Assault on Cambriol: The Manhattan Trials

by Jerry Borrowman

  As the platform rose so that the couple could address their subjects, Eaves managed to slip aboard at the last moment, to help Sean stand at the appropriate time.

  “Where did you hide your fighter to get here so fast?” Jesik whispered.

  “In the lily pond over there,” said Eaves triumphantly. “It’ll be hard to clean, but no one will ever suspect.”

  The Crown Princess stepped to the microphone and spoke with sincerity about her love of the people and her hopes for a new and greater unity among all the descendents of Earth (a nice way to include Keswick and Kalenden). She also spoke of her love for her husband and the great regard she had for both his natural and adoptive families.

  Then Sean stood, a bit awkwardly, and stepped to the podium. The crowd quieted, some hoping he’d do well, others convinced he’d show the folly of mixing classes, for everyone had a stake in his performance.

  It was like his dreams, except that there were a lot more people than even his vivid imagination had conjured up. Tradition required that he say something non-controversial. Instead, he decided to be himself and let his story convey his feelings. It didn’t take more than five minutes.

  “As a boy I grew up with an attitude that life was unfair and that the unofficial aristocracy of my planet would always work to keep the lower-classes down. The best entertainment we had was when my friends and I could beat-up an upper class kid if we found him alone. It was exhilarating to feel the power that came from anger and resentment. In a way, it also freed us from responsibility for our own lives, because we could blame someone else. Then fate intervened to help me find my way out of prejudice. Without my seeking it, I was accepted to an upper class academy – a concession to the lower-classes that I desperately wanted to avoid. But, my mother insisted.” He turned and smiled at Candace Magill, who glowed in return. “And so, off I went. But, things didn’t change when I arrived there, because I believe you always find what you’re looking for and I wanted to see arrogant snobs. So, that’s what I saw. My grudge grew deeper. I was a pain to be around, mostly because I was in so much pain. I felt embarrassed, out of place and wanted to make it their fault I felt that way. I hated them, maybe because I hated myself. But, then one of those spoiled kids decided to make me his project and instead became my friend. You’ve all heard of the Cambriol incident. The reason we could do that was because I’d come to realize that Travis and the others were just like my third-class friends, just as trustworthy, just as loyal and just as smart. They had their own prejudices, but not because of class. They just didn’t like people who talked more than they performed.”

  “At any rate, I learned that everything I believed about the upper class was wrong, at least for some of them. You shouldn’t make generalizations about individuals. We’re all people. We all have something to offer and we all have something we need.”

  He paused to catch his breath.

  “In my heart I’m a member of the third-class, the solid part of our population that does the work of our civilization. But, it turns out that my only connection to that class is through my adoption by the Magills. It’s quite a thing to realize my bloodline descended from royalty. But, I don’t feel like I’m royal – I don’t even really know what it means to be royal. Instead, it feels like the real adoption that took place is that I was adopted by the upper class – first by Travis Eaves, and later, by my natural father. He was kind to me long before we knew of our relationship. Now I’ve been accepted into this Royal Family with open arms. And even though it doesn’t feel natural, it feels good. All these people accommodated me even before my true genealogy was known. The Princess won my heart during the Keswick Campaign when she didn’t ignore me because I was third-class. She simply saw me for who I am and helped when I was in trouble. That gives me hope that the frustrations some of you feel can be overcome.” He took a deep breath.

  “Monarchy can be a great institution, because it provides continuity over time and gives us each a common point of reference. A good monarch provides us a reason to feel proud of who we are. Their love of system and their people, inspires us to do our very best. Democracy, on the other hand, empowers all its citizens to provide the very best they can to their society. Rank and privilege are earned by accomplishment and the entire society prospers. Perhaps the best government is one that combines both elements. I believe that’s what we can accomplish now.” He looked at his bride with pride.

  “I think some people feel I agreed to this marriage to satisfy the needs of a hereditary unity. If our marriage accomplishes that, it will be worthwhile. But the truth is that I married Princess Isabec because I love her. Long before I knew she was royal, I found she is smart, shrewd and skilled. More than that, she cares as deeply as any person can. The most frightening part is that had I known she was royal, I likely would have spurned her, because of my old prejudices. But now that I know her, I know that if she is what it means to be royal, then that’s wonderful. It’s something we can all be proud of, because she represents the best in what it means to be human. I plan to spend the rest of my life with her. I hope you’ll come to trust us and that together we can serve this planet in a way that allows all its people to reach their full potential.”

