The Word of the Bedlamite

By Robert M. Leger

It's the 1920's

But in an alternate, steam-powered world

Airships, trains, steamboats

Robot cops – Robbies

A soul-grinding prison gulag

A ruler without laws … or pity

A machine that thinks … and plots

A gang of smugglers

A crazy man – the Bedlamite

A plan to change everything, based on …

The Word of the Bedlamite

 

Excerpt: The Control Room

We were in Panama, in what we believed was the main site for the Unit, but I knew instantly the main control panels we were looking at were dead, cannibalized for parts, most likely. So I went around behind them to track the cabling.

It went into the wall quick enough, but on the other side it descended into a mass of snake-like wires and cables, lost in a row of tall cabinets – power units. I scanned the front panels, and quickly found a panel marked "Main Circuits" with two vertical rows of heavy switches.

I finger walked down the right-hand row and read the labels that remained: Air Cond, Outside Lights, Main Halls, but a couple of others had lost their labels. I scanned the left row from the top and saw it instantly, second one down: Control Room. It was flipped off, as were all the others. Likely that meant there had been an orderly shutdown of the plant, instead of some sort of catastrophic failure. Good. Maybe, just maybe…

I scanned the panel below, and there they were: Main Power West and Main Power East.

I figured, what the heck, and flipped Main Power West on. Nothing happened, as I expected. To tell the truth, I was hoping for that. No sparks or flames probably meant there weren't any obvious short circuits. I tried Main Power East. Same thing – nothing.

Okay, next step was to try the switches above. I flipped the Main Halls switch, but unfortunately no lights came on in the hall. Could be all the bulbs were taken – could be the individual switches in the halls were off. Well, I figured, let's just try the Control Room switch – see what happens.

Instantly I heard a thunk, then a hum. Eureka – power to the control room.

I ran back to the control room and around to the front of the consoles. Several had lights glowing under pushbuttons, a row of round lights lit up two-thirds the way up a stack, and one of the monitors looked like it was trying to display a readout – a wheel was turning and a needle moved, then settled back to what must have been the bottom – zero. That made sense. The monitor didn't have any input from any kind of source.

I turned off that monitor, then tried to read the indicator lights, but they were marked in another language – I guessed French or Spanish. I was confused. The power panels had been in English. Why weren't these the same?

Didn't matter. I didn't need these panels to work. I just needed there to be a connection back to ... where was it?

Ah there. On the right, a little indicator light glowing red – there was a live connection to the main unit back in Milieu's headquarters – the site of his 'tower of glory'.

I decided that since I wasn't ready to use that connection just yet, I'd better just turn everything off for now. For one thing, if I could see there was a live connection to Milieu, maybe Milieu could see that this facility, which should have been dead, was now somehow suddenly alive. I powered everything down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert M. Leger
• Release date: Feb 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201376291

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Leaving Town

Walton's Tunnel

I’m not as good as lifting a wallet as Mary, but we were in a hurry. And the mark never knew what hit him. Well, not after the Bulk bumped him.

Gerry, we call him the Bulk, is 300 pounds easy, so even a little brush’ll knock you back, as I’m sure you can imagine.

Of course, it being Christmas helped our plans a great deal. People carrying lots of cash, most of them distracted.

We were outside one of the big emporiums, people rushing in and out, the Robbies busy trying to spot the amateurs sneaking the quick pick hidden under their arm. The Robbies – cops in mechanical suits steaming around, huffing and puffing and clunking - could be spotted a mile away. I guess that was the point, a deterrent.

We knew how to slip by them, not a problem. They had several blind spots, close to them, towards their backs, and they couldn’t turn quick enough to spot someone who knew how to properly lurk.

We needed cash fast, since we had to make it out of town. Thomas, the fourth member of the team, (but I guess you would say, our leader), and Mindy, the fifth, were rounding up transportation. From what I could tell, they scooped up a draft horse from some old milk wagon and hooked him up to a carriage that was in the back of the livery. It would have to do, the police had put two and two together and guessed we had, uh, transferred, you might say smuggled, the old Egyptian royal seals, which we did. Someone, maybe our buyer or our seller, must have let some details slip. That left us in a hurry to get out of town.

