Chapter 92: Unbreakable Control
The senior theologists and philosophers support for Lily was growing across the regions. They considered Leanne’s note a strong endorsement of the points Lily had made before she was executed. None of them was willing to go public until they had multiple test results indicating the solution was toxic.
Several philosophers contacted the Capital Region Head Enforcer, demanding that they force the Carvaress Company to publish all the substances in the solution. The Head Enforcer declined to help them. He was more concerned with other problems, such as his twelve missing enforcers.
The Head Enforcer paid Pardi a visit. He wanted to discuss the events of the meal, as he was struggling to remember exactly what had happened. Pardi agreed to meet him in his private office on the top floor of the building.
‘Welcome back, Head Enforcer,’ said Pardi as he invited the Head Enforcer into his office. ‘What brings you back here so soon?’
‘We had an amazing evening, but my recollection of events is a little fuzzy,’ said the Head Enforcer.
‘I’m not surprised,’ said Pardi. ‘You had a lot to drink.’
‘Yes, yes, I know,’ chuckled the Head Enforcer.
‘It’s just that I haven’t seen the other enforcers who came here since that evening.’
‘You really can’t remember anything, can you?’ inquired Pardi.
‘Yeah, I’m really sorry,’ replied the Head Enforcer.
‘Things got out of hand,’ said Pardi. ‘Terribly out of hand.’
‘Whatever damage was caused, I swear I’ll cover it,’ said the Head Enforcer in a very concerned tone.
‘You haven’t seen the other enforcers because they are dead,’ said Pardi.
‘Are you serious?’ said the Head Enforcer in an alarmed tone. ‘What happened?’
‘Don’t worry, I can make this all disappear,’ said Pardi.
‘Just tell me what happened, damn it,’ said the Head Enforcer angrily.
‘Follow me,’ said Pardi.
Pardi walked over to the computer. He searched for the surveillance video footage from the office where they had the meal. Pardi entered the time just before the Head Enforcer killed all twelve enforcers. Pardi played the video to the Head Enforcer.
The Head Enforcer stared at the video in shock. ‘What are you trying to pull?’ said the Head Enforcer angrily.
‘Nothing. This is raw footage straight from the surveillance camera,’ said Pardi. ‘Would you like to see the blood splatters? Maybe just check your own gun. I bet it’s not loaded.’
The Head Enforcer slammed his fist against the wall in anger. ‘What am I going to do?’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘What about their families?’
‘I expect they are back in the regions,’ said Pardi. ‘I bet none of them even kept in contact with their families.’
‘Good point. Ungrateful pricks, the lot of them,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘I’ll just file them as resigning because of stress.’
‘Excellent solution,’ said Pardi.
‘Great,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘So we can just put this all behind us, right?’
Pardi began laughing.
The Head Enforcer began to feel a little nervous. ‘Are you going to delete that video?’ asked the Head Enforcer.
‘Deleting a section of surveillance footage looks suspicious,’ said Pardi. ‘It’ll just get buried under new recordings.’
‘Will it really?’ asked the Head Enforcer in a dubious tone.
‘For everyone… other than me,’ said Pardi in a more serious tone.
‘Meaning?’ asked the Head Enforcer.
‘Listen, moron,’ said Pardi in a raised voice. ‘I own you. You do exactly what I tell you when I tell you, or this video footage is heading to the media, comprende?’
The Head Enforcer’s face turned red with anger.
‘I’ll be in touch when I need you,’ said Pardi. ‘You know the way out.’
The Head Enforcer pulled his gun out. ‘I don’t like this plan. Delete the damn footage, now.’
‘Get out, idiot,’ replied Pardi.
The Head Enforcer put his gun away and stormed out of Pardi’s office.
Early the next morning, a group of students from Zound University in the Tarrus Region managed to isolate the chemicals in the water supply. They contacted the Head Philosopher of Tarrus, who in turn contacted all the other heads of the House of Divine Knowledge. The other scientists were informed of the tests the Zound students ran, and they ran the same tests on their water supplies. Before long, the results were replicated in over a dozen regions.
