15 Oix 4260: Gaol Blues

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The last few days have been so full of events that I scarcely know where to begin, a predicament worsened by the condition that I do not know to what extent all of you have been informed. I gather Song-of-Songs has provided some explanation already, but I do not quite grasp the details.

Mayhaps you are wondering how it is that I am writing this, in Delight's wonderous Scroll of Infinite Worlds to Read, without knowing what has been written upon its parchment mere inches above where my pen now scribbles. If I wish to know, one might ask, why do I not simply unroll the scroll and learn? Ah, but my predicament is ... rather more complex than such a simple solution will admit. I may be of the stock of Accanax's first prime race and not his second, but I have pledged my word not to read what was written herein from 12 Oix until now, and I intend to keep that vow.

Perhaps I should begin a bit closer to the beginning.

During the course of performing at the Naked Parade on 11 Oix, through a series of unfortunate events that I shall not belabor here, I lost possession of my hat. Like most of my kind, particularly in hot Surprise, I had not opted to encumber my tentacles with any coverings. Consequently, the city guard arrested me for the unintentional but incontrovertible fact of my nudity.

My good friend Song-of-Songs was most distressed by this turn of events -- more distressed than even I, I daresay -- and set to the task of securing my freedom with the alacrity for which Orren are famed. The Daukhrame city guard are rather less famed for alacrity, unfortunately. Song-of-Songs was at length permitted to visit me in my gaol cell on 12 Oix, when together we learned of the steep fine laid upon me. Rather steeper, in fact, than my finances would presently allow me to pay. Song-of-Songs rushed off wildly, swearing to secure the funds necessary to free me, notwithstanding my assurances that I would be fine and she need neither exert herself nor panic.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, her subsequent exertions included securing my version of the Scroll of Infinite Worlds to Read. Song-of-Songs then wrote to my devoted adopted cousin, Delight-in-Surprise, with news of my plight and a plea for assistance.

But I remained incarcerated and unaware of this. My next contact with world at large came on 13 Oix, when my friends and fellow quartet members Ioste and Orziman were able to visit. They brought the welcome news that they had (a) secured my drums before anything could happen to them in the bedlam after the guards arrived at the parade, and (b) informed my foreman as to my whereabouts. They were curiously apologetic about that last.

"We didn't want him to think you'd been causing trouble -- " Orziman began, striped brushy tail swaying nervously behind him.

"-- especially since you hadn't been --" Ioste interjected.

"-- but we thought it'd be better for him to know why you wouldn't be in than to think you were shirking," Orziman finished.

"Quite right," I assured them. "I'm much obliged for your assistance."

"I hope you don't lose your job over this," Ioste said.

I waved a tentacle in dismissal, chuckling. "Not to worry. If they fired every dockworker who got arrested, the foreman'd be doing all the lifting himself."

The two Rassimel stared at me. "You mean ..." Orziman started.

"All your fellow workers are criminals?" Ioste asked.

"No, no, not at all," said I in hasty correction. "But as one may observe from my present predicament ... one need not intend wrongdoing in order to be arrested."

Ioste was horrified. "Surely this can't happen often?"

"This exactly? Arrested for having one's hat removed in public? Not at all! Now, arrested for being present when a brawl started in the city market ... or because one's neighbor's good flatware went missing (it emerged later that her sister borrowed it without asking) ... or because one was the only Khtsoyis about when the guards were looking for a levitating kidnapper (who proved to be a Cani, not that the guards knew this at the time) ... or because one made a wrong turn and floated tentacle into a shop in the noble's district -- " I cut short my list as I realized that my audience was only looking more aghast. "... well, these things happen."

"Did all of that happen to you?" Ioste asked, her voice hushed.

"No, not at all," I answered her, gently. I neglected to clarify that the first had befallen my father, the second my grandfather, the third myself, and the last a good friend.

"But that can't right!" Orziman said. "I don't know anyone who's been arrested."

"Anyone else," Ioste said. "... maybe they just don't tell us?"

"Do the guards really make so many mistakes?" Orziman asked.

"They're only prime. Only Pararenenzu knows everything, and he makes more mistakes than anyone," I said.

"It's just not right." Ioste's shoulders slumped.

I raised the upper sections of my tentacles in a shrug. "These things happen," I repeated, because what else is there to say?