Chapter 10
The capos learned what happened in stages.
No public humiliation of Agatha.
No family spectacle.
But enough truth.
Elliot’s health concerns had been intentionally worsened by unauthorized “conditioning.”
Julian participated.
Agatha designed most of it.
Stonebrook had been proposed based partly on distress they themselves created.
One older capo said:
“They meant to toughen him.”
I looked at him.
“Would you like the same program?”
He stopped.
Good.
Another said:
“Children in our world need preparation.”
“Yes.”
I agreed.
That surprised them.
“They need to know security rules.”
“They need to know strangers can lie.”
“They need to know when to call for help.”
A pause.
“They do not need to learn that help will be withheld until they perform correctly.”
Difference.
We kept preparation.
Age-appropriate.
No mythology around suffering.
My world was dangerous enough without manufacturing additional danger as rehearsal.
One man muttered:
“Your father would disagree.”
I smiled slightly.
“My father is dead.”
May you like
Conversation ended.
Dead men had voted long enough.
