Miracle (boyxboy)

Chapter Twenty-Five

By morning I was puffy-eyed and dog-tired. I hadn't really slept, other than a feverish nightmare where I'd watched Ezra get put to death over and over again in a hundred gruesome ways. As the early morning light started to creep across my ceiling, I braced myself for an inevitable erection.

It never came, though.

What I did have were abdominal cramps. I must have worried myself into a case of indigestion over the course of the night. I crawled out of bed and into the bathroom, spent some time on the toilet, and took some antacids. Then I showered and went back into the room to put the Swan's calendar on the television.

He'd canceled his morning appointment, but there was another one at eight-thirty A.M.

Wow. It was scheduled to go all day, until four-thirty in the afternoon. If I hurried, I might have a few minutes to talk to him. I'd been too shocked last night to be able to ask him more about Ezra's situation, but maybe I could get in a question or two before he got on with his day.

I pressed the unlock button for my door, and a minute later got a confirming beep. When I opened the door I was surprised to see the Swan standing there.

"Rough night," he observed, looking me over. It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway. I was feeling queasy. "Come downstairs and let's get you some breakfast. We have things to talk about."

In the kitchen, he rolled up his sleeves. "I can do pancakes," he said, and I winced. "Not a fan, eh? How about an omelette?"

That was better, though I wasn't sure I could eat. He began pulling things from the refrigerator, and gestured with the point of a knife for me to take a seat at the island counter when I tried to help. "You look like hell," he informed me. "Just sit, I'll take care of things. You saw my calendar for today?"

"Yeah, I'll lock myself in before eight-thirty."

"Actually, it's not that kind of appointment."

Well, that was a first.

"I'd appreciate it if you remained out of sight, however. The patron who's coming to see me is Ariel Mekas."

"I know that name," I said slowly.

"Everyone in Enoch's Peak knows him. He's one of the council members, and he's Chief Medical Officer at Elioud Biogenesis. He is also Ezrael's father."

I inhaled. "His... father?" The information penetrated at the same time that my brain located the memory it was looking for. Doctor Ariel Mekas, the man named in Mrs. Moss' lawsuit. He'd tried to talk her into an abortion. He'd promised her Timmy would be fine, then refused to admit what they'd done to him.

That Ariel Mekas was Ezra's father?

"On any other day Ariel and I would be engaged in the usual business, but as you can imagine, today he is in need of a different kind of fortification. His son's case will be reviewed and judged by the council, and he's had to recuse himself due to the conflict of interest. He's asked me to watch the live broadcast with him and help strategize."

"Why you?" I asked.

"Well, I have connections and I'm sure he plans to ask for a few favors. And he's a widower. He has no one else to lean on through this, but he knows I have a soft spot for him." The Swan winked as he flipped his omelette pan. "I can't help myself, he's such an adorable grumpy-wumpy bear."

"But if the council's going to judge Ezra today, what is there to strategize about?"

"Ah, the judgment rites are just the first phase, on day one. Once the council has decided on the things Ezra is to answer for, then come the advocacy rites on day two." He set a steaming plate in front of me. "That's where members of the community can speak to the council to encourage clemency or rigor in sentencing. Everyone who wishes to say something will get the chance. The council weighs everything it hears when deciding on punishment. They'll adjourn for the evening, consider things individually overnight and then together as a group the following morning. The final phase occurs on the afternoon of day three, when everyone gathers again to hear the outcome."