The MONITORS (A Fiction) Copyright 2015

PART SIXTEEN:

Dead Men can't talk:

Rifra worked to control the shocked and curiously murmuring servants, while making sure he answered the questions directed at him correctly.

"So aside from his sister, did anyone else from the outside visit him this week?"

"Methus got a lot of visitors. Merchants, traders, farmers, builders and a whole lot more. He was in charge of the domestic aspect of this great kingdom, so that was expected."

The chief law keeper for the province had been invited to the palace, after Methus' dead body was found slumped in his working chamber. There had not been a lot of blood on the scene. Just a clot in a slightly ghastly wound at the side of his head. The theory of explanation circulating, was that he had tripped over a roll bundle of cloth. He had apparently hit his head while falling. On a stony edge protruding right in front of the area where the bundle had been sitting. His body had been found precisely by the queen mother. One of his foot had rolled cloth tangled and twisted around it. He had been dead a couple of hours. Probably the previous evening. And he had been lying on the floor, stretched out right underneath the supposedly fatal edge.

The queen mother loudly and widely professed her dissappointment at having to have confronted such a gruesome and impeeding sight. She had then gone ahead, to demand the servants be reprimanded for letting her walk in on such a mess.

"Now, you had worked very closely with him, I was made to understand." Continued the law keeper with his probing.

"I was his assistant." Stated Rifra flatly.

"Good, quite close. Would you describe him as careless or clumsy enough, to fatally fall over something he had placed in position himself?" The questioner's stare was direct, but his expression hard to read.

"No. He was organized and meticulous. But I also believe that mistakes do happen and accidents occur." Rifra replied looking morose and distant.

"I am told you had gone on a trip. Why did you go and what brought you back at this time?" As always, the law keepers gaze was direct and steady.

"My wi.... I had to go and take care of some family emergency. And I was expected back at about this time."

"Do you know of anyone unusual, he might have been expecting while you were away?"

"Not that I know of. Like I said earlier, he often had a lot of visitations." The assistant answered clearly and politely.

"Now one more thing, before you go." The law keeper had now shifted his gaze to the sheet in his hands. "Do you think, that things would have turned out differently if you had been around?"

Rifra snapped his head in confusion. Seemingly taken aback by the question.

"I don't quite understand the question."

"Certainly, let me explain. In other words," the questioner started deliberately.

"Do you think your boss would have still been alive, if you had maybe heard him fall or cry out for help." Rifra's face still registered confusion. "What I am asking is this;" stressed the law keeper further. "Would the outcome have been different, if you never went away on your trip?"

"Maybe", answered the assistant shrugging his shoulders.

"But then again, mistakes do happen and accidents still occur."

Of sons, sentiments and sins:

"You seem to have done well for yourself," Ethia commented nonchalantly. She looked the distraught and visibly shaken woman over, then glanced away to look at nothing in particular.

"To think I just saw him," Methus' sister managed in between sobs. "He was happy and doing quite well...." She broke down into tears.

"Ermm.... you should try not to do all that in here. Wait until you get to your house." The queen mother cajoled, howbeit with mounting irritation.

"Oh, I am so sorry about that." Apologized the mourning woman, as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled.

"Listen closely, I have a very important question for you." Started Ethia, leaning closely to the woman as if to cosy up. This was the only reason she had allowed the devastated woman to visit with her in the first place.

"Yes your highness," said her visitor. Lifting a sad and tear stained face.

"You know I have known your family, since you were all kids." The queen mother now softened her expression, as she shifted to manipulation mode. "I actually got this job for your parents, incase you never knew." The grieving woman widened her eyes in shock, but merely nodded.

"Even Methus was like a son to me. Infact, he was mine. He belonged to me." Ethia asserted rather defiantly. But remembering to be cautious with her renditions, she mellowed down.

The deceased's sister now raised her brows in bewilderment. All reasons for her grief forgotten momentarily. However, she still said nothing.

"Your mother and I, had a very close working relationship. And we helped each other out, anyway possible." The queen mother plowed on. Flashing teeth, in an attempt at a smile. More startled looks and nodding came from the now utterly shocked woman.

"Now many years ago, she referred me to a slightly distant relative of hers. The person or couple were childless at the time. they lived and still do at the 11th province. Do you know of whom I speak?" Pressed Ethia quizzically, teeth flashing.

"No your highness, I know not of any relative far into the 11th province." The woman answered earnestly. The queen mother frowned briefly, then decided on something different.

"How about Hanad? Have you seen him lately or recently?"

"Hanad? Who is that your highness? I do not know any Hanad." Their eyes locked in a frozen gaze. One stern, probing and conniving, the other weary and red-rimmed.

Ethia got up from where she was sitting and walked to the other end of the room. And then after a moment's pause and in a callous and dismissive tone, said; "You may now go ahead and take care of your business."

"Okay thank you." Blurted out the relieved mourner. "Your highness, if I may ask. Would you be coming to the funeral?"

The woman's voice was faint and tentative, yet hopeful. It would be a source of great consolation to her family and the community. To have a royal who knew and remembered Methus and the rest of them to be there at the funeral. It would be the ultimate honoring closure anyone could have asked for. It would wipe her tears a great deal more than anyone could imagine.

"For what?!" Demanded the queen mother, completely outraged.

