Anarchy Novel "Will" Chapter 2 (part 2)
Hi Steemers!
I am proud to present my new anarchy themed novel, hot off the press! I will post the entire book for free via steemit posts, a chapter or two at a time.
Title: Will
Genre: Science Fiction, Political Thriller, Comedy
Synopsis: Early 30th Century Earth is literally divided by a mysterious wall. On the dark side of the wall, millions suffer from mind control, despotic rulers, war, pain, and suffering. On the light side of the wall, it is the complete opposite. There is peace, freedom, and prosperity. One day a man from the dark side manages to get to the other side, a fateful event which will change the world forever.
Happy Reading! Please share!
Please note: The following is the second half of chapter 2. To begin reading from the beginning, refer to my earlier posts here on steemit or download the book for free on my blog @
makingtheoligarchyobsolete.blogspot.com
As they came into the dining area, Jovius spotted the newcomer and approached him with a welcoming smile. The stranger maintained a tense look on his face. “Hey stranger! I’m Jovius. Did these two sucker you into cooking for them?” There was no reaction from the stranger. Ray took the opportunity to jump in, “Jovius, this is a newcomer from the other side of the wall,” A look of surprise and amusement came over Jovius’ face. He then burst into uproarious laughter which nearly shook the room. “Ok, jokes on Jove, right? You guys are good, that’s real original, trying to catch me off guard before I have my breakfast, right?” The stranger, much to Ray and Sophia’s surprise, spoke up, and asked in all seriousness, “Are you a clown?” This made Ray and Sophia burst into laughter as well. Now all three were laughing and the stranger just sat there with a confused look on his face. “Yes, I’m the greatest clown this side of the planet, but only on Mondays!” Jovius bellowed in a smooth tone. Ray was the first to calm a bit. “But really, Jovius, he came from the other side. I found him last night,” he spoke as his laughter dissipated.
Jovius raised a curious eyebrow and looked over the stranger for a moment before speaking. With a big grin he greeted the stranger, “My name is Jovius, purveyor of perplexing parodies and the liquid spirit of jest.” The stranger looked quite uncertain as to what to make of this odd fellow and just stood staring with his mouth gaping open. Tired of waiting for a response from the stranger, Jovius spoke up, “I know I’m good looking, but you really shouldn’t stare.” Then he turned to Ray, “So what’s his name?” “Don’t talk like he’s not in the room. He can hear you, ya know,” Sophia chimed in before Ray could respond. “Well, can he talk?” Jovius bluntly asked. “Of course he can talk,” Ray said with an offended tone. “You probably just took his breath away. You tend to have that effect on people,” Sophia said with a wry grin. “Ok, so can one of you tell me his name, or should I just call him guy?” Ray sighed and said, “He doesn’t have a name.” “Guy it is! I dub thee Guy!” Jovius exclaimed. Ray sighed again, “He has a number, 2001.” This delighted Jovius and he jubilated, “2001! How fantastic! A year of marvelous vintage!”
Sophia looked at the stranger who was becoming more uneasy by the minute. “Well, you gotta have a name! Let’s name him!” exclaimed Jovius. This upset Ray a bit. “He’s not a dog, Jovius! We can’t just name him.” The stranger started to become a little offended and joined in, “You can call me 2001. What’s wrong with that?” Ray tried to console the stranger, “Nothing, there’s nothing wrong with it. We’re just not use to calling people numbers, that’s all.” Jovius raised a finger and confidently declared, “I’ll call you Vintage! How about that? That’s almost a fine a name as Jovius, I say! How about it, Vintage?” The stranger frowned and replied, “I suppose if it makes you feel better, you can call me Vintage, but I don’t see the point. It’s not logical.” This drew a fantastic response from Jovius. His face lit up and called out, “Logical! The man from the warring world wants to speak of logic! I can’t help but find this deliciously ironic!” While continuing to laugh heartily he continued, “A fine cup of liquid black goodness is in order! I see a stimulating river of words coming forth, and stimulating words deserve the finest of stimulants to match! Agreed?” Sophia chuckled and shaking her head said, “Four cups of coffee, coming right up.”
Sophia went to the kitchen to get the coffee while Jovius and Ray took a seat at the dark brown dining table. “So you want to speak of logic, Vintage?” The stranger had no such inclination. He was still trying to figure out how he got to where he was. More importantly, he wanted to know how he could get back home. At this point, however, he had no choice but to speak with these peculiar people. Perhaps they could assist him in some way of getting home. After all, they were capable of flying outside the confines of the planet, so surely it would be more than simple enough to return him to the other side of the planet. In the meantime, he thought it best to enjoy some coffee and get his head straight for a couple of days before making any plans.
