who they are." She said, "Good thought. I didn't tell him
who, but that the Council would know. Did he discover you?" I said, "I
hid my abilities from him."
I told her what happened, word for word. She had a lot of wows for
it, and said, "You defeated him so thoroughly, he gave up his quest,
all without a fight! Amazing! That doctor. Did you tell him all that?"
I said, "He did witness those things in another land, and asked about
it in class. I explained some of it then. I didn't tell him what to do.
But I knew him, and knew he would." She said, "You used that to prepare
the way for your students." I said, "Of course. Why waste it?" Grins.
She said, "You will be leaving soon." I said, "Yes. Current classes
are almost finished, and all the boys need now is responsibility. They
no longer need protection, but it would be good for all concerned if
that continued." She said, "I agree. They're loved. I go against that,
I would have to leave in a hurry." I said, "If you would give up the
life of crime, I would nominate you for Council membership." She tried
not to show how shocked she was. I said, "Umm, good effort." She had to
laugh. I said, "I do like shocking people, but I was serious. Have a
nice day." I grinned and shifted out. She thought a lot.
Manchin said, "You tied her mind up with that, so bad!" Raminor said,
"I liked it." Grins. I said to the Member who was a doctor, in my
medical office, "You wanted to speak with me." He said, "As I expected,
after you left, some Members discussed you. Being holy was mentioned
more than once." I said, "As I also expected. It's causing me to leave
a little earlier than I had planned." He was shocked, and said, "Why?"
I said, "People such as I, do not rule. It's becoming ever more close
to it being forced on me. Refusing it, and explaining it so they would
understand, will make it worse. They don't need me. With what I would
have done for them, you and Marcel, and some others, will. Better that
is shared among individuals, than concentrated in one person, setting
up despotic rule in the future." He said, "Forbidding that word doesn't
make it any less true." I growled, and he laughed. I said, "The boys
are laughing, too. One more thing in strict confidence. They will know
as it happens, all that transpires in Council meetings." He said,
"Good!"
I said to the boys, "Gone, doesn't mean the same to you." They
grinned. Manchin said, "You will still teach us after you're gone?" I
said, "For a while, yes. And we know you will like to have me around
after they think I'm gone, while they get used to you running this
place." Nods. Raminor said, "The woman criminal. Will she?" I said,
"Undetermined. If she does make inquiries, you need to do restrictions
in her, before certification. She'll know to ask for your opinion and
support, without me telling her. Yes, she's that intelligent. You know
how to operate the equipment in the basement. Well, you can make any of
it yourselves. Also good for the experience of your personal students.
Would you like to keep my jewelry workshop?" They said, "Yes!" I said,
"You shouldn't argue so with yourselves." They laughed.
Raminor said, "We request you recruit our first students so we may
observe how you do it." I said, "In many situations, the adult
recruiter has a student with him, to help make the connection to the
candidate. And so parents can see that students aren't eaten, at least
not right away." They laughed hard. I said, "Sure. The problem with the
sauce." More laughter. I said, "Two teachers doesn't make much of a
real school. But more than a few students wouldn't work here. You will
need a real school in a few years. For people who can port, it can be
anywhere you can live. It would be safer to not be in a place where
unusual things are noticed, and people are killed for that." Manchin
said, "Yes. So inconvenient." I said, "Look around the world and select
some places, and we'll discuss them. If it's in a really out of the way
place, not to be discovered for centuries, we can make it a little
unusual. You look like you're starving." Grins.
Raminor said, "What have you used before?" I said, "A remote island,
and where there isn't one that isn't known and used, I made one. Then I
changed the condition of that space so that unless it's ported to, it
just can't be detected and traveled to, even by high tech means."
Manchin said, "We want that!" Raminor said, "We request that." Grins
and pokes. I said, "There is a problem. Some parents will demand to see
the school, before allowing their children in it. What they see, needs
to be so it won't cause them to run away screaming. Trying to look
serious when you're not, doesn't fool me." More grins.
