Shattered Lives, page 13
part #2 of Rymellan Series
Everyone gaped, then started talking at once. Jason leaped to his feet. “No! This is outrageous!” he bellowed; the others grew silent and stared. “You’ll have the Adams name.” His mouth moved; he looked as if he were struggling for air. “The Thompson and Adams names will be linked,” he whispered hoarsely.
Lesley sucked in her breath. She hadn’t given any thought to the names. Chosens normally had two last names, though they only used the Principal’s socially. Perhaps they could choose which two names to retain, but somehow she doubted it.
“And you can bet this whole triad is her doing,” Matthew said, his mouth twisting. “There’s something wrong with that family. Every time an Adams is involved in a Joining, something goes wrong.”
“And it’s not just your family affected, Jason,” Mary said. “Ours is, too.”
“It’s not fair!” Jason shouted, his voice regaining its vigour. “Why our family?”
“Why not our family?” Karen asked.
Jason’s hands clenched. “Because we’re a respectable family that doesn’t consort with criminals, that’s why!”
“Any family’s daughter could have been a match.”
“But we ended up with her. Her parents were sick criminals. She’s their flesh and blood and they brought her up, so she’s probably sick too. We don’t deserve her.”
“No family does,” Matthew said.
“Oh, come on. You haven’t even met her,” Karen said.
Mary grimaced. “I wish we didn’t have to. I wonder if she looks like them.”
Jason shuddered. “A walking reminder.” He looked at Lesley and Mo. “If I were you two, I’d keep an eye on her day and night. Or maybe you shouldn’t. She’ll do us all a favour if she commits a Chosen Violation.”
“Jason!” Papa hissed.
“I’m only saying what every Rymellan will think when they hear about this.”
“That’s not what I think,” Karen said. “Does that mean I’m not Rymellan?”
“Karen, maybe you should stand by your family instead of someone you’ve never met,” Matthew said.
Karen frowned. “Why do I have to take sides? And that’s my point. We haven’t met her.”
“My Chosen is doing what the Tradition expects of her,” William said, placing a protective arm around Karen’s shoulders. “Accepting her sister’s Chosen into the family.”
Jason snorted. “That’s easy for you to say. After all, you’re not a Thompson by blood. You won’t care when everyone starts to whisper.”
William recoiled as if he’d been struck. Karen shot up, her face red. “And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it, Jason? What everyone else will think.”
“When they find out my sister is in some type of unnatural arrangement with an Adams? Yes, Karen, I’m a little worried about what everyone will think,” Jason shouted.
“Worried about Lesley, or about you?” Karen shouted back.
“Enough!” Mama roared. “This isn’t helping.”
Jason threw up his arms and stepped away, muttering. Karen folded her arms and sat back down. “What’s her name?” she asked.
It took Lesley a few seconds to understand the question. “Jayne.”
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s why it took so long for us to get our Papers. We were waiting for her to turn twenty-five,” Mo said bitterly.
“He didn’t tell us what she does,” Papa said.
Lesley turned to him. “You’re right, he didn’t.” If she hadn’t felt so overwhelmed during the meeting, she might have noticed and asked.
“So what happened during the meeting?” Andrew asked. “What did he say? I mean, how did you find out? Did he tell you about Adams first, or the triad?”
“I hope he told you about Mo first, Lesley,” Nathan said.
Lesley nodded. “He did. Well, first he told us about the triad.” She recounted her meeting up to the point when Watkins had confirmed that Mo was her Chosen. “Then he moved on to the other Chosen. He didn’t seem eager to—”
“Yes!” Jason suddenly shouted. Everyone’s attention shifted to him. Lesley’s heart sank. He hadn’t been listening to her; he’d opened the information packet from Watkins. From the triumphant look on his face, she could guess what he’d just read. “It’s okay, everyone,” he said excitedly. “We can execute her. That will solve everything. No triad. No Adams. Only Lesley and Mo.”
