by Rob Summers
Chapter 9 Reinstatement
“And it goes on, ‘Therefore, Mr. Dignity, we have slated you to appear on WHIP Channel 3's Religious Backflip program at noon on December 19th, to discuss and promote your new book The Pride Story. Please contact us immediately if you are able to appear.’” Bits Bitterly glanced up from the letter. “And then there’s some blah, blah about legal matters, and it closes, ‘Pastor Hypocrisy is looking forward to your appearance on Backflip. Thank you.’ And it’s signed by Miss Confusion, Hypocrisy’s secretary.”
“Yes, I know her,” Dignity sighed. “Thanks for reading it, Bits.”
Bits looked back and forth from Dignity to Reason, who were seated at the long, low library table. “You don’t seem happy.”
“I’m sorry,” Reason said. “We’ve had some run-ins with Hypocrisy before. It’s really sweet of you to get Dignity on that show, but it might not work out.”
“Yeah, and it’s not so much my old arguments with Hypocrisy,” said Dignity, “as that the book itself makes him look bad. Maybe he could overlook the past, but he’s not going to let me hurt his reputation on his own TV show.”
“But you’re on, you’re in!” Bits said. “This letter shows that Hypocrisy is willing to let bygones be bygones; and if he doesn’t know what The Pride Story says about him, then he won’t cancel your appearance. Let me clue you in, these TV show hosts never read the books before they interview authors.”
“But how will it look when we’re talking and we get to the parts about him? I mean, he’ll be even more insulted if it comes as a surprise.”
“You don’t discuss those parts,” said Bits. “It’s a whole book; talk about other things.”
“I don’t think he should do it, Bits,” Reason said. “And besides, it may not be necessary. I’ve sent off publicity announcements to the newspapers and the City Magazine, and we’ve printed out thousands of flyers for blitzing the City. We can top it off with a press conference which will include radio and TV.”
Bits came near her with a softened manner. “I understand that Pastor Hypocrisy has hurt you. Hasn’t he hurt us all? I know. But you shouldn’t close off any options prematurely. Maybe you don’t need Hypocrisy. I certainly hope not. But if you do use this opportunity, remember that he owes you. If he let you down before, it’s all the more reason that you insist he make it up to you now. Why don’t you let me answer this letter in a way that will keep the door open? I won’t promise them anything.”
“I’m really not sure—” Reason began, but Dignity was nodding approval.
At that moment old Conscience knocked softly and slipped in. He was Reason’s grandfather and Dignity’s great uncle and had the oversight of several of the house’s servants.
“Dignity, Ambassador Grace would like to speak to you and Reason in his rooms.”
“Grace is here? I haven’t heard from him since before I threw Obscurity out. It must be about that.” Dignity nodded to Reason. “Let’s go.”
Conscience caught Bits’ sleeve as he attempted to follow them. “The invitation did not include you.”
Dressed in a brown suit and narrow tie, and cheerful as always, the good old man received them in a sitting room just off his master bedroom. Beside him stood the offender, Obscurity, looking poker-faced.
“Let’s all sit down,” Grace said. “Now, Dignity, I have your letter that explains why you showed Miss Obscurity the door yesterday.” He lifted from a side table the two pages, single-spaced and covered front and back. “Quite a bit here. Almost damning, too, if one didn’t know the whole story.”
“The whole story, sir?” said Dignity.
“You were perfectly aware that Big ‘O’ Security Systems was called in by the Embassy, weren’t you? We don’t contract with anyone unreliable.”
“But sir, the cat.”
Grace leaned back and laughed. “No, please, anything but the cat! I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make light of it. It’s a very serious thing whenever an animal is hurt or killed. But I’m inviting you to concentrate on the fact that Miss Obscurity continues to have full security clearance, as well as my approval. Her explanation about the cat, if any were needed, is completely satisfactory.”
“I would like to hear that explanation,” Reason said tensely.
Grace turned to Obscurity. “Perhaps if you would give it?”
“Peace told me about Dice before she came to you,” Obscurity said to Reason. “I figured that all the kids would be trooping down there when the word spread—all those who aren’t sick anyway—so I went and got the cat. I took it up to my room to get it out of the way.”
“And why not just throw it away?” Reason said.
“Because I knew the children would want a burial. I was going to put Dice in some sort of box so they couldn’t see him, and then help them to bury him.”
The tension left Reason’s face. “Well, that’s thoughtful of you.”
“Maybe,” said Dignity. “But now let’s talk about that fog machine and the wall in back.”
“This is not an interrogation, Dignity,” Grace said. “You must trust that Obscurity has sufficient reason for whatever she does.”
“Pardon me, sir, but that’s rather hard on us.”
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry.”
“Are you aware that her family has close ties with the Powers? And that she stole a copy of my book?”
“I haven’t communicated with my family in years,” Obscurity said.
“And the book?”
She looked away.
“You’ll just have to remain in the dark,” Grace said. “Obscurity’s reason for borrowing the book is confidential but perfectly innocent.”
Dignity leaned back, biting his lip.
“Would I be right,” said Reason, “if I said that Obscurity is on a secret mission? Something she can’t tell us about?”
“No,” said Grace, “her mission is plain as day. She’s here to protect the house. She is hiding nothing.”
“But if I may ask, sir, protect the house from what?”
Grace sighed. He reached out and pressed Obscurity’s hand. “Before the end of the month,” he said, “you two, Dignity and Reason, will be invited to be in a select group of guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Power.”
Dignity straightened up in his chair, and Reason made a disbelieving exclamation.
“And—” Grace raised a finger “—you will go.” He stood. “I’ll let you ponder that. I think you’ll see that you’re threatened with drastic changes. Matters are unfolding that you are not equipped to deal with, and only Obscurity can help you. If you have any more criticisms of her, bring them straight to me. Now you three may go, and please, no more squabbling.”