“I have no such wish to speak of logic with you. No one living in chaos outside of law can teach me a thing about logic,” the stranger explained with a slightly self-satisfied smirk on his face. This caused a half startled half amused look to come across Ray’s face. Jovius was also shocked, and in a mockingly sympathetic tone he cried, “Chaos! We’re living in chaos!” Turning to Ray he continued, “Ray, did you know we were living in chaos?” Ray shook his head and wryly responded, “Surely, the definition of chaos must be remarkably different on the other side of the world.” Sophia was now approaching the table and Jovius turned to her. “Did you know we were living in chaos, Sophia? Did you get that memo?” Sophia replied, “I must’ve been out sick that day. I received no such memo.” As Sophia went to retrieve the other two cups of coffee, Jovius turned back to the stranger. “I would love to hear the evidence of how we are living in chaos. Please enlighten us, sweet Vintage!” The stranger responded with contempt, “It is well known that on your side of the world chaos rules the day.” Ray thought this interesting and inquired, “How did you come to know about the supposed chaos in which we live? The stranger thought such a question to be ludicrous but answered it just the same. “Where I come from,” he calmly spoke with a hint of condescension, “We learn in school how it is on your side of the world, the suffering, the chaos, and all sorts of other unpleasant aspects of your culture.”
Sophia, Ray, and Jovius all laughed a bit, but took great pains to not laugh too much, so as not to be rude to their guest. Having learned the art of intellectual self-defense, it was apparent that the stranger’s words were quite fallacious and thus a sort of abbreviated tragic comedy. The three knew that technology did not exist on the stranger’s side of the world in order to visit or gather information about their side. Due to this bit of knowledge, it was obvious that any information taught in the schools of which the stranger spoke was pure propaganda and had no basis in reality. Sophia calmly asked, “Do people from your side travel here often?” The stranger replied, “Of course not, I believe I am the first successful attempt.” Sophia brought forth another simple question, “And do you gather information about this side in some covert manner that I am unaware of?” The stranger thought for a moment then said, “I don’t know of any such project, but there is much of the government which I confess I don’t know about. Secrecy is necessary for security, of course.” Jovius couldn’t help but burst into uproarious laughter at this. “Dear Sophia, allow me to continue the line of logic. May I please?” he begged as he took a sip of the steaming black goodness. “Ok, but please keep it cordial. It’s his first day here, remember,” Sophia relented.
“My marvelous Vintage, it is true that nobody travels here to gather information from your side,” he began. “That’s right,” Vintage confirmed. “And you have no other means of gathering information about the ways of life here?” “Not that I’m aware of,” came the reply of Vintage. He continued, “Are there some type of historical texts which the schools might reference for educational purposes?” “We have no historical record of your side, at least that I’m aware of,” came the reply. “Then how, in the name of truth, Vintage, does the information come to be which is taught in your schools?” he asked with an involuntary giggle. The stranger reflected for a moment and became more and more puzzled by the second. Then came his response, “I don’t know.” The room was silent. The stranger was confused. “There must be some explanation,” he said with a bit of uneasiness in his voice. “Vintage, it would be my pleasure to offer a most logical explanation. Would you mind?” Jovius pleaded. The stranger fixed his gaze on Jovius as if waiting for him to continue, which Jovius happily obliged.
Jovius went on with another question, “May I ask who operates the schools?” The stranger responded indignantly, “The governments do, of course,” as if that was the only way in which schools could exist. “It appears then, Vintage, that the governments of your world are spreading propaganda in the schools against the ways of life in which I and millions of other individuals on this side adhere to. Not only adhere to, but relish, I might add.” The stranger gave a doubtful laugh. Propaganda? His government didn’t use such a vile thing, to be sure. It was only the enemies of freedom who used propaganda. How fantastically preposterous a suggestion coming from this clown named Jovius! “Just for the sake of argument,” the stranger began, “Let us suppose that what you say is true, that my own government uses propaganda in the schools. Why would my government want me and millions of others to believe that there is chaos on the other side of the world? To what end? For what purpose?” Ray beat Jovius to the punch with a quick reply, “That’s a marvelous question, stranger! May I offer a logical answer?” “By all means,” the stranger replied with a sense of urgency in his voice. He was beginning to think that perhaps his maiden voyage to the other side of the world would be quite fortuitous in the fact that it presented an opportunity. It would be a chance to teach the wonders of government to the chaotic hordes across the world! This was crossing the stranger’s mind when Ray responded, “The people who masquerade as some benevolent force called ‘government’ retain their power by convincing you that you need to be ruled.”
The stranger sat still for a moment while the others eagerly awaited his response. It was clear to the others that what they were discussing was of monumental importance, for it was something easily understood by them. It had been understood by most people in their world for hundreds of years. They all had the feeling, however, that the stranger didn’t grasp the gravity nor the validity of the arguments. That didn’t stop them from continuing the path of the conversation. Sophia was the first to speak. “May I ask you a question?” “On one condition,” he said with a straight face, “that I may have another cup of your wonderful coffee.” Ray stood up and said, “I’ll do the honors,” as he made his way to the kitchen.
