Kandryl had been watching the whole of the interview from his own quarters. True, he had missed a small part of it when he had left with Djaisiuk, but only a small part. He had consigned Djaisiuk to a guard with orders for the guard to see Djaisiuk safely back to his own room, and had then gone himself back to his own quarters and watched the remainder of the proceedings in the holding cell. So it was that by the time Eriane and Wysire arrived, he had been able to give the matter about which they had come some thought.
The request was formally and delicately made with all of the necessary medical and psychological aspects brought to attention. Eriane assured Kandryl that the physical well-being of a Komislavian was very much influenced by their emotional well-being. Wysire explained that after such a trying incident it would be wise to place Faquire with friends until what time as he had fully recovered emotionally.
Kandryl answered that Faquire was now and always had been welcome to join the rest of them if he chose. He, Creole, and Christopher had each been given the opportunity to serve alongside their companions when they had first landed. They had refused. Kandryl had assured them from the beginning, however, that they could withdraw that refusal at any time. If Faquire was willing to work, he would, of course, be released immediately.
Eriane looked uncomfortable at this, but Wysire looked at Kandryl strangely.
"You know what he thinks of that," said Wysire.
Kandryl raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"You've heard our whole conversation," continued Wysire. "You told Jaeger some time ago that there was nowhere in this facility that we could go where our words would not be heard. I know that you heard us tonight."
Kandryl smiled. "I admit it," he said. "I did hear your conversation. Very well then; we are now on the same footing. But tell me this: if your friend refuses to work, why ought I to allow him any privileges?"
"Because you don't want him to die," replied Wysire without hesitation.
"It'd only be temporary," assured Eriane.
"Why should it be?" asked Kandryl. "If he is returned in time to the position in which he is now, do you think it unlikely that he will again fall to this level? And if he does, will you then ask for further liberties for him? And what of the other two?" He shook his head. "No, it is not so simple. I know that if I grant this one request, more will follow. If your friend refuses to join us, he will eventually die. We will not kill him outright, of course, but neither will we grant to him special privileges above any other prisoner in his situation. You say that I don't want him to die, and you are correct. But there are limits to what I will do to ensure his continued existence."
"Let him stay with me," said Wysire. "Or let me go to him regularly for a few days. He is in a situation unlike any he has ever experienced. If he can work through this, I have every hope that he will be able to survive, even in this same situation, for a very long time. If you keep him as he is, cut off from all of us and being treated the way that he is, he may well lose his mind in a matter of weeks."
Kandryl looked hard at Wysire, and a half smile just showed itself. "Do you think that 'in time' you would be able to convince him to join you completely? To work with us?"
Wysire shook his head. "I wouldn't want to do so," he said. "At least not in the way that you mean. He doesn't want to serve you, and I wouldn't want to try to change his mind on that. I am not skilled in the art of manipulation, and I have no desire ever to be so."
"Could you do it, if you wished?" asked Kandryl, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Wysire's eyes hardened. "I would not wish to do so," he said. "The question is impossible and therefore irrelevant."
"Your question concerning permission for him to stay with you is also impossible, seeing that he has said that he would stay only with your compatriot Djaisiuk," countered Kandryl. "Or have you forgotten?"
"I have not," replied Wysire after a slight pause, his voice softer now.
Kandryl waited, but Wysire did not continue.
"Have you nothing more to say?" asked Kandryl at last.
"We have made our request," answered Wysire firmly, "and you have made your decision. I am only waiting to hear what it is."
Kandryl continued to smile. "Yes," he nodded. "I have made my decision. But it is not what you think. I have decided that Djaisiuk should be the one to decide what ought to be done. After all, he is the one who will be inconvenienced should your friend be relocated to his quarters. I will abide by his choice."
Wysire and Eriane exchanged glances.
"Considering the fact that Djaisiuk is doubtless asleep already," began Eriane hesitantly, "would it be possible to make an exception and have Faquire removed to a more, shall we say, neutral setting until morning?"
"No," answered Kandryl, with a shake of the head. "Nothing shall be done concerning the matter until Djaisiuk himself has stated an opinion. You may wait until morning . . . ." He paused before continuing. "Or, if you request it, I can send for him now."
Again, Wysire and Eriane exchanged glances.
"You know very well that he wouldn't like to be disturbed," said Wysire. "He was up later than his normal hour for sleep tonight, and he is doubtless tired."
"Then we will simply leave things as they stand until morning," said Kandryl. "Of course, Djaisiuk will have his work to do in the morning, so it may be that we will be unable to address this again until tomorrow evening. You may both return then, if you like, and, if you do so early enough, Djaisiuk will not have retired yet."