We met in the Walton’s Tunnel; the subway line that had been abandoned some years back. This particular stretch had a walkway on the east side, and it curved slightly to the east, so we could only see a little way down the dark passage.

I had restored the lights along these few hundred feet of the tunnel and our spot was a little maintenance alcove on the east, with at least three passages into it from different directions.  But the best part was you had to know it was there to find it.

Me, I’m Harrison. I fix things, call me a tinkerer.

Anyway, Mindy popped in next, and told Mary and me about the horse and carriage. Thomas was waiting up top.

We were waiting for Gerry to give the last of the Robbies the brush.

How much did you get? I asked the girls.

I got 400, said Mindy.

I got five, said Mary, but then she was the best, like I said.

I got two, Gerry said, coming in the north-most passage.

I got three-fifty, I told them. Let’s grab what we need and meet up with Thomas.

We shoved some quick supplies in sacks, Mary grabbing ammo and three small pistols, Gerry taking my small toolbox. He normally carried the big one too, he was the only one who could carry it, but he picked up this lighter one out of habit.

We scrambled up the east side ladder, Mary locking things up behind us.

Gerry at the top leveraged the manhole cover out of the way, enough to sneak a look around. Seeing no one, he slid it the rest of the way and pulled his body through the opening.  But he stayed at the top and as each of us reached him, he gave us a quick tug that almost stood us on our feet in the dark alley.

A fog was lowering, and the streetlights had a wet halo. The corner was dim, flanked by shuttered shops on one side, and an old, abandoned warehouse on the other. The warehouse is our checkpoint before using the ladder entrance to this safe spot, and it has plenty of crates and machines to duck behind, as needed. The sliding door was open a few inches and I could see Thomas was inside, I guessed with the horse and carriage.

Mindy ran the three quick steps to the warehouse door, I followed, then Mary and Gerry.

Inside I smelled the old oil that had been the blood in the veins of the place when it was working. As usual, in various corners, rats ducked into holes in walls or to their nests in the rusting machines.

The big draft horse looked like it was unaccustomed to pulling such a light load as the tall, well-worn carriage. It sniffed a breath in the cooling night air.

We’ve got fourteen-fifty, I whispered to Thomas.

It’ll do. Let’s load up the wagon. Gerry and Mindy, you drive. The rest of us will hide in the carriage.

I didn’t like having Mindy exposed like that, but Thomas was usually right about these things. She would be less, well, conspicuous than Mary. And Gerry could easily handle any horse. And besides that, Mindy was still mad at me.

When Mary and I were inside, Thomas slid the heavy gate open, but it made no noise. I’d fixed and oiled the thing many times and now it never made a squeak.

Gerry ‘hawed’ the horse forward and when we were in the street, Thomas slid the warehouse door shut silently, locked it and climbed into the cab. Mary gave him a gun and had him and me sit on the back seat looking forward through almost drawn curtains, while she stood braced in the center of the carriage, looking out the small back curtain, covering behind us.

Thomas must’ve told Gerry which way to go, because he immediately turned south, which would take us along the river. The old draft horse was in no hurry, and Gerry knew enough to not push him and draw attention. The clop clop of his hooves was about the only sound at first, though I thought I heard some river boat fog horns a few times. The fog was thickening, which was in our favor.  Gerry knew these streets well and made several turns – from what I could tell, this way avoided most of the populated areas. I could sense we were also making our way west, away from the river.

Thomas and I, on opposite sides of the carriage, kept blinking away the moisture of the night, and saw only a few lights glowing fuzzily in the fog. Mary somehow never lost her balance – her many days in the airship, no doubt – and seemed to be relaxing a little.

After a half hour, I began to hear some sounds of other carriages and horses. Though I’d been turned around in my head from our twists and turns, I guessed we were nearing the west gates. That could be trouble.

Gerry, from up top, knocked on the front of the carriage and Thomas opened the portal to talk to him.

Near to Pepper’s Gate, he spoke to us in a low voice. Keep your heads down.

