The Trial

Chapter 26 - Edited

It's been an uneventful week as the world moves from one Controller to the next as if there had been no loss of life at all. This is a stark reminder that we're all replaceable than placeholders of titles. Death's the only constant and no one's untouchable when the time comes.

Enough of this depressing stuff. Whatever you're feeling, imagine how I feel. Another week stuck in the body of my past. I can feel every ache of your body, but can do nothing about it. The only thing that's truly mine is my mind and my hidden captors will never take it from me.

I receive a message from the Propagandist, which pulls my mind to pleasant thoughts of a bright future. She's going to die, along with the judges, and nothing can stop her life from coming to an end. I'm surprised it hasn't already happened. Maybe the Controller's death sobered her up and brought about a more alert state of being before returning to her drunken state.

The message includes a picture of someone who looks familiar. She has brown hair, which hangs around her, and brown eyes standing out against the paleness of her face. Her smile brings me back to the lunch, and remember who she is. This is the woman who took us inside and led me to the drunken mess to wait for the new Controller.

It's a short message about this woman becoming the next Propagandist. Did the Controller send something similar? He must have, but must've missed it. There had been too many messages from him and one appeared the same as the other. The wording lacks her typical elegance, which means if she was sober, those times are in the past.

There's a knock on the door, and just want to be left alone. Rabbi Solomon's face appears in the entrance with dark eyes telling me it's something important. Adding to my knowledge will have to wait as I nod to let him know he can enter. It wouldn't matter if I had invited him or not, since he would enter regardless. I know that look too well to know he has something important to say and can't wait.

Did you really look this old? I hadn't noticed just how lined his face had become and could've sworn he had the look of youth his entire life. There are those who never seem to age and was certain Rabbi Solomon was one of those fortunate few. The truth's before me and know the memory must be false.

The door closes behind him, and takes a seat without being asked. He's one of two people in the world who can get away with this with no fear of repercussions. Rabbi Solomon and my driver have proven themselves countless times and remain more valuable than anyone else in the world.

His face softens as he smiles and his voice takes on a note of good news. "I didn't want to interrupt, but thought you'd want to know."

Rabbi Solomon's playing some kind of game and I'm in no mood for it. "Just tell me."

He smiles as his voice remains unchanged. "There are two less judges. No one's going to suspect anything."