{"id":10956,"date":"2018-07-06T06:00:03","date_gmt":"2018-07-06T11:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/?p=10956"},"modified":"2018-07-06T06:00:03","modified_gmt":"2018-07-06T11:00:03","slug":"consideration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/?p=10956","title":{"rendered":"Consideration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Literally everything about this is illegal,<\/em> Ezryn thought as she studied the graffiti outside the Temple law enforcement building. Dane was late. Very unbecoming an Officer of Civility. High Rule 14: Respect Other People\u2019s Time. Right there, in the Temple constitution. But Officer Dane Ray played fast and loose with the rules.<\/p>\n

Then, she heard footsteps in the night. She wiggled her hip to feel the reassuring presence of the two-bullet derringer she kept strapped to it. A tall man in a tan trench coat and gray fedora stepped into the circle of light cast on the brick walkway next to her. It was Brown Day in Thank You City. So the tan coat matched, but the gray was a touch scandalous. The man tipped the brim up and grinned at her. Dane. Greatlady Post<\/em> but he was attractive.<\/p>\n

\u201cEzryn Jenn,\u201d His smile grew as he spoke to her. \u201cI\u2019m delighted to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh Rule 14,\u201d she said. Her voice squeaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize,\u201d he sounded sincere, yet unchastised. As though he felt no guilt about violating a High Rule. Sometimes Ezryn felt relieved she\u2019d ended their relationship. Dane seemed to care less and less for The Rules.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you seen this \u2026 lawbreakery?\u201d She gestured at the graffiti list of anti-temple sentiments. They claimed the Temple rules violated the soul of courtesy. Heresy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Theses? They\u2019re peppered all around the city. Also Please City and You\u2019re Welcome Town. So?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo they\u2019re not only in outright opposition to Temple teachings, they\u2019re breaking High Rule 15: Respect Other People\u2019s Space.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. Ez, you didn\u2019t ask to see me after two years to talk about some words on a wall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d She sighed. He knew her too well. \u201cDane, I\u2019m being promoted. I\u2019ve been ordained by His Highship to the Inquisitor position.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWowzers!\u201d She smiled at his nerdy exclamation. \u201cI knew you\u2019d make it, Ez.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Master<\/em> Inquisitor position.\u201d She let the other shoe drop. And Dane\u2019s jaw dropped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, you\u2019ll be one of the Twelve?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded. The Twelve Master Inquisitors were the arbiters of the Law of the Land. They determined whether new laws were in keeping with the Twenty Five High Rules of Politeness. Keepers of the soul of courtesy. Legal arm of the Temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that means you\u2019re leaving Thank You City for the Capital of Civility?\u201d he asked. She nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it\u2019s what I came to tell you,\u201d she said. \u201cThat door you left open for me, well, you can close it.\u201d Make room for someone else, <\/em>she thought with a stab of regret.<\/p>\n

When she\u2019d turned him down, she\u2019d felt like she\u2019d pushed the Light of God outside of her own reach. She had to keep being good and punishing the uncivil to earn back that Light. It was beyond her why Dane of all people most eminated that Light.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll think about that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut Ez, how did you make it so high?\u201d His face was pale, almost frightened-looking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m close to bringing down a ring of Dens. My research found a whole network and we\u2019re tightening the noose soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dens of Iniquity were hidden speakeasies where citizens gathered to be rude. To not pass the salt. To wear mismatched colors and argue. To overdrink and overeat. To speak loudly and interrupt one another and all the things that made Ezryn\u2019s skin crawl.<\/p>\n

There were darker dens, too, where harm was done. Dogfights and worse. These latter dens existed because weak people slipped down the ethical slope from the former, more benign-seeming Dens.\u00a0 Fools thought mere rudeness could not be true evil. Ezryn knew better. Rudeness corrupted. It must be stamped out early.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>She looked up at Dane. He was nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019ve<\/em> been the big boss all along,\u201d he said. \u201cI should have guessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEz, since you left, I thought about what you said. My lack of ambition and how it demonstrated low fervor regarding the High Rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezryn winced. Those were her father\u2019s words. When Dane had asked to court her, he\u2019d given his resume to her father as proof of his suitability. Ezryn\u2019s father disapproved of a simple, Temple beat officer. Not devout enough. The ultimate choice was Ezryn\u2019s, but Respect Your Elders<\/em> carried much weight in her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve been promoted too. I\u2019m under cover in one of those Dens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news hit her like a cart drawn by draft horses.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s so brave! Only our finest go there! How did you \u2026\u201d She trailed off, then looked down, embarrassed by her implied insult.<\/p>\n

