16.
Marcus
rushed to upon Esmeralda but she had declined to see him. He had brought the
healers from the City to attend to her and kept her in the assigned chamber at
the basement with an Enforcer outside. He had requested that she be guarded and
no one was to enter the chamber except him.
“Marcus,
are you mad? You had her brought back when we have so much trouble keeping her
out.” Captain Phoebus did not mince his words. He had confronted the Archdeacon
in the chamber. “And now she attempted suicide.”
“She
did not do that. She may have slipped on the balcony. Have the Caretaker look
into it.” The Archdeacon said. “And Captain Phoebus. I am the Archdeacon in the
Dome. Do respect that honorary title.”
“I
don’t give a damn on your rank, Marcus. Your guest did the unthinkable. If not for
the droid, she will be laid to waste on the yard, and I will have the City
Enforcers here to investigate.” The Captain hit back hard. “You of all the
persons here should know the risk involved.”
“Do
not bring in the past to the present. I am the Archdeacon and I will …. Do what
is needed. Now leave me.” The Archdeacon looked at the Captain. “Or I will have
you removed from the Dome.”
“One
day, Marcus. You will regret those words.” Captain Phoebus took his leave of
the Archdeacon. He met the Caretaker who was leaving the basement.
“I
heard the droid saved the girl.”
“I
am not sure of how you define save. The droid was there when she landed. It
communicated for assistance. It’s in their program…” The Caretaker explained
but was snapped at.
“Don’t
mock me, Caretaker. I will get to the core of that droid and then you will pay
for it.” Captain Phoebus threatened the other. The Captain then walked off. The
Caretaker watched the Enforcer walked off and then proceeded to the balcony. He
was to clean the area but instead he saw the Elite member standing there. He
turned to leave but was stopped by the other.
“Caretaker,
I would like a word with you.” Pierre Gringoire was still in the three piece
suit had approached the other. “I hear of an incident with the gypsy girl. Is
she hurt?”
“I
am not sure. I was not there then.” The Caretaker replied.
“I
was told that the droid saved…”
“You
meant it was there when she fell. It did what it was programmed to do. It
communicated for assistance.” The Caretaker had taken on the wordings to
explain the situation.
“Yes,
I was advised but there were some tales that the droid was in the fall too. It
may have saved her life.” The Caretaker laughed at the words.
“I
do not think so. The E Series are work droids and for it to perform any tasks
of that nature is not within its program. I am sure you are mistaken.”
“Tell
me, Caretaker. Where is the droid?” Pierre raised the query.
“E-05
is undergoing some works. Do you intend to question the droid?” The Caretaker
took on a personal stance on the droid. It mocked the Elite. “I am sure it will
tell more.”
“No,
I am not. I will leave it to the Enforcers. I was merely asking.” Pierre knew
that he was challenged there. He felt the insult when it came from a commoner
like the Caretaker.
“Your
name Caretaker and ID?”
“Me?
I am … Antonio Debar. My ID is RD27877-AF. I am the Caretaker…”
“That
is all I needed, Antonio. I will keep that for my conversation with you for the
records.” Pierre then excused himself. In fact, Pierre was meeting the
Archdeacon.
“I
have to know if Esmeralda is fine.” Pierre raised the concern to the
Archdeacon.
“She
is recovering. The balcony can be slippery at times.” The Archdeacon looked to
the Elite member. “She …”
“Can
I see her?” Pierre did not hide his eagerness to see her.
“Not
yet. She is still recovering but once she is fine, I will call on you.” Pierre
was told.
“Marcus,
we had a deal. I would like it fulfilled.”
“And
I will but give me time. I have to speak to her. She need time to …. Think.” The
Archdeacon replied.
“I
will give you till dawn tomorrow. I will have her or you will lose it all.”
Pierre then dismissed himself from the chamber. He had moved on and his way
back to the City, he had contacted the Chief of Enforcers.
“Raoul,
I have sent you a ID file. Please run the recognition for me. I am sure that
person may not be who he claimed to be.”
The
news of Esmeralda fall had traveled fast and soon reached the attention of the
Voivode. The elderly lady reaction was shocked and told the Community to get
ready to get Esmeralda back.
“She
is one of us. And we will get her back.”
“Voivode,
are we to challenge the Enforcers with force?” That question was raised.
“Yes,
if we are to do that, we will.” The Voivode gave the consent. “I want twenty men
to go with me. The rest will assist in the breaking of the campsite. They will
move out at dawn tomorrow with the families to the next location. Go with care
and be prepared for any eventuality.”
“As
for the twenty who will follow me, break out the weapons. I want all the guns
cleaned and ready for action. We will bring Esmeralda back tomorrow.”
The
news of the Community action broke out fast and another nearby Community joined
in.
“We
are the Stravos and your fight is ours.” Twelve men from the Stravos Community
had joined the Voivode. “We are twelve and the others will accompany your
people along with ours to the next city.”
The
Voivode was formerly from Stravos before she married Stefan.
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