Revolt of the Lamebren

by Manjiri Prabhu

  ‘Let me ask all of you something. Do you know the meaning—and I mean the non-dictionary meaning—of the words like “children”, “love”, “fear”, “insecurity”, “need”, etc.? Do you know what it means to be a child―a real child longing for its mother’s love, snuggling against her warmth, learning things from its father? Do you know what it means to play with a puppy or sing a song? Do you know what “old” means? Have you ever thought what it would be like to be old, I mean old as in being eighty years of age? Do you know what it means to be happy―really happy―where joy fills your heart and your life with sweet melody and the world is a combination of music and sunshine?’ Zinnia asked, her eyes flitting from Altklug to Altklug.

  The expressions on the faces of the Altklugs were stony and non-committal.

  ‘As long as you don’t know the non-dictionary meanings of these emotions, as long as you don’t experience these emotions, the Altklug world will remain synthetic. This Ace-world of Altklugs is not perfect, it is lopsided, and the only chance it has of real happiness is if you allowed the lamebrains to live their full lives!’

  Silence followed this speech, an edgy, thoughtful and angry silence. Governor Tisya turned to Commander Hertz and Colonel Kripton.

  ‘I’ve heard enough. Take these lamebrains away, this instant.’ She turned her back on Zinnia without glancing at her.

  Zinnia was taken aback at her abrupt manner. She wanted to protest but her words turned into a furious hammering in her head. Governor Tisya just didn’t care! She never did. None of these Altklugs ever did. Sudden tears pricked at the back of her eyes. What had she expected? A fair hearing? An ovation? A pat on the back? Her eyes darted to Preceptor Amadeus who continued to stare at her. His nod was so slight that she almost missed it through her blurry vision. Crispin grasped Zinnia’s hand and squeezed it. The petition was heard and discarded.

  20

  Hobo appeared at the door, so as to lead the lamebren out. They were at the Demarcator, when suddenly a couple of Altklug Officers in white uniform rushed rather unceremoniously into the office.

  ‘There’s bad news, Governor,’ one of the Officer’s informed in a clipped tone.

  ‘What is it?’ Commander Hertz asked.

  ‘Sir, Commander Burdock has not been responding to our messages. We believe that he is missing’.

  Zinnia barely heard the gasps and reactions, as she and Crispin were hustled down the corridor to the Elevator. Her eyes widened in shock and her gaze flew to Crispin. He shook his head warningly. He had heard them too! Commander Burdock was missing? A million thoughts flittered through Zinnia’s mind―how, when, why? But she knew that she dare not utter a single word right now. The situation was too volatile to be careless.

  All through the spinner ride, Zinnia felt dejected. She couldn’t care less if Burdock was missing. All she could think of was the reaction to the petition, it had been so antagonistic that she had no doubt of its failure. She had failed the lamebren. The thought kept jabbing her in the heart and she felt profoundly depressed. But what if her petition had an adverse effect? Especially now that Commander Burdock was missing, Governor Tisya would be upset. Would she use the petition as an excuse to vent her anger on the lamebren?

  It was only when she and Crispin were dropped off at the entrance of the Ret Cubicle, that Zinnia forced herself to be calm and centred.

  Ivy, Camilla, Berk, Cylia and Azalea were awaiting their return by the sculpture of the Pen, their faces hopeful.

  ‘How did it go?’Camilla asked, the moment the spinner zipped away.

  ‘We can’t talk here. Let’s go for a walk,’ Crispin suggested.

  The lamebren looked at each other, at once sensing that something was wrong. The evening light was still bright and clear and they all trooped into the Paramour Path. The moment they reached the lake, eager questions bounced off the lamebren.

  ‘Sit down and listen all of you!’ Crispin said.

  They settled down on flat stones obediently. Zinnia sat a little distance away, her head bent as she stared at the pebbled path, silenced by her own inner reprimands.

  ‘We had all worked so hard on the presentation and the Altklugs didn’t even see it!’ Crispin began.

  ‘What!’ Camilla exclaimed.

  ‘But, why not?’ Ivy frowned.

  ‘Because, they were not interested. I must say though that Zinnia made a fantastic oral presentation. She debated well and put her points across very clearly and succinctly.’ Crispin glanced at the young lamebirl.

