Disarm Evil

Chapter 8: Vemo

I'm not sure if I should feel at ease or more alert. Miya and I are operating under the assumption that Hari and ver companions, apparently including the new arrivals, are criminals, and they know where I stand. I am a Rirmevu.

I create some distance from Hari, just in case ve tries to channel Zi's unconsciousness onto me. The young bitu stranger is holding a plank of wood, presumably grabbed before the theft back in Hosudiha, meant to block any darts I may try to fire. Ver clothes seem too big, ver fur is mostly brown with some black stripes, and ver eyes are locked on me.

I need to figure out my next move.

I can't simply knock out Hari and the other two, then leave them to be murdered. I don't even know for certain if Hari and Zi are guilty of any crimes. So I can't touch them unless they needlessly threaten someone's life again. The two strangers, though... I lock eyes with the bitu. They are guilty of theft and need to be punished for it.

"We declare the right to reconcile," a voice, presumably the yetu riding the bitu's back, calls out to me. The words interrupt my train of thought. The right to reconcile. Under its declaration, punishment is put on hold, and the guilty must make up for their transgression under the supervision of law enforcement. At that point, no punishment is dealt. In this instance of theft, they need to return what they have stolen and additionally pay triple a deposit's standard rate of interest. However, the large bag of stolen coins is not visible.

"You cannot enact that right if you no longer have what was stolen," I say.

"We have it on a nearby island," the bitu says.

"If you can prove it, I will escort you to a law enforcement facility, and they will take over from there."

"Very well. Hari, I am so sorry we couldn't have gotten help sooner," the yetu says.

"I would have helped!" shouts the young bitu. "If Jomira hadn't been such a coward-"

"Tai, that's enough," Hari cuts in, "You are young. You probably don't want to hear it, but your presence would not have been helpful. Jomira made the right call, and ve is our captain. You would do well to respect ver judgment."

"That's not true! I could have helped!"

"You could have been killed. We would have had to split our attention between fighting and keeping you safe, and more of us might have died as a result."

"Who died? Are my parents okay?"

Hari looks grave, tears swelling in ver eyes. "Everyone who survived is here, your parents didn't make it. I am sorry."

Tai's eyes widen with terror. "Where are they?"

Hari looks too pained to answer, so I step up. There is no point in hiding the reality of a situation that will be made evident soon enough. "Falling, I'm afraid." These words break Hari, who begins to bawl, but Tai almost looks hopeful despite Hari's dismay.

"You mean they are still alive!"

"No, there is no saving-"

"Shut up! We have wings, we could catch up to them and bring them back!"

"They are not falling!" Hari cuts in. Does ve really intend to lie to this child?

Hari continues, "There is a bottom down there you know. They have likely hit the new crust already. They are certainly dead."

New crust? It seems we have been taught differently. I was always told there was nothing but an eternal fall beyond these cliffs, and I was told on good authority. Hari seems to be misinformed, but maybe it's better to go with ver version of the story, lest Tai jump over the edge believing ve can really catch up and that the yetu would have the strength to fly all the way back up without rest.