Confronting the Fallen

by J. J. Thompson

“Chef? Really? Well, I shouldn't be surprised. If there is a more level-headed, trustworthy person on my staff, I don't know who it is.” The judge's tone of voice became warmer. “So, you've become friends with Chef?'

  “I sure have, sir. He's just so, I dunno, easy to talk to. He listens really good, you know?”

  “I do indeed, Mr. Wright. He and I have had many a conversation over the years, about many things.” The judge picked up his cell and tapped on it for a moment. “Very well. Our nearest tester can be here by tomorrow afternoon.” He looked at Chris. “Anna is a bit delicate and it takes some preparation for her to travel, so I'm afraid that that is as fast as she can get here. I hope that isn't too long a wait for you?”

  Chris was confused. “Can't someone here give me the test? Like you, sir?”

  The judge chuckled. “I'm afraid not. I am not qualified to administer the test, Christopher. We often have a qualified person with us in residence, but right now things are...a little hectic, so Anna is our only real option.” As he was speaking, the judge began typing on his cell again. He glanced at Chris and back at his typing as he spoke. “She is of an advanced age. I would normally prefer to ask someone else to administer the test, but we don't have a lot of time and I believe this is important enough to disturb her.”

  “I don't want to be a bother, your honor,” Chris said hurriedly. “If you want to get someone else, I can wait.”

  “That is much appreciated, but don't worry.” The judge smiled. “To be honest, Anna thinks we fuss over her too much. She'll be very happy to help us. She says she likes feeling useful.” He finished typing. “I've sent her aide a text to confirm that she can come. Give it a few minutes. He's usually quite punctual.” The judge put down the cell and sat back. “So, while we wait, tell me what you've been up to the last little while. I've had reports, of course, but I prefer hearing about these things face to face.”

  Reports, huh, Chris thought. I guess I'm not surprised. He began telling the judge about meeting the guard dogs and of his talks with the librarian. It wasn't long into the conversation when the cell chimed once and the judge checked the message.

  “Wonderful. He says that Anna would be happy to help us out. She should arrive around dinner time tomorrow.” He must have noticed Chris' worried expression because he hastened to reassure him.“Try to relax, Christopher. You cannot fail the test. It's quick, simple and once it's done, we'll all have options before us concerning your future. That's actually when the hard part comes in.” At Chris' perplexed look, the judge added “When you decide if you are truly joining us or not. So, take the time before Anna arrives to relax and try not to think about it too much.”

  Chris stood up and thanked the judge. Then he headed for the door, he thought of something and turned back to look at the judge,.

  “Sir, what happens if I pass the test and then decide to leave anyway?”

  The man stared at him thoughtfully. “Then, Christopher, we will wish you well and send you on your way.”

  Chris felt somewhat reassured, thanked the man again and left.

  Once out in the corridor, he decided to walk around the estate outside during the day for a change. Anything to pass the time until tomorrow, he thought with a deep sigh.

  The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Chris met up with Tyler and Jacob for dinner and they played games until it was time for the two to do their homework. Chris decided to make it an early night. He borrowed a book on Troy from the library and headed off to his room, where he lay in bed and read for hours.

  When Chris awoke the next morning, he sat by the side of the bed and thought about the day to come. It's T-day, he thought whimsically. I dunno what this big test is, but I wish I could just get it over with.

  He got up, got washed and dressed and headed for breakfast. Tyler and Jacob seemed to be at least as excited as Chris was about the upcoming test. In fact, Jacob was almost vibrating with eagerness to tell Chris about his own experience. But dark looks from Tyler kept him from spilling anything but vague hints. Finally Chris asked him to stop.

  “Jake, you're making me even more nervous, man,” he said, exasperated.

  “Sorry Chris,” Jacob said. “You're right. And it wouldn't make any difference if you knew what Ty and I went through anyway. It was different for both of us.”

  “Exactly, Jake,” Tyler agreed. He crammed a slice of toast into his mouth and spoke around it. “I think each tester decides on the test we each get. I remember Diego saying something like that.”