Now I knew exactly where we were. Pepper’s Gate was on the west side of the city and would have little traffic, and few guards. I tried to calculate what big Gerry and little Mindy would have looked like driving the carriage but shook off the thought. Nothing for it but to bluff our way through.  The three of us inside tucked away our guns and, at Thomas’ example, slumped down in our overcoats, turning up the collars and pretending sleep. I crossed my arms in front of me, but Mary’s arms were buried in her cloak pockets – I had no doubt she had a pistol in each hand.

We slowed and I could hear carriages in front and behind.  I prayed silently we didn’t stop because that would mean they were actively checking our tags, our IDs, at the gate.

We kept moving and I could hear voices. It sounded like, Move along. Keep moving.

Good. That meant the guards weren’t looking at IDs, probably. Maybe because it was too cold and foggy, maybe because the Pepper Gate was unimportant, maybe because they were looking down, at their comm units, wondering what today’s Rumbling was. 

We slowed, but never stopped, and I never heard Gerry do more than grunt at the guards.  Still, we kept pretending to be sleeping while we plodded along.  I guess Gerry knew some of the roads beyond the gate too, because we turned left and right several times. After about fifteen minutes, I heard him say Whoa! and the carriage lurched to a stop.

He knocked on the portal again and Thomas spoke to him. No trouble?

Nope. They weren’t looking for anybody.

Okay, then head for Mapleton. You know the back way?

Sure. You got it. Settle back.

But before we started again, he called back. Hang on a sec. Mindy’s coming down. 

Okay, Thomas said, and we heard Mindy scramble down and make her way to the carriage door. She climbed in and I gave her my cloak. She was shivering and leaned into me a little for warmth, though I could still sense her anger.

Thomas rapped on the front panel. Okay, let’s go. Let me know when we’re close.

Okay, Gerry said. I could hear him adjust his position on the seat and we rambled off.

Mindy and I pulled our coats tight and after a while we must have dozed off because the next thing I knew we lurched hard to one side. The road had turned rough and it didn’t take much more shaking of my head to rouse me. I noticed Thomas wasn’t in the carriage – apparently he’d climbed up top with Gerry while I slept and was guiding him to our redoubt, though I didn’t know where that was.

Mapleton was about twenty miles outside the city, but because of the hills and the farmland, might as well have been a thousand. There was a good inn there, I remembered, and I hoped that was our destination, but there were also a few farmhouses where there some people we could trust.  We could have been headed there, too.

It was very dark, but the fog didn’t reach this far inland, and when I looked out the window I could see some stars. The moon must have been bright enough for Gerry and the old horse, because they kept plodding along.

Mindy slept and I, on the other side of the coach, leaned over to get a better look outside, just in time to see us turn to a farmhouse off the road to our right, that had a light on inside. It wasn’t a place I recognized, but I knew Thomas had many contacts and ‘friends of friends’.

As we got closer, I saw a tall bearded man open the front door, holding a long gun, but in a second he must have recognized Thomas, because he waved the gun and called back into the house. I hadn’t noticed at first, but Mary was looking over my shoulder, one pistol in her hand.

We pulled up near the house and Thomas and Gerry climbed down, Gerry to tend to the horse while Thomas, grinning, greeted the man at the door.  They spoke in low tones, but Thomas finally gestured to the carriage, calling us out.

The farmer reached out his large hand. John Hammer, at your service, he said to me.

Harrison Gamble at yours, I replied. This is Miss Johnstone and Miss Howard, I added as they disembarked, referring to Mary and Mindy.

Welcome, welcome. Peace to all. Any friend of Thomas’... The farmer waved us into his main room. And this is my wife. He gestured to a dark-haired woman with a well-lined face wearing a long dull dress and shawl, who looked somewhat suspiciously at us.

Mrs. Hammer, I nodded, doffing my hat.

The ladies introduced themselves with their first names, and Mrs. Hammer revealed hers to be Elizabeth.

Mrs. Hammer must’ve had strangers at her home before because she quickly told us all where to sit and immediately put a kettle on her stove, then another chunk of wood in the fireplace. Whatever suspicions she had, she held in check as she bustled about.  The modest home held quite a few hand-made chairs and tables, but there were also warm rugs on the stone floors and the fireplace was large and warmed the room nicely.  There seemed to be more than one bedroom towards the back of the house – I guessed the Hammer’s children must have grown and gone.