"Why are you doing this?" demanded Wysire. "This is intentional psychological torment. We've done all that you've asked of us; why are you doing this? It's not Faquire whom you're trying to harm now; it's the two of us and Djaisiuk. Why?"
Kandryl's smile faded and his face grew firm. He sat forward in his chair and met Wysire's gaze. "You've lived a life of comfort until now," he said. "Doubtless you've never been faced with a decision where either way that you choose you will hurt someone. You don't want this responsibility now, and you're angry with me for forcing it upon you, but you will learn that life is not all peace and prosperity. Life is pain! You can choose whether you will enjoy it and revel in it, or whether you will fight back and be overwhelmed by it. Which do you prefer?"
Eriane stared at Kandryl, shocked at such blatant statements, but Wysire's face showed no signs of surprise: instead, a look of sadness and pity crept into his eyes.
"I know what you're thinking," continued Kandryl in a low voice, before Wysire could speak. "I warn you not to make any rash decisions tonight. It's late, as you've already observed. I suggest that you both return to your quarters to get some rest. Perhaps tomorrow we can continue this discussion."
Eriane lowered his eyes, not wanting to abandon Faquire to another night of this, but thinking that, given how things seemed to stand, this would be the best course. He nodded silently and started to turn away, but stopped as Wysire spoke.
"No," said Wysire firmly. "You give us the choice to call Djaisiuk tonight or to wait until tomorrow. Very well then, I say call him tonight. Let us settle this about Faquire here and now. There will be no need to continue this discussion tomorrow, although I have some hope that we will be able to continue it at a later date."
Kandryl's eyebrows rose slightly. Eriane's eyebrows rose considerably. He'd never heard Wysire speak in that tone of voice.
"As you wish," said Kandryl simply.
Kandryl then pressed a button on his desk, and a guard entered. The guard was instructed to bring Djaisiuk to the room, and then he left. Kandryl then lent back in his chair again, closed his eyes as if thinking, and said nothing more. Eriane looked questioningly at Wysire, but Wysire did not look at him.
It seemed a very long time, though it surely wasn't, before the guard returned with Djaisiuk. The former then left the room, while the latter glanced lightly over the inhabitants of the room before lowering his gaze to the floor. He did not speak.
"Djaisiuk," said Kandryl, sitting forward again. "Your friends have a request to make of you."
Djaisiuk did not look up or answer.
Kandryl turned to Wysire. "Here he is," he said simply. "You may make your request."
"May we be permitted to speak alone?" asked Wysire.
"As you just stated," replied Kandryl with a smile, "there is nowhere in this facility where you can be truly alone. But if you wish to go into another room, the one there is empty." He indicated a door off to one side of the room.
Wysire looked at Kandryl for moment silently, then lowered his eyes. He turned then to Djaisiuk. He looked a little less sure of himself now, though he tried hard to hide it.
"Djaisiuk," he began, "I believe that it would be far better for Faquire if he were removed from the cell in which he is being held and placed with one of us. Faquire has said that he would agree to it and that he would promise to cause no trouble if he would be allowed to stay with you. Kandryl has said that the decision rests with you; he will agree to whatever you decide."
Wysire stopped, waiting, but Djaisiuk did not look at him. He remained motionless and impassive. Wysire began to look a little more uncomfortable.
"Djaisiuk, will you at least answer me?" he asked.
"Wysire, may I?" asked Eriane. Receiving permission, Eriane looked at Djaisiuk. "Djaisiuk, will you consent to Faquire's staying with you for at least a short period of time? A few days, perhaps?"
For a moment, there was silence, then Djaisiuk said simply, "Yes."
"There you have it," said Eriane, turning to Kandryl. "Can Faquire be moved immediately? And may Djaisiuk go back to bed, as I'm sure he wishes?"
"Why not let him make that request?" asked Kandryl. Without waiting for a reply, however, he leaned forward and again pressed a button summoning a guard. "You may go, Djaisiuk," he said. "That is all. You two may also go. Your task here is finished. Your friend will sleep in Djaisiuk's workroom tonight."
* * * * * * *
Djaisiuk did return to bed, but Eriane and Wysire asked to be allowed to accompany the guards in the relocation of Faquire. To this, Kandryl did agree.
Five guards were summoned, and they were all given minute instructions. Three proceeded immediately to the holding cells, while the other two were sent to prepare a sleeping place in Djaisiuk's workroom. Eriane and Wysire followed the first three. On the way to the cells, Eriane and Wysire held a quiet conversation.
