by Ava D. Dohn
* * *
Ishtar’s trepidation about command had rapidly worn off. She was enjoying her newfound authority, and the privileges that go with it. Like so many other people born in the Second Realm, her perceived power went to her head. It’s not that earthly men and women are inherently evil, though history tends to support that theory. Given opportunity, people will often act like their mentors. If the overlords act with rueful impunity, when put in the same position, their subjects will do the same.
The age of Ishtar’s being was one filled with violence and injustice. The arenas meted out cruel and inhuman punishments for the smallest of infractions, yet they were only a reflection of the common way of life faced by most non-citizens of the day. Forced rape, torture and slavery were accepted destinies of those accused of breaking the tiniest of laws - laws, may I add, that were often made up at the whim of the magistrate or officer in charge. Ishtar, herself, had been a victim of such wanton cruelty. In fact, the man who had watched her beaten into unconsciousness the day of her arrest so long ago was now her very companion and teacher.
Treston sadly shook his head. “I know, General PalaHar, I know. But I don’t have the heart for it. She’s been through so much.”
“Bah!” PalaHar frowned. He leaned forward in his chair. “You’re a colonel, and a darn good one. You were hand-picked for this job long ago. I recommended you myself.” He leaned back and kicked his swivel chair around to the side, put his hands on his head and closed his eyes. “I heard you pushed the child to her limits in officer training school - half killed her. What’s so hard about straightening Captain Ishtar out now?”
“Sir,” Treston stood, “I respectfully disagree with your assessment of my actions.”
PalaHar slowly spun around in his chair, opening his eyes. “Go on.”
“Sir,” Treston was obviously nervous. As an officer in the legions or for his governor when he lived in the Second Realm, his little contention with the general could get him whipped, imprisoned, or even fed to the lions. “I train all my students to prepare for battle. Lieutenant Alynnou still carries the scars from her training exercises, and well may for some time to come. I’m sure there’re others who would confess my brutalities to you if given the opportunity. With Ishtar, it was no different. I treated her as I did all my other students. Better to die among friends than in front of the enemy.”
PalaHar motioned for Treston to sit. “Calm down, Colonel Treston, calm down.” He rested his hands flat on the table. “This in not your old world, nor are you in Asotos’ camp. I am a general when needs be and a friend the rest of the time. You can speak freely and be at ease while we are squirreled away in this cabin. True, things become a little more formal when I’m in public. Then there’s a need to maintain such decorum. You never know when you may have to send them to their deaths.”
The general smiled. “I have no complaint with how you educate your students in the art of war. I also don’t think you’ve been too hard on Ishtar. Why, she never visited the camp hospital once the entire time I was on base.” He shook his head in question. “Did you really intend to give Lieutenant Alynnou a new face job, or were you trying to break her neck? I hear she needed over thirty stitches to be reassembled.”
Treston saw the twinkle in PalaHar’s eyes, but he didn’t smile. “I was heartsick when I saw the damage I’d done to the lieutenant. It was only worsened by the fact that I couldn’t let on about it. My only solace is that the lesson may one day save her life.”
PalaHar slapped the table. “And your getting our little girl straightened out may well save hers! And others...”
Treston sat silent for some time, pondering a solution. Finally PalaHar intruded. “Colonel, a queen bee is only queen as long as the workers permit it.” He let that sink in for a moment, then added, “You have a free hand to do as you see fit. Just remember, we rendezvous with the fleet in five days. You have until then to accomplish Operation Humility with that girl.”
He cleared his throat. “Ahem. Speaking to you as a general, I expect to see duty done. Do you understand me, Colonel?”
Treston swallowed hard. “Yes…yes, sir. I will make it my priority.”
PalaHar leaned forward, his hands supporting him, curling his lips into a Cheshire cat grin. “I have studied your military prowess, Colonel. How hard can it be for a man with your experience at handling soldiers to take on a little child like Ishtar?”
Treston did not find PalaHar’s comment at all humorous, but he did promise to do his best. He left the general’s cabin disheartened. It seemed like only yesterday he and Ishtar had been digging in the mud of that ancient cemetery, drawing ever closer. The demands of officer training school had pushed them apart. And now? He feared the child’s reaction to whatever discipline she might receive to correct this current situation could drive her away for good. Treston slowly labored his way back to his cabin, pondering his dilemma.
