A Change of Fortune

by Veronice Ceccarelli

Chapter 8:

  There was one in Enclosure 3 who knew perfectly well that the ones who’d vanished had not been released. Abensur had given Stewart a different lesson, enough to keep him quiet at the time, but since their ‘work’ had ceased, he’d been talking to the others, one by one, until they’d finally agreed to an attempted escape. The decisive factor had been the indifferent way that the healers had experimented on Jimmy and Charlie. They’d finally stopped doing it to Charlie, wanting to see if he’d recover, but every day, one of the healers would arrived to ‘do Jimmy.’

  The rush of men took the three guards by surprise, and they were knocked out, then the trainee healer, who’d been too slow to react. Wands were seized and broken over knees, and suddenly the way was clear. Medj repelling spells didn’t seem to work against a chairleg used as a crowbar, and the rifles the wizards had used at the beginning were located in the corridor, and swiftly checked and loaded. They were armed. Carefully, quietly, they slipped out unseen, and walked the park towards the boundary wall.

  A guard patrolling the external wall stared, open mouthed, and then wielded his wand. A spell almost like a lasso surrounded at least half the men. One of the prisoners shot at him, and then wounded a second. He was not shooting to kill. Stewart was shooting to kill, succeeded with one, and was aiming at a second, but the rifle vanished in his hands. Other shots were fired, and more guards came running, wands out. More rifles were vanished, and the men had their legs paralyzed, without ever any need for the guards to come close enough for a physical fight. The helpless bodies were raised and returned to the enclosure.

  Abensur nominated six guards to administer punishment. The method had been established long before, as revolts among those of Enclosure 3 had been routine before Abensur put into place his careful methods. The Spell of Pain was to be used on each for a full ten minutes, long enough that a few could easily die.

  But the agony of the Spell of Pain caught at the consciousness of any around with telepathy, and Valencio was pacing, feeling awful, not knowing why. His agitation was contagious, and again, as when Zhor and Najia had first walked in, women armed themselves ready for something to happen. They thought there might have been gun shots. Hilde and Tasha were with Valencio, trying to find out what he knew or could sense, but he could tell them nothing, just pacing, frantically almost.

  The attention of Zhor Kobi-Wynn was also caught. She stalked to the enclosure, finding her way by the feel of it. Najia hastened to stay with her. Instead of opening the door, Zhor blasted it out of the way with her wand, and gave a furious command to stop. Wands were lowered, and agonized screams gave way to groans and the sound of retching.

  Abensur bowed his head, “Madam Zhor,” and he explained, “They tried to escape and attacked guards. It is a regrettable necessity, but it has to be done.”

  Zhor was white faced, trembling with her fury. Najia looked sick. Their four guards stood behind them, two facing outwards. “Who are these men?” she demanded.

  “This is Enclosure 3,” Abensur explained in a carefully reasonable voice. “We stock Enclosure 3 whenever we need to teach Advanced Combat and Control.”

  Zhor’s voice was lowered, deadly, “Why was I not told about these prisoners?”

  From the group of prisoners, Stewart raised his voice, “Maybe they thought you wouldn’t like knowing that we’re to be all killed, probably painfully.”

  Zhor sent an urgent thought to Najia, who braced herself and stood behind her cousin with wand raised. Even their own guard could not be really trusted.

  “Is that true?” Zhor asked Abensur.

  Abensur said, still calmly, “Students need to practice spells. Many of these spells are irreversible, some fatal. You’ve been taught such spells yourself, no doubt.”

  Stewart spoke up again. “I saw Noel have his limbs lopped off bit by bit. When he had no arms and no legs, he was killed and his body vanished.”

  Another contradicted him. “I was there that day. They said that Noel was to be freed, and I remember them making him forget about wizards and magic.”

  Stewart said slowly, wearily, “Abensur does that all the time so we don’t get upset about being tortured and some of us killed.” He’d told them that before, but still over half hadn’t quite believed him. Abensur had been very convincing.

  Zhor declared harshly, “This punishment is over. These men are absolutely not to be killed or further hurt.”

  Najia said to Stewart, still on the ground, legs paralyzed. “How many of you?”

  Stewart said, “Thirty-two of us left, from forty-three.”

  Zhor said, “Abensur, ensure these men continue to be allowed meals and keep them in the enclosure.” She was furious, and very, very determined. “And if I find you have further hurt one hair of their heads, I will lop your limbs off, bit by bit. I probably won’t kill you, however.”

  A stun spell raced towards them, deflected by one of their own guard. Another stunned the man responsible.