Sophia looked at the stranger and inquired, “Do you know the meaning of the verb school?” The stranger thought this was a rather insulting question at first, but upon reflection, he found that no clear definition came to mind. He began to turn a bit red and, taking notice of this, Sophia tried to alleviate his embarrassment. “It’s ok. Lots of people use words and never know the exact meaning or that it even has multiple definitions.” “One meaning of the word school,” she continued, “Is to discipline or control.” Jovius couldn’t contain himself and interrupted, “I might also add that it can be used in a derogatory manner. It has a meaning to defeat, put down, or humiliate.” “I was just about to go there, but thanks for your input,” she said with a sigh and a twisted smile. Turning back to the stranger she continued. “However, education is different. One Latin root word for education is ‘educere’, which means ‘to draw out powers of the mind’. It can also mean an enlightening experience.” The stranger was listening intently but had a look of misunderstanding colored all over his thin face. Ray came back and set down a fresh cup of coffee in front of the stranger. “Did I miss anything?” Ray asked. “Nothing you don’t already know,” Jovius claimed. “Where you come from, education is tightly controlled and regimented, is that right?” Sophia asked the stranger. “I suppose you could say that,” he replied. Sophia explained, “In our way of life, children are usually educated at home, by the parents. Children acquire knowledge, mostly on their own, by asking questions and experimentation, with the parents acting as guides, and I use that term loosely. In your world, children are schooled in government facilities where they are disciplined and controlled. They memorize tightly controlled information to serve the regimented system.”
The stranger was puzzled by many things at this moment, but one stood out more than the rest. “What are parents?” was his shocking question. Everyone but the stranger slapped hand to forehead in disbelief and started laughing out of shock. Jovius was the first to muster words. “Please tell me that’s a joke! Perhaps you can go with me to my next performance? Please, dear Vintage, enlighten us as to how children are cared for and who cares for them in your land of freedom and order!” he shouted with ironic delight.
Ray noticed that the stranger was beginning to grow weary of the laughter which he no doubt felt was at his expense. He took the initiative and said, “Please, please, take it easy Jovius. You’re making our guest most uncomfortable.” The stranger then spoke with a stern voice, “Don’t worry, Ray. I know it is ignorance from which this laughter springs.” This caused Jovius again to explode into a fit of cackling and slapping the table with unfettered delight. Managing to squeeze some words between his cackles, “We are ignorant! We have no war, and yet we are ignorant!” “May I answer the question?” the stranger raised his voice. After a pause, he continued “We find it more efficient to have experts care for children. Leaving such an important task to just anyone, as it was in the past, can have the most undesirable consequences.” Jovius calmed himself and replied, “Good show, Vintage. A remarkable show! Now, I will answer your question. Parents are the people who conceive, care for, and educate the child. Such a complex and wondrous thing as raising children should not be summed up in such an abbreviated manner, but it will suffice for the moment.”
The sun was now much higher in the sky and was producing blinding beams in the dining area. Ray was taking the brunt of the beams and suggested, “I think the sun is nearly as overbearing as our good chum Jovius. Time to give ourselves some shade, agreed?” Sophia agreed and added in a mocking tone, “Yes, please, and also if you can tame Jovius in some way.” Ray raised an eyebrow and responded, “I’m not a miracle worker, my dear.” He then commanded, “Computer, tint windows by twenty-five percent.” In an instant, the wall-sized window overlooking the luscious landscape darkened a bit and the sun’s rays were dampened to a manageable level.
The stranger’s eyes lit up with wonder at the fantastic display of technology. “I will give you credit,” he spoke with a sense of wonder, “That the technology you have seems to be on a higher level than our own.” Jovius thought this was quite an understatement due to the fact that the system of the other side of the world couldn’t produce a vehicle to leave Earth’s atmosphere. Just as Jovius was about to make a mildly insulting remark about the stranger’s world, Ray cut him short. “Don’t do it, Jovius. Please don’t do it.” Jovius gave a frown of mockery and didn’t say a word.