Mr. Hammer helped Gerry put up the horse in the barn, rolling the carriage off to one side. They were gone for a few moments.  The farmer’s wife’s eyes widened in amazement as Gerry came in, easily filling the doorway, but calmed down as he removed his hat and nodded to her politely.

After a few ‘please come on in’ type comments from our host, Thomas got to the point.

Sorry to impose on you, John, but my friends and I are in a bit of a hurry. I promise we’ll be on our way early in the morning. He smiled at the elderly farmer, but I couldn’t help but notice that Thomas didn’t really explain what a group of five were doing out on the road late at night, far from the city.

Not at all, Thomas, Mr. Hammer answered, and I could tell he and our boss had a history.

We gathered naturally near the fire, pulling up chairs. In a moment, Mrs. Hammer began filling mugs with coffee, which we accepted for the warmth despite the late hour. Thick and dark, I suspected she also warmed it with some spirits, though I didn’t see her do it. I certainly didn’t object.

When the conversation calmed, I saw Thomas nod to Mindy, a signal I knew. She reached for her pack and to the Hammer’s surprise, pulled out her fiddle and bow.

If you all don’t mind, she smiled at our hosts, I could play a little tune or two...?

No, no, of course not, Mr. Hammer said with a surprised grin, play away!

Mindy quickly tuned up, then gracefully chinned the instrument. She began playing, a soft tune I recognized, but I never could tell you the name.  A classical piece, with some spirit, but mostly soothing melodies. And while she played, Thomas caught the eye of Gerry, Mary and me. To my surprise, though, he tugged on his ear. I had to quickly turn away to hide my face.

It was the signal to be wary.

Nothing more was made of it, however, and before much longer, the group broke up. It turned out the Hammers had two bedrooms, their own, and one that must have been for their children, whom the old farmer said were in fact gone. The girls took that room, while the three of us men pulled together benches and chairs and settled in as best we could in the main room near the fireplace.

After our hosts had said their good nights, Thomas pulled Gerry and me close to him and whispered, John is acting strange. I don’t know why. But I’ll keep the first watch, just in case.

Gerry and I nodded. This was not altogether an odd routine for us, so we knew we had to sleep while we could, trusting our watchman, and not worrying about our turn.

At any rate, Mrs. Hammer was up very early, and I could tell it was her routine practice to start with breakfast for her husband. Gerry and Thomas roused, but I suspected they had been wakened anyway by John in the barn.

The morning routine proceeded, with Mrs. Hammer preparing us all a good breakfast, including the eggs her husband had brought in.

When it came time to leave, it seemed John was interested in some kind of deal with Thomas, but Thomas dissuaded him. 

We said our goodbyes and Thomas pressed a small sack into the farmer’s hand. There was only a slight attempt at a polite refusal of the money.

Gerry whipped the big brown draft horse on down the road, with the rest of us inside the carriage. I could hardly wait to ask Thomas what the caution was about the night before.

But he only shook his head. In a few moments. I want to get along a few miles, then we’ll stop and I’ll explain it to you all.

The road led through light woods and over small hills. It wasn’t any better than it had been, but not much worse. After a mile or two, Thomas banged on the opening towards Gerry and told him to find a spot to stop.

When we got out, we saw the road was more like a suggestion, and obviously lightly traveled. The grass from the hillside was little disturbed on our path at all. There was a large oak ahead to the right, and more along the path beyond.

Sorry for the mystery, Thomas began after we’d huddled together. But there was something wrong with farmer Hammer back there. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but he seems to have turned.

To First Citizen Milieu, you mean? Mary asked.

Yes. He paused. He definitely wasn’t as friendly as he’s been in the past. And I seem to recall he had a son who wouldn’t have been old enough yet to leave home. He turned to the ladies. Did you see last night any sign of a boy’s living in that room.

Definitely, Mindy nodded, and Mary agreed.

Then I wonder where he was...

Thomas looked emptily down the road. We’ll have to keep going this way. I would have liked to trade our horse for a couple of his walkers – that’s what he wanted, but I couldn’t risk it with that stolen Belgian.

