Revolt of the Lamebren: Book 1 of the Super-Dome Chronicles

by Manjiri Prabhu

  Leo appeared amused. ‘Change the Altklug Ace-world, eh! That’s a huge task, but not necessarily impossible. You see the biggest problem with the Altklugs is that they are born as adults, because childhood and childlike innocence has been eradicated from the Altklug life. So perhaps, you can begin with something that will evoke their emotions? And I mean childlike emotions—not adult ones. Since they are born so adult-like, they are unaware of what childlike emotions mean. They have to learn to be children.’

  ‘But how? How does one invoke the childlike emotion in an adult?’

  ‘Well, the whole intention is to create and awaken this innocence which is now completely non-existent in their lives. Think back into your early years. What brought on the purity of emotions such as joy, anxiety, and tears? The Altklugs should do the same thing that would recreate this innocence, these emotions. They should take pleasure in the simple acts of life—play in the park, or play games, love animals. There’s innocence when you fall and cry and innocence when you need your mother. Innocence when you need to cuddle with your parents, innocence when you get your math wrong. It would also be good to show them what old age means—because that would show them what it means to be fearful and insecure.’

  Zinnia and Crispin listened in fascination. Leo seemed to know so much about the Altklugs!

  ‘I’ll try but I can’t see the Altklugs being fearful and insecure,’ Zinnia said, reflectively.

  ‘That’s sad but true and the crux of the issue. They are too deeply imbedded in their craft and knowledge to allow insecurities to run free. Plus they have their own method of dealing with fear and insecurity. Their methods are time-tested and politically motivated.’

  Zinnia glanced at Crispin. Leo seemed to be the right person to ask for advice about Burdock. She raised her eyebrows at him and Crispin instantly caught her silent query. He nodded.

  In the next few minutes, Zinnia had explained the entire Camilla-Burdock episode to Leo. His eyes were thin slits as he listened to the story with a great deal of attention. He sat motionless and his head was bent in concentration.

  ‘We had hoped that Mirella and Governor Tisya would help us resolve this issue. But instead they have threatened us,’ Zinnia concluded.

  Leo was silent for a few moments. Then he glanced up at the lamebren.

  ‘Camilla doesn’t remember or know a thing about what happened to her?’ he asked, finally. His voice was carefully emotionless.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Zinnia replied.

  ‘The Altklugs are cunning and this is classic Altklug problem solving method. Skilful and yet biased and overpowering. They first assured you and hinted that they would take care of the problem, which meant that you would not make a hue and cry about it to all and sundry. Then they cornered you, taking you by surprise, warning you of dire consequences if you took legal action. If you still decide to go against their threat, it won’t take them long to send you three to the Dissolution Crypt.’

  Zinnia and Crispin exchanged looks. So, they had interpreted the situation correctly.

  ‘Well, my advice to you is to back off. Camilla will not be sent to Burdock again, the Governor would see to it. And you two have to learn to forget what happened. That is the only way now. Let them think that they frightened you off.’

  ‘But...’ Zinnia protested.

  ‘I said forget, not forgive,’ Leo cut in quietly. ‘Leave the rest to the Universe. The Altklugs may not believe in the power of the Universe but I do. The Universe, or God as some preferred to call it, behaves in strange ways. But as far as you two are concerned, the matter is over. Tomorrow you tell Mirella that you are ready to drop the subject and all’s well that ends well. Will you do that?’ Leo studied Zinnia’s face keenly.

  The lamebirl nodded.

  ‘I know that you are spirited, you care for your friend and want to see justice done. But justice can be met in a number of ways. The Altklugs have their style and manner of executing it, and the Universe has its own. Save your energy and spirit for bigger matters, my dear. You are going to need it—all of you.’

  Leo’s sharp, assessing gaze glided from one face to the other.

  ‘We will, Sir,’ Crispin assured.

  ‘I think it is time for you to leave. Just keep together and stay strong. If you should ever need me, you can use this drum. See, this is a natural hollowed bark of a tree. Here’s a stick. Try this rhythm which will be our contact code.’ Leo played a sample rhythm on the bark which echoed loudly through the trees. ‘Here try it.’

