The Trining : REHEARSING THE LIE by Jay Squires |
NEW TO “THE TRINING” ADVENTURE? There are summaries beginning with Cha. 2 and continuing to Cha. 14 What follows is a summary of Cha. 15 PART 1: Doctrex lays the last of the groundwork necessary to explain to an unsuspecting Klasco how his little Sarisa was the one who had pulled him from the lower plane to theirs, completely bypassing Kojutake. He starts by using an extended metaphor by comparing Axtilla’s Kojutake with Disneyland. While Klasco compliments him on his marvelous story-telling skills, Doctrex tells him that Axtilla’s Kojutake is a true story and he needs to accept the truth of it in full if he is to accept the final huge truth. PART 2: Klasco reaffirms their Brotherhood—that there is nothing that would change that. When Doctrex completes the story in full, however, Klasco explosively disavows their allegiance. Doctrex agrees to get off the wagon, but Klasco, while disgusted with Doctrex’s fraudulence, explains the needs of the province is greater than their personal differences. Chapter Sixteen
Part 1 Our feet clacked down the highly polished floor of the first of several hallways that would take us to the chamber of the Council of Twelve. "For the purpose of military protocol," Klasco whispered to me, "your surname is Braanz, the same as mine. You have come from the Far Southern Province of Lumen. I've been there. It's very small. It shouldn't draw any questions from the Council. Use whatever powers of invention you need—you should have no trouble with that— but remember them. You may speak with several members individually and they will compare notes later. Then again, since you are my brother they may accept it on my authority. I think that will be the case. Now, tell me about yourself." "I am Doctrex Braanz from Lumen. You are my older brother." He gave me a sidelong glance. "Are you sure of that? Well, okay, I am your older brother. They know some of my history, not all. My father died when I was young. My mother raised me—us." "Our father died when we were young. Our mother raised us. Okay. Where? Where did she raise us?" "That's right. In Klaarkin. Mother remarried when I was three." "That's three-D?" I asked, after multiplying three by five, and trying to act casual. "Three-D, yes—of course!" We turned down another hallway, lined on either side with marble-like busts of—I assumed—former Kabeezan dignitaries, sitting atop polished wooden pedestals. "I didn't like my new father and left." "When?" "I don't know, three-d and a quardo probably." I added a year to the fifteen. "And, when would I have left for Lumen?" "What do you think … about four D?" "That's good. We couldn't be expected to remember those things exactly." We clacked along without talking. Lumen, I rehearsed. About four-d. Klaarkin Doctrex Braanz. Rounding a hallway corner ahead and coming toward us at a fast clip was a tall man with a bald head, except for a fringe the size of an index finger just above his ears. His face was ruddy, bordering on the red of one who held his breath too long. "Mr. Braanz," he said, extending a hand. They shook briefly, and then he looked over at me, appraisingly. "Britold," Klasco said, "meet my brother Doctrex Braanz. "Ah-ha! I'm happy to meet you, Mr. Braanz." "Please call me Doctrex," I said, putting out my hand. Klasco cleared his throat. "Oh, I couldn't, Mr. Braanz." He glanced over at Klasco and his face seemed to grow even redder. "Well, I'd better be going." "One thing, Britold. You remember three brothers coming here to enlist?" "Oh, yes, to find anyone to volunteer to enlist—but here were three volunteers!" "Yes, Britold, but you only allowed two to enlist." "That's true, but one was unfit to enlist." "Britold, we are forced to conscript boys of three-D's. He's as strong as any two of them. And, while he might be slower at thinking he will stand beside his brothers and fight. He will do everything they say, and without questioning. They will be his mind." Britold looked doubtful, but he said nothing. "Did you present your decision to the Council, Britold?" "No, Sir." "His given name is Zurn." He spelled it. "Same surname as his brothers." To me he added, "I don't remember the surname, do you?" I shook my head. "But, you have it in the enlistment logs, don't you?" "Yes, sir. I've forgotten it, too." He looked momentarily unfocused. "So you want me to ...?" "You know where my box is, Britold? I want Zurn's enlistment papers in my box before I leave today. I'll take it to him on my way home." "I'll attend to it right away, sir." He shifted his eyes to me, smiling nervously. "My pleasure, Mr. Braanz." Turning on his heel, he left the way he came. After he disappeared around the corner, we resumed walking. At the end of the hall we turned in the opposite direction as Britold, proceeded a short distance and stopped at a great door, ornately carved out of rich, dark mahogany. "Are we ready?" Klasco asked me. Doctrex Braanz. Lumen. Klaarkin. About four-d. "Yes, I believe I am." #