  “Really?” Jacob looked at Tyler curiously. “Margaret didn't mention that. Of course, she wasn't much for talking anyway, so maybe that's why.”

  “Diego? Margaret? You guys both had different testers?” Chris asked.

  “Oh yeah. Jake showed up a month after I got here,” Tyler said. He swallowed his toast with a loud gulp. Jacob rolled his eyes. “Diego was long gone by then.” He looked sad for a moment. “He was such a good guy too. But even old monks don't last forever, I guess.”

  “Diego was a monk?” Chris was getting confused again.

  “Yeah, of course. Jake's tester, Margaret, was a minister. Wasn't she?” Tyler looked at Jacob inquiringly.

  “Yup. United or something like that.” Jacob shrugged. “I can't keep 'em straight in my head. She was neat though. Just way too quiet for my liking.”

  “Maybe she never got a chance to speak, the way you chatter all the time.” Tyler grinned at Jacob, who blew him a raspberry and looked back at Chris.

  “Anyway, I've never heard of Anna, but it sounds like the judge really respects her, so you should be fine.”

  Chris finished the last of his coffee. “Yeah, I guess. You know, I kind of wish there was something I could read or study or whatever, just to get ready.” He laughed at himself. “I feel really unprepared.”

  Tyler got up and gathered all their plates. “I think that's the point, Chris. They want you the way you are. Best way to test you, I suppose.” He took the plates away and Jacob got up as well.

  “We're off to class, Chris,” he said, then he slapped Chris on the shoulder. “Just chill for the day. Play some games, read a book, whatever. You can't do anything but wait anyway.” Then he winked and left the dining room behind Tyler.

  Yeah, great advice, Chris thought and rolled his eyes. There were only a few adults left in the room finishing their meals, so he headed for the door. Okay Jake, he said to himself. I'll take your advice. The library it is.

  Chris spent the rest of the day bouncing between the library, the games room and the lounge. He couldn't get comfortable and the more he tried not to think of the test, the more it weighed on his mind. At dinner, he just picked at his food. Tyler and Jacob tried to encourage him to eat something.

  After Jacob had waved a third dessert under his nose, Chris had had enough.

  “Jake, would you please knock it off!” he barked. Jacob jumped and reddened.

  “Sorry. Chris. I just, you know, was trying to distract you.”

  “Yeah, well, it's not working. Look, I'm just not hungry. Maybe after I will be, but not right now. Okay?”

  “Sure, of course.” Jacob went back to finishing his own dinner.

  “Chris,” Tyler said, “Are you up for this? I mean, you're more nervous than anyone else I've seen before the test, even Jake here.” He nodded at his friend who stopped chewing to stare at Chris.

  “Um, yeah man,” Jacob said. “I was hyped up about it but you're like, bouncing off the walls.”

  “What? No way,” Chris said forcefully. “I'm fine. I just want to get it over with, that's all.”

  Am I that obvious, he wondered. I learned to hide my emotions on the street. Maybe this place is making me soft. Gotta be more careful.

  “Yeah, I'm just fine,” he repeated. At that moment, his cell rang. He dug it out of his pocket.

  “Hello?” Chris said.

  “Good evening, Mr. Wright. Martin here. The judge would like to see you in his office at eight tonight, if
that's all right?”

  Chris felt his stomach clench. “Oh yeah, sure, Martin. That will be fine. Thanks a lot.”

  “You're welcome. And good luck on the test.”

  Martin hung up and Chris swallowed nervously. He glanced at the clock about the entrance. Six forty-five.

  “You okay, Chris?” Jacob asked anxiously. “You're white as a sheet.”

  “Yeah. That was Martin. The judge wants to see me at eight.” He glanced down at his plate and then pushed it away. He felt faintly sick.

  “Hey, that's great!” Tyler was enthusiastic. “You can get it over with, finally.”

  “I guess.” Chris stood up abruptly. “I think I'll go for a walk, kill some time. Talk to you guys later.”

  “Good luck, Chris,” Jacob said seriously.

  “You'll be great!” Tyler added.

