Chapter 37 Chapter Thirty-Seven

He was in pain all over his body, it was not clear whether his bones were still intact, and he actually couldn't open one eye because it was swollen.He doubted that he would survive.He leaned against the rock wall, waiting for the pain to slowly pass. Sifna said, "We've got some joller brandy at the command post. I think I have the right to let you drink some, for medicinal purposes, of course." "Brandy? Command? What Command? What's going on, Sifna? Is it really you?" "You think I'm a hallucination, don't you?" She laughed, pressing her finger lightly on his forearm. "You still say it's a hallucination?"

He flinched. "Be careful, it hurts when I touch it, and there are injuries everywhere else, just now...you seem to have fallen from the sky, don't you?" "We were on patrol, and when we passed through the forest, we heard the sound of scuffles. So, come and have a look. I didn't know you were mixed in until I saw you clearly. However, we are trying our best to restore order in this area." "us?" "It's the Fire Patrol. It's almost a new local government. The headquarters is in the University Retreat, and it's run by a man named Altinol, who used to be a company commander. I'm one of his men." An officer. This is a really vigilant group trying to get people to accept the notion that the use of fire must be controlled and that only members of the fire brigade have the privilege..."

Theremon raised his hand. "Hold on, Sifna. Slow down a little bit, okay? You mean the university staff in the hideout form a vigilante, right? They're patrolling around, on fire-off missions? How's that possible? Schelling Told me they all left for a rendezvous somewhere in the Amgando National Park in the south." "Sherin? Is he here?" "He's been here, and he's on his way to Amgundo. I... decided to stay around here for a while longer." It seemed impossible to tell her that he was staying here in the hope that, by chance, he would find she. Sifna nodded. "Sherin told you the truth, all the university staff left the sanctuary the day after the eclipse. I think they're far away in Amgando by now... I don't have any news from them. They left the hideaway wide open, and it happened that Althinor and his men got in and took it for themselves. The fire patrol consisted of 15 to 20 members, all of whom were in good spirits. In about half of the forest, and in the adjacent territories of some cities that are still inhabited, they have established their regime."

"And you?" asked Theremon, "how did you get among them?" "As soon as the stars disappeared, I was first in the forest. But it was very unsafe here, so when I remembered the sanctuary, I made my way there. Althinor and his men were already there. They invited I joined the patrol." Sifna smiled sadly, "They don't really give me a choice," she said, "They're not particularly kind and gentlemanly." "These are not peaceful times." "Yeah. So I decided it was better to be with them than to wander around alone. They sent me this green scarf...everyone here respects it, and this pocket gun, and people also Respect it."

"So you're a vigilante," said Theremon, looking thoughtful. "Anyway, I never thought you'd do this." "I never thought of that either." "But do you really believe that this Altinol and his fire patrol are decent men who are really helping to restore law and order?" She smiled, but not from the heart. "Just men? They think they're upright, yes." "And you don't think so?" She shrugged. "At first they were all for themselves, no joke. There was a gap in government power here and they aimed to fill it. But I don't think they're going to create a government agency anytime soon, they're not bad enough to be that The point, at least, is that they're easier to deal with than some institutions I can think of."

"You mean the religious? Are they also trying to form a new government?" "Very likely, but I have heard nothing of them since it all happened. Arzenor thinks they are still hidden somewhere underground, or that Mondel has led them away from here to some far-off place in the country, There they will establish a kingdom of their own. But, Theremon, we have some other new fanatics, they are so strange, you just quarreled with one of them, and by luck, they Didn't kill you. They believe that since fire destroyed the world, the only way to save mankind now is to completely abandon the use of fire. Therefore, they patrol around and kill any ignition equipment they can find. Destroy and kill anyone who seems to take pleasure in lighting fires."

"I just wanted to cook myself some supper," Theremon said darkly. "It doesn't matter if you're cooking or lighting a fire for your own entertainment, it's all the same to them," Sifna said. "Fire is fire and they hate it. Luckily for you, we got there in time. They accept the fire patrol. Command. We're the elite, you know, it's only when we use fire that it's justified." "Owning a pocket gun is very useful," said Theremon, "and it gives you a lot of freedom." He rubbed the sore spot on his arm and looked forlornly into the distance, "Besides these, you said there are other fanatics ?”

