Chapter 15: Chapter Fourteen. The Family Gets The News.

Cheaine Dressiler, feeling quite pleased with herself, arrived back at her apartment exactly at the time she had told the family’s house keeper. Jean ne Pator met her at the main door, accepted her coat and hat and stowed them in an adjacent closet.

“Have the children arrived yet?” Cheaine asked.

“No Madam.”

“Any messages from my husband?”

“No Madam.”

She did not ask about any other possible calls, she doubted that there would be any. Certainly not from Lorena; only in the direst emergency would she call direct. This they had arranged. They had also arranged other, less direct forms of communication. In her dressing room, Cheaine changed from her public dress to the relaxed family attire. She did not expect any visitors and would have the time to change if there happened to be an unexpected caller. Any such would first be screened through the building’s security complex. The occupant would then be contacted and had to approve the caller before they would be passed through. Cheaine had never considered the reasons for all this security.

Going to the message center, Cheaine checked her contacts and saw that her husband had linked. With a somewhat secretive smile, she returned the call. “Darling, I had a wonderful day! But it is still the best part of the day to hear your voice again!”

After a pause, Cheaine heard Rentap chuckle. “Wonderful to hear yours as well. Now how much is this going to cost me?”

“Oh don’t worry about that! You called me.” Came the laughing response. “Who are we having to entertain tonight?” Cheaine guessed at the reason her husband called.

“Very well, I will wait.” Rentap, was feeling better just talking to his wife. “Councillor De Markus is coming by. A social occasion. It will just be him, no one else.”

“A social occasion? Just him and no one else?”

Rentap could hear the questions that his wife could not ask, and felt a touch of guilt. He trusted his wife implicitly. “Yes, so just a small sideboard with a few drinks.”

“Very well, but I do need to discuss something with you, an option I took today.’

“An option?” The surprise was clear in Rentap’s voice. “Is it not too soon?”

“I don’t think so, Dinis is fifteen going on sixteen and it is time he started practising his manners properly and I think that you will find the girl a suitable subject.” While sexual relations were forbidden under the age of sixteen and both sexes were closely monitored, the practice of using a lower-class girl as a surrogate teacher without sex was not uncommon. This, of course, would be carefully monitored by the parents and as well, by the housekeeper. Sometimes, although rarely, the girl became the boy’s first mistress when they both were of age. Usually they become just to close.

 “Very well, how long do we have the option?” Rentap was actually relieved to have something to occupy his mind other than the bombshell he had just been handed.

“A standard week, but we can discuss all the details when you get here.”

“I can barely wait.” Came the dry response.

“I am sure,” chuckled Cheaine in her turn. “Will you be on time tonight? And the Councillor?”

“I will be. The Councillor, the twentieth period.”

“Lovely, see you soon then.”

Ending the call, Cheaine went in search of the housekeeper. There was much to do before her husband returned from his office.

*********

The seventeenth period had just passed when the chime sounded to announce the arrival of Rentap at home. Jean ne Pator met him and took his coat and hat. “Welcome home sir.”

“My wife and children?” Rentap asked with a nod of acknowledgement.

“The children are in their lounge, sir. The Mistress is in her study.”

“Thank you.” Rentap left to find his wife while Jean stowed the coat and hat.

Rentap knocked on the door to Cheaines study. It would have been impolite for him to just walk in.

“There you are dear.” She rose and went to her husband, kissing him on the cheek. Looking at him critically, she saw the unmistakable signs of strain on his face. “Not a good day?”

“No.” Rentap slumped into a chair.

Cheaine stared. This was so unlike her husband she was uncertain what to say. Opting for silence, she shut the door and sat at her desk.

“I had a visit from the police today,” He began.

Cheaine stared, her eyes big. She waited for her husband to continue.

“One of them was a Grey.”

“A Grey?” Whispered Cheaine in spite of herself.

“Yes. There may be trouble.”

“But why? You haven’t done anything!” She stared at him. “Have you?”

Rentap gave a bark of a laugh. “Done anything? According to some, it seems that I have done a lot. I have dealt with the Empire. That is what I have done!”

“But, but what has that to do with anything?”