Manchin said, "So we have to have two schools, with Port-Alls between
them." Raminor said, "It has to be in a city or village. A farm would
have to have outside workers to make it real. It could be in this city,
but not this building. No room. Which building have you purchased for
us?" I said, "Somebody wants a spanking?" They laughed loudly. I
projected it, showing them it was right next to the medical building.
We ported to be inside it, and they admired how fancy it looked. Very
high class. I said, "Has an AI computer, with 4th solid projection
servants. Students don't have to know about what they really are, until
they're ready." Grins. Raminor said, "They'll feel no emotions from
them." I said, "True. Practice your mysterious smile." Grins. I said,
"It's for the parents." Manchin said, "This could be for our first
students!" I said, "I think I thought of that. Here are the
accommodations." There was everything there that was common in the
society, with 4th tech things concealed.
I said, "You can't teach some things here. To big and dangerous. So,
where should the big school be?" We discussed locations. We settled on
an island. I said, "Now the most difficult part. What should it look
like? What style? Look around the world, and decide on some styles to
copy. Remember, it needs to be so for hundreds of years." They made
their selections, and discussed that they wanted in facilities. I said,
"You're thinking too small. Consider hundreds of students. Er,
carefully. Don't strain." Grins and pokes. Finally, I said, "You can
always change it when you want to. Let's go." We ported there, and the
air was filled with wows! Raminor said, "What materials!" I said,
"Mostly gem minerals. I've made other schools of similar materials. It
will run itself until you need it, and then, too. Both schools have
complete sets of teaching crystals. This you need to see." We went into
a long gallery room. I said, "The Hall of Stones." They said wow.
Manchin said, "We should have thought of this." I said, "True." Grins.
I said, "You know how to select your students. I suggest you divide
the world between you, in your scans, so you can both have the
experience of that, and recruiting. It's going to hurt, but you can't
take all the qualified students at one time, there being only two of
you to teach them and supervise their lives. Rescues should have the
highest priority. Students with families may not want to come, or have
their parents' permission to go to a distant land. We have to accept
that. Students who don't want to come, just won't learn our way. And
there is an extra problem with the kinds of societies on this world.
Many of those children will be killed for who they are. Just knowing
that, can ruin their minds for the school. But if you recruit them in
"Timing is important. Best you do that when you can show honor and
other good attributes they can emulate, and the attackers can learn
from. Yes, more management. Everything people do is managed in some
way. Better you do it your way when you can. Sure to be an
improvement." Smiles and nods.
Back in the medical building, I said, "When the second medical class
ends, I will be gone to all but you. I'll have Marcel announce it in
Council. I'll warn some of the graduate doctors, too. If you want to
start a new class, one of those doctors might be available to assist,
with some pay. When I'm not in our rooms, keep your viewpoints on me."
Raminor said, "And always on Council meetings." Manchin, said, "And the
crime bosses." I said, "Your world, your choice. Yes, there's a whole
world, not just this city. Don't ever complain there isn't enough to
do. That would be a lie." Grins.
I said to the former Chairman, "When the current medical class ends,
I will leave without notice. Marcel will announce that after it
happens, in the Council. Well, after I tell him." Smiles. I said,
"Don't say it, or I would have to tell you to be annoyed." He laughed.
I said, "The boys know how to use all my equipment I'm leaving. The
building to the back of this one, I purchased in Raminor's name. He
also owns this one. The other they may use for a school of their kind.
Only you know that. And them." He smiled and nodded. I said, "You know
they know what we're saying. Never assume they don't know more than
they should. Hmm, they're joining you in laughter." He said, "We're set
to ask for rent, soon. Your trust fund is very generous! The other two
charities are now being supported by the Council, as you asked."
I said, "The three printers in the city now have very improved
presses and type. Part of the sale of those went into the trust fund."