Merida called the Head Enforcer in the West Region. ‘You need to release Jaslene immediately,’ demanded Merida.
‘On what grounds, detective?’ replied the Head Enforcer.
‘We have substantial evidence indicating the water supplies have been contaminated by the Carvaress Solution.’
‘Wow, that is some really important evidence,’ said the Head Enforcer.
‘Yes, now let her go,’ said Merida impatiently.
‘Important evidence for Lily’s case, not Jaslene’s,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘Unfortunately, we can’t help Lily because she is no longer with us. Jaslene is accused of murder. Contaminated water is not related to this case.’
‘The note is about the water, you numbskull,’ said Merida angrily.
‘Well, that is very interesting considering we have not made any information about any note public,’ said the Head Enforcer in a stern tone. ‘I smell a House of Divine Knowledge conspiracy.’
‘The only conspiracy being orchestrated is by you, your department, Pardi Carvaress, and the whole rotten Business Sector,’ said Merida sternly.
‘Stay put, Grandma. My enforcers are coming round to take you in,’ said the Head Enforcer in a jovial tone.
‘I dare you,’ said Merida indignantly as she hung up the phone.
Merida called the Head Enforcer in the Capital Region. ‘You need to arrest Pardi Carvaress immediately,’ she demanded.
‘You need to take your crazy pills,’ replied the Head Enforcer.
‘Pardi Carvaress has poisoned the water supply of every single region in Sapey,’ said Merida angrily.
‘Sounds like more conspiracy talk and misinformation,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘I’ll let this slide since you are a senile geriatric fart.’
‘You do not speak to me like that, you impudent child,’ said Merida in a raised voice. ‘I’m the Head of the House of Divine Knowledge.’
‘I’m filled with fear,’ said the Head Enforcer sarcastically. ‘Let me guess; you are going to threaten me with a three-hour sermon on why I should respect old cranks.’
‘I’m sending the evidence through to your office now,’ said Merida. ‘You will act accordingly.’
‘My computer has a great feature. It’s called a delete button,’ said the Head Enforcer.
‘You are risking your chances of salvation,’ said Merida in an angry tone.
‘Why don’t you just piss off?’ said the Head Enforcer.
‘I have never been spoken to with such disrespect,’ said Merida angrily.
The enforcers kicked down Merida’s door. ‘Put your hands in the air,’ shouted an enforcer. ‘You are under arrest.’
‘Do you mind? I’m in the middle of an important conversation,’ said Merida in an abrupt tone as she pulled the phone down to address the enforcers in her doorway.
The enforcers shrugged their shoulders and looked at each other.
‘I’m sending you evidence from various regions revealing the same results of toxicity in all the water supplies,’ said Merida into the phone.
‘Is this some sort of House of Voodoo magic testing, or are you referring to some other pseudoscience?’ asked the Head Enforcer as he chuckled.
‘I find your behaviour completely unacceptable,’ said Merida. ‘I’m calling the governors to complain.’
‘Knock yourself out, bitch,’ said the Head Enforcer as he hung up.
Merida began dialling another number.
‘Excuse me,’ said an enforcer. ‘You’re under arrest. No more calls.’
He pulled the phone off Merida.
‘Are you little Tibby? I know your grandma,’ said Merida as she looked at one of the enforcers arresting her.
The enforcers escorted Merida to their vehicle at the bottom of the apartment block. They helped her into the back.
On hearing the evidence, Jallelle organised an emergency session at the West Region House of Divine Knowledge. Staff updated the website. Volunteers walked around West with megaphones, telling as many as they could about this meeting. Jallelle called representatives aligned with the House of Divine Knowledge in as many regions as she could. They agreed to help organise sessions or at least attend them.
Representatives aligned with the Business Sector found out about these sessions. They immediately informed their respective Head Enforcers to monitor these sessions. They wanted them to be prepared for any trouble from possible misinformation that the House of Divine Knowledge might be about to spread.
