Unison (The Spheral) (25 page)

Unity will fall.
Torrin’s words echoed back in my mind.
Unity will fall!
For the first time I believed this was possible. The purple sleeves and Overseer were as vulnerable as the rest of us. I wept and laughed, desperately wanting to tell someone the news. I slid open the door, stepped outside, and yelled towards the west end of the old tunnel. “Unity will fall! You purple slocks don’t have authority over anything but your own delusions, and they’ll eventually destroy you!”

Shisa came outside barking, and I mimicked her. I then howled and continued to do so until people emerged from out of their trainlets.

“None of us know what the slock we’re doing!” I laughed like a raving lunatic as I pointed at the crowd. “Not any of you.” I slapped my chest loud enough for it to echo against the walls of the tunnel. “Not me.” I glanced at Shisa who barked. “But I think
you
know.” I laughed and howled again.

The travelers shouted at me and Sephroy hobbled out, tapping his cane on the ground until we all silenced.

“Quiet, quiet, quiet!" he yelled. "If you want to stay here, you have to keep quiet. People are trying to rest.”

“That’s a great idea. I’ll be doing that for the rest of my life…resting.” I smiled.

“See that you do, Chap. All that mouth flapping of yours is getting old, and I’d like to rest as well.”

Sephroy looked at me wearily, and I watched him as he walked off. Something about Sephroy’s words haunted me the rest of that night, but the next morning I was more eager to explore New Athenia. To maintain civility, I tried to find Sephroy to apologize for the disturbance. I couldn’t find him, so I left.

Once I settled into my flat I joined the New Athenian Orchestra. I learned the musical compositions quickly and a quarter of a year later, I was having full conversations in Knosian. Stories started to show up in print—and on screen about what a quick study I was. My favorite headline was “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is reborn in New Athenia!” For laughs, I decided to play the part and showed up to a performance dressed as I’d seen Mozart in a portrait. The audience loved it, as did Manolis. He insisted I repeat the act for future concerts, and he soon started dressing like Frédéric Chopin, another Ancient composer. We staged composer feuds with both scripted and improvised dialogue. After throwing a few insults at each other, we’d play our instruments and argue over who was the best musician. Neither of us would concede, and we’d leave it up to the audience to make the deciding vote by waving either a red or blue flag. More often, the blue flags dominated which meant my victory.

With my new success, I started to forget my Unitian past. Alcohol and women filled most of my evenings, and I indulged in both as often as I could. Once, I made the mistake of showing up drunk to one of my rehearsals, and Manolis almost removed me from my seat. He banned me from the performance and told me if I ever showed up drunk again, I’d be ejected from the orchestra. I took Manolis at his word, and I drank only on days I didn’t have to perform or rehearse.

After our Foundation Day performance, I went to a cafe I frequented for dinner. Halfway through my carafe of wine, the COR alarm rang. I looked up at who’d just arrived and shut it off.

“If I were paranoid, I’d th-think, I’d think you had that set to go off at my arrival,” Lidian said.

“Maybe I did.” I smiled, and it took Lidian a moment to get I was joking. I got up and shook his hand. “Good to see you. When did you arrive?”

“I-i-in time to enjoy the summer festival.” Lidian examined my costume. “What are you wearing?”

“They tell me I’m Mozart…reincarnated.”

“Who’s Mozart?”

“To answer that question here would be impossible.”

Lidian looked at me quizzically.

“He’s one of the Ancient’s most revered composers, but that’s an oversimplification. Only upon hearing his music can you begin to comprehend his artistry.”

“I planned o-on going to the music library tomorrow. Th-th-thanks. Mozart Reincarnated—I’ll definitely look him up.”

I laughed and pointed to the chair. “Have a seat. I’m sure you’ll have a lot more questions about life in New Athenia.”

Lidian joined me for dinner and went through his own carafe of wine, recounting his story about how Tyrus tried to frame him for attacking a crailer. He sounded more convincing in my drunken state.

“That old man tried to ruin my life too,” I said. “He was the only Chosen to turn me down for admittance to University. Before the decision, I thought it was Avery who was going to deny me.”

“He ha-has them all fooled.” Lidian poured some wine into his glass. “Your success with Harmony mu-mu-must have made him furious.”

“Wouldn’t know. We never met to discuss it.”

After dinner, we staggered to the crail stop, and Lidian continued his diatribe against Tyrus. I tried hard not to think about my Unitian past, which until today I’d successfully put out of my mind. As we sat and waited for a crail to arrive, a bouzouki player plucked out an Ancient Greek folk song outside a late-night cafe while Lidian grumbled about how miserable things had gotten since I left.

“Eh-eh-everywhere you go, there’s a camera watching you,” Lidian said. “I asked my confessor to locate a feed that could prove I left the crail alone, and he told me they’re a-all reco-co-recorded over the next day. Wh-what’s the point in having them i-i-if they’re, if they’re going to erase them?” He sipped his wine. “That’s just more proof that they don’t want to know the truth.”

“You mean that they’re dumber than your average Unitian?”

Lidian laughed. “G-g-g-glad someone else sees it besides me. I never believed they were better than the rest of us.”

“If only I was that smart. I never would’ve invented Harmony.”

“Is that why you left?” Lidian asked.

“One of many reasons.”