  Crispin imitated him―dhun, dhun, dhun-dhuna-dhun―and succeeded to an extent. Zinnia tried and her effort made Doodle tilt his head and bark.

  ‘It will get better with practice.’ Leo smiled. ‘If you play this code, I’ll hear it. I live some distance away but the sound carries easily through the forest and I’ll turn up as soon as I can.’

  ‘Goodbye, Sir,’ Zinnia said. She kneeled down and hugged the puppy. ‘And you will look after Doodle for me, won’t you?’

  Leo gave a nice hearty laugh. ‘Yes, I will. His real name is Sunny, but from today he shall be Doodle. You two take care and remember my words. Stay strong!’

  15

  ‘I think we’ve taken a wrong turn,’ Crispin remarked. ‘The trees don’t look familiar at all. In fact, this part of the forest appears terribly ferocious.’

  All light had faded and the Snarl was murky and dark and the trees hovered like ghostly figures all around them. A cool wind slithered between the foliage making an eerie sound. Crispin halted in the path, and Zinnia shivered.

  ‘No we haven’t, look, there’s the Diaphanous Seal!’ she exclaimed in relief.

  The Snarl during night time was gloomy and particularly frightening. They hastened to the gap in the wall, eager to escape the interminable blackness and the chill in the air. Crispin squeezed through the wall first and Zinnia followed. It was colder in the Altklug world with the Snow Hour about to begin and Zinnia rubbed her arms to gain some warmth.

  ‘Wait. It was a wrong turn,’ Crispin whispered.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘We aren’t at the lake. We’re at the Ret Cubicle.’

  Zinnia noticed the ten steps leading to the black metallic door. This was the same door she had opened on the very first day of her arrival.

  ‘You’re right. What do we do now?’

  She had barely finished talking when, to her great horror, the metallic door slid open. Supercustodian! They were going to get caught! And there was nowhere to hide...

  But it wasn’t Supercustodian, another Altklug stood by the door, looking directly at them. Silhouetted against the light inside the Cubicle, his face was completely shadowed. He stood with his hands on his hips and stared at them.

  ‘I saw you on my screen,’ he said.

  ‘We...we’re sorry, we kind of lost our way,’ Crispin spluttered.

  ‘Lost your way? Where? You weren’t in the Snarl were you?’ He didn’t wait for them to respond as he turned and led the way inside, into the warmth of the Cubicle.

  Crispin and Zinnia followed, taking the steps two at a time. Once inside the hall, the metallic door slid shut again. Zinnia could see the Altklug’s face now. He was the same Altklug who had helped her with the Server on her very first day. She stared at him, wondering who he was.

  ‘We...actually...’Crispin hedged.

  ‘We were curious so we walked along the Diaphanous Seal,’ Zinnia cut in quickly. ‘We didn’t mean to be late for dinner.’

  The Altklug faced her. A small, half-smile touched his lips and his eyes crinkled at the corners pleasantly. She wondered how old he was. He was as tall as Crispin and dressed in the usual uniform. And yet...it was in that instant that Zinnia had her first doubt. He was an Altklug, wasn’t he?

  ‘You’re just in time for dinner. But I must warn you, the glass wall or the Diaphanous Seal is for your safety. Do not cross it and do not be out in the Snow Hour. The next time I will not be so lenient,’ he remarked an
d then he marched away.

  Zinnia frowned after him. The authority with which he spoke indicated that he was someone important. Was he appointed as a Preceptor? A residential one this time? Her doubts were cleared after dinner, during their meeting in the dorm room.

  ‘Our new Supercustodian Colonel Kripton,’ Camilla informed. ‘Our old Supercustodian has been posted to the New Ret Cabana. Poor Cheska and the others—she’s such a nasty woman! What did you think of him, by the way?’

  ‘He seemed pretty okay to me,’ Zinnia said, careful not to voice her suspicion. She was almost certain that the Colonel was not a complete Altklug. But she would sound foolish if she said so. After all he was the Supercustodian and she had nothing to substantiate her suspicion.

  ‘I hope so. But tell us―did you find Doodle’s mother?’

  ‘Not only did we find Doodle’s mother Deedee, but we found someone else too―someone mysterious and cool,’ Crispin grinned.