  Najia regarded the stunned man, then turned two hands into sealed fists and a face turned green. Zhor was very tense. Her wand flashed, and another man was likewise inflicted.

  Abensur protested, “He didn’t do anything.”

  Zhor said coldly, “He was thinking of attacking. It is enough.”

  Others who were thinking about attacking changed their minds. Both girls appeared to be very effective fighters. Maybe very worthy leaders for their great family.

  Zhor pointed, “You, guard, spread the word that I will make an announcement in the forecourt in five minutes. I want as many as possible there.”

  The guard bowed his head and hurried out.

  Zhor said, “Abensur?”

  Abensur also bowed his head and answered the leader - “The prisoners will not be further hurt in spite of the dead and wounded guards. They will be kept in the enclosure, and continue to be well treated.”

  Zhor’s voice was deadly, “Any die, and you’ll be sorry. There are thirty-two. There had best be thirty-two live prisoners when we come back in an hour or so.” They marched out, their guard behind them.

  Abensur turned to the prisoners. “That was Madam Zhor, who has recently taken over leadership. You might be extremely lucky.” He turned to a guard. “Rekil Verociah Potion, plenty of it and urgently.”

  Valencio was still being questioned – what he’d been feeling, and how did he know it was stopped. He was unable to answer, and suggested feebly that maybe it was all his imagination, though he didn’t believe it himself. He still felt ill. Tasha brought him a coffee, and Carol still watched him, worried. She had her weapons.

  Hicham’s Favorite, Mariabella, was let in by Kofi-Zee and hurried to the meeting place they still used. She was calling as she went, “News! Quick! Everyone!”

  People hurried to surround her, Valencio one of the first. She was almost turning in circles in her excitement. “There was a fight, and someone new is here, and it has to be the great wizard except he was in really ordinary clothes. Zhor and Najia sterilized each other and then some of the el-Kobi tried to hit them with spells and their guard tried to stop them, some of them, anyway.”

  “What started it?”

  “Zhor said that there was an Enclosure 3.......” Mariabella stopped, took a deep breath, and concentrated, “Madam Zhor said - ‘it’s where medj prisoners are used to practice the serious curses. No prisoner leaves there alive. It is a wicked thing. This is a wicked family. Najia and I have pronounced judgment. The Kobi Family is sentenced to extinction.’ And then they faced each other, and Hicham told me it was the Nala Spell, the same as they do to us.”

  There was a silence, broken by Valencio. “She said the Kobi Family is sentenced to extinction!”

  Mariabella smiled at him, “That’s what she said.”

  Valencio gave a crack of laughter, grabbed Tasha and whirled her around in the air. “The end of the bastards!” he exulted. “And from one who might have become leader of the whole b
lasted, evil family!”

  Mariabella watched him and laughed with him. It was their signal, that Valencio thought it a good thing, and there was more laughter and rejoicing.

  Outside, Kamchatsu and Kofi-Zee looked at each other, and Kamchatsu said, “At least someone’s happy!”

  “Well, maybe it was a silly obsession, to breed more and more powerful wizards. As the great wizard said.”

  “I wasn’t there in time, but a lot of people have been saying that.” It had not occurred to them that John Bellamy might have the ability to magically influence more than one at a time.

  Mariabella continued to talk, quickly, excitedly, “He was in old jeans and a shirt that was faded. He wasn’t very big, and just an ordinary short haircut, yet he made everybody frightened and they became silent. And then there was a big white cloud over us all, and it was like his voice came from all around or from the cloud, and he said that Zhor and Najia were his friends, and if they said they were the leaders, then they were. And not a one argued.”

  She continued to talk, describing the great wizard again, in detail, how he’d taken control, and then stepped back and looked ordinary again, and left it to Madam Zhor.

  At last Helene said, “Do you think you should go back to Hicham?”

  “Of course. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

  “There’s an Enclosure 3,” Tasha said to Valencio. “We always knew there had to be something like that, unless they simply went to a city and murdered people picked up off the streets.”

  “The other prisoners, they’d be men, probably. I’d like to talk to men for a change. Aside from Clarence, I know no men.”

  “You don’t count the wizards as men?”

  Valencio replied flatly, “They’re wizards, Freign. A different species. A species without morals or ethics. I don’t count wizards as men.”

  “I never really thought about it. That the only man you know is Clarence.”

  Valencio grinned, “Not that I don’t like women.”

  Tasha laughed. That was obvious! She asked, “How many were there yesterday?”

  “It’s just that some are so unsettled at the moment. And while Gloria and Farfalla need more, the others only asked to be held for a while. They say to be held by a man makes them feel more safe.” He grinned, “And Tatiana told me that they’re not allowed to risk exhausting me as a wife must not be deprived.”