Lesley snatched the sheet from his hand. “I know about the article.”
Shock crossed his face. “If you already knew, why didn’t you say something? Why did you just stand there and let us all think we’d be related to an Adams?”
“What article? What are you talking about?” Neil asked.
Mama jumped in when Lesley hesitated. “An article that allows Lesley and Mo to execute her.”
“Only if they can make a case that a triad with her won’t survive,” Papa quickly added.
“There you go.” Jason smiled and held out his hands, palms up. “Problem solved.”
Some smiled back at him; others mumbled their disagreement. “You can’t execute someone because they’re inconvenient,” Karen said.
Jason tutted and frowned at her. “We won’t be. The fact that she’s an Adams means the triad won’t survive.”
“I completely agree,” Mary said. “A triad would cause a stir on its own. Who knows how Rymellans will react to a triad with an Adams in it?” She pointed at Lesley and Mo. “If you exercise your right under this article, the whole unsavoury situation can be resolved before anyone even knows about it.”
Papa vigorously shook his head. “A case has to be made that she is a threat. Not that everyone thinks she is a threat.”
“You’re splitting hairs,” Jason said.
“You’re a decent advocate. You know I’m not splitting hairs.”
Jason shrugged. “I could make a case either way.”
“You can’t do it. You’re too close.”
“No, but I know plenty of advocates who would be willing to prepare a case, especially one that will dispose of a threat of this magnitude to the Way.”
“Dispose of a threat to the Way?” Karen said incredulously. “Jason, you’re talking about executing someone, not throwing something into a recycling chute.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so soft. Lesley, just give me the word and I’ll contact an advocate who specializes in the Tradition.”
“You can’t tell anyone about the triad until all Chosens have been notified,” Lesley reminded him.
“I can set up an appointment.”
“Lesley, don’t do it,” Karen said. “At least get to know her first.”
“I can probably get you an appointment for tomorrow,” Jason pressed. “Any advocate will clear his schedule for this. After you’ve met her today, you can talk, make up your minds, then see the advocate. It won’t take long to prepare a case. As Mary said, it’ll all be over before anyone knows about it. Perhaps the Chosen Council won’t have to announce the triad at all, since it won’t be a triad by the time it announces this week’s notifications.”
“You’re talking about a capital case, Jason, which advocates rarely handle,” Papa said. “It will take longer than a day to prepare,” he held up his hand to forestall Jason’s protest, “no matter how foregone you think the conclusion is.”
“At least we’ll be able to say we’re preparing a case when everyone asks what we’re doing about it.” He turned to his sister. “Lesley?”
“Excuse me, I believe the article states that Les and one of the other Chosens have to present the case,” Mo said. “So don’t I get a say in this?”
“Of course you do,” Matthew said quickly.
“Good. We, Les and I, just talked about it. We’re not making a decision right now. We’ve just been told we’re in a triad and we’d like some time to understand what that means before we talk about executing anyone.”
“Don’t be such a baby!” Mary spat. “You don’t have to waste time understanding what it means. There’s a solution staring you in the face, if you’d only have the guts to take it.”
Mo’s face tightened. “It involves executing someone. If you don’t mind, I’d like more than thirty seconds to make up my mind.”
“I would have thought you’d want to be rid of her.”
“Not like that.”
“Two military officers and you’re both flaming stupid!” Jason snarled, tapping his temples.
“We’re not saying we’ll never consider the article, we’re saying it’s premature,” Lesley said through clenched teeth.
“Try to keep in mind that this Adams woman is as much Lesley and Mo’s Chosen as they are each other’s,” Papa said. “You shouldn’t doubt the Chosen Council.”
“That’s a bit strong, Alan,” Michael said; Lesley had almost forgotten he was there. “What I see is the Chosen Council in a difficult situation. Every once in a while these triads occur and the Council has to spout that they’re natural. But three Chosens? Please! The Council, in its wisdom, added CT134 to the Tradition for a reason. It allows families like ours—respectable families—to deal with an undesirable situation in a manner that doesn’t violate the Way.”
