The Cauldron Is Watching

By David J. Wighton

The attack on the Cosmos' new Minister of Justice began when somebody took a picture of his three daughters. That led to their kidnapping and an extremely high ransom demand. Even though Winnie paid the ransom on time, the kidnappers demanded another payment that would cripple Resolute financially. His attempt to have the Cosmos pay the ransom went nowhere. It actually made things worse because Resolute was pressured to resign his position of Minister of Justice. He was told that this was the only way he'd recover his daughters. With the real intent of the kidnapping now revealed, Winnie told Resolute that she wouldn't be playing nicey-nicey any more.

If you had kidnapped three very important hostages and had to find a place to hide them along with the first ransom payment, who would you call on for help? Obviously, you would put them on a moon controlled by witches who, along with their black cats, could use magic to cast a spell on any rescuers. Changing them into drooling idiots was only one of the possible spells. If that wasn't bad enough, humans had no defense against three witches, three black cats and their magic spells.

Seeing how this was now a virtually impossible mission, Winnie went back to Earth and took up a new career as a snow shovel salesperson. OK, I'm lying about that. What I can tell you is she used three empty toy water pistols, some duct tape, and a panther/human task force to capture the witches and kidnappers.

Of course, capturing the witches was only the beginning. Next they had to persuade the kidnappers to reveal who had ordered the attack on Resolute. That task fell to Kyty and her two bickering children who argued about everything, including who was going to eat which kidnapper for supper and whether it was alright to wash their supper's face with their tongue and check for tender flesh with their fangs. The result was fang-tastic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David J. Wighton
• Release date: Oct 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005702366

David J. Wighton

David Wighton is a retired educator who enjoys writing youth novels when he's not on a basketball court coaching middle-school girls. The books in his Wilizy series peek at how people lived after the word's governments collapsed in the chaos that followed the catastrophic rise in ocean levels and the disappearance of the world's last deposits of oil. Luckily today, in the 2080s, the citizens of Alberta are safe because their It's Only Fair society uses brain-bands to zap people whenever they break a rule. That way, all children grow up knowing the difference between right and wrong. Unfortunately, they're also taught that women's ankles need to be covered so that men can't see them and turn into perverts. Plus, no-one in Alberta can have babies any more because the government manufactures them in a way that ensures that no child has an unfair advantage over any other child. All of this makes sense to Alberta's dictator, but not to Will and Izzy – two teenagers who are decidedly different from everyone else.Wighton's novels have strong teenage characters driving the plot and facing challenges that, in many respects, are no different from what teenagers face today. His novels are intended to entertain and readers will find adventure, romance, suspense, humour, a strong focus on family, plus a touch of whimsy. Wighton also writes to provoke a little thought about life in today's societies and what the future might bring. Teachers may find the series useful in the classroom and the novels are priced with that intent in mind.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It was the beginning of May. The Cosmos Vice President was continuing an interrogation that had been interrupted because of a publishing quirk of fate.

Justice, you've mentioned that a non-Angelion woman discovered the cure for Angelion's supposed genetic disorder. Would you say that she fills an important position in Heaven?

I'm not familiar with Heaven's hierarchy, Minister.

Who is the CEO?

Her name is Queen Guinevere.

How do you know that?

She's listed as Heaven's CEO in the Cosmos Planetary Guide.

What's the name of the scientist who found the cure for Angelion's DNA quirk?

Her name is Guinevere.

Is Guinevere a common name in Heaven?

I do not know, Minister.

How did you know that the scientist's name was Guinevere?

I met her as part of my duties when I was investigating the atrocities of Angelion.

What did you think of her?

I thought that she was very capable, Minister.

Was it your opinion of her that prompted you to look up Heaven in the planetary guide?

Yes.

Might she be Queen Guinevere's daughter?

The name suggests a connection, but I don't know if Heaven's angels can procreate.

Knowing what you do about planets in the Cosmos, is it common for a normal citizen to have the same name as the CEO?

It's not common.

Let's assume then that this scientist Guinevere is closely connected to the queen, either by blood or by function in Heaven's government. Would that be a viable assumption?

Yes, Minister.

I'll call her Princess Guinevere then. Would you say that Heaven is a matriarchy?

It might be.

So, if Princess Guinevere were implicated in some Cosmos scandal, that would be a very serious matter for Heaven.

Yes.

And if you were also implicated in the same scandal, it would be a career ender for you.

Yes, it would.

Would you say that you would be highly motivated to avoid such a scandal?

Yes, Minister. But...

Would that risk scare you off from accepting a risky assignment?

No.

How many matriarchies are there in the Cosmos, Justice?

I do not know, Minister.

Within the Ministry of Justice, do you know of any high ranking women?

Yes, I know that several women serve on investigational tribunals.

Do they perform well?

I have limited experience with tribunals.

What about justices. How many are women?

Just myself.

How many women are in the Cosmos executive?

None.

How many Cosmos directors are women?

One. She was a recent addition.

Who is she?

Zale Zilio of Blue Skies. She has also served on tribunals.