He said, "Good!" I said, "And part of that went to the printing of some
books." He said, "What subjects?" I said, "Medicine, optics and
mathematics, and art." He said, "There is a subject in demand that you
haven't named in your list." I said, "You were thinking I didn't know
that?" He said, "I was thinking there isn't anything you don't know." I
said, "Don't think that." He tried not to grin. Then he said very
seriously, "I ask that you tell us of God, and what happens after
death." I said, "Why give people something to disagree with, and with
violence?" He said, "Has that happened?" I said, "Always." He was VERY
surprised, and said, "You didn't qualify that! Wow!" I said, "Nothing
in all existence has caused, and will cause, more violence than
religion. Would you have me be responsible for that?" He thought for a
while, and said, "A book such as you made for your father's sayings, of
yours? There must be many more than I know of." We felt a touch. I
sighed, and said, "I've been ordered to do it. I'll leave it with the
boys. They'll give it to you for the printers." He said, "That was
God?" I said, "Yes. My er, Boss. Don't tell me you didn't suspect it."
He said, "Alright, I won't." I said, "Good!" Grins.
I said to the boys, "Here's the book. Here's a crystal of it." They
liked it a lot. Raminor said, "He's going to be surprised at the last
part, that he asked for." I said, "You know I like that." Big grins.
When it was time, I asked to meet with Marcel. I said, "When the last
medical class ends, I will be gone. All my remaining property is in
Raminor's name, held in trust for him. Please inform his father then,
who is not to do anything about that. At that time, please inform the
Council. Not before then." He said, "You don't want to cause them to
honor you." I said, Correct. Here are copies of books that will be
printed. This last one I was ordered to do." He looked at it, and tried
not to grin in triumph. I said, "You still need to work on that." He
had to laugh.
I said, "Now for something strange." He laughed hard. I said, "If the
woman crime boss asks to be on the Council, please support that, if the
boys certify her." He said, "Wow! That IS strange!" I said, "I
suggested it to her, if she changes her ways. Such intelligence is
better used, than how she uses it now." He nodded, and said, "I will.
And still be surprised, too." I said, "You had a good father, and a
good grandfather. I couldn't and didn't try to take their place. But as
I felt, I considered you to be like a son to me, and all that I would
want of such a one, and more, as you have become." He cried in my arms.
When he recovered, I said, "With your permission, I have shared my time
with you with my original family. They want me to tell you that they
love and respect you highly, as if you were of our family, which they
never have said for this kind of situation before. Am I going to get
rained on again?" He laughed and cried at the same time.
I said, "The boys know all I have said in done in my time in this
land. As if I could keep any secrets from them." Grins. I said, "You
may tell them anything you wish. Just don't expect them to tell YOU
everything." Grins. I said, "I was er, acclaimed the authority on honor
at the Council. I pass that onto you. I know you will be such, so that
will happen without anybody doing anything, you being you, and they
being them." He sighed, and said, "I can see that happening. I'll have
to accept that responsibility. But how you handled that Fighting
Master!" I said, "I have to admit that was one of my better situation
managements. If something like that happens again, the boys will be
aware of it, and will probably do something strange and interesting."
Grins. He said, "And you're going to be watching." I said, "I didn't
say that. If that grin splits your face in half, don't expect me to
heal it." He laughed.
I stood, and so did he. I said, "You've felt my love in our hugs, but
you haven't felt all of it." We did it, and he was stunned. I helped
him to sit. I said, "Last medical class is today." I shifted out right
in front of him. He just stared at where I had been, for a long time.
The next day, after confirming my departure with the Med Admin, he
informed the Council. Some of them actually cried. Then they wanted to
name a day after me. He said, "I know he wouldn't want that. He wants
us to be who WE are, not like who he is, because we're all different
people." One said, "But you are like him." He said, "No, I'm not. I am
something like him in some abilities and a little of his knowledge, and
maybe a lot less in some minor qualities, but nothing else. He would
say he helped me to become who I am, which is not him, but a better me.
And that's what he wants for all us, what I want to work for." He said,
"In honor, I think you are the same." Marcel said, "He told me I would
hear something like that here." Some smiles and chuckles, but serious
nods, too.
Word spread that I was gone. Some expected crime to increase
dramatically. it didn't. I had warned the crime bosses, and they took
that seriously. The boys were far from serious about how I did it.
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Grant
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