  Chris smiled and waved and headed out of the room. He turned toward the front door. He thought it might be nice to see the dogs. They always lifted his spirits.

  When Chris left the house, he was surprised to find the dogs milling around only a few yards away from the door. He looked questioningly at Mr. McKenna, who was at his usual post near the entrance. The man just shrugged.

  “No, Mr. Wright. I have no idea what brought them here. They've been loitering near the door for quite a while now.” He smiled. “Perhaps they've been waiting for you.”

  Chris laughed but wondered if that was true. The entire pack suddenly surrounded him, woofing gently and brushing up against him. He was always surprised at how gentle they were. With his size, any of them could have easily knocked him over, but that had never happened.

  He distributed pats to all of the dogs but knelt down and wrapped his arms around Eliza's neck. She stood quietly, too dignified to make a big fuss over him, but she rested her jaw on his shoulder and leaned her head against his. She smelled of grass and wind and freedom, Chris thought, although the freedom might be in his imagination. He suddenly felt that he was heading for something inevitable, something that would set him on a path with no chance of turning back.

  Chris just held on to Eliza for a few minutes, then he pulled back and stared into her huge brown eyes.

  “Well, Eliza, I'm about to do the test,” he whispered. He had started telling her about his feelings ever since he had arrived. She always listened even if he knew she didn't understand. But she didn't judge and she was a very good listener.

  Finally Chris stood up, gave Eliza one last pat and waved to the pack. They woofed back at him in their deep voices and headed off to patrol. Chris turned, nodded at Mr. McKenna and went back inside.

  His phone told him that he only had ten minutes before he was due in the judge's office, so Chris began to make his way there, slowly. He couldn't understand his own reluctance to submit to this test, whatever it was. Everyone assured him that it was easy and that he couldn't fail, so what was his problem? He only knew that somewhere deep inside, part of him was trying to run in the opposite direction.

  Finally, Chris was standing outside of the judge's office. This is it, he thought. With a deep breath, he knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” he heard the judge call out and Chris entered the office.

  Judge Hawkes was sitting behind his desk as usual, but instead of tapping on his cell, he was writing in a notebook. He glanced up, smiled at Chris and waved him toward a chair.

  “Have a seat, Christopher,” the judge said. “I'll be right with you.”

  Chris sat down and looked around the room. There was no sign of the mysterious Anna. There were no unusual machines, stacks of papers or indeed anything different from the last time he had visited the office. Finally he sat back and watched as the judge scribbled into his book.

  After a few minutes, the judge sighed, put down his pen and sat back. He looked at Chris.

  “Forgive me. I wanted to get that down while it was fresh in my mind. Now, here we are.”

  “Yes sir. Here we are.” Chris just repeated the statement and waited. The judge looked faintly amused.

  “You are, of course, wondering what comes next,” he said. “Well, I can tell you that Anna arrived earlier today. She will be in shortly. Before she gets here, I'd like to tell you something about her.” The judge sat back and looked off into the distance.

  “Anna is quite special,” he continued. “She is a very wise woman, a revered person to her people.”

  “Her people?” Chris asked, wondering what that meant.

  “Yes. Anna is a member of the Algonquin tribe, a group of native people who have lived in this province for many centuries. She's not exactly a shaman, not really a religious leader. But she is very highly thought of.” He looked at Chris intently. “I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, Christopher, but please be respectful around her. As I've said, she's very special.”

  “No worries, sir. I will be. But why is she going to be the one to give me the test?” Chris couldn't understand the need to be tested by some religious person. “I mean, I'm a lot like my Dad when it comes to religion. Agnostic, I think.”

  Judge Hawkes chuckled. “Your religious beliefs aren't at issue, Christopher. I'll have to let Anna explain the reasoning behind our using religious leaders as testers. But I'm sure you've figured out that it has to do with our belief that angelic souls are being born into this world for the first time.”

  “Yeah, I thought as much.” Chris sighed in confused resignation. “There's a lot going on here that I don't understand, your honor. Like why I keep running into some of the teens living here outside at night. Patrolling apparently. Patrolling for what? Why?”