Thomas continued, We’ll head to the coast, Morgantown, and lay low for a while. I’ve got a place nearby and the airship port should keep us in working money, if we’re careful.

He grinned wider, Of course, we may have to do some honest work!

The group relaxed, but I knew Thomas better than the rest of them, and I knew he was still worried.

Gerry, I’ll take over, I said.  I got the best sleep.  Gerry didn’t object.

I climbed up top and let everyone else stay in the carriage. It promised to be a quiet, if maybe a long ride to Morgantown – about 80 miles, if I remembered right. The horse was more than I was used to, but it seemed to be used to working, and plodded along with much prodding.

Anyway, the road wasn’t bad. The fact that it was little traveled meant it had few wheel ruts, and therefore few washouts. I started to relax in the seat, if that was possible.

I listened to the murmur from inside the coach. It sounded like Gerry was expounding on something or other, but I couldn’t quite make it out. At any rate, after a half hour or so, the murmur quieted down.

So I was about three fourths awake when it happened.

First there a lone rider on a horse. I should have noticed how tall he was riding in the saddle – it showed military training, I realized when I thought back on it. He approached head down, coming towards us in no particular hurry.

He passed by, nodding slightly as he did, and I forgot about him after he had gone. I think I noticed him glancing in the carriage, but then anyone would, wouldn’t they?

He’d gone out of sight for maybe three minutes when it came. First the noise of a small squad of horsemen, riding hard towards us from behind. Then shouts, like Halt! Stop where you are! Like that. I turned hard to yell at the team in the coach, but saw pistols and at least one rifle already poking out the windows.

I expected there to be a big mess in about 5 seconds, but then they showed up – 7 or 8 Robbies!

Their loud chunk-a-chunk told of their power, but then so did the multiple weapons. Thomas immediately called out, No, hold your fire! He was speaking to the others in the carriage, probably especially Mary.

We never had a chance. It was over immediately. I guess that was their intention.

I had no choice but to raise my hands high, then climb down slowly, just like one of the Robbies ordered.

The others climbed slowly out of the carriage, Thomas first, helping the ladies, but especially telling them to stand down. Mary had fire in her eyes, but obeyed, holstering her weapons. Gerry came out unafraid, and I believe I saw at least two of the mechanically powered cops take a step back involuntarily.

They’d brought their own transport, of course, the paddy wagon kind. We were quickly searched, cuffed and stuffed inside, and though Thomas repeatedly asked them What’s the meaning of this!, his bluff or moral outrage was totally ignored. Clearly these men were only told to arrest us, they didn’t care why, and they weren’t going to take any guff.  That made it obvious they were Milieu’s enforcers.

We started off immediately, it seemed in the same direction we had been heading.

Thomas had just a few seconds with us alone in the coach before the guards climbed in. He leaned in to us. We’ll have to play this by ear. Try to stay together. If anyone gets free, remember where we were headed. Meet there.

Two guards came in looking very tough, though they flinched a little when they saw Gerry. But the big guy was sitting calmly.

Thomas tried again asking what was going on, but these two weren’t talking either. They just glared at us.

As it turned out, I think we all figured out about the same time where we were headed. I don’t know about the others, but a chill went down my spine.  All I could think was, getting free was going to be a very long shot indeed.

Chapter 2 - Meeting the Bedlamite

Crooks, thugs and ne’er -do-wells rightly feared Bethlehem Prison, but so did many a tried-and-true citizen, most of whom had only been foolish enough to say aloud what they’d been thinking – something they weren’t supposed to think.

Some said the prison had been a mission of some kind, and the monks or whoever it was who stayed there had created cellars to hold their wines, cheeses and perhaps to grow mushrooms, or something. At any rate, First Citizen Milieu had acquired it, and made it suit his purposes. Some said his keepers had improved the facilities with deeper pits and dungeons and rooms for ‘persuasion’.  A dark smoke rose from the furnaces year-round, and the steam engines groaned to power the lights and, likely, powered things that were far from the light. 

These were the rumors, at least. Few knew, because few ever left Bethlehem Prison. Those that did hobble out were badly broken in body and mind. The tales they told were absurd, or so most people hoped. It would be horrifying if those tales were true.