“These agitators, they are trouble makers and worse.” Rentap stood up and paced backwards and forwards. “They want to cause trouble for me and others who deal with the Empire. That is why the police were there. To warn me.”

Cheaine spoke quietly, “Warn you against what?”

Rentap sighed. He knew that it would come to this. His wife was too intelligent. But it had to be done.

“I said that there may be trouble. It goes deeper than that. There may be violence.”

“What do you mean violence? Against who or what?”

“Against us, against me.” Rentap regarded his wife steadily. Then his shoulders slumped. “I really don’t know. The Grey warned me against a lot of things. These agitators go deeper. Even some of us, the High Class, may actually be helping them. The police are getting ready to move against them and there could be a reaction. I don’t know.” He shrugged helplessly.

“Why would we, the High Class, help agitators?” Cheaine was astonished.

“Out of a misplaced sympathy, the Gray said.” Rentap gestured, showing his agitation. “It really doesn’t matter to me. The fact is some are betraying their class. Our class!” He threw his hands up in his frustration. “I feel sympathy for those of the lower classes, but I help by employing them, educating them and giving them work so they can improve their status. Not getting them thrown in jail by encouraging them to violent agitation, that is not helping.”

A chime sounded. “It is time for dinner, my love. Let’s put this off for now. We can discuss it later, and I want you to look at this girl.” She smiled. “I think that you will like her and find her very suitable.” Slipping her arms around his neck in an unusual display of semi-public affection, she kissed him. “Let’s go eat. It’s Sezlu, your favorite!”

“You know me so well.” Rentap smiled. “I will need to put my homework away, but I won’t delay you long.” As he turned to his study, he stopped and caressed his wife’s cheek then left.

*********

In the family dining room, Dinis and Kapat, their son and daughter, were already at their places at the table waiting. Jean, the housekeeper, was laying out the family meal. Both the children were eyeing the delicious soup, a rare delicacy due to the scarcity of some of the ingredients.

Both the children stood. “Hello mother,” they chimed together then sat back down.

“Father will be with us soon. He just has to put away some papers.” Cheaine informed them. “Jean?”

“Yes Madam?”

“I hope that you kept some for yourself?”

“A little Madam.” Jean gave a bow holding back a smile, appreciating the thought.

With a “Sorry to keep you waiting,” Rentap bustled in. The family all stood and bowed to each other then sat to their meal.

The meal was taken in silence. Sezlu was a rare treat for any family and tradition demanded that the dish be properly appreciated. Finally, with sighs, they all finished. Jean, summoned from the kitchen, was congratulated as she cleared the table and brought delicacies for the after dinner ritual of a family round table. She again assured her mistress that she had kept some for herself. Rentap nodded in appreciation of his wife’s treatment of their housekeeper. After Jean left, the family sat back in contentment.

Dinis spoke first. After dinner, children did not have to wait for permission to speak.

“Mother, I have to ask, what’s up?”

“Why should anything be up, son?”

“Oh mother, how often do we have Sezlu, it’s a dead giveaway!” Kapat put in.

Rentap laughed, in their dwelling, he could express himself somewhat more openly then he would otherwise. “Our children know you too well dear, you cannot hide it from them.”

 “I do have news. I took an option today on a girl.” Their mother disclosed the surprise news.

“For me?” Dinis’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, if approved, you would be the recipient.”

“Now, just because you are almost sixteen, don’t get ideas son.” Rentap spoke in that quiet firm voice that commanded attention from both his son and daughter. “First I have to meet with the young girl and approve her. You also must understand the rules. If you break, or even bend any of them, I will be the one wielding the whip!” He smiled, it was a promise, not a happy one however.

“Yes father, there will be no rule breaking, I promise,” Dinis replied submissively.

Rentap eyed his son, he knew that tone and expression all too well.

“Now son, we were all young once and understand the pressures that exist,” Cheaine spoke with sympathy. “That is why you will have to be a guide, Kapat.”

Their daughter’s eyes lit up in turn. “I will be her mentor?” Kapats face broke with the same brilliant smile with which mirrored her mothers. “We have studied that in our classes for the last year.” She grinned at her brother and leaned across the table. “I will be watching you.” 