But self-deprecating Dane laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. It turns out that being a sloppy officer made some of the denfolk more comfortable around me. So my contacts in low places are really<\/em> to thank for landing me the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded. That made sense.\u00a0 A sudden, desperate plan whirled together in her head. Father would approve now. If he knew what Dane had risked and accomplished for the Temple\u2026<\/em> Dane was the kindest person she knew. Her father\u2019s approval meant she was still good. But Dane could make her happy. Maybe she could be both good and happy?<\/p>\n

\u201cDane, when we bring the Dens down, you could update your resume. Your work wouldn\u2019t be classified anymore\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at her, dazzling joy lighting his face. Then something sly took its place.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey boss lady, you wanna see<\/em> one of the Dens?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?! No. I couldn\u2019t go into <\/em>one. They\u2019re corrupting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m corrupted?\u201d He grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell. That\u2019s different. You have <\/em>to go in. It\u2019s a sacrifice you make.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should see a Den,\u201d he said seriously. \u201cReally see what they\u2019re about. You\u2019re going to be a keeper of the High Rules so you need to see what it looks like when the little rules get broken.\u201d<\/p>\n

She hesitated. What he said made good sense, but childhood warnings to give evil a wide berth whispered in her ear. When she was a child, her father had made sure she\u2019d followed the rules and kept them in her heart. She once sassed her father and had been sent away to her room for the rest of the day\u2014meals and bathroom breaks included. To this day, even proximity to rudeness caused a panic in her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Dane said. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you if I think you\u2019re becoming corrupted.\u201d He grinned at her and his smile was light in the darkness. Ezryn blushed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you wouldn\u2019t know, would you? Being so corrupt yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged, still smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

He\u2019d taken her hand right then and headed straight for the Den. They\u2019d been walking in silence for about ten minutes. Ezryn had expected to have time to prepare. To at least change her clothes into something more criminal looking. Dane hadn\u2019t even given her time to inform her secretary where she was going in case things went badly. But she hadn\u2019t wanted to pull her hand from Dane\u2019s to do any of these things.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d walked perhaps half a mile from the Temple law enforcement building into a normal-looking part of the downtown neighborhood. They passed grocer\u2019s awnings\u2014food all locked away at this late hour\u2014and night caf\u00e9\u2019s with one or two populated tables.<\/p>\n

Mostly, Ezryn kept a cool head. Alert, observant, and neutral. But she felt an occasional unprofessional thrill, both at the clandestine errand she was on and at the warm feeling of Dane\u2019s hand as their boots padded on the brick walkways. It felt like walking their old beat back when they were simple Temple Officers in their early 20\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we are,\u201d said Dane.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d Ezryn looked around.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d stopped in a Square, the intersection of two walkways not wide enough for horse cart traffic. A Town Crier billboard at the center held information for citizens. Today was Brown Clothes Day. Tomorrow would be Blue Clothes Day. It was important that the citizenry not create an eyesore with clashing clothing. A list of public events and upcoming rudeness trials. A list of the most common courtesy complaints in the area (loud children, insufficiently groomed cart horses are an eyesore, someone\u2019s pet cat is at large and eating potted plants). Any news that might help citizens live well with one another.<\/p>\n

At the Square\u2019s corners were a bakery, a branch of the Temple Kid\u2019s Scouts, a barber, and a Mind Your Manners service. You could hire them to keep track of your appointments and owed thank-yous and such.<\/p>\n

Most busy people needed to hire a Mind Your Manners, but Ezryn was so driven to politeness that she never had. She had a deep-seeded politeness meter and always remembered to send punctual thank- yous and well wishes. Her father had canceled her fifth birthday party because she forgot to thank her aunt for an early birthday gift.<\/p>\n

Nothing in the Square looked like a Den of Iniquity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell-hidden, eh?\u201d Dane said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would never have guessed this little square held a Den!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook closely. The Town Crier billboard has no graffiti. That\u2019s really telling.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was true. The Theses scrawl littered an upsetting number of public postings and city walls. It was lacking here.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty short-sighted of them,\u201d Dane said. \u201cIn trying to look on the up-and-up, they make themselves obvious. I was going to point it out to them. But then I heard this Den was going down soon anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

