//------------------------------// // 33. Castling // Story: Time to Shine // by Easysnuggler //------------------------------// Somehow millions of these evil spirits had been let loose. They were stronger than formerly and had fewer limitations. They began by forcing the creatures of the far worlds to worship and sacrifice to them, sucking them dry of magic and life faster and faster. Wreaking havoc and terror and in no seeming hurry they consumed all life and magic as they destroyed one world at a time and moved on. That time, bought by tens of billions was well spent. —Pena, Reply to Prince Habib re: “On the Origins of Ponies*(*and Others) and Magic” 33. Castling “I refuse to work against my government.” A small well-groomed zebra sat at a table in what might have been called apartment 39A instead of cell 39A, a pleasant small room in the southwest corner of Taurkapi palace. It was a quiet part of the building facing away from the harbor and had a nice view out over the city. The alleyway was used to bring supplies to the castle. People came and went at all times of the day. There was a bed, a bookshelf, some chairs, a little reading nook and a window. It was not very dungeon-like at all. “Okay.” A somewhat older yet healthy minotaur sat across from him. He wore a red military fez but with a green tassel and the gold pin of an angry bull. He had come alone and knocked politely. He wore dark breaches and nothing else. A pair of guards also in red fezzes had accompanied him, but they remained in the alley. “Why have you moved me here? Why is there a door to stair to an alley where I can just walk away? Will I be killed if I try to leave?” The zebra asked. “Not by us. You are free to go Dr. Nyarai. But I wouldn’t recommend it.” “Why did you torture me if you intended to let me go?” The doctor sounded wounded, tired, and angry. “That was beyond my control, and not my idea.” The minotaur rubbed his head. “It is hard to control actions when passions run high and one is not there, but others are.” “I see. Your doctors are very good. If it wasn’t for the nightmares, I’d believe the last two days had all been a bad dream.” He showed his front legs, hooves, and neck. The bruising was almost gone. “I apologize for your mistreatment.” the bull said. “I’d have mistreated me. I killed all those creatures, or I helped. Something made me do it. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.” The zebra said, tears coming unbidden to his eyes. “Let's discuss that for a moment if you don’t mind… You said you were delusional; can you explain that?” The minotaur in the red fez leaned back and encouragingly smiled slightly. “I don't want you to think I’m crazy.” The doctor said cautiously. “You seem quite sane to me, Doctor.” “Fine.” The little zebra held his head in his hooves and looked at the table. “Well, it was like there was a voice. Not a voice really, but like the thoughts you get when you are thinking about your own thoughts? It was whispering over my shoulder that there was something being hidden, something being concealed, and I had to get to the bottom of it. It told me to look, that there wasn’t any harm in looking. I was there to look; it was why I had been sent. It was like I was made to notice the padlocks, to set them aside when no one was watching so I could come back later and take a better look. It seemed like a good idea. So, I did it. I’m sorry, so sorry. “Later that night I or, rather it and I thought it was time to look. To see what was hidden. Of course, we’d need a light. The… whisperer told me to take a lantern. I know how dangerous fire is on a ship. I made sure to keep the lantern well away from the coal. “The whisperer warned me the hatch might fall on my head. That I needed to latch the door open with the padlock. So, I went to get it. And that's the strange part. I put both locks down behind a cabinet earlier. I remember doing it. But there was only one. It really bothered me at the time. But I felt… directed you might say, to ignore it. I kept trying to think about it and it was like something was making me stop every time I tried. I probably fought with myself for a good five minutes before I finally gave in and took the padlock. I had intended just to latch it, not to lock it, but suddenly I got this impulse to lock it. So, I did. “It was like the more I did what the whispers said, the less I could fight. Fighting was exhausting. It was like I was starting to want to do what it wanted. It was just easier. I remember locking the hatch and feeling this rush, like a pat on the head? “Anyway, I investigated the bin then. It was just coal. Nothing special, well that is not true, it was nice coal. High quality anthracite. Chemistry grade coal. Better than what we have in Zebrenica. We must import coal like that. I remember the whisperer was getting annoyed at me staring at the coal. It was getting angry. I wanted to look at it and the… whatever didn’t. It felt like it was a contest of wills. Eventually after staring at the coal for a while, well I think it changed tactics. “The whisperer