"Wysire," began Eriane. "What was all of that between you and Kandryl? I couldn't understand half of what you two were saying to one another. I understood the words, but I know that there was more meaning behind them than I was catching."
Wysire did not answer immediately, but seemed to be thinking.
"Kandryl wants us to serve his people indefinitely," answered Wysire slowly. "He wants us to do this without question or hesitation. This conversation just now was a covert attempt at brainwashing and manipulation. When he saw that I understood exactly what he was doing, he spoke bluntly, explaining why it would be better to go over to his side than to remain where I was. That was the part about life being pain and either fighting it or submitting to it."
"I didn't understand that at all," said Eriane. "If he truly believes that life is pain, then why does he live?"
Wysire smiled ruefully. "Vukasovians can taste pain," he said. "They find it delicious. Physical, mental, or spiritual makes no difference to them. They enjoy watching the infliction of suffering on others, and they can even take pleasure in pain that they suffer themselves. Yes, Satan truly has a great stronghold here among these people."
Eriane shuddered. "I know that they're sadists," he said. "I've seen that quite plainly in Drayl, my supervisor. But the way that you describe it is horrific. Drayl has said that I'll become like them in time, but I know that I won't. Does Kandryl hope that we will?"
"Kandryl wants us to become numb to pain. He doesn't really care whether we come to enjoy it as they do; that will make no difference as far as our work is concerned. But if we continually react to pain, whether our own or that of our friends and others, in the way that we, as Komislavians and Christians, are expected to react, then eventually we will cease to be of any use to the Vukasovians. This constant exposure, for simply by being among them we must be exposed to it, will wear on us until eventually it breaks or destroys us. He wants us to become slowly hardened to it, until we reach the point where we are no longer affected by it. Then we will be truly valuable to them."
Eriane was quiet for time, watching the floor, lost in thought.
"What are we supposed to do?" he asked quietly.
"Pray," answered Wysire. "That's the best thing that we can do now. That, and don't ever become hardened to it." He looked up at Eriane and gave a small smile. "And we can do what we can for the others when we can. We can try to help them as we are trying to help Faquire. But prayer will accomplish the most."
Eriane looked hard at Wysire. "Wysire, how do you bear it?" he asked quietly.
Wysire again smiled sadly and lowered his eyes. "It isn't easy," he said. "But unlike the Vukasovians, I know that life isn't pain. It may seem that way now, but I have the Hope within me that gives me the strength to continue. And they can never take that away."
The request was formally and delicately made with all of the necessary medical and psychological aspects brought to attention. Eriane assured Kandryl that the physical well-being of a Komislavian was very much influenced by their emotional well-being. Wysire explained that after such a trying incident it would be wise to place Faquire with friends until what time as he had fully recovered emotionally.
Kandryl answered that Faquire was now and always had been welcome to join the rest of them if he chose. He, Creole, and Christopher had each been given the opportunity to serve alongside their companions when they had first landed. They had refused. Kandryl had assured them from the beginning, however, that they could withdraw that refusal at any time. If Faquire was willing to work, he would, of course, be released immediately.
Eriane looked uncomfortable at this, but Wysire looked at Kandryl strangely.
"You know what he thinks of that," said Wysire.
Kandryl raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"You've heard our whole conversation," continued Wysire. "You told Jaeger some time ago that there was nowhere in this facility that we could go where our words would not be heard. I know that you heard us tonight."
Kandryl smiled. "I admit it," he said. "I did hear your conversation. Very well then; we are now on the same footing. But tell me this: if your friend refuses to work, why ought I to allow him any privileges?"
"Because you don't want him to die," replied Wysire without hesitation.
"It'd only be temporary," assured Eriane.
"Why should it be?" asked Kandryl. "If he is returned in time to the position in which he is now, do you think it unlikely that he will again fall to this level? And if he does, will you then ask for further liberties for him? And what of the other two?" He shook his head. "No, it is not so simple. I know that if I grant this one request, more will follow. If your friend refuses to join us, he will eventually die. We will not kill him outright, of course, but neither will we grant to him special privileges above any other prisoner in his situation. You say that I don't want him to die, and you are correct. But there are limits to what I will do to ensure his continued existence."
"Let him stay with me," said Wysire. "Or let me go to him regularly for a few days. He is in a situation unlike any he has ever experienced. If he can work through this, I have every hope that he will be able to survive, even in this same situation, for a very long time. If you keep him as he is, cut off from all of us and being treated the way that he is, he may well lose his mind in a matter of weeks."