"These people think it was the astronomers at the university who discovered the secret of how the stars appear. They blame Arthur, Beanie, and their gang for what happened. They hate these intellectuals because of you. arising from articles published in newspapers." "My God! Are there many people like that?" "Enough is enough. If they do catch any University personnel who haven't made it safely to Amgando, the devil knows what they will do to them. Perhaps they will be tied to the nearest lamp, I think. on the pillar." Theremon said, frowning, "I'm responsible for this."

"you?" "Everything that happened was my fault, Sifna. Not Arthur's, not Philemon's, not God's, but mine, my fault. It was me, Therimon 762. That said You were too lenient with me when I wasn't responsible. I wasn't just Irresponsible and guilty of my negligent actions. " "Stop it, Theremon. What's the use..." He continued: "I should have been writing a column every day warning people of what was coming, calling for a contingency plan. Building shelters, stockpiling food and emergency ignition, advising terrified people, doing a lot of things according to that plan. Many different things... And instead, what did I do? Mocking, making fun of the astronomers in the tower! Making it impossible for anyone in the government, politically speaking, to take Arthur's words seriously .”

"Theremon..." "You should have let those lunatics beat me to death, Sifna." She looked at him, looking angry. "Don't be silly, no government can change that. I wish you hadn't written articles like that, Therimon, you know how I used to think about them. But what does that matter now What? You're true to your ideas, and you're wrong, but you're true. Anyway, it's not wrong to think about what might happen. Our priority is," she said softly, " Let's not talk about that. Can you walk? We have to send you back to the hideaway. Take a bath, change into clean clothes, and some food..."

