Vlad sat at his council table, once again under fire from his political enemies. This time, it was also on account of the games with Eden.
“I find it completely unfair that only you and a few coaches get to go in there and see everything they have,” whined Philip. “I would also like to see for myself what the place is like. Wouldn’t the rest of you?” He put the question to the other council members, and there was a generally positive tone of agreement in their grumblings.
“This is just a first step,” defended Vlad. “I would love to have a big entourage, especially because the boys would feel the support. But, you see, it’s not about us this time; it’s about them—the boys. Let’s view it as a sporting event that can thaw the ice between us.”
Philip and those among the council, loyal to him, exhaled and pouted, but there were no overt challenges.
Vlad found the lack of opposition encouraging and pressed his point further. “Christopher is an ass, according to Moey. But the main problem with him is that he’s paranoid. If we turn this into some kind of political gathering, he’ll shut the thing down in an instant.”
“Maybe he should. Who needs it anyway?” complained Philip.
“It’s smart business for us to cooperate with them. We have been through this,” Vlad fired back.
“Well, that’s a political objective … not about sports at all,” spouted Philip, feeling clever.
“It’s a first step toward a political objective. They have the same objective. But we just need to get the relationship going,” pleaded Vlad. “I have an idea. The girls’ teams have been begging me to get a contest set up for them as well. It’s not much time, so they will likely reject it. But if they accept it, the size of the visiting party will be larger. That would probably give your own daughter a strong possibility to attend.” Vlad stared a hole in Philip. “In that case, much as I prefer not to have you whining in my ear, I would suggest that you come along. You or another council member that we all agree on. If you all don’t want to take my word for it, then fine. I don’t mind another coming to confirm the situation.”
“Well, fine … I suppose,” conceded Philip. “I would like to be the one to go if others don’t object.” No one did.
Parker and Moey examined the Chair’s knee thoroughly and didn’t like what they saw. The range of motion was limited, and he seemed incapable of straightening his leg out completely. At the same time, the knee joint wobbled, limiting its side-to-side stability. Moey positioned the knee brace so that the hinge and his knee would move together precisely. The men had already practiced with it on.
“Your knee has a few problems. Fortunately, I think this new device can improve all of your problems.” Moey continued, “I think the biggest problem will be getting used to it so that it doesn’t become painful. The more you wear it, the faster you will progress.”
“Well, let’s get the thing on, and let me try it!” snapped the Chair. “I don’t need an education. Just get me through that bloody test.”
Moey and Parker transmitted their thoughts through eye contact, not giving any hint of their real disdain for their leader, and they worked together to install the brace. Without receiving any cues that the installation was finished, the Chair stood up impatiently, trying to move his leg and knee forward and backward and side to side.
“Hey, boys,” he said, shifting his gaze between the knee and somewhere out in space. “I think …” He started taking steps.
“Just walk for now,” advised Parker. “Stand up straight, and take normal steps. Just walk around.”
“It’s quite good. I think maybe a little loose. I feel it slipping down,” the chair remarked.
“It’s adjusting itself. Let it move. Then, we will tighten it,” offered Moey.
“Okay, it’s adjusted. I can tell. Tighten it up.”
The men tightened it and inspected it for alignment while the Chair stood wobbling.
“Alright. Walk around until it feels uncomfortable. You saw how we put it on and tightened it. If you want it to remain a secret even here, which I recommend, you will need to be able to put it on yourself … and take it off. Can you do that?”
“No problem.” The chair now started pacing rapidly in the room, enjoying the new stability he was feeling. “My compliments, boys. I know I can manage this.” The Chair was joyous and even excited. “In a week, this dreadful situation will be a thing of the past. Thank you, boys. I will practice.”
“Your welcome, Leader,” said Moey as sincerely as he could. He and Parker started to head for the door.
“Wait! Not so fast. We need to talk about this Victory disaster,” commanded the Chair. “Parker, you can go on.”
Parker looked at Moey with a look of sympathy, and then he turned and exited briskly, happy to be leaving.
“I received a letter from Vlad requesting that we consider a female contest: five events that are to determine the best overall female athlete.”
“I was not aware,” responded Moey, honestly surprised by the information. “There isn’t much time. Logistically, it’s not a problem, but maybe the girls need more time to prepare.
What are the events?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You read it yourself,” the Chair spat irritably. “Why all this interest in competing with us? They want to get all cozy and close? Why? So they can slit my throat?”
“I admitted to you that it was my idea in the first place, so he didn’t cook up some plot against you. But Vlad has taken to it. I don’t think he has bad intentions toward us … toward you. I think he sees the strategic advantage of a close alliance.”
“Or maybe he sees an aging leader, which smells like an opportunity for him to rule over everyone. That would be my thought, if I were in his position.”
Moey agreed that Christopher would think this way. He hadn’t sensed that Vlad had any malicious intent, but he now began to wonder.
“We’ll tell him we want to wait and see how this goes first. Then, if all goes well, we can consider the girls for next year. Another option is that we can schedule it for after the end of the festival, so we have more time. I think our girls would really be excited.”
“Oh no. Don’t say anything to encourage him … not now. I need to pass this test. I don’t want any other distractions until that happens.”
“Agreed.” Moey finally escaped into the street and broke into a run as he headed for home. He was satisfied with where things were, and the Chair was now dependent on him for his very life. But he pondered the same pointless questions that always haunted him following any exchange with the Chair.
How did a man like this come to rule Eden? Eden had taken such a turn for the worse under Christopher.
Looking back, Moey felt that things could have been different. Christopher’s father, Ramius Jr., had not had to name Christopher. That was twenty years ago. Moey had been young, but he’d known more than anyone else about the decision. He had merely been too young at the time to do little more than listen and accept it.
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