Kandryl looked hard at Wysire, and a half smile just showed itself. "Do you think that 'in time' you would be able to convince him to join you completely? To work with us?"
Wysire shook his head. "I wouldn't want to do so," he said. "At least not in the way that you mean. He doesn't want to serve you, and I wouldn't want to try to change his mind on that. I am not skilled in the art of manipulation, and I have no desire ever to be so."
"Could you do it, if you wished?" asked Kandryl, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Wysire's eyes hardened. "I would not wish to do so," he said. "The question is impossible and therefore irrelevant."
"Your question concerning permission for him to stay with you is also impossible, seeing that he has said that he would stay only with your compatriot Djaisiuk," countered Kandryl. "Or have you forgotten?"
"I have not," replied Wysire after a slight pause, his voice softer now.
Kandryl waited, but Wysire did not continue.
"Have you nothing more to say?" asked Kandryl at last.
"We have made our request," answered Wysire firmly, "and you have made your decision. I am only waiting to hear what it is."
Kandryl continued to smile. "Yes," he nodded. "I have made my decision. But it is not what you think. I have decided that Djaisiuk should be the one to decide what ought to be done. After all, he is the one who will be inconvenienced should your friend be relocated to his quarters. I will abide by his choice."
Wysire and Eriane exchanged glances.
"Considering the fact that Djaisiuk is doubtless asleep already," began Eriane hesitantly, "would it be possible to make an exception and have Faquire removed to a more, shall we say, neutral setting until morning?"
"No," answered Kandryl, with a shake of the head. "Nothing shall be done concerning the matter until Djaisiuk himself has stated an opinion. You may wait until morning . . . ." He paused before continuing. "Or, if you request it, I can send for him now."
Again, Wysire and Eriane exchanged glances.
"You know very well that he wouldn't like to be disturbed," said Wysire. "He was up later than his normal hour for sleep tonight, and he is doubtless tired."
"Then we will simply leave things as they stand until morning," said Kandryl. "Of course, Djaisiuk will have his work to do in the morning, so it may be that we will be unable to address this again until tomorrow evening. You may both return then, if you like, and, if you do so early enough, Djaisiuk will not have retired yet."
"Why are you doing this?" demanded Wysire. "This is intentional psychological torment. We've done all that you've asked of us; why are you doing this? It's not Faquire whom you're trying to harm now; it's the two of us and Djaisiuk. Why?"
Kandryl's smile faded and his face grew firm. He sat forward in his chair and met Wysire's gaze. "You've lived a life of comfort until now," he said. "Doubtless you've never been faced with a decision where either way that you choose you will hurt someone. You don't want this responsibility now, and you're angry with me for forcing it upon you, but you will learn that life is not all peace and prosperity. Life is pain! You can choose whether you will enjoy it and revel in it, or whether you will fight back and be overwhelmed by it. Which do you prefer?"
Eriane stared at Kandryl, shocked at such blatant statements, but Wysire's face showed no signs of surprise: instead, a look of sadness and pity crept into his eyes.
"I know what you're thinking," continued Kandryl in a low voice, before Wysire could speak. "I warn you not to make any rash decisions tonight. It's late, as you've already observed. I suggest that you both return to your quarters to get some rest. Perhaps tomorrow we can continue this discussion."
Eriane lowered his eyes, not wanting to abandon Faquire to another night of this, but thinking that, given how things seemed to stand, this would be the best course. He nodded silently and started to turn away, but stopped as Wysire spoke.
"No," said Wysire firmly. "You give us the choice to call Djaisiuk tonight or to wait until tomorrow. Very well then, I say call him tonight. Let us settle this about Faquire here and now. There will be no need to continue this discussion tomorrow, although I have some hope that we will be able to continue it at a later date."
Kandryl's eyebrows rose slightly. Eriane's eyebrows rose considerably. He'd never heard Wysire speak in that tone of voice.
"As you wish," said Kandryl simply.
Kandryl then pressed a button on his desk, and a guard entered. The guard was instructed to bring Djaisiuk to the room, and then he left. Kandryl then lent back in his chair again, closed his eyes as if thinking, and said nothing more. Eriane looked questioningly at Wysire, but Wysire did not look at him.
It seemed a very long time, though it surely wasn't, before the guard returned with Djaisiuk. The former then left the room, while the latter glanced lightly over the inhabitants of the room before lowering his gaze to the floor. He did not speak.
"Djaisiuk," said Kandryl, sitting forward again. "Your friends have a request to make of you."
Djaisiuk did not look up or answer.