  Zinnia raised her eyes to meet his in surprise. ‘Did I really? I thought I was awful. I lost my temper, I questioned their rules and ways...’

  ‘And that is exactly what they needed to hear,’ Crispin cut in. ‘You made us all proud by standing up to a team of intelligent Altklugs who were waiting to find fault with your logic. But they couldn’t and whether they take it seriously or not, whether there is any change in the Altklugs or not, they know deep in their hearts that what you said was the perfect truth and perfect solution. The possibility is that they will disregard what you said, because their ego and heightened sense of self-confidence will not permit them too. But they do know that you were right!’

  Tears sprung up in Zinnia’s eyes. ‘Thank you Crispin, I wouldn’t have known what to say if you weren’t standing beside me fearless, giving me moral support.’

  ‘Fearless? I was trembling at the knees!’ He smiled. ‘But listen to the whole story all of you.’

  He plunged into a detailed narration of the entire episode and the lamebren listened with keen interest. When he described how Zinnia countered Governor Tisya’s argument, Cylia and Azalea clapped hard in glee. Finally when he finished, a reflective silence ensued.

  ‘I knew that it was a wasted exercise.’ Berk was the first to react in a gloomy voice.

  ‘Not really. For one, we know exactly where we stand with the Altklugs now. And two, they know that we aren’t as dumb as they think us to be,’ Crispin corrected.

  ‘Whatever!’ Berk kicked a stone into the lake.

  ‘Cheer up, at least we tried,’ Cylia said.

  ‘So we are back to square one?’ Azalea asked in a small voice.

  ‘Hey all of you, come off it!’ Camilla spoke up, a little angrily. ‘We tried, ok? Zinnia tried. She showed courage and enterprise―which one of us would’ve done that? All our lives we’ve trembled before the Altklugs. Our tongues get entangled with our teeth when we face them. And Zinnia had the courage to stand up and be our voice. Let’s appreciate it and celebrate it, what say?’

  ‘Absolutely, I agree! Let’s celebrate,’ Ivy agreed, with a swing of her long thick braid.

  Cylia began clapping again and one by one the others joined in. Zinnia smiled gratefully at Camilla.

  ‘Besides, all is not lost. Preceptor Amadeus was very impressed with the oral presentation. He did say that he agreed with Zinnia,’ Crispin added.

  ‘Yes, that’s true. In the future, we can seek his help,’ Zinnia said.

  ‘On that note, I’m going celebrate by distributing these patchwork pouches that I’ve made for each one of you,’ Cylia declared. Her high pony tail, swung merrily as she extracted a bunch of colourful cloth pouches from her pocket. Names of the lamebren were artistically embroidered on each one of the pouch.

  ‘Wow! They are exquisite!’ the others exclaimed.

  ‘Zinnia bought me some beautiful material with her Mudra and I thought I’d gift the pouches to you all today. It’s our Petition Day remembrance.’ Cylia grinned.

  ‘Thank you Cylia, it really is lovely,’ Zinnia accepted.

  The mood had lightened and the lamebren had accepted their defeat. Only Zinnia was worried, as they returned to the Ret Cubicle. A feeling of unease was lodged in her. Had Commander Burdock been found?

  ******

  It was just after dinner. The docunote on Altklugs was coming to an end when suddenly footsteps were heard clattering by the glass door and it was flung open.

&nbs
p; ‘Cheska!’ Camilla cried.

  Cheska, Maisie and Reed walked in, lugging their bags and snowflakes clinging to their shoulders and heads. All three appeared thin and haggard.

  Camilla ran to hug her twin. The other lamebren surrounded their former Cubicle mates eagerly.

  ‘What’s up? How come you three are here at this time of the night?’ Crispin enquired, looking concerned.

  ‘We’ve been sent back,’ Reed replied. He seemed almost happy.

  ‘Sent back? Just like that?’ Zinnia asked, confused.

  ‘Actually the atmosphere at the Cubicle was getting on our nerves. The screams at night and the currents which sent shocks up our body―we realised that it was impossible to stay there any longer. So we decided to just go and talk to the Supercustodian,’ Cheska explained.