A soft rap on the door alerted the colonel to company. Without asking who it was, Treston told the person to enter. Lieutenant Alynnou slid the compartment door aside and stepped in with a small tray of food. “We missed you at dinner, Colonel… figured you being so busy. Thought you might enjoy a bite to eat.”
The colonel was surprised at Alynnou’s attentiveness, much the more so because of the way he had been treating her since their meeting at training camp some time ago. First, there was the terrible beating she took with the cudgel and then the rigors of basic training, itself. She had received no mercy from him during that time. Then after her appointment as his staff officer, he had been only business, never even making comment about her well-being. There was something about her he couldn’t understand.
The colonel sat there another moment before replying, studying her features. Her beauty was flawless, just like all the other women of this new and strange land - that is to say except for the jagged scar running down the side of her face. Yes, it would eventually heal, as did all injuries among this people, but it might still be many months before it would be gone completely. Even if such a thing were only temporary, there should still be the showing of resentment...or something.
Finally he motioned for the lieutenant to come in and sit, thanking her for such thoughtfulness. As Treston consumed the meal, Alynnou quietly sat watching him. Treston puzzled over the woman’s actions. She was the last person he expected to treat him this kindly, yet there she sat, appearing as though she was enjoying this private time with the colonel.
Curiosity finally got the better of him. He put down his knife and asked, “Lieutenant, please tell me, after all I have forced upon you, why do your treat me kindly?”
Alynnou’s face reddened and her ears burned hot from blushing. She stuttered through one flustering attempt after another to explain before blurting out, “I care about you in a way I don’t understand!”
Treston was beside himself with bewilderment. He puzzled the longest time before responding, all the while trying to maintain his military composure. Thoroughly confused, he asked, “Lieutenant, how old are you?”
Her reply was only the more confusing. She cocked her head in thought. “Let’s see… The sun rose over Dentianna’s Peak on the morning of my Coming of age. The Sea of MarNamma now covers the hills where I became a woman. That would be during the last age of Lagandow, before it died in fire and smoke.” She rolled her eyes back as though counting. “Oh, let’s see…that would have been five million millennia ago…give or take.”
Treston’s mouth fell open. To measure one’s life in ages of mountains and seas, or even star systems was beyond his comprehension. Finally, after collecting his thoughts, he replied, “Lieutenant, my days are the life of man plus six years, eighty six to be exact. A little over three have been spent in your world. My time is but the mist on the scales compared to yours. How can you possibly have anything but pity or contempt for the likes of me?”
“Si
r? Contempt?” It was now Alynnou’s turn to become bewildered. “Why, I have nothing but the greatest respect for you and your kind.” She shook her head. “To have lived a life of sickness, misery and hardship, and carrying the burden of living it in a body flawed by the ravages of rebellion…and to know that all your hard work and diligent efforts still would not save you from death? Sir, I am the one who wonders why you have nothing but pity or contempt for me!”
She looked at her lap, shaking her head. “You have lived more in your lifetime than I have lived in all of mine. Every day for me was as the one before. I gave no thought to the future…little to the past.” Her head snapped up and she looked him in the eye. “Please don’t misunderstand. I have loved my life. I have never been bored with it, but…”
“But what, Lieutenant?” Treston was almost incredulous. “What about my life do you find so great?”
“Why, sir…” Alynnou lifted her arm in gesture, “you have lived your life to the top, experiencing emotions to the limit of your human abilities. You were tested as to fitness in ways that my people can only imagine. Sir, you have proved who you are.” She again shook her head. “I have yet to find out who I am...”
Treston’s mind turned to other concerns. He mumbled, “A person must find out who they are...”
Alynnou asked, “Sir?”
Treston looked up at the lieutenant and smiled. “Oh, sorry. What you just said made me think of an assignment I have. You gave me an idea on how to deal with it.” He thought a moment. “I have a small matter that needs addressing tonight, after which I may desire some assistance. Would you be willing to join me here in the morning, say at breakfast? I’ll try to find an orderly to deliver us some food at that time.”
Alynnou grinned. “It will be my pleasure, Colonel, and I will see to the meal, myself.”