She squinted at him. He was<\/em> clever. In a sneaky way. Dane pulled her down a set of stairs leading to the basement of the Temple Scouts building and opened a black painted door. He ushered her into an entryway tunnel with a second door at the end. He swung the outside door shut and paused as their eyes adjusted to the dark.<\/p>\n

The walls were dark brown and dimly lit by one flickering gas lamp above. The door at the opposite end had a peephole and Ezryn could hear music on the other side. It was an exciting kind of music. She couldn\u2019t be sure, of course, never having listened to the stuff, but she guessed it was one of the banned types of music.<\/p>\n

Dane pushed a little button on the wall by the peephole door and a red light bulb came on above him. The peephole slot slid open and a pair of large bloodshot eyes peered out under fuzzy eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the password? Oh it\u2019s you,\u201d a deep voice said. And the door swung open inward.<\/p>\n

Ezryn was hit with a wave of discordant perfumes and colognes. Personal scents were banned in Thank You City on the grounds that they could trigger allergies or nausea. Ezryn had obeyed. But she hadn\u2019t understood<\/em> the rule until now. People truly need checks on their behavior<\/em>, she thought.<\/p>\n

The inside looked as tackily ostentatious as it smelled. Tables were lit by mismatched Tiffany ceiling lamps. The chairs around them were a hodgepodge of chez lounges, recliners, and beanbag chairs. Ezryn found it ridiculous that these degenerate people found comfort in such assaults on the senses.<\/p>\n

There was a bar. Ezryn wondered if it served intoxicating beverages. Then she saw the dance floor. The way the people danced made Ezryn sure the bar served intoxicating beverages. Disgusting. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get a table.\u201d Dane cupped her shoulders gently but firmly and steered her out of the doorway. She blushed. She\u2019d probably been gawping. How much of his undercover work could I undo by accident?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI should never have agreed to come,\u201d she whispered with panic rising inside her as they sat at a table lit by an ugly green glass lamp. It had brass cherubs tangled in brass ivy at its base.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need<\/em> to see this,\u201d Dane said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut your work!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs coming to a close. These denfolk don\u2019t know it, but your operation is days away from shutting them down. Then it\u2019s community service or the sanitariums for all, depending on level of involvement. Relax.\u201d He smiled and leaned back on the lounge.\u00a0 \u201cBreathe this in, if you can stand the perfume. You\u2019ve orchestrated the biggest Iniquity bust in our generation. This will all soon be the past. Take a good look. High Rule 1: Pay Attention and Listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezryn took a deep breath. Suppressing a cough from the perfume, she looked around. Everywhere laws were being violated. People wore clashing colors. There was burping, spitting, farting, and smoking. <\/em>All illegal to do proudly. You had to at least try<\/em> to find privacy for these activities. But these were only small law violations. The laws that she\u2019d be judging for conformity with the High Rules as a Master Inquisitor.<\/p>\n

The worst of it was that High Rules were being broken. Two men argued loudly, violating High Rule 12: Be Agreeable. The body language of two patrons led her to think that High Rule 9: Respect Even a Subtle \u2018No\u2019 was being ignored. The gyrating on the dance floor left High Rule 15: Respect Other People\u2019s Space behind in the dust. And she saw a child about 6 or 7 years old bouncing back and forth between two couches, with her parents laughing and smiling fondly at her. High Rule 13: Keep the Volume Down flouted right there.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisgusting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake another look,\u201d Dane said. There was a funny expression on his face. \u201cBut this time keep in mind High Rule 3: Think the Best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best? Of denfolk?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dane nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere, the arguers. You probably noticed them?\u201d He asked. She nodded. \u201cWell, maybe they\u2019re not being agreeable. But they\u2019re arguing because they care about the topic. High Rule 17: Assert Yourself. It\u2019s important not to let people run over you. Because you deserve courtesy too.\u201d<\/p>\n