In West, that evening, a huge crowd filled the House of Divine Knowledge’s outdoor amphitheatre. The crowd was surrounded by the entire West Enforcer Department. These enforcers were heavily armed. The enforcers prevented any members of the media from entering the amphitheatre area. Instead, the media gathered several hundred metres down the main street.
Jallelle got up on stage to make a speech, but the Head Enforcer intercepted her. He pushed her aside as he stood in front of the podium.
‘I have an important announcement,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘I know why the House of… the House of Repugnant Lies has frantically rounded all of you up.’
The crowd began to boo loudly. ‘Shut up,’ shouted the Head Enforcer. ‘Do not test me, or I will have my enforcers fire at will.’
The crowd went silent.
‘We will be closely monitoring this gathering,’ said the Head Enforcer. ‘If I detect even a slight whiff of misinformation, we will bring this whole place down and everyone in it.’
The Head Enforcer turned towards Jallelle. ‘The stage is yours,’ he whispered. The Head Enforcer caressed Jallelle’s shoulder as he walked past her.
Jallelle remained calm.
Jallelle stood behind the podium. ‘There was a lot I wanted to tell you today. It appears that the plan has changed.’ She turned to the group of philosophers and theologist standing to one side. Many of them were Linap, and many of them were guests from other regions. They had arrived in response to Merida's request. The Linap amongst them stepped forward and made their way to the centre of the stage.
Jallelle walked back towards them. ‘Are we really going to do this?’ whispered Jallelle to the group.
They looked terrified, but each one slowly nodded. The group parted in the middle to enable Jallelle to take her place. Then, the group walked to the front of the stage.
Jallelle raised the microphone to her mouth. ‘The Head Enforcer is right. We are the House of Repugnant Lies.’ The crowd went quiet. The Head Enforcer had a big smile on his face.
‘We have lied to all of you from day one,’ said Jallelle. ‘I shall tell you no more lies. I will show the truth. No, I will remind you of the truth that Lily gave her life to show you.’ Jallelle dropped the microphone.
The Linap held hands.
The Head Enforcer’s face turned red with anger. He pulled his radio out to give an instruction to his enforcers. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. He dropped the radio. He fell over on his side as blood oozed from his neck. Nobody could see him, as he had fallen out of view. He was choking on his own blood.
The Linap philosophers, theologists, and some former representatives shapeshifted to reveal their real form. There was silence from the crowd.
‘We lied to you so that we could control you while protecting our true identity,’ shouted Jallelle. ‘We reveal ourselves now because there are some among us who want to wipe you out.’
The enforcers were getting ready to jump into action, but they received no word from the Head Enforcer. Therefore, they remained in place, eagerly waiting for instruction. The crowd remained silent. Jallelle looked at the other Linap. She looked back at the crowd. Still no reaction.
‘Lily was executed because she told the truth and she showed you the truth,’ shouted Jallelle.
Some in the crowd began clapping. Then a few more joined in. Before long, there was applause throughout the amphitheatre. Jallelle looked at the other Linap while shrugging her shoulders. They all looked confused.
One of the Commanders of the Enforcers went down to the stage area to find the Head Enforcer. He noticed a trail of blood leading to an area behind a curtain. He pushed the curtain aside to see the Head Enforcer lying dead. He radioed the other enforcers to clear the amphitheatre.
The commander rushed on stage. He grabbed the microphone. He instructed everyone to leave the amphitheatre in an orderly manner, and within ten minutes, the amphitheatre was cleared. There was no trouble or commotion of any sort.
Many other regions held emergency sessions. These sessions did not spark the outrage the organisers had hoped they would. The enforcers did a good job of intimidating the philosophers and theologists so that they were unable to reveal much information. Once the water supply was mentioned, the sessions were shut down. Sapiens outside of Adoy were far less questioning of the doctrine they had lived with their whole lives.
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