Lidian complained about everything from feeling like an outcast his whole life to how the purple sleeves lived above everyone else. It made me think of Wade, who I wished was here to see New Athenia. He would’ve admired the labyrinth, and the eclectic crowds within its walls. I never appreciated Wade’s unique way of turning a bad situation into something advantageous until my meeting with Lidian. He was starting to depress me, and I plotted my escape when I caught a glimpse of two of my favorite ladies, Lyra and Gale.

“See those girls?” I pointed to them. “I know them very well.”

Lidian looked at them. “Th-they’re beautiful.”

“Do me a favor and get me a bottle of red wine.” I handed him a few credits. “Meet me back here, and I’ll introduce you.”

“Sweet or dry?”

“I’ll let you decide.”

Lidian ran off and stared at the girls as they approached.

Lyra sat on my lap and draped her arms around me. “Don’t tell me you’re going home so early.”

“Could use some company.” I pulled Gale onto the bench.

“Will your friend be coming back?” she asked.

“What friend?” I kissed Gale and did the same with Lyra.

A crail stopped, and the three of us got in and left. I told myself I’d call Lidian the next day and apologize. I was sure he’d understand.

I woke up the next morning lying in the middle of Gale and Lyra. My head ached, and I had to be at rehearsal in an hour. I stumbled into my clothes and headed for the rehearsal hall. As I walked to the crail stop, I detected everyone staring at me. I got into a crail and heard someone yell, “Go back to where you came from, you savage!” I peered outside, and someone smashed an egg against the window.

I got off at the repository and when I arrived at ground level, a large mob ran towards me with Manolis in the lead.

“Leave now, and don’t ever show yourself here again. You brought shame upon my stage!” he said.

I tried to push myself free of the crowd.

“What did I?—”

A tall police-guard grabbed my arm and pulled me away. “You’re to accompany me to the enforcement house.”

“What are the charges?” I asked.

“They’ll be announced by the judge.”

We took the lift up to the crail stop. When the door opened, I was met by more angry faces.

“You have no soul,” an old gypsy woman shouted at me. “The dead aren’t welcomed in New Athenia.”

We got into the crail, and the door shut. People banged on the window until the crail took off. Once we arrived at the enforcement house, we were led into the judge’s chamber, where I was reunited with Holly.

“What happened? Are you all right?” I walked towards her.

“How could you just leave him alone?”

“Leave who?”

“Lidian.” Holly cried. “It was awful.”

“What did he do to?—”

“My first impression of you was right; I knew you were a heartless monster.”

The police-guard wouldn’t let me continue the discussion and led me to a large table. He directed me to a chair, and Holly sat at the opposite end of the table. She wouldn’t look at me throughout most of the hearing.

The judge entered and sat at the head of the table. He lifted a bell and rang it. “Damon 1300-333-1M, you’re charged with moral dereliction.”

“What does that mean?”

“You will not speak until I grant you permission.”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

He faced Holly. “I viewed your recorded testimony, but you must give a live account for the judgement.”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Holly bowed her head. “I just got out of work and on my way to the crail stop, I found Lidian pacing and crying near the third tier of the amphitheater. I walked over to see if he was okay and that’s when I recognized him.”

“Did you meet him here?” the judge asked.

“No. We’re both from Unity.”

“So noted.”

“I asked him if he needed help. He told me the world is hollow.” Holly glared at me. “Everyone’s greedy—only out for themselves, and he’s tired of living in a world without meaning.” She looked back at the judge. “I told him I wanted to help him. He laughed at me and told me I’d probably be as helpful as Damon. ‘All you Unitians are the same,’ he said. I asked him what he meant, and he told me Damon sent him off to buy some wine, promising to introduce him to his lady friends. When he returned, they left him alone. He said he felt lonely his whole life and hoped things would be different here, but he had trouble making friends. I told him I’d be his friend, and I reached out my hand to him, but he wouldn’t take it.” She cried.

“What happened next?” the judge asked.

“He ran to the ladder and climbed the arch. I yelled for him to stop.” Holly looked at me again. “He said he’d stop when he hit the ground and that his blood spilled on the stage would be owned by Damon and the rest of the Corporate Hierarchy.” She cried harder. “He jumped, and that’s when I called security.”

The judge crossed his hands on the table. “Your story sounds consistent.” He faced me. “Do you have anything to add?”

“I had no idea Lidian was suicidal.”

“Did you leave him alone last night?” the judge asked.

“Yes, but how was I to—”

“I’m not familiar with Unity’s fellowship laws, but in New Athenia, we pride ourselves for our compassion towards each other and for those who visit us. By leaving the victim alone with alcoholic beverages, you helped create the state of mind that led to his suicide.”

I slammed my hand on the table. “The charge has no basis in reality!”

The judge clutched the handle of his bell.

I quieted my voice. “Lidian’s state of mind isn’t something I or anyone else could’ve created.”

“Were you drinking last night?”

“I had some wine with dinner, but—”

“Could your judgment have been impaired?”

“I only had one glass.”

“Your server at the restaurant claims you finished a whole carafe.”

“That still doesn’t make me negligent. The only one who could’ve stopped Lidian from killing himself was Lidian.”

“Is that your defense?”

I leered at the judge as I contemplated an answer. “It’s the truth.”

The judge glared at me and rang the bell. “Damon 1300-333-1M, as you’re the indirect cause of Lidian 1303-201-111’s death, you’re hereby charged with moral dereliction. As of today, your stay pass is revoked, and you’re to leave the city. Two police-guards will accompany you to your flat so that you can gather your belongings.”