The stranger asked, “I’m curious as to what type of work you all do. It’s mid-morning and it seems you have no responsibilities to attend to.” “We do all types of work,” Sophia stated bluntly. The stranger was a bit muddled by this answer and restated his question, “What I mean is, what type of work do you do to support yourselves? Are you engineers, doctors, or in the case of Jovius, a semi-professional clown?” Jovius’ face lit up and he exclaimed, “Oh, he does have a sense of humor! He’s not a robot!” Ray took it upon himself to explain how occupations generally worked on their side of the world. “In order to keep the explanation simple,” he declared, “All I’ll say is that most people that we know do multiple types of work.” This startled the stranger as he inquired, “Even the clown here? What more could he possibly do?” Everyone had a good laugh at Jovius’ expense. Sophia was able to muster an explanation. “Jovius is not only an entertainer, but he also transports goods when he travels to do his shows.” Jovius was looking at Sophia with an expectant look as Sophia was intentionally withholding more information. She smiled and glanced at Jovius. He couldn’t bear it and pleaded, “And? What more? Don’t hold back in praising me, I say!” he jested. Sophia complied, “And he is one of the water providers of our local area.” This made the stranger blush and giggle from disbelief. “How can anyone’s water supply be entrusted to this freak of many colors? It’s too much, please, no more jokes!” Jovius laughed and defended himself, “Surely, Vintage, you mustn’t be so snide, energy you waste trying to hurt my pride.” “No really,” Ray joined in, “He helps supply water to quite a few people, including us. He helps us irrigate our farm.” “That doesn’t speak well for your society, you realize that, right?” quipped the stranger. “Perhaps not,” agreed Ray with a playful grin. “I’m glad to see that you’re becoming comfortable here, as apposed to your initial reactions and behavior.”
The stranger nodded his head in agreement as he spoke. “Yes, I feel much better now. Please understand that it was a nerve racking experience to wake up in a strange place and not remember how you got there.” Jovius exclaimed, “Yes, the same happens to me some days when I imbibe liquid bread in overzealous ways.” Sophia rolled her eyes at this and said, “Sure, Jovius, I’m sure it’s just the same.” Ray thought this might be a good time to ask more about the stranger and how he had arrived across the wall. “Please tell me stranger, what do you remember about coming here?” “As I told you last night, I remember nothing,” came the retort. “What’s the last thing you remember?” Ray persisted.
The stranger thought for a moment. Everything was still so fuzzy and disconnected. His last clear memory was working at his desk at work. What was he working on? What was he writing? Who was the last person he saw? Where did he go after he finished his work? Everything was too black. Perhaps in time he would recover his memories of the recent happenings. “The last thing I remember was sitting at my desk working at the office,” came the answer with a shrug. “What type of work do you do?” Ray asked. “I write for a newspaper. The last thing I recall is writing an article for the paper,” the stranger struggled to verbalize the cloudy experience. “You don’t remember leaving your office?” asked Sophia. “No, nothing,” he replied curtly. Ray wanted to dig a little deeper. “Do you know of any government programs to try and cross the wall?” “None that I’m aware of,” came the answer. “That doesn’t mean they’re not trying,” Sophia spoke with suspicion in her voice. Jovius laughed and cried, “Thank you little miss obviousness!” Ray thoughtfully said, “Well, you’re here, stranger, so they’ve succeeded. Whoever ‘they’ are.” Jovius had a very contemplative expression on his face for a moment before he made a suggestion. “Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do, Vintage.” The stranger’s voice oozed curiosity, “Yes, Jovius, what’s that you have in mind?” “I suppose we’ll just have to cut you up into little pieces and send you back. Maybe with a nice greeting card or something. Flowers, too, might be a nice touch,” Jovius suggested in all seriousness. The stranger gasped as a horrified countenance at once seized his face. Jovius thought this to be of the highest jocularity as he burst into a fit of outrageous laughter. Sophia instantly tried to calm the stranger while simultaneously slapping Jovius disapprovingly on the shoulder. “He’s joking! Jovius, you’re terrible!”
Trying to quickly change direction away from the horrid joke Ray jumped in. “So what type of writing do you do? And who for?” The stranger answered while keeping a watchful eye on Jovius. “I write about current events for the Free State Herald.” “I’m getting a crazy idea,” Jovius interjected. “I think we’ve heard enough of your crazy ideas for one day,” Sophia objected. “I’m hitting the road tomorrow to do some shows. Perhaps old Vintage here would like to come along and see our world in a wider scope,” he suggested. Ray laughed at the audacity of Jovius. “A moment ago, you’re cutting him to bits, and now you want to take him on a grand tour. You are a real piece of work, Jovius, I’ll give you that.” The stranger had a ponderous look about him. He thought maybe it would do him some good to see the other side of the world and see their way of life. Could it be true that chaos did not rule their days? Doubtful, but seeing is believing. “I think I’d like to see more of your world. I don’t know how I’d pay my way, though.” “Don’t worry,” Jovius assured him, “You can earn your keep by pulling the donkey cart. The donkeys could use a day off.” “Stop it, Jovius!” Sophia yelled with a laugh. With a spry look on his face Ray said, “I’ve got an even crazier idea. How about we all go! Should be an interesting trip, right? Besides, someone really ought to babysit Jovius and look out for Mr. Vintage here.” Sophia threw up her hands, smiled, and exclaimed, “You can’t argue with that logic! Road trip it is!”
If you like what you just read, you can find more of my writings for free on my blog.
makingtheoligarchyobsolete.blogspot.com
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