"food?" "University personnel stockpiled large quantities of food." Theremon giggled, then pointed at the cave beast. "You mean I don't have to eat it?" "Unless you really want to eat it. I suggest that you give it to someone who needs it more than you, on our way out of the forest." "good idea." He stood up painfully and slowly.God, my whole body hurts standing up!Try to take a step or two and yes, yes, it doesn't look broken at all.Just a little misalignment.The thought of hot baths and hearty food was already healing his bruised and aching body. He took a last look at his random one-sided house, his brook, his worthless shrubs and weeds, the home of these strange days.He wouldn't miss it, though, but he doubted he'd forget life here anytime soon. Then he picked up the cave beast and slung it over his shoulders. "Lead the way," he said to Sifna. When they were less than 100 yards away, Theremon saw a group of boys hiding behind a tree.He realized that they were the same boys who had driven the troglodyte out of its burrow and hunted it down to death.It was obvious that they had come back to find the cave beast.They were watching sullenly from a distance now, obviously annoyed that Theremon was leaving with their prize.But they're so terrified of the green scarf that represents the fire patrol...or, more likely, the pocket gun in their hands that they don't dare take the risk of claiming it. "Hey!" cried Theremon. "Is this yours? I've been keeping it for you!" He threw the dead troglodyte at them, where it fell to the ground not far away.They flinched, showing incomprehensible and unfair expressions.It was obvious that while they were eager to get the animal they were too afraid to go forward. "Life is valued after sunset," he said sadly to Sifna, "though they are dying of hunger, they dare not take a step. They think it's a trap, they think if they come out of those bushes to fetch animals, We'll kill them just for the fun of it." "Who can blame them? Everyone's scared of each other right now. Never mind it, we're gone and they'll come get it," Sifna said. He limped along after her. Sifna and the rest of the patrol moved through the forest confidently, as if invulnerable to the dangers that lurked.Indeed, nothing had happened to the party as they made their way toward the road through the woods, and Theremon's injuries were just barely bearable.Excited, he thought, to see society rebuilt so quickly.In just a few days, an irregular force like the fire patrol has begun to assume a certain authority of the government.Of course, it wasn't just the Pocket Guns and their generally self-assured attitude that kept lunatics away from them. At last they came to the edge of the forest.With only two suns in the sky, Patrou and Trey, the air grew cooler and the light was uncomfortably dim.Thelimon had never been bothered by the relative dimness of light before, and since the eclipse, even the night of two suns seemed to bother him, to threaten him... though he knew it couldn't be ...but it was seen as a harbinger of darkness to come.It takes a long time, even for the most determined man in the world, to heal the mental wounds inflicted by the setting sun. "The hideout is a short way from here," Sifna said. "How do you feel?" "It's all right," said Theremon bitterly. "They didn't maim me, you see." However, it was extremely difficult to force his painful legs to carry him.When at last he found himself in the cavernous entrance to the basement of the Hermitage, he was overjoyed and greatly relieved. It's a labyrinth here, with caverns leading in all directions through tunnels.He vaguely saw in the distance, the coils of complex scientific transmissions, mysterious and unfathomable, leading here and there around walls and ceilings.He remembered that before this big new laboratory was built in Salo Heights, it was the site of the university's atomic accelerator, and it was obvious that the physicists had left a lot of equipment unused. A tall and imposing man appeared. Sifna said, "This is Altinol 111. Altinol, let me introduce you to Serimon 762." "The Chronicle?" said Arzhanol.There was no respect in his tone, or the impression that he didn't have a good impression, he seemed to be just expressing this fact out loud. "It used to be," Theremon replied. They looked at each other coldly.Althinor, thought Theremon, certainly looked like a marvelously strong and powerful man. Shrewd man, right in middle age, slender and full of energy.Well-dressed, well-clothed, with an air of habit of commanding others.Theremon looked at him, searching quickly through his unbroken memory, and for a moment the glimmer of memory delighted him. He said: "Are you Althinor of the Mortehayn Company?" "Yes, it's Althinor from Mortehain Company." Appearing in Althinor's eyes, I don't know whether he was happy or annoyed. "They keep saying that you want to be the governor, oh, now it seems that you are. If not the whole federal republic, at least the governor of the city of Salo in ruins." "Things have to be done one by one, "Arzanor said, his voice sounded cautious. "First, we have to try to get rid of anarchy. Then, think about reorganizing the country and worrying about the future Archon. For example, the problem of the believers. They have controlled The entire northern part of the city and beyond, and put it under religious leadership. It will not be easy to replace them." Arzhanol smiled coldly, "It is urgent, it is urgent, my friend." "As for Theremon," Sifna said, "you have to bathe first, then eat. He's been living in the forest since sunset. Come with me," she told him. Sifna led him to one of the many partitioned rooms that had been built along the tunnel of the old particle accelerator, where copper pipes overhead sent water to a porcelain tank. "The water can be a bit cold," she warned him, "and we only run the boiler for two hours a day because the fuel supply is so low. But it's certainly better than bathing in a cool brook in the forest... You know something about What about Altinor?" "He's the chairman of the Mortehain Company, a large shipping conglomerate. He was in the news a year or two ago, and through illegal means, he signed a contract with rhetoric. On the government site, a large area of ​​real estate development is carried out." "What does the Ocean Shipping Group have to do with real estate development?" Sifna asked. "That's the problem, it has nothing to do with it. He's being accused of using improper government influence... I think, offering to provide MPs with lifetime passage on the Senatos route..." Theremon shrugged , "It's all the same now. There's no more Molthein Company, no real estate development to do, no federal senators to bribe. Maybe he doesn't like me recognizing him." "Maybe he doesn't care, the most important thing for him right now is running the fire patrol." "For the time being," said Theremon, "running the Salo fire patrol today, and the whole world tomorrow. You heard him talk about replacing the cultists who occupied the far end of the city. Well, someone has to do it, he He's the type of person who likes to take care of things." Sifna came out.Theremon dipped into the china vat.It's not a particularly extravagant pleasure, but, after recent events, it's pretty darn