Sacrifice

Chapter 30 - The Theater

Kalli met Bhirdan near the small café that he had specified in his communication. They headed down a side street.

"I hear you've been changing the way things are done," Kalli said.

To her surprise, Bhirdan blushed. "I thought to take your advice, but I didn't intend to create waves."

"Well Dr. Iridan is thankful."

Bhirdan stopped and gave her an odd look. "What's your science teacher got to do with it?"

"She's solved the problem with the solar radiation and your communication array," Kalli answered.

"Oh."

Kalli inspected him. "Why? What were you talking about? Making waves?"

Bhirdan winced. "I'm surprised you didn't hear about the happenings in the parliamentary council."

Kalli gave a shrug. "I don't care much for politics, so I don't follow it."

"Well you certainly affected politics. I took your advice and looked into the Cirts ... they seem like a harmless people. So yesterday when some prominent noble men presented a bill requiring Cirts to register their movements whenever they leave their compound I took a position against it. The result was a shouting match in the highest court of the land and the bill was rejected.

Kalli slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you Bhirdan. You're a good man."

He led her down an alley way. "I'm glad you think so, my father certainly ripped into me in private afterwards."

Before Kalli could say anything else Bhirdan rapped smartly on a metal door, and it swung open. Bhirdan allowed Kalli to precede him.

A small wiry man met them inside the threshold with numerous bows and a wide smile. "My Lord Prince, dear Lady, I cannot tell you how honoured we are to perform for you. We've all been working very hard to make your evening spectacular and, with my Lord Prince's permission, we are considering adding this to our permanent repertoire."

Kalli looked to Bhirdan for a hint of what was going on, but he just smiled. "That's an inspired choice Rickerson."

Rickerson continued to beam at the two of them as he ushered them towards the front of the building, which Kalli soon discovered was a theatre house. Once they were installed in a large gallery box centred on the stage, Kalli looked around.

"We appear to be the only ones here," she commented. "Are we early?"

"This is a private performance," Bhirdan answered. "They'll start once we're settled."

"Start what?" Kalli asked, not trying to hide her impatience.

Bhirdan just smiled as the lights dimmed and the curtain swung back.

# # #

Two figures stood alone on the stage, a young man in tattered clothes and an older woman in a simple neat gown.

"Who goes there?" asked the woman.

The young man replied, "a man who is hungry and who thirsts, will you help me? Give me work so that I may earn bread?"

But the woman was unimpressed by his plight. "We want no beggars here, go away from this place and bother another."

Kalli's eyes were wide with delight as she heard the words spoken that she had read so many times.

"You got them to perform Not a Hero?"

Bhirdan knew that he was grinning like an idiot but couldn't help himself. "Yes. You did say it was your favourite."