“It’s as if they wrote it for this very situation,” Mary said. “And let’s face it, how much of a case would the advocate need to prepare, given who it is?”
“Exactly,” Jason agreed. He turned to Mama. “What do you think?”
Mama caught Lesley’s eye before answering. “I agree with Lesley. Am I happy she’s in a triad? No. Do I want an Adams as my Chosen daughter? Definitely not. But do I think she should be executed? I’m not sure yet. Let’s see how it goes.”
Jason sighed and shook his head. “Should I set up an appointment?” he asked Lesley again.
“I agree with my Chosen,” she said, managing to smile at Mo. “No appointment.”
Some groaned; others nodded. “You’re doing the right thing,” Neil said.
“No, you’re not!” Jason said, his hands clenching again. “Don’t you understand why this article exists? Even the Chosen Council recognizes that triads are undesirable. And you’re in one with an Adams. Open your eyes, Lesley!”
“It’s too early to make a decision,” Lesley said slowly.
“Well, I don’t know what it’ll take for you to come to your senses, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’ll eventually Join and have children, and no child of mine is going anywhere near an Adams. I’m positive I won’t be the only one who’ll feel that way. So who would you rather turn your back on? An Adams, or everyone else?”
“You can only speak for yourself, Jason,” Barbara said softly.
Lesley wasn’t so sure. News of the triad and the identity of the third Chosen had split both families down the middle. If Rymellans who loved her and Mo wouldn’t accept the triad and Adams, how would Rymellans in general react?
“I’m disappointed with you, Mo,” Mary said. “Doesn’t our name mean anything to you?”
“How can you ask that?” Mo exclaimed as Lesley squeezed her hand and moved closer to her.
“You don’t seem very interested in maintaining its respectability.”
“Adams will use the Thompson name socially, not the Middleton name,” Papa said.
Mama sighed.
“That might be, but how will I explain to the sector that my daughter is involved with an Adams?” Michael asked.
Mo spun toward him. “Is that all you care about? Your next run for the government?”
“Don’t act as if my concerns are trivial. I’m the one who’ll be here dealing with the consequences while you’re off flying a patrol somewhere.”
“And what about Mama?” Matthew said.
Mo shrank against Lesley. “What about her?”
“Have you thought about what she would want?”
“Don’t start with that, Matthew,” Michael said.
“Papa—”
“Don’t.” Michael held Matthew’s gaze until Matthew looked away.
“Look, we’re not making a decision right now,” Lesley said, wanting to bring the discussion to a close before Mo got hurt. “Let’s drop it and have lunch. We have to be back at the Chosen House for 14—um, 2:45. Mama, what will we do about supper? I assume she’ll be coming back here.”
Jason’s eyes bulged. “Are you serious? You’re bringing her here, to the estate?”
She didn’t have much choice. “We’re not hosting her for lunch, so you’ll have to meet her over supper.”
“I won’t. If you think I’ll eat with that woman, you can forget it.”
“You won’t meet her?” Lesley asked him.
“No,” Jason said, his face grim.
His answer stunned her. “If you can’t do it for her, do it for me and Mo.”
“I am doing it for you and Mo. I won’t help you endanger yourselves. You’re in shock and operating on automatic. Once you’ve had time to think, really think, you’ll thank me for not being there. You’ll see.”
“I won’t be there either,” Mary said.
“Anyone else?” Lesley asked quietly.
Matthew raised his hand. “Count me out.”
“I’ll be there,” Nathan piped up.
Lesley wanted to hug him.
“You’ll be there, right Papa?” Mo asked.
“Yes, yes,” Michael said, his mouth pinched.
“So will we,” Karen said. Andrew, Neil, and Barbara nodded in agreement, though Andrew looked unsure.
“It’s good to know where everyone stands,” Lesley said in disbelief.