  ‘Who?’ Berk asked.

  ‘Hold your breath―we met Leo Leroy!’

  Berk’s eyes bulged. Azalea’s mouth flew open and Ivy and Cylia, stared.

  ‘Leo Leroy!’ they exclaimed.

  ‘Shh...voices down. Yes, Leo Leroy.’ Crispin smiled, thoroughly enjoying himself. ‘But listen to the whole story first...’

  The interest of the lamebren was piqued at once and they eagerly gathered around. As Crispin narrated their adventure, Zinnia found the expressions on their faces very amusing. Ivy was attentive, Camilla in awe, Berk totally astonished and Azalea appeared dazed.

  ‘Leo Leroy,’ Cylia repeated in amazement. ‘The boy who escaped! And who everyone thought was dead. Wow!’

  ‘Isn’t it amazing that he actually survived in the Snarl? And survived for so many years that he’s really, really old,’ Crispin said.

  ‘But then the legend about finding his body parts...’ Ivy frowned.

  ‘I believe that was created to dissuade other lamebren from escaping into the Snarl,’ Crispin guessed.

  ‘So, “old age” for us is different from that of the Altklugs,’ Ivy observed.

  ‘It certainly is. The Altklugs look no different whether they are four or fourteen. But Leo looked strange. Wrinkled skin, gnarled hands—almost as if the body was withering away,’ Crispin explained.

  ‘And yet he was nice―I mean he wasn’t repulsive or dirty or horrible. He was kind and gentle, and spoke with such knowledge. It was not the Altklug kind of knowledge. It was―more human, more normal―our kind of knowledge.’

  ‘Wow!’ Berk expelled a breath.

  ‘But where does he live? What does he eat?’ Ivy asked practically.

  Crispin and Zinnia looked at each other.

  ‘We completely forgot to ask him these basic questions. Zinnia you should have thought of asking him about his life,’ Crispin remarked pointedly.

  ‘Actually I should have, but in the excitement of finding him and sharing our thoughts with him, I forgot. After all it was the first time someone was actually listening to us, believing in us and guiding us, so I guess it just slipped out of my mind. But why didn’t you, Crispin? You could’ve also done the asking! I was already talking too much,’ Zinnia retorted.

  ‘Ok, you two stop squabbling,’ Camilla cut in smoothly. ‘Now, what next?’

  ‘We discussed this on the way back and Crispin and I have come to the conclusion, that we have to do something concrete about the future of the lamebren. We cannot allow the Altklugs to terminate us at their will,’ Zinnia said.

  ‘Easier said than done,’ Berk muttered.

  ‘Yes, it’s tough Berk, but we have to begin somewhere. First, we have to stop thinking that the Altklugs are superior to us. And secondly, we have to realise that if we want to be safe, we need to live longer than the Altklugs.’

  ‘But Preceptor Amadeus has been trying to change the mindset of the Altklugs without success for some years now,’ Ivy pointed out. ‘Hasn’t he been propagating Age Progression?’

  ‘Preceptor Amadeus talks of Age Progression, yes, but in a scientific manner. He wants to experiment. I am talking about the humane angle to it all. Plus our right to live as long as our bodies permit.’

  ‘The Secret Society has two main agendas now―one is to formulate a plan to ensure the safety of the lamebren, not just in this Cubicle but the other four Cubicles across the Super-Dome, which is a long-term plan,’ Crispin said. ‘The second one, more urgent, is to get Cheska, Maisie and Reed back here. Does anyone have any ideas?’

  In the dim light of the lamp, the young faces of the lamebren appeared innocent and reflective.

  ‘Can’t we request the Supercustodian to bring back Cheska and the others?’ Camilla suggested.

  ‘Or ask Mirella? She seems nice, too,’ Cylia said.

  Crispin and Zinnia flashed each other another quick glance. So much for Mirella being ‘nice’. Although she had appeared sympathetic when she had forwarded the message from the Governor, she had seemed to be doing her duty a little too well, Zinnia thought. No one could be trusted in the Altklug Super-Dome― absolutely no one!

  ‘We could try asking Supercustodian Kripton, but why would he listen to us? And why would he override the instructions of Commander Hertz?’ Ivy wondered.