Kandryl turned to Wysire. "Here he is," he said simply. "You may make your request."
"May we be permitted to speak alone?" asked Wysire.
"As you just stated," replied Kandryl with a smile, "there is nowhere in this facility where you can be truly alone. But if you wish to go into another room, the one there is empty." He indicated a door off to one side of the room.
Wysire looked at Kandryl for moment silently, then lowered his eyes. He turned then to Djaisiuk. He looked a little less sure of himself now, though he tried hard to hide it.
"Djaisiuk," he began, "I believe that it would be far better for Faquire if he were removed from the cell in which he is being held and placed with one of us. Faquire has said that he would agree to it and that he would promise to cause no trouble if he would be allowed to stay with you. Kandryl has said that the decision rests with you; he will agree to whatever you decide."
Wysire stopped, waiting, but Djaisiuk did not look at him. He remained motionless and impassive. Wysire began to look a little more uncomfortable.
"Djaisiuk, will you at least answer me?" he asked.
"Wysire, may I?" asked Eriane. Receiving permission, Eriane looked at Djaisiuk. "Djaisiuk, will you consent to Faquire's staying with you for at least a short period of time? A few days, perhaps?"
For a moment, there was silence, then Djaisiuk said simply, "Yes."
"There you have it," said Eriane, turning to Kandryl. "Can Faquire be moved immediately? And may Djaisiuk go back to bed, as I'm sure he wishes?"
"Why not let him make that request?" asked Kandryl. Without waiting for a reply, however, he leaned forward and again pressed a button summoning a guard. "You may go, Djaisiuk," he said. "That is all. You two may also go. Your task here is finished. Your friend will sleep in Djaisiuk's workroom tonight."
Djaisiuk did return to bed, but Eriane and Wysire asked to be allowed to accompany the guards in the relocation of Faquire. To this, Kandryl did agree.
Five guards were summoned, and they were all given minute instructions. Three proceeded immediately to the holding cells, while the other two were sent to prepare a sleeping place in Djaisiuk's workroom. Eriane and Wysire followed the first three. On the way to the cells, Eriane and Wysire held a quiet conversation.
"Wysire," began Eriane. "What was all of that between you and Kandryl? I couldn't understand half of what you two were saying to one another. I understood the words, but I know that there was more meaning behind them than I was catching."
Wysire did not answer immediately, but seemed to be thinking.
"Kandryl wants us to serve his people indefinitely," answered Wysire slowly. "He wants us to do this without question or hesitation. This conversation just now was a covert attempt at brainwashing and manipulation. When he saw that I understood exactly what he was doing, he spoke bluntly, explaining why it would be better to go over to his side than to remain where I was. That was the part about life being pain and either fighting it or submitting to it."
"I didn't understand that at all," said Eriane. "If he truly believes that life is pain, then why does he live?"
Wysire smiled ruefully. "Vukasovians can taste pain," he said. "They find it delicious. Physical, mental, or spiritual makes no difference to them. They enjoy watching the infliction of suffering on others, and they can even take pleasure in pain that they suffer themselves. Yes, Satan truly has a great stronghold here among these people."
Eriane shuddered. "I know that they're sadists," he said. "I've seen that quite plainly in Drayl, my supervisor. But the way that you describe it is horrific. Drayl has said that I'll become like them in time, but I know that I won't. Does Kandryl hope that we will?"
"Kandryl wants us to become numb to pain. He doesn't really care whether we come to enjoy it as they do; that will make no difference as far as our work is concerned. But if we continually react to pain, whether our own or that of our friends and others, in the way that we, as Komislavians and Christians, are expected to react, then eventually we will cease to be of any use to the Vukasovians. This constant exposure, for simply by being among them we must be exposed to it, will wear on us until eventually it breaks or destroys us. He wants us to become slowly hardened to it, until we reach the point where we are no longer affected by it. Then we will be truly valuable to them."
Eriane was quiet for time, watching the floor, lost in thought.
"What are we supposed to do?" he asked quietly.
"Pray," answered Wysire. "That's the best thing that we can do now. That, and don't ever become hardened to it." He looked up at Eriane and gave a small smile. "And we can do what we can for the others when we can. We can try to help them as we are trying to help Faquire. But prayer will accomplish the most."
Eriane looked hard at Wysire. "Wysire, how do you bear it?" he asked quietly.
Wysire again smiled sadly and lowered his eyes. "It isn't easy," he said. "But unlike the Vukasovians, I know that life isn't pain. It may seem that way now, but I have the Hope within me that gives me the strength to continue. And they can never take that away."
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