Chapter 18d

“I'm not a medical man, Creed. Am I right in thinking that Loram DeGaise has actually improved, from a sanity point of view? He was a dangerous psychopath on his incarceration, wasn't he?” Faust asked.

“I'm not a medical man either.” Creed said. “Because of this, I questioned the physician myself, for my own understanding. DeGaise was reported as dangerous and psychotic when he was jailed. It was the power and adulation that directly fuelled his condition. His years in isolation have obviously removed his fuel. He's still classed as mentally impaired but he'd be officially 'downgraded' to an institutionalised misfit if two other physicians from Canuska and Tibrae reach the same conclusion as Sillix has, independently. Under guidance and impartial advice Sillix believes that there is no reason at all why DeGaise shouldn't appoint a successive beneficiary to his estate, in fact he thought it a very wise move indeed, given his, still present, fits of depression and paranoia.”

“So you intend to revise a post war treaty law regarding the DeGaise name?” Bonetti said in amusement. “You are seriously considering activating that account to a DeGaise once more? My dear General, I often wonder which side you're on.”

“Ursus, correct me if I'm wrong, but does the treaty say that appointed beneficiaries must be of a blood tie? Does it stipulate that any beneficiaries appointed by Loram DeGaise must be named DeGaise?” Faust asked.

“It was looked into very deeply, and just thirty minutes ago I received a message from the library in Tibrae where the original treaty is kept. It states nowhere that a successor must be DeGaise. If Loram DeGaise is declared sane enough to make that decision, then he can appoint the brothel cat as his successor if he pleases.” Ursus shrugged. “It's generally believed that it was left that way on the off chance that he could be persuaded to turn the lot over to the government. It's just as well that treaty is in Tibrae and not here, isn't it Bonetti?”

“I demand to know who this successor is! A DeGaise would not turn over his estate to anyone other than a DeGaise!” Bonetti exploded.

“You aren't in a position to demand anything.” Faust snapped. “Your position here was terminated at the onset of this meeting! As for prosecution procedures, well that will be up to the beneficiary to the DeGaise estate when these serious discrepancies are discovered.”

“All the more reason for you to tell me who it is. I'll find out anyway.” Bonetti said stubbornly.

“You don't get it, do you? You're finished, done with, no longer part of the gang. Any current situations you are dealing with will be passed on to General Marx.” Bonetti's eyes lit up.

“I'm replacing Administrator Bonetti?” Marx said in shock.

“In the position in which he was last retained here. Before he was thrown out altogether, the embezzlement alone had him banged down to second Captain.”

“What?” Marx exclaimed. “But I'm a General already! I'm being demoted? Why?”

“Not a Military demotion, Marx, but a governmental reshuffle. You'd be directly responsible to Leo Blacklock. Won't that be nice?” Faust smiled falsely.

“No it certainly will not! This is outrageous! It's Bonetti who's in the shit, not me!” Marx banged his hands on the table and Bonetti almost choked then glowered at his treacherous General.

“Three complimentary lever hinged deadlocks.” Creed mused. “Purchased from Hessod's ironmongers and paid for by government expenses, the only one you seemed to have itemised, ironically enough, signed for by General Louis Marx.”

“So? Three deadlocks? They could have been for the parliament middens for all you know!” Marx shouted.

“No, I checked.” Creed said evenly. “In fact I checked every government retained building plus any properties owned by yourself. I found all three deadlocks on the same door, in the Ambassadorial Villa, on an upstairs storage room. Do I need elaborate?”

“Those locks that Administrator Bonetti had me purchase?” Marx edged away from Bonetti, who went a livid purple colour.

“Possibly.” Creed said. “But you have a set of keys for them in your barracks locker, or at least you did.”

“You searched my property! I outrank you in the Military, Creed!” Marx bellowed.

“You don't outrank me though.” Faust shrugged. “I didn't even need a warrant, seeing as Pape was already in your locker. He told me he was looking for his shift sheets.”

“Pape! The little shit!” Marx almost sobbed.

“Oh don't worry, Marx. I had him arrested for unauthorised entry to a General's barracks. See how I look after my soldiers?” Faust smiled. “Last I heard he was telling Cadet Roscus how you and Bonetti gave him gifts of jewellery and art paintings.”

“We did no such thing!” Marx yelled and Bonetti covered his face with his hand. “Any property from the palace found on him, he appropriated himself!”

“Oh, you've seen them? Saves me the job of describing them to you.” Faust shrugged and Marx cringed, realising his mistake. “So! Where are we now? Bonetti, you're out. Marx, you're assistant treasury officer, as well as secondary military advisor to myself. Pape seems interested in a position in Haggardan with Toller. Guard rotas are currently being re-arranged by General Astrella regarding the Ambassadorial Villa, and the palace. A full review of Loram DeGaise's prison conditions is to be started shortly and a full review of the state of his head is already under way. Civic Administrator Blacklock's health is improving dramatically, isn't that good news Marx? Deputy Vinter and Clerk Jasmine Julius are making remarkable progress with their citizens' consultancy establishment and Lady Blanche has kindly offered us the use of her foyer, at a reduced rate, any time we need it. I think that covers the main stuff.” Faust rubbed his hands together and felt pleased with the meeting's events. “Ursus?”

“The first priority in my area is to ensure that the businesses and trades in Azoria are allowed to select employees based on their ability to do the job, not on where they live. I've put in a proposal to make it illegal to stipulate 'No Pit-dwellers' or 'No former Gladiators.' Hopefully, anyone found encouraging such discrimination will be formally charged in the future. The gladiators are to be regarded as athletes, sports persons, which is exactly what those that want to be, are.”

“Security and safety laws regarding the arena are to be revised, under the supervision of General Astrella.” Creed told them. “The use of beasts in there is one of the first reforms to be addressed, as is deviations from the schedules set out by the overseers and trainers. It's a voluntary sport and Deputy Vinter is correct, those gladiators are athletes. The Pit will be subject to the same treatment, and the same laws, as the rest of Azoria.”

“They like it that way.” Marx spat. “Haven't you realised that yet? They live in that slum and keep it a slum.”

“Oh, are you still here?” Faust yawned. “Well if I lived there, I'd be buggered if I was going to do the place up for arses like you refuse them the means to maintain it. They've no water supply half the time and no lighting any of the time! The last path they built was to the ale house and you lot pulled all the stones up a week later to use as a foundation for that ugly fountain in the parliament gardens! You'll find that those people won't object to a fair tax if they're getting a fair deal from it.”

“That would be back-tax.” Bonetti chipped in. “That lot haven't paid anything towards anything. I told you, I intend to make waves.”

“Good point.” Faust said. “That would be your department, Marx. You could mention back taxing the gladiators for the last ten years to your boss, Leo Blacklock.” Marx stood up and stormed from the room. Faust bellowed a laugh.

“This is ... wrong ... Faust. Just ... wrong.” Bonetti said darkly. “You are a bunch of novices playing with Azoria's economy. Even with the Astrellas' advice, you're all still clueless.”

“I'd rather be clueless than jobless. Piss off.” Faust said childishly. It worked. Bonetti simply couldn't retort to such an inane comment and he strode out of the foyer. “I think that concludes that!”