  Tasha grinned, “That’s good.”

  Lunch came, the guards and kitchen staff refusing to talk. More hours went by, only interrupted by Clarence who was hungry. “They wouldn’t let me eat, and they were mostly just waiting for Bellamy to come back. That’s what they call him, just Bellamy. But the freia they kidnapped are home, the ones mated by Tahar and Hamza. He took them by mekkri-lifting, which is instant, but usually its range is only a few hundred miles.”

  “Mekkri-lifting?”

  “Just that a wizard vanishes from one spot and reappears in another. Instant.”

  “Why have we never seen it then?”

  Clarence shrugged. He didn’t know.

  “So has John Bellamy gone then?”

  “They say he’ll be back.”

  Valencio said quietly to Tasha, “Fahad told me once that even after a few months’ imprisonment, a freed slave would probably end up in an institution. They can make people forget things, but maybe not very well.”

  “So those others are here for life, like us?”

  “I guess. I wonder if we might be allowed to talk to them.” But then he shook his head. Maybe not. They’d look at him and know exactly why he was here. How could he ever look a man in the face? Only Clarence, who’d gone through the same as he had.

  Many of the prisoners were excited, some nervously hopeful, while others, especially the older ones, acted as if nothing had changed. Tasha admitted to her husband, “The uncertainty.... It’s killing me.”

  Valencio squeezed her. “Whatever happens now, it sounds like the Kobis are going to be reformed whether they like it or not. It’s good!”

  Carol asked him, “Do you think we could be allowed free now?”

  “I don’t think there’s any question of it, even if Zhor and Najia are confirmed in charge. This John Bellamy, he’s still a wizard, and will not allow us to make trouble.”

  “Would you make trouble if you could?”

  Valencio laughed, “Would I ever! I’d kill the whole blasted lot of them! Women, babies, the lot. And then I’d go on and kill every blasted wizard in the world.” He shook his head, “They should not exist. They prey on ordinary, decent people. What they have done to us, to all of us - it’s unforgivable.”

  “Don’t talk like that in front of Brigitta, will you? She’s fond of Abensur.”

  “I know, and Bridget is fond of Salo-Zar, and Eva of Zhang, and Mariabella of Hicham.” He admitted, “I cried when Arikiyo died, and yet he was a murdering, raping wizard, the same as any of them.”

  Tasha repeated quietly, “You cried...?”

  He shrugged uncomfortably, and she didn’t say anything further.

  Meantime, the thirty-two American workers who’d been in Enclosure 3 were sitting calmly on a bus being driven to freedom. They wouldn’t have been as calm if Bellamy hadn’t been interfering, making them calm. Abensur travelled with them, and the familiar overseer helped. Abensur was pleased that they’d be freed. He always became a little fond of his charges, even of the ones on Enclosure 3. They were to have their memories changed one last time, and then they would be free.

  The cover story devised was quite elaborate, and different people would remember slightly different experiences. It was involved, but without inconsistencies. They’d been taken by terrorists for ransom and the eleven missing men had died heroes, fighting for freedom early on.

  There could have been a difficult time when Bellamy took off memory changing spells, especially for those who’d witnessed some very cruel deaths. But he put them in a light trance, and the new memories were instilled before he allowed them out of it. The great wizard was very skilled in the mind arts. He didn’t touch either Charlie or Jimmy. There had been far too much interference with their minds. Jimmy’s treatment had undone an old memory changing, and he’d recognized Bellamy instantly, addressing him as John. It was from the time he’d been a prisoner, sick from Riza’s curse and known as John Doe. Jimmy had been a guard

  Before he left, Bellamy pulled off his money belt and handed over several thousand American dollars, still willingly accepted, even in countries that reviled America most. The Americans were still looking at each other blankly, and then Bellamy said, “Abensur, go. Coach passengers, your revised memories start in thirty seconds,” and he was gone also, but to his home, where he issued instructions and packed some food supplies. He suspected that any food supplied by the Kobi kitchen that day could be risky to eat.

  The sudden appearance of the great wizard stopped some plotters in their tracks. He looked closely at their minds, and said, “I suggest you decide to leave. I think Madam Zhor said nine o’clock in the morning if you wish a payment.”

  One said nervously, “What will you do to us?”

  “I’m not in charge. Ask Madam Zhor and Madam Najia,” and he strolled towards the door to Riza’s large apartment where he thought the girls were. It was a show of unconcern, but he was looking everywhere. He must not really turn his back on enemies.