good.He leaned on the porcelain jar, closed his eyes, relaxed his whole body, and enjoyed it to the fullest. After the shower, Sifna took him to the dining room of the Hermitage, a simple tin-roofed room, and left him alone, telling him that she had to report to Althinor about her day's work. .Supper was waiting for him... a set meal that had been stacked here when the sanctuary was being built.Lukewarm vegetables, an unknown type of meat, a light green non-strong drink, bland. But the meal tasted delicious to Theremon. He knew that after living in the forest for a period of time, his body would not be able to adapt to authentic meals, so he forced himself to eat slowly and carefully.Although he wanted to gulp them whole and ask for a second, he knew that every bite had to be chewed or he would get sick. After eating, Theremon sat up straight and stared dully at the ugly tin wall.He wasn't hungry anymore, but his mood was starting to turn sour.Apart from bathing, apart from eating, apart from the comfort of knowing that he was safe in his well-protected retreat, he found himself slipping unconsciously into a mood of utter loneliness. He was tired, depressed, and full of sorrow.It was a good world, he thought, far from perfect, but good enough.Most people are happy, most people prosper, and all walks of life are moving toward greater scientific understanding, greater economic development, and greater international cooperation.The concept of war had seemed quaint and remote, and age-old religious bigotry was largely obsolete, or so it seemed to him. And now, in the space of a few hours, in the sudden and terrible darkness, all that was over. Of course, a new world will be born on the ashes of the old.The pattern was always the same: Sifna's finds at Tombo confirmed that. But what kind of world would that be?Theremon wondered, and the answer was clear.It would be a world in which people would kill each other for a piece of flesh, violate a superstition for a fire, or simply for fun; The world where Freeman and Mondial conspired to control the domain... They may have joined forces with Althinor's gang.One... Thinking of these, Theremon felt horrified. No, he shook his head.What's the point of all this discouragement and depression? Sifna was right, he told himself, that brooding was pointless.We have to deal with the situation at hand, at least he is alive and his sanity is almost fully recovered.Apart from a few scrapes and wounds that healed in a day or two, he had survived his ordeal in the forest safely.Disappointment didn't seem to help now, and as for that column, it would be cherished as a lesson, not allowed to be angry at it except Sifna. The thing has been done, and it is useless to regret it.Now is the time to pick yourself up and move on, to regroup, to rebuild, to start over.It is foolish to look back on the past, and only cowardly to look to the future in despair. "It's over," Sifna asked when she returned to the dining room. "I know, the food isn't great, but it's better than eating a troglodyte." "I can't say for sure, I've never actually eaten a troglodyte." "Maybe you don't think about it very much. Come, I'll show you to your room." It was a low, unrefined square bedroom: there was only a bed, a washstand, a chandelier, and an emergency light on the floor next to the bed.In one corner were scattered books and newspapers, which must have been left by the occupants of the room on the night of the eclipse.Theremon flinched when he saw a copy of the Chronicle opening to his column: it was one of his last articles, a violent attack on Arthur's gang.He blushed and kicked it out of sight with his foot. Sifna asked, "What are you going to do now, Theremon?" "What are you doing?" "I mean, after you rest for a while." "I haven't given it much thought. What?" "Altinol wants to know if you plan to join the fire patrol," she said. "Is it an invitation?" "He's willing to take you out. You're the type of guy he needs, smart and tough." "Well," said Theremon, "I've got to do my best here, don't I?" "However, there is one thing that disturbs him. There can only be one boss on the patrol, and that is Althinol. If you join him, he wants you to understand from the beginning that everything is Althinol's call. No argument allowed. He doesn't quite know how well you obey orders." "I don't particularly know what will happen to me on that point myself," said Theremon, "but I can see what Althinor means." "So, do you want to join? I know that there are many problems in the creation of the entire patrol, but it is at least a force to maintain order, and we need such a force now. Arsanor may be bossy, but he Not bad. I believe that. He just thinks the times call for tough measures and decisive leadership, and that's what he can provide." "I don't doubt that." "Think it over tonight," Sifna said. "If you want to join, talk to him tomorrow. Be honest with him, and he will be honest with you. You can trust that. As long as you can He believes that you will not pose any direct threat to his authority, and I can guarantee that you and him..." "No." Serridin said suddenly. "why no?" He was silent for a moment, and finally he said: "I don't need to spend the night thinking about this question, I already know my answer." Sifna watched him, waiting. "I don't want to hang out with Arzanol," Theremon said. "I know what kind of guy he is, and I don't think I'll be around that kind of guy for long. Action plans may be necessary, but in the long run they are not a good thing, and once they are established and institutionalized, they are difficult to get rid of. In this world, people like Al The Thienor gang is not willing to voluntarily give up power, a petty dictator never will. Also, I am not willing to help him push him to a high position and make him control the rest of my life. I think re-establishing feudalism , nor is it an effective solution to our present problems. So, this is by no means possible. Sifna, I am not going to wear Alsharnor's green scarf, and I will have no future here." Sifna said calmly, "So, what are you going to do?" "Schelling told me that in Amgando Park, a real interim government is being formed. University people, some people from the old government, and representatives from all parts of the country are assembled there. Once I am better enough to walk around , I intend to go to Amgando." She stared at him silently, without answering. Serimon took a deep breath, and said after a while: "Sifna, come with me to Amgando Park." He stretched out his hand to her, and said gently, "Tonight is here Come with me in a small, dreary room. In the morning we will leave here together, and go south together. You and I do not belong here, and it will be more difficult for us to go to Amgundo together than alone. double the chance." Sifna remained silent, and he didn't withdraw his hand. "Oh? What did you say?" Theremon saw conflicting expressions on her face, but he dared not explain them. It was clear that Sifna was having a mental struggle with herself.But, suddenly, the struggle was over. "Well," she said at last, "well, let's do it, Theremon." She walked towards him and took his outstretched hand.Turn off the overhead chandelier, but the emergency light beside the bed still emits a soft glow.