“Now, now dear.” Her mother chided her. “Don’t forget, if the recipient fails, the mentor also is punished, and I will wield the whip in that case.”

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The siblings looked at each other across the table. Punishment of the physical kind was rare in the household, very rare but had happened, although it had not involved an actual whip. Neither wanted a repeat and nor did they want their parents to use a whip. Dinis, as the eldest spoke earnestly, “Don’t worry mother, father, we don’t want a whipping.”

“Good. Now your father and I have things to discuss and you need to do your chores.” Cheaine rose from her place. “Also we will have a guest visitor tonight.”

“Yes, mother.” Dinis spoke, still submissive, but with an undertone of excitement.

“Yes, mother.” Kapat was less restrained, and in any case she thought that she was less likely to be the recipient of any whipping.

Dinis picked up the remaining delicacies while Kapat picked up the glasses and plates on a tray. Their chores were now to clean the dishes and the kitchen. Not too onerous when using automatic cleaning equipment. Once done, they were free to go to their own lounge. Neither of the children asked who the guest was. If they were to be involved, they would have been told.

Rentap went to his study while Cheaine reminded Jean about the guest coming. She then made sure that the main living room was clean and ready for their guest. Satisfied that all was in order Cheaine retired to her own study where she reviewed the day’s work.

*********

At the appointed time, the house security circuit chimed. Rentap answered. “Yes?”

“Name?”

 “Rentap Dressiler.”

“Enter code.” Rentap entered his unique security code.

“Identity confirmed. You have a visitor, Councillor De Markus and security escort.”

“You may pass them up. Thank you.”

Both Rentap and Cheaine were at the ornate Visitor’s Door, separate from the family’s door to greet De Markus when he and his security guard arrived. As the hostess, it was the practice for the wife to greet any guest. Cheaine stepped forward. “Welcome to our residence, Councillor De Markus. Our place is yours.”

“Thank you, Madam Dressiler, you are too kind.” He gave a small bow.

“You honour our humble dwelling Councillor, please enter.” Rentap gravely bowed his head to his guest, completing the ritual.

Formalities over, De Markus handed his coat to Rentap and the two men shook hands in the double handed shake customary between friends. “You are well Councillor. High office is good for you.” Rentap complemented his friend.

“And your business is doing well, I see from the reports crossing my desk.” Smiled De Markus. “And my name is Trem. I think that you must have forgotten it!” De Markus was as tall as Rentap and bulkier. A crown of dark hair, slightly grey graced his head and framed his chiselled features. As minister, he had a tendency to talk using his hands.

“Trem, come this way, and you sir.” Rentap included the security guard. His name had not been given of course.

“Master Dressiler, Councillor, I must inspect the dwelling. It is procedure.” The guard, who also was a tall and solid man, had the grace to look apologetic. It didn’t diminish his intimating presence.

“Nonsense. Rentap is one of my oldest, if not the oldest, friends I have and Madam Dressiler is a cousin. Watch at a distance, but give us space for we must discuss sensitive matters. Matters of high security.”

To the surprise of all, Cheaine spoke, women usually did not speak at such times. “If your guard wishes, he may wait in the dining room. The walls are of glass and he can see in all directions.”

Councillor De Markus smiled. “Cousin, you are a woman of grace, beauty and intelligence.” Turning to his guard, he asked, “Would that be satisfactory?” The guard nodded.

With a bow of her head, Cheaine left, signalling to the guard to follow her. Showing him the dining room she asked if it would be satisfactory. He looked around and nodded.

A call brought Jean ne Pator, the Dressiler’s housekeeper. After a brief introduction, Cheaine told the guard, “If you need anything, Jean will provide it to you.” She then left for her study, and after ascertaining that the guard had no immediate needs, Jean returned to the kitchen.

In the living room Rentap first offered a drink to his friend, which was politely accepted, tasted, then put aside. He then pulled out all his hard copies of his last year’s transactions involving the Empire.

“I have been through all these transactions, so has my private secretary and the two policeman you sent to me. They have in common the importation of data in crystalline form. That is all. The data they contain is used by both government and business and performs an important, but not vital role in our business and government computer networks. In other words, we could do without it, but it would not be easy.” Rentap paused to draw breath.