  By that time, Abensur was in the Enclosure, the Committee gathered around him, and almost every other prisoner also listening closely. Valencio usually kept well away from Abensur as well as any other wizard. This time he was close and listening intently. Tasha was at his side, Emma standing close at the other. He made her feel safe. Thierry was on the outskirts of the crowd. She, too, would have liked to hold his hand, but he was too close to Abensur.

  Abensur glanced briefly at Valencio, taking in his mood. He didn’t appear to be about to start hitting wizards, though he caught the eye of Kamcha
tsu, and gave a significant glance towards Valencio. Kamchatsu nodded. He’d be ready.

  Abensur started giving information. “John Bellamy is here. He is the one they call ‘the great wizard.’ No other can touch him for power. He is also known as an advocate for the rights of medj. He has put himself very firmly behind our leaders, Madam Zhor and Madam Najia. I’m sure you’ve heard by now that there is a third Enclosure. Those prisoners are now free.”

  Helene had to interrupt, “Free? Us too? Could we be freed?”

  Abensur replied gravely, “The prisoners of Enclosure 3 have been here a little over four months. They’ve been made to forget, made to remember being held by medj terrorists for ransom. John Bellamy said he could do that, though I doubt any other could. But you, how long have you been here, Helene?”

  Helene said quietly, “More than half my life.”

  Abensur nodded. “The older ones, they’ve been here thirty, forty years. To take that from you would be to remove most of your life. You could not recover.”

  There was a long, depressed silence. Valencio asked softly, “Abensur, is there any way?”

  Abensur looked at him with a memory of the thirteen-year-old boy whose cuffs he’d changed as he screamed that he was not a slave. The boy who’d never accepted his status. He knew consciously that the boy was a man and a potentially dangerous man, but he still saw the desperate boy. Was there any way? Maybe for the great wizard, there could be. He spoke directly to Valencio, “If we asked him, maybe he could make a pendreiya. If you were all under unbreakable instructions not to talk about magic or wizards, then maybe you could be freed. We could ask.”

  Valencio stared at him. Freedom? Freedom maybe? Could it be true? A pendreiya on him. There was already a pendreiya on him. Yiko had put one on, and then Bellamy had put a pendreiya on Yiko and on Narzu-Han and all the others so that they couldn’t hurt anyone any more. He spoke very softly just the bare word, “Freedom.” He felt ill, and looked down, shaking his head. Tasha held him firmly and he muttered, “Just going to sit down a moment.” He stumbled a little as he went to the wall and subsided onto the floor, putting his head down between his knees. Freedom, just maybe. Freedom. He was white. Emma sat very close to him, in contact, but Tasha stayed where she had been, looking doubtfully at Abensur.

  Others stared at Valencio. He was believing it. Could it be true?

  Brigitta asked, “Abensur?”

  Abensur smiled at his Favorite, “Only if you want it, of course. Some of you might prefer to stay here where you’re protected and safe.”

  Brigitta said nothing. She must not say to Abensur that she couldn’t wait to leave him. They still depended on his goodwill. For Brigitta, it had been three years. What of her Mum and Dad? She was fifteen, and had been a sex slave. Could she go home now?

  Inge and Evita were positive they could not go home. Brigitta was not as soiled, but those two... How many men had there been?

  Valencio glanced up and looked straight at Kamchatsu and Kofi-Zee. It seemed they still had him under their eye. Kamchatsu, resentful. He didn’t want the ones of Enclosure 1 freed, though indifferent to those in Enclosure 2. Kofi-Zee looked at him with pity. Kofi-Zee didn’t believe for a moment they’d be freed. They both had their wands out.

  The door of the dining room was opened again, and the assembly turned questioningly. Zhor, Najia, four guards, and last, the very average-looking man in very ordinary medj clothes, not wizard robes. He looked as if entirely at ease. They stared, but he only leaned against the wall and put his hands in his pockets, an observer.

  Najia spoke to Abensur, accusingly, “I thought you would have fled, after what you’ve done.”

  Abensur answered in a calm voice, “I did only what’s been done here for centuries, but I did it with more finesse and a great deal more kindness.”

  Bellamy was studying the prisoners, though appearing only to glance around casually. It was heartbreaking. These were not like the imprisoned Americans. These were slaves. There was a group of older ones, several with grey hair. He felt in these a leaden deadness of spirit. They were scarcely even curious. Even the younger ones and those ones who sat with Abensur and acted with authority, didn’t really believe there could be freedom.

  But then he was directly addressed by the one he’d gathered was the leader. A very respectful tone. “Frei Bellamy, Abensur told us that some prisoners have already been released, ones that we never knew of.”

  He nodded, “Thirty-two American prisoners.”