Given these numbers, would you say that the number of women that fill important positions within the cosmocracy is very limited?

Yes.

Scandalously low?

Yes.

Given your skill levels and the obvious gender inequity that exists in the cosmocracy, would you be highly motivated to try to correct that.

Being motivated is not a crime.

Answer the question.

I would be highly motivated.

Even if it meant that other women in high positions could be affected? Princess Guinevere, for example.

Being motivated is not a crime, Minister.

It is if you get caught, Justice.

# # # # # # # #

I have a case to research now, Reese said to Karita as soon as he entered the house.

Who's the lawyer in charge of the case?

"They aren't called lawyers. Britain has two levels of attorneys. The solicitor meets with clients but is not allowed to speak in court. The solicitor selects the barrister who will argue the case in court. Fiona's the barrister who will handle the trial."

Does she let you call her by her first name in the office?

No. I have to call her Solicitor Stewart.

What does she call you?

Technically, I'm an apprentice and her pupil. She calls me Wiltz when she wants to talk to me, which has only happened once. She has two other apprentices who are senior to me. Only the senior apprentice can appear in court with her. He's in charge of grooming me.

What's the case?

A member of the government is believed to be controlled by one of the crime mobs. MI5 thinks that he might be voting the way they want him to vote. They could be bribing him, they could be blackmailing him, or he could be corrupt all on his own.

That's a first. A corrupt politician.

They have enough evidence to consider charging him. They want Snakeskin, Buckskin, Moleskin and Rumpelstiltskin to help MI5 to decide if they have enough evidence to convict. If not, they want to know what MI5 needs.

If the Skins decide that there's enough, will they be given the job of prosecuting the case?

Yes.

In other words, the Skins will decide if they will make a lot of money. I wonder how long it will take them to decide to prosecute.

If they give bad advice to MI5, their reputation would be hurt. Why are you so down on lawyers?

How does a normal person that can't read faces know when a lawyer is lying, Reese?

I give up.

His lips are moving. What do you have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?

I give up.

Not enough sand.

Fiona has good colors. So do the other apprentices.

I could help you find the evidence you need. We could time travel. I could listen in on conversations.

But that wouldn't be justice, Karita. I have to do everything without using my powers. Maddy can't use her powers to win baseball games. I can't either.

So, you don't need my help at all?

I may need your help but I can't accept it.

How about help writing your reports. You know I can write better than you.

The first time you don't help me, my boss will know.

So, what will I do in my afterlife? Lie around the house reading dictionaries?

# # # # # # # #

We won't be overheard here. This dining room is reserved for the executive and nobody will be interrupting us at this time of day.

Justice said nothing. Yukon Potato was one or two questions away from making the connection between her and Winnie. At least this break had given her the chance to regroup.

My wife and I have been married for thirty years. I have three daughters who are at the beginning of their careers. In Spud, we follow the Cosmos rule that everybody, regardless of gender, has an equal opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the planet.

Yes, Minister.

My wife drops in from time to time for lunch with me. She says that I should show myself to the staff and not hide away in an executive sanctuary. I agree with her, so we eat in the staff cafeteria. So far, nobody has approached us while we're eating.

That's understandable, Minister.

Yes, it is but I'm not used to being feared.

You have unilateral powers to do anything you want to do in your job, Minister.

The directors have power.

Right. Did they make you the new Minister of Justice?

No. Planet Spud had the authority to fill that position. My planet's CEO asked me to replace the former minister because he appeared to be guilty of corruption.

What gave him away?

A fluke accident and a media article from a high ranking aristocrat that exposed him.

Blind luck, then. Call it serendipity for everybody except him.

Yes.

Why am I here, Minister? Why the secrecy?

You aren't under the truth ray now.

Why not?

I want you to feel free to turn me down without consequences.

Am I here because I'm female?

Yes.

I'm happily married, Minister.

Good. You asserted yourself. I'm happily married too. In fact, you and I are here because of my wife. Her name is Orchid, after the flower. She noticed when I gave her the grand tour of the complex that the people who worked in offices were almost universally male. The people who worked in open spaces were primarily females. We see the same thing here in the cafeteria. Men sit with men. Women sit with women. If you were investigating a planet for adherence to Cosmos principles, what would you determine from these observations.

This complex does not meet the standard for becoming a civilized planet.

The directorship of the Cosmos is 95% male. The decision makers in this building complex are all male. I owe it to my wife and three daughters to do something about that. What kind of parent would I be if I didn't?

What do you want from me, Minister?

Back to the Table of Contents

Chapter 2

Same day. The scene has shifted to Kyty-Lytr's comfortable living room on Planet Panther. She's lying on a large cushion. Her guest is sitting on another cushion that is on the floor next to her. He has his back against the wall for support.

Have you been to an animal planet before, Galahad?

I haven't been to many planets at all, Kyty. Heaven has just recently decided that we need an outer space capability.

For trading purposes?

Yes, that's Shields' domain. She has a number of freighters that she uses. My focus is to create an armed presence so that Heaven can defend Earth if that's required.

