“The building was brought down by budget skimming through the use of inferior materials and bribed inspectors. The true causes are the same ones that invade most aspects of our society—greed and corruption.”
It’s impossible to keep the discomfort from my face.
She says, “I’m telling you this because you need to know. When you go on a mission, you will come face to face with this same greed and corruption time and again.”
I say nothing.
“I know you were taught to ignore it and pretend it’s not there. But this is reality, Denny, and you’re going to be waist deep in it. It’s a part of the empire, and has been since…” She pauses. “Well, you tell me.”
For a moment, I’m at a loss, but then it comes to me. I have to fight through my fear to give her the answer. “The Home Party.”
“I knew you’d get it. After they took power, everything changed. There’ll be a lot of times you’ll need to navigate through layers of corruption to find the truths you’re assigned to uncover.” She’s quiet for a moment before adding, “One other thing. It’s something the other trainees probably won’t be told, but everyone figures it out eventually. The true histories you uncover may not be the ones we initially present to the clients.”
“Wait. Are you saying our job isn’t to report the truth?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. The institute expects you to always report the facts exactly as you’ve observed them. Records of those truths will be kept in the archives, but there will be times when the directors decide it’s better to tell a sanitized version to the family who engaged us.”
“But why?” I ask.
A flash of disapproval appears in her eyes but quickly vanishes. At first I think it’s meant for me, but when she speaks, I’m not so sure. “The truth isn’t necessarily good for all to have.” Like earlier when she spoke about the “greater good of humanity,” the words come out as if she’s said them a million times before and they’ve lost all meaning to her.
I look back along the edge of the roof and see that two of the other Maries and their students are gone.
“Time we go home,” my Marie says.
A second later, 2009 is history again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
F OR THE FIRST time in several weeks, the other trainees and I are gathered together in the lecture hall. Or, I should say, some of us. Twelve—exactly half of our class—are missing.
We whisper among ourselves, asking each other if we know what’s going on. But no one seems to know anything.
At precisely eight a.m., the door at the front of the classroom opens and Lady Williams enters, followed first by Sir Gregory and Sir Wilfred, and then by Marie and the personal instructors of the other trainees present.
After greeting us, Lady Williams says, “Congratulations are in order. You are the chosen.”
We look around at each other, confused. Well, most of us. There’s a satisfied sneer on Lidia’s face, like she already knows what’s going on.
“I’m sure you are wondering why several members of your group are missing,” Lady Williams says. “That’s because the twelve of you have excelled at your studies and have shown us that you will make the best personal historians. The other twelve have not left the institute. In fact, they will play a very pivotal role in your coming career. They will become your Chaser companions, and each of your devices will be permanently linked to one of theirs.”
I have no idea what a Chaser companion is. I was under the impression that, with the exception of the first nine months when we’d be working with supervisors, we would each be traveling alone. Having someone accompany us would double the chances of something going wrong.
“Starting tomorrow,” Lady Williams goes on, “and every day from now until your training ends, you’ll be traveling with your trainer, putting to practical use the lessons they have taught you by rewinding family histories
It’s impossible to keep the discomfort from my face.
She says, “I’m telling you this because you need to know. When you go on a mission, you will come face to face with this same greed and corruption time and again.”
I say nothing.
“I know you were taught to ignore it and pretend it’s not there. But this is reality, Denny, and you’re going to be waist deep in it. It’s a part of the empire, and has been since…” She pauses. “Well, you tell me.”
For a moment, I’m at a loss, but then it comes to me. I have to fight through my fear to give her the answer. “The Home Party.”
“I knew you’d get it. After they took power, everything changed. There’ll be a lot of times you’ll need to navigate through layers of corruption to find the truths you’re assigned to uncover.” She’s quiet for a moment before adding, “One other thing. It’s something the other trainees probably won’t be told, but everyone figures it out eventually. The true histories you uncover may not be the ones we initially present to the clients.”
“Wait. Are you saying our job isn’t to report the truth?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. The institute expects you to always report the facts exactly as you’ve observed them. Records of those truths will be kept in the archives, but there will be times when the directors decide it’s better to tell a sanitized version to the family who engaged us.”
“But why?” I ask.
A flash of disapproval appears in her eyes but quickly vanishes. At first I think it’s meant for me, but when she speaks, I’m not so sure. “The truth isn’t necessarily good for all to have.” Like earlier when she spoke about the “greater good of humanity,” the words come out as if she’s said them a million times before and they’ve lost all meaning to her.
I look back along the edge of the roof and see that two of the other Maries and their students are gone.
“Time we go home,” my Marie says.
A second later, 2009 is history again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
F OR THE FIRST time in several weeks, the other trainees and I are gathered together in the lecture hall. Or, I should say, some of us. Twelve—exactly half of our class—are missing.
We whisper among ourselves, asking each other if we know what’s going on. But no one seems to know anything.
At precisely eight a.m., the door at the front of the classroom opens and Lady Williams enters, followed first by Sir Gregory and Sir Wilfred, and then by Marie and the personal instructors of the other trainees present.
After greeting us, Lady Williams says, “Congratulations are in order. You are the chosen.”
We look around at each other, confused. Well, most of us. There’s a satisfied sneer on Lidia’s face, like she already knows what’s going on.
“I’m sure you are wondering why several members of your group are missing,” Lady Williams says. “That’s because the twelve of you have excelled at your studies and have shown us that you will make the best personal historians. The other twelve have not left the institute. In fact, they will play a very pivotal role in your coming career. They will become your Chaser companions, and each of your devices will be permanently linked to one of theirs.”
I have no idea what a Chaser companion is. I was under the impression that, with the exception of the first nine months when we’d be working with supervisors, we would each be traveling alone. Having someone accompany us would double the chances of something going wrong.
“Starting tomorrow,” Lady Williams goes on, “and every day from now until your training ends, you’ll be traveling with your trainer, putting to practical use the lessons they have taught you by rewinding family histories
Similar Books