De Markus smiled. “This I already know.” Then, his smile vanished. He sat forward. “Rentap, my friend, it was not for this I visit you.”

At a loss, Rentap stared back at Trem. He put his confusion into words, “Then why did you come?”

Councillor Trem De Markus stood and paced back and forth. Like Rentap, he was wont to do this when troubled. “We are entering dangerous times, my friend. You recall what the member of the secret police told you?” Rentap nodded. “Then you understand, at least in part. The people are troubled, many are unhappy and there are those who would take advantage of this unhappiness.”

“Yes, so much the Grey told me. But there are two questions I have: Why cannot we control this and what, directly, does it have to do with me?”

“As to the first question, there is, as I said, an element that is unsatisfied with their lot in life. They exist in all status levels, even the highest. You know Councillor Leves?”

“Yes, but not well.”

“He wanted the position of Chief Minister and schemed for it. He still wants it.”

Rentap was appalled. This was not the way a man of high status should act. He said so, bluntly. Trem De Markus laughed at the outburst. “That is but one example of which I am aware, and he was rewarded for it. He received the position of Minister in Charge of Sanitation and Allied Services. A fitting post.”

“Is he still angry?” Rentap asked with a laugh.

“I am sure.” Trem looked at his friend soberly. “But that is not the reason I tell you this. It is because of people like Leves that we face this situation.” Trem started to pace again. “He is under intense security and well watched now. The Secret Police suspect him of being one of the people behind this agitation.”

“Why isn’t he arrested then? Why isn’t he under a lie detector right now?”

“Because there is no proof my friend. Without the proof we cannot act. These stories may annoy the Empire, but fundamentally it is our problem, not theirs. They will not interfere in a planetary affair without reason.”

Trem took another sip of his drink and looked at it quizzically. “Different, a new product?”

“Yes, made from river water and malt on a distant planet. I don’t know how. Most seem to like it.” He waved his hand. “I begin to see, you suspect but cannot prove or at least have enough evidence to move against the agitators. But what does that have to do with me and my business?”

“The two are tied together. There is anger, but without focus. There are people who want to make the anger work in their favor. They need a focus. They need a reason for the people who are angry to do things for them. They need an event or issue for them to coalesce around.”

“Yes, few have ever left Ti Lepus and seen other planets. Only businessman like me.” Rentap started to pace as well. “It is the Empire that is the focus of these fools, these agitators. They want to make the Empire their issue.”

“There has always been a xenophobic element in the makeup of our people. We don’t like outsiders and tend to shun them. Even the workers in the areas of our planet where the few other outworlders live have to be changed constantly.” He laughed. “See, even I call them outsiders!”

“I see. And because I, and others, work with the Empire, my family and I and my business are now targets.” He sat down again, took a deep breath and looked at his friend. Now we come to it, he thought. “So, what do I do?”

“I knew that I could count on you my friend.”

*********

That evening, Dinis announced himself at Kapats room. Coming to the door, Kapat looked at her brother, her face a picture of polite interest. As she was getting ready for bed, Kapat was dressed in a comfortable and concealing robe over her night clothes. Dinis however had not yet changed, further evidence of the youths’ inner turmoil.

“I think that we need to talk.” Dinis mumbled in embarrassment, he had not come to his sisters’ door in years. Watching her brother as she strolled to a seat in their personal living room, she hid the amusement she felt at his evident discomfort, shown by his restless movements. Climbing into her favorite, comfortable seat on a couch, she decided not to ask and just waited for him to open the conversation.

Not looking at his sister, Dinis wondered how to do precisely that. He had noted that Kapat was ready for bed and this further disconcerted him. Obviously his sister was, at least on the surface, comfortable with the idea of their parents purchasing a contract of a young girl. While he had studied the practise at his school, The Central Academy for Students, facing the reality was different.

“I am not sure how to…, I mean how should I deal with this girl. I don’t know how to react.” He stumbled over his words.