  The judge nodded but didn't reply.

  “And all the religious paintings around here. Your mention of a coming “apocalypse”. Really sir? The apocalypse? I mean, what are you people really doing? That's what I need to know.” He looked soberly at the judge. “And soon,” he added.

  “Yes, of course you do. I think that, after tonight, you will have your answers, Christopher. Or at least enough of them to make up your mind about us, one way or another.”

  There was a sudden knock on the door and Chris jumped slightly.

  “Come in please,” the judge called. The door opened and Martin stuck his head in the room.

  “They're here, your honor,” he said respectfully.

  “Thank you, Martin. Send them in, please.”

  “Yes sir,” Martin replied and ducked out again. The judge turned to look at Chris.

  “Now, I will be leaving you in a moment, Christopher. Remember, just be yourself with Anna. Be honest and everything will be fine. Okay?”

  “Yes sir,” Chris said in a quiet voice. He suddenly had a knot in his stomach and he found himself clenching and unclenching his hands, as if he was preparing to fight or run. What's wrong with me, he thought in exasperation. Just relax!

  The door opened again and Judge Hawkes stood up immediately. Chris rose more slowly and stared with complete surprise at the two people entering the room.

  The first person through the door had to be Anna, but she was nothing like Chris had pictured her. For one thing, she looked like she was incredibly old. Her hair was snow white and hung in two braids forward over her chest. She was wearing a plain brown, robe-like dress and had several necklaces made of beads around her neck. The knuckle-joints of her hands were swollen and inflamed and Chris assumed she had arthritis. Her eyes were cloudy and vague looking and he wondered if she had cataracts.

  But the even bigger surprise was that she was sitting in a wheelchair that was being pushed by one of the largest men that Chris had ever seen.

  The native man had long straight black hair that cascaded down his back and chest. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a black tie, indistinguishable from any other business man. But Chris guessed that he had to be at least six and a half feet tall and was heavily muscled.

  His face was smooth with a high forehead and heavy brows. His expression was calm and he watched his charge intently as he pushed h
er wheelchair into the room.

  “Good evening, Anna,” the judge said as he walked around his desk and stood before her. He knelt down on one knee and took both of her hands in his. Chris noticed that she had a small, black, wooden box sitting on her lap that she was using to rest her arms on.

  “Ethan, my dear friend,” she replied. Chris was surprised to hear her voice, which was strong and clear and very much at odds with her appearance of fragility. “I came as soon as I could. I hope you did not become too impatient with me.”

  Judge Hawkes laughed gently. “I would never become impatient with you, Anna. We are honored that you chose to attend this evening.”

  Anna smiled and looked over at Chris. If she did have cataracts, it didn't stop her from fixing him with a piercing gaze. “For this young man, I would have traveled much further than I have.”

  The judge nodded and turned to Chris. “Come over, Christopher. Allow me to introduce my old friend, Anna. She's been called Moon Sister by some of her people, but she prefers Anna.”

  Chris approached the old woman. He was short enough that he did not look down on her too much, so he felt no need to kneel like the judge had. Anna extended her hand and shook Chris' firmly.

  “It is my great pleasure to meet you, young man,” she said warmly.

  “Thanks,” Chris answered awkwardly. “Nice to meet you too.”

  Anna looked over her shoulder at her assistant.

  “Johnny, why don't you and Ethan step out into the hallway for a few minutes. Christopher and I have some business to attend to.”

  The large man nodded once. “Of course, grandmother,” he said in a deep, solemn voice. “Your honor?”

  The judge smiled reassuringly at Chris. “Coming, John,” he said and started walking to the door.

  “We'll be locking the door behind you two, so don't be alarmed when you hear the bolt click,” Anna said. “We don't want to be interrupted.” She looked directly at her grandson who stopped and stared at her. He looked doubtful.

  “Are you sure, grandmother? Your safety...”

  “Oh, that for my safety,” Anna replied as she snapped her fingers, arthritic though they were. “Do you honestly think that this young man is a threat to me? Or anyone?”