The Trial

Chapter 23 - Edited

It was only yesterday I was at the strange settlement, and today I'm on my way to join the Controller and the Propagandist for lunch. I've never met either of them and they've no business calling me away from my duties to the Keeper. He's already paranoid and this could cause him to have me killed for no other reason than he can.

Rabbi Solomon's sitting in front giving my driver directions to someplace neither of us have ever been. He hasn't told me what to expect when we arrive, which leads me to believe he doesn't know what's going to happen. I've never asked him anything about either of them and have no idea if he's going in every bit as blind as me.

You need to relax and remember to breathe. They may not allow me to do anything physical, but can't believe you don't sense something. It may not be noticeable, but there has to be something reaching some small part of you.

It's the only thing that makes sense. I can't be here as nothing more than a passive observer of my life until they get around to sending the mist. Whatever you cowards are, there must be some purpose to all of this madness.

I'm aware of the eyes and frosted breath that greets every road. They try to conceal themselves in the woods and buildings, but none have been particularly effective. It wouldn't matter if they were, since I won't risk anything now. I'm too close to being the Keeper to make any stupid mistakes which includes acting as if the position's already mine.

I've already decided this lunch will be as quick as possible, since I don't answer to either of them. They may be two of the most powerful people in the world, but I answer to the third. I'll risk nothing. I'll handle myself as his representative to ensure his spies find nothing.

A field of green opens before us, and a gray monstrosity of a house comes into view. Black robes with rifles stand at the ready as we slow, but no one stops us from getting closer. It's an ugly looking building of grays and blacks with snipers on the roof, which tells me one of the two must reside here, and strongly suspect it to the Controller.

We stop with my side of the car facing the only door I see, and Rabbi Solomon gets out slowly with his hands in the air. A guard steps out of the gray door with a rifle pointed at him. He has the air of someone who knows death on an intimate level and won't lose sleep over a few more bodies.

The voice's cold with no sense of humanity in his tone. "State your business."

Rabbi Solomon holds his position as he speaks with a calm voice. "State clerk three is here to meet with the Controller of the State and the Propagandist for the State."

The rifle raises a little, and the voice of the guard chills my bones. "State driver twelve, turn off the car and get out slowly." The engine dies and the door opens as my driver raises his hands upon exiting in a similar fashion as Rabbi Solomon's had. "Keep your hands raised. Move to this side of the car."