  ‘Exactly my thoughts,’ Crispin agreed.

  ‘We need to show them not tell them that those three are needed here,’ Zinnia added.

  ‘How can we show?’ Azalea asked.

  ‘I think she’s right!’ Crispin appeared excited. ‘Any amount of telling is useless with the Altklugs. We’ll have to create a “need” for them here.’

  ‘Think, think―of what use are those three to the Northern Quarter Ret Cubicle?’

  No one responded as they all racked their brains for an answer.

  ‘The problem is that the lamebren are of no use to the Altklugs. They just keep us alive to project that they are being fair with us,’ Ivy said bitterly.

  ‘You’re right, but that isn’t the truth any more than the fact that the Altklugs are superior to us,’ Zinnia replied, in a firm voice. ‘I’ve just thought of something else. Didn’t Cheska say that some of the rooms at their Cubicle are guarded by security personnel?’

  ‘You’re right. Why does a lamebren Cubicle need security? What is in the rooms? And more importantly, why have some lamebren been transferred to that Cubicle...’ Crispin’s voice trailed.

  For a moment everyone was silent. A sudden sense of unease filled the Cubicle Tory. Did the transfer of some of the lamebren have anything to do with the guarded rooms? And what exactly was happening in those rooms?

  *****

  Zinnia and Crispin remained standing while Mirella fiddled with her padlet. Finally she glanced up at them. In her white robes and kind face, she really appeared so different from her other stone-faced colleagues.

  ‘Yes. Have you decided what you want to do?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes Exector. We have decided that we do not want to go the legal route,’ Zinnia replied.

  Mirella nodded. Was it the faintest glimmer of relief deep in her eyes? Zinnia wondered.

  ‘I think it is a wise decision. You lamebren do not want to be embroiled in a legal battle for the rest of your life,’ Mirella agreed. ‘I shall pass the message to the Governor.’

  ‘But G11...’

  ‘G11 will never be sent to Commander Burdock’s house,’ Mirella confirmed. ‘You can be sure about that. Now can I have the holo-view please? I need to personally ensure that it is erased.’

  Without a word, Zinnia handed her the padlet. She experienced a last twinge of defeat and guilt and desperation, but then she curbed it. What had Leo said? The universe meets out its own justice. She had to believe it.

  Mirella’s actions were swift as if she were in a great hurry to erase all proof once and for all. She handed the padlet back to Zinnia.

  ‘Thanks. We presume that this subject is now closed for good. I need to highlight the importance of keeping it all very secret. Any leakage
would mean flinging sludge on Commander Burdock without proof and you know where that would lead, don’t you?’

  Zinnia locked eyes with Mirella for a moment, the anger inside her seething. She could’ve helped if she wanted to, Zinnia thought. She could’ve convinced the Governor to take action against Burdock, but she didn’t. Ultimately, all said and done, Mirella had let her down.

  Crispin pressed a warning hand on Zinnia’s shoulder.

  ‘You may go now. I may not take class today, so you will probably be assigned duties.’ She nodded her dismissal and the lamebren quit the Klugsage room.

  *****

  ‘Will you feed Marquee his lunch?’ Manda asked.

  Zinnia nodded and accepted the plate from the Altklug. Five different coloured tablets were laid out on the plate.

  ‘Make sure he eats it all. You know how fussy kids are―they just won’t take in the right nutrition,’ Manda said.

  Zinnia had been assigned duty with Lady Manda who was finding it tough to look after her baby. Her husband Dicto had been away on duty for a few days and Manda had sent in a request to the Ret Cubicle for assistance. So here Zinnia was, once again in an Altklug house.

  As the Altklug left Zinnia to her task, the lamebirl turned her attention to the six-month old kid. His face was puckered in concentration as he leaned against a tree and played with a padlet, solving puzzles.

  ‘Okay time for lunch Marquee,’ Zinnia announced cheerfully.

  Marquee, who was much shorter than her, displayed marvellous traits of an Altklug. He had the same air of snobbery, ignored her existence with a condescendence to rival an adult’s and continued to play with his padlet. Zinnia approached him and stood patiently while he finished his riddle. She observed him as he solved puzzle after puzzle with the ease of a much older person.