In 2048, after 34 years of bloody war on Earth between anthros and humans, the world was practically divided into three parts:
- The anthro (furry) Federation (also known as the South)
- The human block of Far Eastern States (the East)
- And the Uni...
Fragment of "Afternoon Conversations" from August 9, 2049
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(conversation and thoughts in English)
...
Journalist: Alright. Allow me now to move on to the latest event, which you have undoubtedly heard about...
The woman spoke, then looked at her guests with a polite smile on her face. Quite specific guests. One might say, interesting.
They were three high-ranking officers. They were dressed in elegant jackets. They looked ahead and at each other. Smiles were on their faces, but also more calculated and restrained expressions, which could indicate their professionalism.
One of them was practically an old man. He had thick gray-white beard and hair, and wore corrective glasses on his nose. His face was quite wrinkled and his eyes slightly closed, yet it seemed to be the most serious. Despite this, he sat quite calmly and relaxed in his chair, stroking the fur of his gray cat, which dozed carelessly on his lap.
The second one could be said to still be a young man with distinctly adolescent facial features. However, this was just an impression – he was in his early thirties. He had dark green eyes and a rather round face, on which rested a warm expression that, nonetheless, seemed quite elegant and appropriate for the situation.
In the middle sat the most important among them. A twenty-something, not overly robust man with a very intriguing gaze. He looked at the table where the journalist sat, clearly deep in thought.
Journalist: Today, around eleven o'clock our time, the rebellions of the last partisan units in the larger American URH region were officially suppressed. The leaders of the uprising announced their surrender, and all the rebels were interned.
Journalist: I would like to ask what you think about this and what actions will be taken next.
The woman said, then slightly nodded her head, signaling to her interlocutors that she was listening.
Especially to the old officer.
???1: Hah, hah!
The old man laughed unexpectedly with his resonant voice. His facial expression changed just as suddenly. Someone who didn't know him might even ask themselves where he found or had so much energy.
???1: What happens to them is not for me to decide!
He said with a generous voice.
???1: Our friend Milton is in charge there, so it will depend on him what decision he makes. He is a great, experienced man, so I believe he will definitely make the best decision. After all, I conquered Europe with him!
The green-eyed man turned to the old man, also with a smile plastered on his face. He leaned his elbow on the table.
???2: Surely such things are not forgotten, right Janis?
The gray-haired man turned to the officer with the round face.
???1 (Janis): I'll tell you more! Such things are remembered for a lifetime, Raphaël.
He sighed deeply - in this sigh, there was a hint of nostalgia.
???1 (Janis): I still remember riding into Berlin alongside him!
???1 (Janis): Just to think, it was only a year ago!
???2 (Raphaël): Wasn't it two years?
The old man raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
???1 (Janis): Hey, has it really been that long?!
???1 (Janis): For Human glory, how time flies by!
He shook his head, looking at the floor.
???1 (Janis): Hah!
???1 (Janis): As we say in my language... Πάντα ῥεῖ!
Journalist: Mr. Tsimkis...
She interrupted very politely and tactfully, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere. The old man looked at her with a slight smile.
Journalist: ...surely those times were very interesting, but you were and still are a great general, as well as a wise leader of the South Asian Region. Of course, you are right in saying that General Milton holds power in the American Region, which is an undeniable fact. However, given your experience in fighting the enemy, you must have developed your own...
She smiled gently and slightly moved her half-open hand in his direction.
Journalist: ...opinion.
The old man nodded. He also gently stroked his fluffy pet, which quietly purred with comfort and pleasure. His face took on a somewhat more serious expression. He adjusted his glasses.
Janis Tsimkis: Betrayal is really a difficult act to forgive. If someone has done it, they should be punished.
The bearded man looked at his cat.
Janis Tsimkis: However, I believe that people are in part like kittens. They like to walk their own paths. They are very curious.
He again turned his head towards Raphaël.
Janis Tsimkis: We both know that very well, don't we?
The old man laughed, which the younger officer reciprocated with a warm expression, yet still looking ahead.
???2 (Raphaël): Sometimes I would say, almost too well.
The gray-haired man nodded again, then once more ran his powerful hand through the soft, fluffy fur of the cat.
Janis Tsimkis: That's true.
He turned again to the journalist.
Janis Tsimkis: However, one must learn how to pet a kitten. You can't do it too strongly, or the poor kitty will get squished. Against the fur also no, because they don't like that.
He slightly raised his index finger upwards, as if in a teaching gesture.
Janis Tsimkis: You have to feel it right and touch in such a way that it begins to feel attachment. Then, despite its nature, it will become extremely close to a particular person.
Janis Tsimkis: This way, it surely won't leave you.
He spread his arms and warmly looked at his colleagues.
Janis Tsimkis: Our trio in this studio and Milton are still learning this. But each of us has made progress.
Janis Tsimkis: We are certain that such a situation will surely not repeat itself.
He nodded his head, then began to gently stroke his cat again.
Journalist: Alright. Now maybe you, Mr. Leront, could express your opinion?
The green-eyed man slightly nodded his head.
Raphaël Leront: Generally, my opinion is similar to my friend's...