  ‘That was brave of you,’ Camilla chipped in.

  ‘I don’t know about that. We went prepared to listen to her sarcastic comments and punishments. But even the idea of the Isolation Chamber was more pleasant than staying on at that eerie Cubicle.’

  ‘What did she say?’ Ivy asked.

  ‘She said we have a Constitutional Right to live where we please. So I said we would like to return to our previous Cubicle and she said, leave right this minute. We picked up our bags and literally ran, before she changed her mind.’

  ‘Constitutional Right?’ Zinnia’s gaze darted to Crispin. ‘What time did you talk to her?’

  ‘About thirty minutes ago,’ Cheska replied.

  ‘Which means after we had presented our petition,’ Zinnia concluded.

  ‘What petition?’ Maisie was curious.

  Lorde hung at the edge of the crowd, listening intently. He was pretending to fiddle with his padlet, but Zinnia knew that his ears were trained on their conversation.

  ‘Let’s go up to the Cubicle and talk, shall we?’ she suggested. ‘You look tired. Have you had dinner?’

  ‘No, we didn’t want to wait a second longer than necessary. We just escaped from that horror Cubicle.’ Reed shuddered.

  ‘I’m going to go see if I can slip a plate off the Server,’ Camilla declared.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Ivy said.

  As the two of them headed towards the Superkitchen, the others trooped up to their rooms. Cheska, Maisie and Reed looked so happy to be back in the old Cubicle, that Zinnia experienced a twinge of sadness. The poor lamebren looked as if they had shrunk―it was obvious that they had been under tremendous stress. But why had they been taken there in the first place? And why had they suddenly been released from that Cubicle? It was all a little confusing.

  While the three friends relaxed on the beds, Zinnia and Crispin brought them up to date on the day’s happenings. Cheska, Reed and Maisie listened intently, their eyes bulging when they heard how Zinnia had put up a strong front.

  ‘Wow! I would have fled from the office,’ Maisie admitted.

  ‘The Altklugs have never mentioned our Constitutional Rights before. How come suddenly Supercustodian referred to them? It has something to do with the meeting today, don’t you think?’ Zinnia sounded hopeful.

  ‘If it does, then that’s one good result of the dreadful meeting,’ Crispin agreed.

  Camilla and Ivy returned with two plates of food. The three famished lamebren polished off the meal within minutes. They ate as if they hadn’t eaten in days and Zinnia felt deeply sorry for them.

  ‘We saw a lot of Government spinners zipping past, on our way here. There were sirens and announcements―does anyone know what’s happening?’ Cheska asked.

  Before anyone could comment, a voice echoed through the Cubicle.

  ‘This evening Commander Burdock was found dead by the edge of the Snarl, in unusual conditions. All efforts to revive him at the Clinics have unfortunately failed. This is to inform the lamebren not to step out of the Cubicle, until further instructions. Commander Burdock was a techno-expert and a much respected Altklug. May he be reborn as an Altklug again.’

  Camilla’s hand flew to her mouth in distress. Crispin too appeared startled. Commander Burdock dead? Zinnia couldn’t believe it. She sensed a disturbing quiver of shock and alarm. Was it some kind of a trick the Altklugs were playing on them? But then why would they? Why would they waste time on pretending for the sake of the lamebren? No, this was for real. But then what exactly had happened? How had Burdock been killed and who had done it?

  ‘Oh, poor Commander Burdock,’ Camilla remarked, in a soft voice. ‘I didn’t like him much but he never really looked down on me and always treated me with respect, making sure that I didn’t work too hard.’

  ‘May his soul rest in peace,’ her twin added.

  Zinnia and Crispin stared, first at Camilla and then at Cheska. They looked so identical just then, in appearance and thought. Camilla’s curly blonde head was bent in reverence and her cheeks were as pink as ever. Zinnia didn’t know whether to be exasperated or amused. The poor innocent twins, if they only knew how the Commander had used Camilla they wouldn’t be wishing the Altklug’s soul good rest but would be wishing that it languished in some dirty trench! Ignorance was certainly bliss, Zinnia contemplated. It was true that sometimes the lack of knowledge protected you from the terrible truth and inevitable heartache. Camilla’s heartfelt pity which, at the moment, stemmed from a pure conscience would most certainly be contaminated if reality intervened. She needed this protective armour of ignorance, which would shield her forever. Yes, ignorance could sometimes lead to bliss...