told me I needed a better look. It had me move the lantern closer. I moved it an inch. It really did help with the light. But the whisperer wasn't satisfied. It had me move it again. It was like there was this idea that I had to move the lantern closer to the edge of the hatch. Every time I tried to think of something different my head began to pound and ache. I nudged the lantern and felt this intense euphoria. Sakai considered for a moment, then looked the bull in the eye. “When I was younger, I tried goose juice. It's a narcotic we have in Zebrenica. Everyone tries it at least once. It gives an intense momentary rush, followed a bit later by a pounding headache. This was like that but faster and over and over. “I kept moving the lantern a tiny nudge. Every time I got this intense rush, and when I tried to stop, this pounding pain. It took whatever it was a good 10 minutes or so to get me to nudge the lantern to the edge. I tried to walk away. I tried to turn. I tried to pull the lantern back. I tried and every time I found myself directed to move it closer. I tried calling out. I remember hoping someone would come. Someone would see what I was doing. I have made many voyages. On a ship, especially one so crowded, there are usually crew members and passengers like those marines of yours. But I was alone in that middeck for what seemed like an hour fighting this urge to touch the lantern one more time. “Then the ship rocked slightly, I think it was just a normal wave or the wind and the lantern fell in. I was horrified. The lamp smashed and a fire started at once. I’ve never been a pyromaniac. I have a healthy respect for fire. But something in my head purred in delight at those flames. It was ecstatic. Then it was gone, I could move, I could think. I shouted “Fire!” At the top of my lungs. “I grabbed a fire axe to smash the padlock so I could close the hatch to starve the fire of oxygen. I was clumsy for some reason, it was like I was waking up from a nightmare or dream, or like I’d been drunk. I hit the padlock several times, but then I was tackled from behind. They took the axe. I told them I dropped a lantern into the coal bunker. The one who had taken the axe, he got this funny look on his face, like he was listening to someone or something, and then he smashed me over the head with it. I woke up on a boat.” The bull in the fez had said nothing. “I know it sounds crazy, like I'm making excuses.” The doctor began to weep again. I shouldn’t have listened, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” The bull in the fez stood up, he turned to leave. He put hand on the door and as he made to leave, he spoke. “Doctor, you should know that I spoke to the sailor who locked the accessway to the fire door. He said the idea just popped into his head to look behind a cabinet. He saw padlocks there. He said the idea just popped into his head to ignore one of them and to take the other. He said he felt like a voice whispered at him to walk down the hall to the accessway. He said it told him to notice the latch, and that the padlock would fit it. He said the whispers told him the captain would be pleased if he latched and locked the door. That the door shouldn’t have been left open. And he described feeling great when he latched the lock. Unbelievably proud and happy he said.” “And the one who hit you with the axe and took you into custody? He said the idea to hit you just popped into his head. And the idea that he might need the axe as evidence. So, he took it with him when he dragged you away. It was him who put you in the boat. The fire axe was still aboard when the zebras towed you to shore.” “I think you were played Dr. Nyarai. Played like a fiddle. So were those sailors. Maybe others. Magic has returned, Doctor. I am not a fool. I saw a Kirin turn into a Nirik right before my eyes. Others have reported stranger things. “That ship was sent to find out why the Equestrians have allowed magic to return. Someone destroyed that ship and killed those sailors and marines. “Zebrenica has closed its borders. It will take time to ready another passenger steamship, and I have no confidence the Skyforce, or Ground Pounders will get the answers everyone needs soon enough. But I don't think you are crazy. At this point I don’t even think you are responsible. But you should stay here, if not in this room, in this city. For your own safety. “I would like your cooperation and help if you are willing to give it. We are not as scientifically advanced as Zebreniza, or even Saddle Arabia. You are a chemist. We could use help, Doctor. The scientist Ferdinand is working with the Skyforce on a flying machine. The engineer Bullpen is working on a new steam engine. Perhaps you could help them. Maybe in some other way. I’m sorry you can’t go home, but please don’t throw your life away trying to return home or in despair because you were used as a tool in some… whisperer’s scheme.” “Sir,” the doctor said, “just who are you? You never said.” “No, I didn’t. Good day doctor.” The bull let himself out, closing the door softly.