Who would be attacking you?

Lucifus and Hell. We're in a difficult phase in our relationship right now. Plus, if Earth is to reach civilization status, it needs to develop interplanetary travel. That's part of my mandate as well.

And that's where we come in? Winnie wasn't very clear on the purpose of your visit.

She knows but couldn't say much. CWO transmissions are essentially radio signals that others can hear if they find the right frequency. I'm here to suggest a partnership that could be mutually beneficial. It involves your son.

You're going to take Double-Ought away?

Well, yes.

Good. How much do I have to pay you? Can you keep him until he's not a teenager any more?

I wasn't expecting that response. Winnie said that I would find our conversation interesting.

Double-Ought has been whining and complaining that his sister is receiving special treatment because she's a girl. He says that it's not fair. I offered to geld him, but he seemed reluctant to take up my offer. Why do you want him?

I want him and the Panther.1 saucer. He will enlist in our military forces as a cadet and I will give him military training. I am not offering a long-term position because I know you will need him and the ship. He will return to Planet Panther with a military way of thinking, some discipline, and advanced piloting skills.

Do you have women in your space program?

Yes, of course.

He needs an attitude adjustment around that.

We can do that.

And I give you the ship in exchange for training him.

Yes, but only for a temporary period. We want to use the saucer as a space research lab. We may make adjustments to the ship as part of that research. Any adjustment we make will improve the ship's speed, armaments and defense.

Double-Ought will be there?

Yes. He will be the pilot. He will see what scientists do. That may benefit him or it may not. What level of education has he received?

We are a planet of sentient panthers, not educated panthers. We rely on instinct to guide our decisions. This is sufficient for a good life on this planet. Some of us can read if we have a way to control the pages or if the book is audio. We do not have hands. This is a major barrier to us becoming educated.

And your son?

He likes computer games. And he knows enough about the ship to control it. He cannot maintain the ship because he doesn't have hands.

I saw him flying with his feet as the extension of his brain. I was impressed.

Double-Ought has more intelligence than other panthers, but he has no way to learn how to use it. Not in this planet, at least. How long will you keep him?

It could be a year.

I'll speak to him. Can you wait?

# # # # # # # #

It's about 10 minutes later. Galahad and Double-Ought are in the command center of Planet Panther's saucer ship. Galahad's ship has already left for Heaven without him. He's laying down some rules.

"You will address me as Admiral. I will address you as Cadet. Do not speak in the presence of an officer unless he or she asks you a question or gives you an order. You should now say, Aye, Aye, Sir."

Aye, Aye, Sir.

Can you find your way to Heaven's space port?

I found my way before.

"The correct response is Aye, Aye, Sir. You answered with five words. The correct response is three words. In a battle, gaining microseconds can be crucial. Do you understand, Cadet?"

Aye, Aye, Sir.

Did your mother explain why I am taking you and your ship to Heaven?

Negative Aye, Sir.

"Good guess. No Sir will do."

If your mother didn't tell you anything about the assignment, why'd you agree to come?

She was going to give the opportunity to Luna if I didn't take it.

Good to know. Take me to Heaven, Cadet.

Aye, Aye, Sir. How quickly would you like to get there?

You decide.

# # # # # # # #

Meanwhile, across the Cosmos, Heaven.2 was leaving the gravity of a planet known in the Cosmos Planetary Guide as FN4Y.

Why did you tell them that the cost of a shipment of chocolate was so high? Luna asked. They offered you more than the going rate.

You could hear that from where you were? Shields responded with a question.

Panthers have excellent hearing.

What did you think of their trade committee?

They smelled OK when we took the tour.

Did you hear me when I told them that you were a citizen of Planet Panther.

Yes, I was walking right beside you.

And you heard when I told them that the Cosmos translator chip allowed you to understand them and they would understand you.

Yes.

So why did they not allow you to enter the meeting room? Why did they not say anything at all to you? Not even a greeting?

I don't know. I didn't think about it.

I did. Bigotry comes in many forms. Excluding you from a meeting is one such form. You are a citizen of the Cosmos. You should be treated as such.

But, not trading with them won't change that.

True. But we don't need to trade with them. Heaven can be picky about our trading partners. I can sell way more chocolate than I have in our warehouses. I would not want to associate with these bigots in a social situation, so why would I shut my eyes to bigotry in a business situation?

Where are we off to now?

I'll try one more planet in this cluster. What other books have you enjoyed?

Back to the Table of Contents

Chapter 3

It was mid-May. Double-Ought had been a cadet for two weeks. He was standing at attention in front of Galahad's desk in his office in Heaven's military base. Galahad was behind the desk; Lieutenant Angela135 was standing, at ease, off to the side. Galahad was wearing his stern face.

You're still not getting it, Cadet. In the military, soldiers are organized by ranks. For non-commissioned officers, those ranks are clearly visible from the chevrons on a person's uniform. I am told that you are able to name the ranks indicated by the chevrons. Is that correct?

Aye Aye, Sir.

"I see that you are wearing a modified army cap on