Today Li was going to turn 27. It would be the 5th birthday that he celebrated as Duke of Kaipen Nung. But none of his citizens knew, very few of his servants and underlings knew when he even had a birthday. For all they knew, a volcano had spit him out 100 years ago to spread terror across the earth. Previous rulers of Kaipen had thrown exquisite balls, decadent feasts, and festivals that lasted for weeks. But Li was keeping to humble plans for his 27th birthday. Li had spent his morning confined to his office, meticulously calculating how much valuable cargo was passing through his waters. He had spent his lunch and early afternoon confined to this most modified cattle transport- watching the city through tinted windows, collecting reports, and delivering favors. And now that he had caught the old lady– investigators concluded that she had let conspiring traitors into his domain- he intended to spend the rest of today wringing every detail out of Gingee “Ginger” Parker.

But the Granny Gingee was quivering in the seat across from him, radiating fear until Li could actually smell it… Li had thought he would have to spend all afternoon and evening overseeing her interrogation- possibly her torture. Records on her life that he was able to scan had implied that she’d seen a lot, that she was tough, seasoned. Stubborn. But she was so scared of little old him. He was a bit flattered.

But then again he was so pale, rice paper face and black swamps for eyes. And Li was all long, gaunt looking limbs these days. People regularly whispered that he looked like a ghost. When the old girl dared to meet his eyes, he widened his smile so that she would see his uneven teeth. He flicked his tongue like a lizard might.

The blood really drained from her face!

Maybe instead of spending the rest of my day on this old bird- She’ll spill her secrets in an hour, and I can get to bed early- read an interesting book, with a glass of ancient wine. That would be nice.

These were the riveting thoughts of the young Duke of Kaipen Nung.

But it wasn't meant to be…

Gingee might have seemed delicate and mold-able, white face and whiter hair crumpled like a discarded plastic bag. But as soon as the topic of her steady stream houseguests was brought up, she shut like a trap. The carriage slowly wound its way through the city and both Li and his lieutenant tried different ways of coaxing the old Lady. Most of it was gentle threats, bribery, and even heartfelt concerns for her wellbeing. 

“It’s so funny. Isn’t it so funny? You go out to market on a perfectly miserable morning, because there’s nothing in your own home to eat that isn’t already rotten. And you see the daughter of an old friend. She’s the youngest thing and her nose is always glued to her smart phone, never looks up and around. What is it with young people? Never looking around at the world around them! Completely detached from reality! No idea what’s going on more that 5 feet in either direction. Yet she has the nerve to argue with me about policy. I listen to her argument because one should listen to people who disagree with them and they should listen carefully. She’s not well read but she demonstrates passion for the subject. She’s practically a communist drone but I’m rather impressed to her answers to my questions all the same. There are balls on that one, don’t be fooled by the skirt. And I love that. But she is completely blind to how pervasive our government is. How unreliable and incapable of reform. I hope not all young people think as she does, the desire to ‘helped’ by the establishment- to be lead by hand through every stage of life- to become so reliant on those same selfish Corrupt Politicians that passively allow the Trafficking of Human Beings to continue. Homelessness has tripled under The Slats. While taxing ordinary people- who don’t know any better than to pay up. Bleeding the public dry as the Nungara true housewives grow fat, fat, fat. Now I would never hut anyone, I would never deprive people of thier happiness but If I had to choose. If it were really just up to little old me. Than none of you would have any power. No one would have power over anyone ever again. And the chubby Nungara pigs, especially, would learn how to fight for what they have. What will be left of the likes of them? Of the likes of you? What would happen if one day the people all realized their own worth- and said ‘we will not take your blood money anymore.’ What then? … I tried to tell her all that, but the child started texting mid way through. I don’t know why this generation thinks they can multi-task, they really can’t. The fat fingers of our neo-communist government wrapped around me in exactly that moment, perfectly illustrating my point! You plucked me off the street and she couldn't be bothered to look up from her @#$% phone. Ha, ha ha ha. It’s just so funny.”

Gingee nearly spat at both of them, righteous indignation crackling around her with palpable force. And Li was somehow more satisfied, better to face an opponent with will, rather than one with no fight in them at all. And in her anger, Li could get a better feel for her, and like a tongue might seek a tender spot in bleading gums, Li proceeded. “It must have been so hard, carrying on after your husband passed away.”

“Oh Shut up.” She snapped at him, the tiniest tremor in the word ‘up’,

Gingee was looked out the window at cluttered markets and lopsided houses that had been there for centuries. Li watched Gingee in interest. But no matter how he baited her, she didn’t respond again.