Kapat held her look of polite interest with difficulty. What she wanted to do was fall over onto the couch laughing her head off! Considering several answers she settled on, “Deal with? Dinis, it’s a girl, you don’t have to deal with her, try just talking to her! And remember your status.”

“I know,” Dinis replied, throwing an annoyed look at his sister. “It’s just while I studied all this, well, mother and father are going to bring home a real girl soon and I am going to have to face her.” He flopped into a well cushioned chair, a frown on his face, a youthful version of his fathers. Dinis was growing and promised to be almost as tall as his father while his head was covered with the same straight, dark hair over a lean face and deep-set eyes.

“Look Dinis, it may not happen. Mother and father may not accept her after the viewing.” Kapat leant forward. “You never know.” She gave a teenager’s version of her mother’s elegant smile. Already at fourteen and a half, she was showing evidence of the same beauty that favoured her mother.

Dinis raised his eyebrows as he returned his sisters look. “Reject a girl selected by mother? I don’t think so!” He replied. “If mother felt that this girl, whoever she is, was worth an option, I think that unless she really messes up the viewing it is almost certain that she will be here by the end of the week.” Dinis had faith in his mothers’ judgement. Kapat sat back nodding in agreement.

“Well, we don’t know when the viewing is going to be so we will just have to wait and see.” Kapat suddenly grinned. “As her mentor I will have to show her how to act and I will be watching you!”

At the sally, Dinis made a face. He knew that he would be under a lot of scrutiny over the next few years. He had no idea how old the girl was whose option his mother had taken, she could be just fourteen or even older than him! With a sigh he realised that he would just have to wait and see.

“I guess that I will just have to work it out when the girl gets here,” Dinis said standing. “Good night sister, thanks for listening.”

“Good night brother.” Kapat retired to her room as her brother went to his. Neither had ever entered the others room and they never would.

*********

Kapat was restless as she laid in her comfortable bed. She could not help but wonder about the girl that her parents would likely be viewing in the next few days. What was this girl like? It went without saying that she would be pretty, but would she, Kapat become jealous if the girl was prettier than her? Would the girl be sneaky or conniving? Such girls were present amongst the high status and Kapat had already had a taste of them and didn’t want that in her home.

Rolling onto her side, Kapat pulled at her nightclothes. She would have preferred to wear the lighter, summer clothes as she found them more comfortable, but those were put away and this is what Jean, the housekeeper laid out and therefore that was what she had to wear. She had already spoken to her mother but that brought only a soft-spoken instruction to dress appropriately, even in their dwelling. With a sigh Kapat rolled over to her other side, her thoughts turning back to the option her mother had told them about at the dinner table.

Knowing her mother, she agreed with Dinis that any girl chosen by her would be more than acceptable, at least in looks and no doubt, in attitude. She would be also properly submissive, at least on the surface! From her own actions, Kapat knew that most, if not all girls in her own school knew how to appear, at least on the surface, as proper, well trained and deserving of their status, high status girls. This girl might be the same with an added edge of having to fight for everything that she had earned up to now. With a sigh, Kapat knew that whatever happened, she, Kapat would be at the centre of it and she knew that the family’s status, as well as hers, would have to be guarded.

Turning onto her back, Kapat closed her eyes and with a smile went to sleep. Her last thoughts on her brothers’ turmoil. At least, she thought, Dinis was going to have trouble sleeping tonight!

*********

Dinis laid asleep on his back, mouth slightly open. Having discussed his problems with his sister, he had gone straight to bed and was now sleeping the contented sleep of one whose conscience was clear.

*********

In her curtained off alcove, like Kapat, Cami had twisted and turned on her bed. The first step had been taken, an option. She wished that she could have called her family but this was not one of the scheduled times for speaking to them. Now, she had to wait. Hopefully, she thought, the option won’t be cancelled and I will soon be viewed. Forcing herself to relax, accepting that it was all out of her hands, and that she had taken the precaution of a comm search and also spoke to the manager about the potential buyers, she closed her eyes and slipped off to sleep.

*********

None of the Dressilers had paid any attention to a story about the arrest of a newsman in a town in the southern part of the continent, Cami even less so. Even if they had, they could not have imagined the effect of the arrest on their lives.

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