He began. From his tone, it was clear that he would be factual in this matter.
Raphaël Leront: The issue related to this uprising should be resolved by our American friend.
Raphaël Leront: As for my opinion, certainly a good decision so far has been the internment of those people...
Raphaël Leront: ...or maybe I should have said...
He slightly raised his eyebrow.
Raphaël Leront: ..."non-humans".
Then he lowered it.
Raphaël Leront: If this had not been done, they could still pose a threat to others – that much is obvious.
Raphaël Leront: However...
He raised a finger upwards.
Raphaël Leront: ...it seems to me that the punishment for them should be particularly severe.
Raphaël Leront: People should know what happens to those who listen to the demons of the South and oppose the common good.
He paused, then looked at the floor for a moment. He scratched his cheek and then raised his gaze again.
Raphaël Leront: Unfortunately – as long as these monsters exist, the world will not know real peace.
???3: ...right.
Said the bald officer unexpectedly, but with a calm, subdued voice.
???3: ...as long as they exist...
He again paused his statement, lost in thought. However, a moment later, his eyes, clouded with thoughts, seemed to return to reality. Then he also realized that the attention was now focused on him.
???3: Oh.
He smiled and lifted his hand from his thigh as if to say sorry.
???3: I apologize, Raphaël, for my interruption. I hope it's all right.
Raphaël Leront: No, no, no.
Said the officer with a sincere, friendly voice and shook his head.
Raphaël Leront: Please continue.
The bald military man slightly lowered his head upon these words, then took a deep breath...
...exhaled...
...lifted his head and opened his mouth.
???3: The question was about the Americans, right?
He asked in a polite tone.
Journalist: Yes...
She replied, slightly puzzled by the question.
Journalist: We were talking about the uprising that fell a few hours earlier.
The bald dictator looked into her eyes.
???3: It evidently had to happen this way. Pride always precedes a fall.
The journalist smiled nicely and appropriately.
Journalist: Do you perhaps have, Mr. Rozescu, a more extensive view on this topic?
Rozescu: Heh, heh.
He chuckled under his breath.
Rozescu: I think similarly to my closest companions sitting beside me. However, if I may, I'd like to add one thing.
The man leaned forward slightly in his chair.
Rozescu: People have their own free will. They can do literally what they want and desire with full awareness of their actions.
Rozescu: Unfortunately, it's like with a cart or with Sisyphus. A certain Greek king from Ephyra.
Rozescu: I don't know, probably Janis has heard more about him.
Saying this, he smiled in a friendly gesture towards the gray-haired, bearded man stroking his cat, to which Janis just slightly nodded his head and reciprocated the gesture.
Rozescu: But returning to the cart and Sisyphus.
Rozescu: People have to pull their weight and burden upwards. Just like Sisyphus with his stone. They are compelled to do this by life. It's "Hope" that pushes them. I've been repeating this for years.
Rozescu: Yet, they are left with feelings of being overwhelmed or even a sense of futility.
Rozescu: Which appears even in spite of the mentioned "Hope".
He slightly moved his arm. In the meantime, the bearded man lowered his gaze to his cat and sighed.
Rozescu: It's about, among other things, fighting against bestiality, but it can also be related to other aspects of our life.
Rozescu: Of course, it is difficult and demanding.
Rozescu: However, one must ask oneself a question.
He lowered his voice and raised his slightly bent finger towards the interviewer.
Rozescu: Who is the real winner?
Rozescu: Is it the one who decided to abandon the "pointless" work, or the one who stayed and keeps pushing the stone forward?
Rozescu: Who defies "normal logic" and continues to believe?
Rozescu: Who, despite the apparent absurdity, forges ahead through their life – as Albert Camus wrote?
Rozescu: Who, despite the desire to submit to the enemy and bestiality, still remains a "Human" and is faithful to it?
...
There was a moment of silence. The bald general lowered his hand and straightened up in his chair.
Rozescu: We see in this case that the "probestial" option here has suffered defeat. Traitors will be punished, but I'm not sure that's really what this is about.
Rozescu: It might sound strange, but humanity is capable of finding some meaning in the greatest of absurdities.
Rozescu: It's about the idea of man, but also others of various colors and shades.
Rozescu: However, years passed, and during the war, I noticed at one point that humanity had changed.
He paused.
Rozescu: Practically no one takes pleasure in their work anymore. No one likes "absurdity".
Rozescu: As if a certain foundation of "Hope" had died. Joy of life. One of our meanings.
Rozescu: We all know who ruled in those times, so we should ask ourselves.
Rozescu: Did their actions somehow cause humanity to lose this skill and attitude?
Rozescu: Did they almost deprive us of our own identity?
He tilted his head to the side.
Rozescu: Therefore, also in this matter, I would like to ensure that everything they stole from us comes back. That nothing similar to what happened in America happens again. That the foundation is returned to us.
Rozescu: And if that does not happen, then with these hands...
He raised his hands.
Rozescu: ...I will establish that foundation.
...
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July 12, 2048, 7:48 a.m., Greater Caucasian Region URH, Kartlia-Kachetia subdistrict, Tbilisi