She threw him a skeptical look<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s loud in here. But High Rule 5 is Be Inclusive. Many of the people here are misfits out there. They find belonging here. Here they can be loud and let loose and not worry about harming someone with discourtesy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDane, what you\u2019re saying is\u2026bordering on heretical.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took one of her hands. \u201cLook at that child. Really look. Our<\/em> child would be like that. Not punished for doing childish things. Not valued only as far as her behavior conforms to a set of rules. Just a loved child.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at him. The panic rose in her again. She wanted to believe him, to accept what he said. But it was bad. <\/em>It was wrong.<\/em> It would leave her alone in a sparse, cool room. Not hit or yelled at, but disapproved of, bad, and unacceptable.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome Dens are horrible,\u201d he said. \u201cBut most are like this one. Inclusive. Assertive. Thinking the Best. We do break many of the High Rules here. But the soul of the High Rules is heartfelt respect for our fellow human beings. We must imagine how another is feeling and relate to how we would feel in their place. Consideration is the moral application of imagination.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Temple rules remove our need to imagine and instead tell us what to do to be good. The faith of the Temple is dead. Only here in the Dens, where the small rules are purposefully broken can the High Rules live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezryn looked up. The room full of denfolk was watching their table.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not undercover,\u201d she said suddenly, realizing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am. Just\u2026undercover in the Temple Police. Here, I\u2019m the Den Leader.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stood, about to fumble for the derringer at her hip. It would be useless. Only two bullets with so many against her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to kill me?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I knew you were bringing us down. Nothing I can do. I<\/em> wanted you to see<\/em> what could be for your children. What should have <\/em>been for you. You\u2019re the next Master Inquisitor. I wanted you to have all the information you need to do your job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man with the eyebrows moved toward her menacingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s going to turn us in. And we\u2019re just letting her go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re already turned in,\u201d Dane said. \u201cThis is a pretty tame Den. Most of us will get community service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut not you, Dane,\u201d said Eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ezryn said, her voice cracking. \u201cNo, it\u2019s retraining at the sanitariums for all Den Leaders. No exceptions.\u201d Her throat had gone dry. All his Light would be snuffed. His body would live. But Dane\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out, Lady,\u201d Eyebrows barked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better go,\u201d Dane said as he got up and opened the door. \u201cYou\u2019ll be safe. I only wanted you to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezryn stood and backed out the door, keeping her eyes on the angry-looking denfolk. She glanced at Dane, a smile on his face. Then she turned and fled into the night.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ezryn looked across the table at Dane. He was wearing a strait jacket with red letters across the chest that read \u2018for my safety and the safety of all around me.\u2019 <\/em>No one should think the Temple was overly punitive with its inmates. Only safety conscious.<\/p>\n

The clock on the wall behind Dane ticked away the last five minutes until his first retraining treatment. Dane looked calm. Peaceful. Eryn glanced at the mirrored wall in the little white room. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was too pale and her hair was frazzled and showing gray.<\/p>\n

Dane\u2019s trial had taken nine months, during which Ezryn had taken her oath as Master Inquisitor. She\u2019d testified against him. Key witness. How could she not? He\u2019d brought her<\/em> to the den and told her<\/em> he was its leader. At the trial, she\u2019d wished they were spouses. She wouldn\u2019t have been obliged to share her testimony and seal his fate if she\u2019d said yes to him those years ago.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d forgiven her, of course. Damn him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019re getting the treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather not,\u201d he said, smiling a little. \u201cAny chance of a pardon?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head.<\/p>\n

Quietly, she said, \u201cI tried everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dane nodded and let out a small sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lost you,\u201d she said in her quietest voice. \u201cBut you\u2019ve won me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery law that comes across my desk. The little anti-potpourri laws, the wipe your shoes ordinances. The punishments that do not fit the crimes. You are right. Consideration is dead when it\u2019s forced. I\u2019ll have you and your Den in my mind as I do my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dane smiled. His bright smile, full of Light. Brightest before\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always wanted to help people be good to one another,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s what I want now. Not just following the rules. But living them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could never do it large scale, you know,\u201d he said. \u201cJust here and there in my own little way. You, however, are a woman who can change the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you spent yourself to get to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Two orderlies entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dane Ray?\u201d said the larger of them. \u201cIt\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot intentionally,\u201d Dane said, standing. He rose awkwardly in the strait jacket and allowed the orderlies to grab him by his shoulders. \u201cBut, well, I guess that was one way of doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When they left, the door closed behind them. But Ezryn felt a small Light inside her flicker on. She closed her eyes and willed the flame to grow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Literally everything about this is illegal, Ezryn thought as she studied the graffiti outside the Temple law enforcement building. Dane was late. Very unbecoming an Officer of Civility. High Rule 14: Respect Other People\u2019s Time. Right there, in the Temple constitution. But Officer Dane Ray played fast and loose with the rules. Then, she heard […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[415],"class_list":["post-10956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","tag-first-and-last-line"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10956\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confabulatorcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}