  The night was unusually still. The snowflakes continued to fall silently, piling one on top of the other to make soft mounds. Zinnia stood by the window and watched the journey of the snowflakes from above the Cubicle to the ground. No noise, no fuss, just an exquisite display of spotless white. She remembered what Bamian had told them about snowflakes―snowflakes were six-sided delicate ice crystals, but no two snowflakes were similar by the time they reached the ground. Some melted partially in the warm atmosphere, then refroze in the cold atmosphere, some cracked apart but still remained connected to each other, some turned to sleet and some could die completely. Exactly like the lamebren. She and Iris were like the split crystals―split but still connected...

  The Super-Dome was rife with the news of Commander Burdock’s death. It was as if a dark sheet of mourning had shrouded the Super-Dome. The Rain Hour began early and extended into the evening merging with the Snow Hour. Gloom descended on the Ace-world. All the four Fountains were sprouting at half-throw, the markets were shut down for the day as well as the Altklug Knowledge Ports. The holo-view hoardings on the skyways carried a report on Commander Burdock’s life and his journey from a kid to an esteemed Commander. The news in all forms—the audio streams, the visual streams through the multi-D screens in private and public spaces reported regular updates on the investigation. The Altklugs were determined to hunt out the culprit and declare him a Betrayer, Zinnia realised. Hadn’t someone said that being a Betrayer was worse than being sent to the Dissolution Crypt? Wasn’t Preceptor Sven living a nightmare right now?

  The lamebren were given a day-off from classes by Bamian and Mirella. Zinnia, Crispin and the other lamebren watched the half-hourly reports with keen interest. Commander Burdock was glorified and raised to a pedestal by the Reporters, outlining his professional successes. Even Governor Tisya had something to say when she addressed her people.

  ‘Commander Burdock was not only known for his achievements, but he was also known for his big heart. He was known to be a staunch supporter of the lamebren and made it a point to include them in his day-to-day activities, thus making the poor lamebren feel a part of this Ace-world of ours. What an exemplary attitude, such a commendable personality, such a loss to our Ace-world...’

  ‘And yet someone did murder him,’ Zinnia remarked, unable to hide the satisfaction in her voice.

  Every single word of Governor Tisya’s speech opened a gaping wound in Zinnia. Burdock―a supporter of the lamebren! More like an enemy of the lamebren, sh
e thought bitterly. She glanced at Crispin who looked equally livid.

  ‘This is the perfect adulation in this perfect Ace-world!’ he replied, his voice layered with sarcasm. ‘Covering up of soiled tracks and leaving no marks for the future.’

  ‘Not that it will make an iota of difference to us. We know what kind of a man he was and nothing she says will change that,’ Zinnia whispered.

  Crispin nodded. But before he could respond, their attention was caught again by the screen.

  ‘New developments are in. Investigators have thoroughly checked Commander Burdock’s Memory Porter and come up with some interesting evidence. Commander Hertz is confident that this evidence will help crack the mystery of his death. Signing off for now, this is Kapel from Super-world News, All Fountains Network.’

  The visuals then moved on to display the casket with Commander Burdock’s body, making its one last journey through the Super-Dome. Soldiers marched before and after the casket as it glided down the streets. Altklugs from different pockets of the Super-Dome walked along with the procession, maintaining a respectful silence. The sound of the occasional saxophone announced their arrival in a particular sector, as a mark of respect for the departed Commander.

  Zinnia and Crispin watched the livecast with mixed feelings. The twins paid heed for a while and then moved to the garden to read Camilla’s poetry. The other lamebren had lost interest and were less concerned. They were only aware that a prominent personality of the Altklug Ace-world had passed away. They neither comprehended the gravity of the situation, nor did they care. Cylia was busy with her stitching, glad to find more time away from the studies. Azalea had nodded off in her seat. Reed and Berk were chatting, as were Ivy and Maisie. Only Lorde was deeply interested and his tiny eyes were glued to the screen.