Chapter 15 – Arms Race of Morality
1282 Words
The trio sits silently in the wagon, waiting for them to be taken to the intended destination. An abrupt halt breaks the awkward silence instead.
Julianna :
"What's going on?"
Julianna raises her voice from within the wagon to reach Ambie.
Ambie opens the wagon door, and 2 men armed with conventional rifles are standing alongside him.
Guard 1 :
"I'm sorry, I'll have to check this wagon."
John :
"No apologies are needed. We'll step out of the wagon. Could you please tell us what this is about though?"
Guard 1 proceeds to examine the wagon thoroughly, as Guard 2 approaches the trio with a stern face.
Guard 2 :
"We are assigned to check on anyone and everyone who passes this road. Apparently, there is an important meeting to be held in the Church of Micah three days from now, and four other bishops will be attending it.
Please state your background and your reasons for passing on this road."
Julianna :
"We are from out of town and we just want to go to the church to do some prayers."
Guard 2 :
"The Church of Micah is closed for the next three days for reasons I've just mentioned. We cannot let you pass. Once again, we apologise for the inconvenience, but such is our assignment, for the sake of the bishops."
Skylah steps in to join the conversation.
Skylah :
"Looks like we should be the ones apologising! We certainly did not know of such an event.
Could you not make an exception for harmless travellers like us? We were hoping to actually find refuge in the church."
Guard 2 :
"Unfortunately, we do not have the authority to grant you that exception. There is an inn over there if you need a place for lodging instead."
Guard 2 points at a distant but visible establishment from where they are standing.
Skylah :
"Thank you, sirs. We will be on our way."
Skylah huddles with John, Julianna, and Ambie to explain the need to settle down at the inn, before pacing their way to it.
Ambie chooses to remain outside of the inn so he can tend to the horses and the wagon, while the trio immediately finds a table to settle down as they step foot into the quiet and uneventful inn.
Julianna :
"What are we doing here? I understand you do not like to resort to brute force, Skylah, but we have to get to the Church of Micah."
Skylah :
"We don't know if Leo's wife and Ambie's brother are in the church. Even if they are, it is most likely a hostage situation.
You don't go Rambo in a hostage situation."
Juliann smiles and lets down her tensed-up defensive behavior.
Julianna :
"Alright. I knew you'd care."
John :
"I agree too.
We cannot barge in without understanding the entire situation. For starters, I think what the bishops are doing is…. Unconventional and unheard of in this era.
We have something called an Episcopal conference, a practice where bishops gather together to discuss an important issue. This practice, however, began in the 1800s."
Skylah :
"This fits our previous premise that Johannes is the mysterious man behind all these incidents. Maybe he wants a reform in the Catholic churches to prevent the necessity for Protestants to even come into existence.
An arms race of morality..."
Julianna :
"A what now?"
Skylah :
"Arms race.
In the past, some countries competed with each other on military power as a means of 'check and balance'.
The idea is to suppress a country with less military power to rid them of the intention of doing something bad.
Maybe, just maybe….. Johannes is doing the same thing, but with morality.
See, if the Catholics are reformed, people will have no reason to join the Protestants anymore.
And maybe...….The people who are taken into custody, like Ambie's brother or Leo's wife, are there to be rehabilitated."
Julianna :
"That sounds like a good thing, right?"
Skylah :
"That's the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is that they are taken there to be executed so there are fewer sinners on the street.
Thus, we need to sneak into the Church of Micah. We can't barge in. We have to investigate the entire situation so we can make informed decisions."
John :
"If Johannes was in there, wouldn't anyone in the Church recognise me too?"
Julianna :
"Perhaps I should sneak in alone, while we remain in communication via our earpieces.
John has the ability to temporarily reconstruct my face so that I'm able to remain in disguise even if Johannes sees me."
Skylah :
"Like a beauty surgeon...… Interesting…..
Well, it's too dangerous to sneak in alone. John could reconstruct my face too."
Julianna :
"You haven't learned how to use your powers properly, Skylah. They have guns and weapons.
It's too dangerous for you to be there. Among us three, I am the most efficient one with my transcendental powers."
Skylah :
"How is it different for you? What can you do against guns, even if they are merely Wheellock rifles?"
Julianna :
"Father John and I are capable of engulfing ourselves with a layer of transcendental aura that could deflect bullets.
We are able to do it subconsciously even while we sleep. Not even modern snipers could take us out, let alone, whatever rifles you were referring to."
Skylah :
"Wheellock rifles. You know, the Three Musketeers?"
Julianna rolls her eyes in response.
The trio's attention immediately switches from the conversation to the inn's entrance when the door swings open as Leo Eta walks in, gasping for air.
Leo Eta :
"I have finally caught up with you guys!"
Skylah :
"What are you doing here?"
Leo Eta :
"I thought you guys might have a problem getting into the church. I caught up with Ambie right outside the inn and he had already explained to me what happened.
The three of you can pretend to be losers in my casino so I can escort you into the church."
Skylah :
"Sounds like a plan. However, the only one sneaking in will be Julianna."
Leo Eta :
"But...…"
John :
"It's getting late. How about we do this tomorrow morning, Leo? You could use some rest too, seeing that it must've been exhausting tracking us down."
Leo Eta :
"Alright. I have my own wagon outside the inn. I'll see all of you tomorrow."
John :
"I will get us a room so we can settle in. I'll perform the facial reconstruction on Julianna tomorrow morning as planned."
John stands up from his seat and walks over to the innkeeper.
Julianna :
"Anyway.... Skylah, I'm sorry to have said all those things in the wagon…. and the slap outside the casino…..I got all caught up when you called me 'Julie', like he did. 'The other you' I mean."
Skylah :
"It's ok. It wasn't a big deal."
Julianna :
"It is to me. Here, I made this for 'the other you' but...….I think you'll like it. A gesture of apology."
Julianna reaches out to her pocket and places a sachet on the table.
Intrigued by what's in the sachet, Skylah opens it up, finding tons of chewing gum in it.
Julianna :
"These are homemade, with caffeine in them. It was his favourite… I thought it would be yours too…"
Skylah :
"Thanks, Julie... This means a lot."
Julianna :
"No…. Thank you."
John paces back to the table and shows a fatherly joy as he sees Skylah and Julianna reconciled over the previous argument.
John :
"Alright, we've got a room. Let's call it a day."
- Writer