“I don’t think we should have her here for supper tonight,” Papa said.
“What?” Lesley gasped. From the corner of her eye she saw Jason gloating, while Mama gaped.
“Hear me out. I propose that we have her for supper tomorrow, instead. Just the, uh, triad, me and your mama, and Michael.”
“William and I would like to meet her,” Karen said.
“I know, but it’ll be embarrassing to bring her tonight,” Papa said. “We’d have to explain why half of you don’t want to meet her. And it will be intimidating for her. She’ll be by herself.”
“You could always have a picnic at the Wall of Offenders,” Matthew said.
Papa’s voice cut through the snickers. “And now I’m even more convinced that a quiet supper without all of us would be better, after we’ve all had a chance to sleep on what’s happened. And she can bring someone with her tomorrow, so she won’t be alone.”
“Her brother,” Lesley murmured.
“Oh, so now there will be two Adamses here. Why don’t we just open up the estate to every criminal out there?” Jason said.
Lesley closed her eyes. The entire day had turned into one unending nightmare and she’d only been in a triad with Adams for a couple of hours. If it was always going to be like this, CT134 might not be such a bad idea. “I like your idea, Papa, let’s invite her for supper tomorrow. And now let’s go through to the dining room. I’m sure lunch is ready to be served.” Without giving anyone a chance to reply, she steered Mo into the hallway.
“What are we going to do, Les?” Mo moaned. “What are we going to do?”
Lesley rubbed Mo’s back. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “Let’s just get through today.”
*****
Jason stood near an open second-floor window and watched as the group returning to the Chosen House started out for Lesley’s aviacraft. “Good luck!” someone—it sounded like Neil—yelled. Lesley looked over her shoulder and waved, then said something to Mo. Scowling, Jason pulled out his comm unit, typed a quick dispatch, and sent it. Moments later, he read the replies and grunted in satisfaction.
When he could no longer see Lesley and those with her, he headed downstairs and slipped out the back door. Mary and Matthew soon joined him. They strolled farther across the grounds, away from any curious eyes peering out a back window. “So how will we stop this insult?” Matthew asked. “We’ve got to do something. They’re both too soft.”
“Maybe they’re just overwhelmed,” Mary said. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“That may be, but they’re military officers who should be capable of making a decision under pressure, especially one that’s in the best interests of themselves, their families, and the Way.”
Mary kicked a stone off the path in disgust. “I can’t believe Papa. I thought he’d stand up for Mama’s name.”
“Give him a chance,” Matthew said. “He has to play along today. The Chosen Council wouldn’t appreciate it if he didn’t show up with Mo. They might consider that a sign of disrespect they couldn’t ignore. The same goes for Adelaide and Alan. Anyway, he’s not the one we need to convince. Lesley and Mo are.”
“I’m positive they’ll exercise the article,” Jason said. “They just need time to think.”
Mary raised her brows. “Or perhaps a little push?”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that if they were presented with a compelling case for execution, I’m sure they’d act. Especially Lesley. If she can be convinced that the Way is threatened if Adams remains alive . . .”
Matthew nodded. “You’re right. She’ll do whatever it takes to protect the Way, including persuading Mo.”
“Once the shock wears off, she’ll talk to Mo about executing. I’m sure of it,” Jason said.
“And we should be ready with a case so that no time is wasted when she does come to her senses,” Mary said. “Then again, why wait? Let’s give her a case to help her along.”
“But she and Mo have to request that a case be prepared first,” Matthew said, his brow furrowing.
Jason shook his head. “No, they don’t. I read the full text of the article. They have to authorize its presentation, but anyone can prepare a case.”
“And the longer they delay preparing a case, the longer they have to form an attachment to the woman.” Mary’s face hardened. “The Adams woman is not only a threat to the Way, she’s a threat to them. We need to do whatever we can to help them make a decision and make it quickly, before her influence contaminates them. Or do you want to see them at an execution site?”