The Monitors: Taking care of business:

A buzzing and echoing sound could be heard, as if a cloud of flies had been released into the atmosphere. But at any level of observation, there was no sighting of the creatures. The crypt's salient darkness was as dense as it was oppressive. The six hooded occupants and governing monitors nodded in unison to each other and the tempo of the buzzing. They all chanted in different tongues. Still the synchronization of their utterances, rose in a haunting crescendo that pierced the still but disturbing air. Suddenly, there was an emission of putrid smoke that appeared to emulate the gust of a mighty wind. But the whirring noise of a false announcement overwhelmed any force or rush of significance. The chants subsided, as the 'fly-lord's' form gradually became visible to every other eye.

Heinus the first and head monitor, stood up. His head lowered and hood unrelenting in its sinister coverage.

"My lord," he began. Pausing briefly incase there was the usual interruptive bark.

"O great leader of the buzzers...."

"Shut up and get to the point Heinus!" Barked the 'fly-lord'.

"Yes of course my lord. It appears my lord, ermm..... That their are two formidable beams of light loose and freely roaming."

"Have they been identified?"

"Not yet my lord. It is proving to delude us, at every possible probe. But we still persist in our quest."

"Then, for what are you informing me?!" The now furious leader barked yet again.

The monitor lowered his head and sat back down.

"Why in our very 'scorched existence', do you sound like that?" The sixth monitor had walked in on Xitus who gave the impression that he was mimicking someone or miming something.

"Oh never mind. It is no big deal. I am just channeling a housekeeper."

"A housekeeper, or the housekeeper?" Inquired the sixth monitor further.

"Yes, it is Methus to be exact. I am reproducing our dear friend you see."

"What for now?"

"Well his sister has come to one of my workers, because she wants to talk to her dead brother."

"She does doesn't she." Sneered the inquiring monitor.

"Yes she does." Replied Xitus, still concentrating on the mirror.

"Now watch this!" He suddenly instructed. As he moved in on a scenic image in the mirror, to magnify it."

"...... Ask him, ask him if someone did this to him." The woman pleaded desperately. Eyes straining to search the face in front of her, an impossible feat in the dimly lit room. Suddenly, the source and conduit of communication tightened the grip on their held hands. Then the medium began to bloat and expand simultaneousl. As Xitus expertly and seamlessly entered and occupied the host and inviting body. "No my dear sister," came the sad reply. "I tripped over the bundle all by myself. I know it was so stupid of me to have gotten my feet entangled. Please forgive me for causing you all this heavy grief. You...." "Oh Methus!" The woman began to wail and sob fervently. "So consoling to hear your voice again...."

"I tripped?" Mimicked the sixth monitor with a narrowed expression and wicked chortle.

"Yes, that needs to be the case for now." Defended Xitus annoyed. "Besides if you are looking for Truth, need I remind you that you are in the wrong section." "Wait! My apologies," the second monitor mocked further. "I completely forgot. You are stuck here with me. Forever!"

His very loud howl was cringeworthy as expected.

Friend, lover and helpmate:

"The danger that she was in, felt so real. I was incredibly gripped by terror. I still shudder to think about it. There must be another way to find her, if everything else is failing. We have to at least know how she is doing."

The king nodded his agreement and understanding. "Initially, I worried non-stop too. And to an extent I still do. But we have to do the very best we can and hope for the same."

"Might I also recommend my source of inspiration to you, my love." Quipped the king further, as he turned to the prince who was sitting next to his mother. Then the older royal reached out his hand towards the younger, indicating his reference. They were gathered in the queen's private quarters. The king, prince, first magistrate and some body guards. The twisted and ill spread message of the queen sighting the princess. Had elated his majesty but for a moment. He was highly dissappointed. Knowing the tremendous joy that news would have brought his wife, had it been true. However, since the whole confusing debacle had not in any way altered nor unsettled her equilibrium. He would ignore it.

Her majesty, believed the maid had no treachery up her sleeve. She probably Just got carried away, with the relevance of bearing good news. Even if the news was misconstrued and misunderstood. The rest of the mongering agents, would have to bear the weight of their conscience. And the consequential repercussions of wicked intents. "Would there be time to re-schedule the meeting with the woman?" The king asked the first magistrate.

"I do not believe so, your majesty. Unless you insist."

"Alright then, see what you can do for her before she goes back to her home."

"Yes indeed, your majesty."

"Poor thing," sympathised the queen. "She might be very dissappointed, to not have been able to speak to the king." "Don't worry yourself over such my love. The magistrate would see to it that she is taken care of. She should be fine."

"Yes indeed my love. But remember she came to lay down a weight, not necessarily pick up one." Said the queen smiling.

"Lay down a weight." Echoed the king thoughtfully. "Hmmm.... Very interesting. And how did you know that, you wise woman?"

"Oh never mind, we will find out soon enough." Finished the queen still smiling. "I still don't know what to say. I don't see a possibility of further accomodating any meeting with her right now. There is so much going on at this time, that requires my immediate attention." Finished the king with certainty.

"Well then, if she wants. She can be brought to see me."

"I think that is a brilliant idea." Exclaimed the king who was grinning now and had turned to the first magistrate who was also nodding his approval.

"Arrange for the woman to consult with her majesty then." The king commanded.

"Indeed your majesty." Answered the magistrate, as he bowed his head in obeisance and left the queen's living area.