  He coughed, then cleared his throat.

  “The great challenge of our day is to unify all the classes. I believe I’m proof that we can. I’m an adopted son of the third-class, a paternal son of the second-class and a maternal heir of the royal class. Hopefully, my experience of being in all these classes can be an icon for our society. With fathers like Robert Magill and Pietr Jesik and mothers like Candace Magill and Helen Wight, I know we can find unity. So, God grant us the wisdom and courage to let go of our ancient prejudices.”

  He paused and swallowed, fearful that nothing he’d said made sense and that he’d embarrassed Isabec. He looked at her in panic, but her reassuring smile told him that even if he’d failed to win the crowd, she was proud. It was then that he heard the roar of approval from all sides. Travis, who’d been holding him steady, grinned broadly and turned his disabled friend to see all the people cheering. It would have been expected that the cheers would be loudest from the second and third-class members of the crowd, but it was actually the aristocracy that shouted with the most fervor. They recognized that the monarchy had been enhanced by the heartfelt words of this young man from Kalenden.

  After Sean’s speech, the entire wedding party moved to the front of the reviewing platform to watch the fireworks and laser display.

  As they stood there, Eaves leaned over to Sean and whispered, “A fine speech by anyone’s standard. But was it as good as the ones you’ve practiced through the years?”

  “Better, because none of those included Isabec.”

  Eaves swept his eyes from side to side, before whispering again. “You know what the single most important responsibility of a Prince Consort is, don’t you?”

  Magill looked at him suspiciously.

  “It’s to create a suitable heir.”

  Magill turned with a frown, but Eaves was undeterred. “It’s not bad work, I understand.”

  “You are one sick puppy, aren’t you, Travis?”

  “Just trying to be a good adviser.”

  “I’d stick to fighter jets, if I were you.”

  “At least your business partner in the enterprise is a lot better looking than Carter!”

  At that, Sean cracked up.

  “Alright, alright, I’ll add it to my To Do List. Father an heir to the imperial throne of Alturus. Boy, that’s one that’s been on my Lifetime Goals list, something your average third-class boy aspires to.”

  Eaves turned thoughtful and whispered, “At least now they can aspire to it, thanks to you.”

  Both Magill and Eaves looked up, deer-in-the-headlights like, as Isabec glowered at them for talking during the ceremony. Impulsively, Sean responded by leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.

  Of course that shocked her, as it was a violation of the strict rule
s that govern such events. She was about to say something, but apparently thought better of it, because she reached up with both her hands, placed them squarely on Sean’s cheeks, and planted, on his lips one of the longest kisses ever recorded on interstellar video. He staggered back when she released him and fell into Eaves’ arms, a dazed smile on his face.

  Isabec simply blinked her eyes coyly and said innocently, “Sorry, but I just can’t seem to resist a good-looking guy in leg braces—particularly one who can’t keep his mouth shut during an ancient, solemn ceremony.”

  “Okay, then,” said Eaves, shoving Magill back into Isabec’s arms, “I can see my work here is done.”

  The crowd went crazy. After all, it was long odds that an arranged marriage actually included a bride and groom who liked each other.

  Standing a few feet back, Jesik observed Travis, Sean, and Isabec enjoying each other’s banter and a warm feeling flooded through him. He loved young people and the thought that his own son could be so happy was perhaps the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  He relaxed his hands at his side so they fell open and suddenly he felt the delicate hand of Helen Wight slip into his. He turned and she smiled. She’d been watching Sean and Isabec as well. It was the first time he’d seen hope in her eyes and the first time she’d been able to show affection since her arrival at Alturus.

  Maybe even the most deeply wounded heart can heal, though Jesik. Then he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and raised his other arm to wave to the crowd.

  The End

  About the Author

  Jerry Borrowman is an award winning author of historical fiction and co-authored biography from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Visit www.jerryborrowman.com to view all his books and stories. This is his fourteenth book to be published.