Treston hurried the rest of dinner. When finished, Alynnou gathered up the utensils and said her goodnights. Treston stood and walked to the door. For but a moment, the two faced each other, standing only inches apart. The lieutenant was the colonel’s height, he not being an overly tall man. Time passed to the point of awkwardness.
Finally, Alynnou asked, “Sir, will you grant me one request?”
Treston smiled. “Whatever you wish...”
Alynnou leaned forward and kissed the colonel on the lips. It was now Treston’s turn to blush. “Goodnight, sir.” Alynnou turned and exited the door.
It was a most frustrating evening for Treston. His conversation with Ishtar lasted well past the midnight hour. The more he attempted to explain the conduct of an officer in the Children’s Empire, the more the girl dug in her heels to prove it otherwise. Many a time the girl would quote verbatim from the Officer’s Handbook, pointing out how she was clearly within her rights if not obligated in the way she handled matters.
Over and over, Treston called the girl’s attention to the fact the book was written long ago and for people of this realm, not her old one. He pointed out that she was in a full volunteer military. He also tried to help her understand that many of these enlisted soldiers had engaged in warfare long before their old nation was in existence. None of it did any good.
Ishtar was determined to push her authority as she saw fit. She argued, “Now look, Colonel Treston, I was appointed a captain by the high authorities...higher even than General PalaHar! I have been told I have all the qualities of leadership, and that title of ‘captain’ is just the beginning. Commanding general over a vast army is what I have been shown, with the angels themselves bowing down and submitting themselves to me. So now I’m trying to put into practice what is expected of me.”
Treston was becoming exasperated. He countered, “Great leaders stand upon the shoulders of those they lead. Without their full support, those leaders will fall. Study the history of our race and see the disasters repeated because leaders refused to show proper respect for the common man. These are an uncommon people, some having lived countless millions of years. We need to show them the respect they des…”
Ishtar cut him off. “It is not always the swift who finish the race nor the wise who attain the prize. Why were we gathered here other than to bring these people up to speed? Obviously, they have not accomplished what was expected of them. Now we must take the lead to set them straight. I believe that is my destiny, set out for me long ago.”
Treston’s temper flared. “Captain, your destiny is to disgrace Legion, an egomaniac, and bring down his house! By using one who is the least, unknowing, incompetent, brash, and foolish, his humiliation will be made complete.”
Ishtar began to fume, forgetting she was speaking to a superior officer. “I am to bring him to nothing! My abilities have been given me to do so, and I will! You speak senselessness!”
Treston was a colonel, having the authority to place Ishtar under arrest for insubordination, or he could discipline her in other ways. At first, he said nothing. He put his hands to his face, holding his chin in thought. Finally, he issued a carefully worded warning. “Learn well the lesson from your forbears’ cousin, Jehoiachin. It was prophesied of him that he would have a lasting household, but he refused to humble himself and lost everything, even seeing his sons slaughtered in front of his face. Do not think yourself so indispensable that the same could not happen to you. Why, at one time long ago, our king, Michael, said that if your people did not humble themselves, the very stones would be raised up as seed to complete prophecy.”
Ishtar glared at Treston, her icy stare cutting into his heart. She so much wanted to rebuke him for his past atrocities, real and imagined, that he had once committed against her and other innocents. She was about to unleash a barrage of insults when Lowenah’s words to her suddenly came to mind. ‘If you fail to fully mature, I will have wasted my efforts on a fool’s dream. I have assigned a harsh taskmaster to teach you. Will you grow above your reckless rebelliousness and learn to obey his voice?’
The girl fought down a desire to shout her insults. She sat silently, clutching the chair arms and glowering at Treston. Treston said nothing, waiting to see what direction Ishtar would take.
Finally the girl broke the silence. In an acid-filled voice, she asked, “Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me, Colonel?”
Treston slowly shook his head. “No, Captain Ishtar, I’m finished.”
Ishtar pushed herself forward in her chair, prepared to stand, and sourly requested, “Permission to leave, Colonel?”
Treston nodded. “Have a good night, Captain.”
Ishtar said nothing, but her body language more than told Treston just how disgusted she was with him. After she left, the colonel sat back in his chair, tired and disappointed. The child had five days to learn a very important lesson. Once with the fleet, there would be little time for more training. His heart ached because of her anger and scorn, but it mattered little at the moment. There was a job to dutifully carry out, and he would accomplish it. He had no choice.