We knew those tales and believed some of them ourselves.  A few moments on the road, a few turns always towards the sun, told us we were headed south. That would be right, we knew. That was the way to Bethlehem. 

We never stopped or slowed on our way there. No one spoke, though Thomas tried to catch each one’s eyes with a look of hope. I tried to touch Mindy’s foot with mine but didn’t want to let the guards see anything. 

My mind was racing, of course. How had they found us? What was the crime we were being arrested for? Could I have done something different? I had been driving – shouldn’t I have seen them coming? I could have warned the guys, maybe.

Well, it didn’t matter, at the moment. We had to deal with what was happening.

Which was?

That was hard to tell.

We heard the prison first, of course. Those steam engines for power. Then other engines – trucks, maybe, or maybe even ... Mechs. There were bound to be some heavy-duty protection forces guarding this place.

We stopped, then we heard what had to be heavy gates swinging open angrily. We moved ahead and the wheels crunched on rocky pavement. Other gates, soldiers giving commands, and we finally stopped. The rear doors opened immediately, and the guards got out quickly. Heavily armed men standing just outside ordered us out. We were shoved along a path, through a heavy door, down a long corridor and into a tiny and very dimly lit room.  The door clanged shut with a heavy thud and we were alone.

Still handcuffed, we sat awkwardly on the benches along the wall.

In a moment, three armed guards threw open the door, then another guard came in, ordering us to turn around. He uncuffed us, and they all left.

I immediately hugged Mindy and Thomas put an arm around Mary and Gerry.

It’ll be ok. Stay strong, he told us all.

I expected any moment we would be interrogated, but for a long time no one came. Finally, the door opened, and rifle-carrying guards ordered us out. In the hall, other guards gestured down a long hallway.  A few twists and turns and down stairs, past other guards, until we began to sense our destination.

We could hear it. The screams, the howls, shouts.

These were the dungeons.

By now there were five guards forcing us along. Another heavy door was unlocked, and the smell staggered us.  This corridor had heavy steel doors on either side of the short hallway. Thomas, Gerry and I were pushed into one room and before we could react, the ladies were separated from us. Gerry rushed the door and almost pushed it open, but the guards just latched it.  We shouted out to the ladies, but it turned out they were only taken across the hall. Small portals in our doors let us just barely see each other, and they waved that they were okay.

We’ll get you out! Gerry shouted, though he clearly didn’t have a plan to do that immediately.

It’s okay! We’re okay! Mary yelled back.

There was little more we could do for the moment. It seemed we were going to stay where we were, so we settled back.

Behind us, the room was grimly filthy, with a bench on one wall, and in the back of the room, a hole in the floor, apparently our toilet. A faucet on the wall was the only other ornament.

It looks like we’re stuck here for now, Thomas finally said.

Do you think they know who we are...or were we just part of some random roundup? Gerry asked.

There was a lot of firepower for just a random roundup. Thomas said. At the moment, they don’t seem interested in talking to us. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

I’m worried about the ladies, I told them.

I know, Thomas said. Me too. But they’re strong and resourceful. They should know what to do.

He walked over to the door, examining the lock and the hinges. Is this going to be a problem? he asked me.

I’d already sized up the heavy metal bolts and locks, and I remembered the latches on the outside of the door. I think I can get us out of this room, but we went through a lot of doors on the way down here. I’m not sure I could find my way to the outside.

Gerry nodded. I counted at least six doors, but who’s to say if there’s an easier way out, or who might be behind some of those doors when we open them.

Thomas thought for a moment. We’ll probably have to stay here and see if they have any plans for us. He walked to the door and shouted out the small window.

Ten, nine, eight he called out. That was our code to see if the others on the team were doing okay.

After a moment we heard Mindy answer back One, two, three. They were fine; they might be able to get free; should they try?

Thomas hesitated, but after a moment called back, Oxbow. Stay where you are for now.

Food arrived later in the day, some kind of gruel in a bowl with one spoon. We knew enough not to refuse it, though that was our inclination.

We kept expecting to be dragged away and interrogated, but no one came, and eventually we decided we weren’t going to be moved that day.