Klasco pushed open the door and I followed him into an entry room with the far wall constructed entirely of glass, except for a smaller door to the right. Behind the window, seven men sat at a large rectangular table. They were talking, but no words penetrated the glass. An attractive woman sat behind a desk to the left as we entered. She smiled at us. "Mr. Braanz," she said. "The Council convened a while ago. Were they expecting you?" "No, Shamora," he said. "If you would kindly tell them I have some business to discuss with them. Also, I would like to have my brother accompany me as a guest." "Yes, sir," she said, standing and adjusting her dress so it fell evenly below her knees. "I'll be only a moment." By now the men had seen us. A few were waving at Klasco and smiling. But they were apparently observing protocol by having the receptionist explain our reason for being there without advance notice. Klasco said to me while she was gone: "I forgot to mention you were the Chief Magistrate over Lumen's Police system." "You mean Chief of Police?" "I don't know Chief of Police. You were the Chief Magistrate." I added Chief Magistrate to my rehearsal. "You forgot to mention it? Thanks." My sarcasm didn't penetrate his demeanor. "You're welcome." The receptionist returned, holding open the door. "You may go in, now." "Gentlemen," Klasco began, after we were seated, "I hope you'll forgive my barging into the chambers without giving due notice of intent." "We need not rest on formality, dear friend," a distinguished older man with silver hair and trimmed, silver moustache, said. His smile was easy and genuine. "It's always an enjoyable interruption any time you visit." There was jovial agreement around the table. The older gentleman was quite obviously the group's leader. "Thank you, High Count. If I may be given leave to introduce my brother to you?" "I'd have you introduce him to Gylo Typp, though, not High Count." "As you wish," he said, visibly relaxing, "Gylo, Gentlemen, please meet my brother Doctrex Braanz. Doctrex, these are the members of the Council of Twelve." I stood, conscious of squaring my shoulders, as I imagined a Magistrate would. Smiling, I offered a slight bow. "I'm honored." Something strange seemed to be happening to me. I had planned on saying, "I'm pleased to meet you." My mouth was ready to form the words when "I'm honored" came out instead. Gylo appeared impressed, though, so it wasn't a bad substitution. "Please—be seated, sir." To Klasco he said, "I didn't know you had a brother." "We left the nest at different times—I first and he later. When he traveled to the Far South I lost contact with him for a while." I nodded at the appropriate places. "Where did you live in the Far South?" Gylo asked me. I made sure I looked him steadily in eyes as I told him. "A village by the name of Lumen." I had planned on leaving it at that, but something in me continued, "Have you heard of it?" He shook his head. I glanced at the others. No one's face registered recognition. Klasco picked up on it. "Doctrex is Chief Magistrate of the Lumen Police System, as well as the surrounding village seats." Gylo laughed, showing white teeth. "If I'm not mistaken, someone's mighty proud of his little brother." It was Klasco's turn to laugh. "Well, yes, I suppose I am, Gylo. Here I am a lowly farmer and my brother protects the peace for—how many—seven village seats, and Lumen?" "Eight … but, Brother, it's not one person who protects the peace. Each village seat has its Vice Magistrate, all very capable, but also protective of their individual jurisdictions. My job is to try to keep them from tripping over each other." "Indeed!" Gylo said; while Klasco and others of the Council included me in talk of sundry matters, I noticed Gylo was indirectly studying me. Klasco apparently noticed this as well, for when he had a chance to break away from the conversation with the others, he seized the moment by addressing Gylo: "This brings me to the reason why my brother and I traveled to Kabeez and to the Council." All eyes were now on him. "And, what is that reason, Klasco?" Gylo asked. "Doctrex didn't come to visit me out of a desire to reconnect with his brother." I interrupted him with a laugh that sounded genuine enough. A part of me that I was confused by and not liking too much, didn't want him to control such a vital statement of intent. Words and thoughts were formulating in my mind. "I don't think you give your lovely family's hospitality enough credit, brother. Certainly, I had an important reason to be with you, but, don't underestimate my selfish desire, being a bachelor, to be coddled, to be spoiled by your family." The Council joined Gylo in laughing at my admission of human weakness. When their laughter ended, their smiles and their eyes remained fixed on mine. Klasco, too, was smiling but in a rather confounded way. I was sure he wondered where in the world I was going with all this. I wasn't sure myself—yet. There was an isolated, dispassionate part of myself that was taking everything in. I was waiting for an urging from it. I could feel it coming on now. [PLEASE WATCH FOR THE 2ND PART OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN TO POST SOON]
CAST OF CHARACTERS
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Jay Squires
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