  Valencio stayed in his position out of sight, trying to extend his senses, trying to listen, not just with his ears. Emma watched him anxiously, the guards warily.

  Carol said, “He said that we can’t be free to tell anyone about magic, but he says that the great wizard can make people do what he wants, the way he messed up Hicham.”

  John Bellamy raised his eyebrows, “Messed him up? For a civilized person, being told that they’re not allowed to hurt or rape would not even be noticed.”

  Valencio smiled. He was right. A pendreiya would never be noticed if you didn’t want to do the forbidden thing in any case. But Bellamy was bringing up other problems - families who’d forgotten their missing daughters, the problems of no money, no jobs, too many questions. And yet he wasn’t saying no. Just delaying?

  Carol interrupted, leaning forward, “We want to be free!”

  The male voice, not excited, not nervous. “I have been a prisoner. I know how one can long for freedom.” The voice instilled calm as if it came from a centre of great wisdom. Valencio was suddenly reminded of Yiko. This was a similar powerful wizard. He shook his head. What was he doing, hoping? You could not trust a wizard!

  The mild voice came again, clear in the respectful silence of those around. “What I can offer is a home, like an institution. You’ll be free to come and go, you’ll be provided with whatever you need and you can contact family. A more gradual transition than simply throwing you on the streets of Casablanca, for instance.”

  A home! Like an institution, free to come and go! Kamchatsu raised his wand a touch further, covering Valencio, threatening. Valencio didn’t notice.

  Abensur spoke very firmly, wanting it to be true. “Brigitta is staying with me of course. I need her.”

  Brigitta replied, even more firmly, “There are plenty of female servants. Try being nice to one of those.”

  “Brigitta!”

  “Being nice to you was survival. My love for you is as genuine as your concern for the so-called dirt-people.”

  The members of the Committee thought Brigitta foolish. She should not burn bridges. There was a minor commotion and Emma craned to see, before saying quietly to Valencio, but with a grin, “Abensur couldn’t have liked it, and someone’s put him under semi-paralysis.”

  “Abensur?”

  Emma nodded and giggled. The discussion resumed, it seemed, without Abensur. Valencio wondered if maybe he’d been silenced as well. Abensur! How often had the wizards put him under paralysis and silenced him? Now it was Abensur! Things really had changed! Freedom?

  He didn’t get to his feet. He didn’t want this powerful wizard to see him. It might wreck everything. Valencio was no longer thinking very clearly. He was thirty now, and this man was not Yiko. He would not find himself under a new owner. Surely no-one would want a man of thirty, not like that. He didn’t get up.

  Details were settled, but few of them believed it. Several of them looked for Valencio. He would know whether they should be happy, or whether they should be worried. But Valencio was of no help, very pale still and with his eyes closed. Both Kamchatsu and Kofi-Zee still had him under their wands, very ready to take action if needed.

  More talk. Carol asked that they be allowed freedom within the Compound, but Madam Zhor refused. They were to continue as at present, and Zhor requested that they cooperate with the guards. On the other hand, meetings with any wizard for sex were to be only by mutual consent. They were to be well tr
eated in every way, except that they were still not allowed freedom.

  Bellamy said apologetically, “I’ll organize something just as soon as I can. Within a week, if possible.”

  Within a week! Freedom within a week! Valencio started to tremble.

  Emma sat very close, next to him. She would not have believed it, but Valencio was trembling.

  There was no rejoicing in the Enclosures when they left. Helene admitted to Carol, “I just don’t believe it.”

  “Neither do I, and when I let myself hope, I’m scared.”

  Little Inge spoke up. “He was right. We need somewhere to go. I don’t think my parents would have me back, not after the things I’ve done.”

  Helene said quietly, “You girls have saved our lives. It’s one thing I would not have wanted to forget, how very, very brave you’ve been.”

  Inge smiled, but tears were beginning. She said abruptly, “I’m going for a swim.”

  Evita said, “Me too,” and also vanished.

  A guard came for Clarence. It was time for their leaders’ dinner. Valencio pulled himself shakily to his feet and looked for Tasha. He thought he wanted to lie down for a while, and he wanted his Tasha.

  Tasha laughed at him, “Even if it doesn’t happen, you don’t have to faint!”

  Valencio grinned ruefully, “I always was a fool!”

  Tasha hugged him, but said, “I’m not letting myself hope. Maybe we should just ask for some sporting equipment and board games to keep us amused. It’s more likely to eventuate.”

  Valencio hoped. It was so long ago that he’d put aside his desperate desire for freedom, knowing it to be an impossible dream. It was no longer an impossible dream.