We slept sitting up, not willing just yet to lay on the sticky, reeking floor. I was restless and kept going to the door, looking out for some signs. We heard some low groans but couldn’t be sure they were from our row of cells. Gerry slept soundly.

When it must have been morning, we heard metallic sounds outside the door, in the hall. Thomas looked and saw guards opening cell doors and pushing the occupants down the hall. The guards moved methodically, only opening one cell at a time, making sure those prisoners had cleared the door at the end of the hall before opening the next cell.

Staring past Thomas at the portal, I saw a miserable bunch of men and women, all dressed in tatters, with long filthy hair and expressions like beaten animals. No eyes looked up, most shuffled along with weakness as they went down the corridor. None showed any sign of hope.

The ladies’ cell was opened before ours, and we could see they, at least, still had fire in their eyes. They wanted to say something to us as they passed our cell, but the guards hurried them along.

Then it was our turn. Once again the guards stiffened when they saw Gerry, and two raised their ray-rifles pointing at his chest. But he showed no sign of acknowledging them, and we moved along to the opening doorway.

On the other side and through four doors, up two flights of stairs, we were led. Then, to our surprise another door opened, and we saw natural light, sunlight.

Sunshine break

We were in a large room with high arches on one side, letting in light. The room had nothing in it but the just-released prisoners, most standing alone or collapsed on the floor in the sunlight. But we were only looking for one thing – the ladies.

We rushed to them and exchanged long hugs. I thought about kissing Mindy but decided against it.  

After we exchanged how-are-you’s and I’m-so-glad-you’re-ok’s, Thomas pulled us over to one corner.

Okay, let’s scout out the room, see if there’s anyone here who knows anything.

We mostly split up, though thankfully Mindy stayed near me, and we all began assessing the people who were in the room.

It was a grim picture. Most stood still where they were, rocking back and forth slowly. Some crouched down, muttering to themselves or holding their hands up, protecting themselves against whatever demons were tormenting them.

We tried to speak to several of them but found they either turned their back on us or ignored us completely, as if they never heard us at all. We made our way to the arches, with the sunlight streaming in and looked out. Unfortunately, all we could see was the outer prison wall a few dozen yards away. This must have been just about the only time of day when the sun shone in this room, which now looked like it might have a courtyard. We turned our backs on the sun to feel the warmth and surveyed the room again. One by one, I caught the looks of the others, as they realized there weren’t likely to be people here who would or could talk to us, never mind help us.

But towards the far end of the room was an opening into another chamber. Gerry and I made our way over there, passed through the archway that no longer had a door, and peered in.

The scene before us was both shocking and depressing. First, it was a relatively clean, though abandoned, room, and it clearly had a purpose, mostly likely a place for a teacher and students, or something.

There were rows of chairs, but amazingly, only one person in the room.

His back was towards us, but we could tell he was sitting calmly, not rocking back and forth, not moaning, though he was as shabbily dressed as all the others. He had long gray hair, revealed because he had the cowl of his cloak pulled back. I turned to signal the others, but they had already seen where we were going and were coming towards us.

We stood at the archway, wondering what we were looking at, when Thomas came up next to us, then kept walking right in. He stared in amazement at the markings on the walls but walked right up to the lone man.

Standing in front of him, he said, Sir, may I speak with you?

The man slowly roused, as though he had been awakened, and stared at Thomas intently.

Who are you? the man said finally.

My name is Thomas. I’ve just been brought to this place. Can you tell me what this place is, and what all these people are doing here?

I suspected Thomas was testing the old man, but he continued staring at Thomas, as though he wasn’t sure he was real.

You know what this place is. You know why these people are here, he said simply.

Sir, how long have you been here?

The man shook his head slowly. A long time. A very long time. He looked again at Thomas, then saw him glancing back at the four of us standing in the doorway of the room.

I think his eyes brightened.

You’re not alone. It was a question and a statement.

These are my friends. We were just brought here.

We moved towards the old man, but he did not stir. He only looked each of us in the eyes, long and hard. I thought he was saying something, asking us something with the look, but no words passed his lips.  At any rate, he straightened on the bench. It looked now like