[stylist] Trials of an honorary Dragon: Chapter 11 and 12 rewritten (were chapter 9 and 10)

[helene ryles]

Chapter 11:
Yet another school by Nadia Murat

After father left, I spent the night hunched up in the dark interior
of the broom cupboard.  Mother had locked me in.    She was busy
sorting out a new front door after father had shattered the last one
into tiny fragments of wood, in an effort to get out.
Mother was in one of her most foul tempers! This fact normally meant a
beating without any pretexts at all.
However, I didn’t get a beating that night.
When mother finally unlocked the door, the following morning, I
noticed a couple of grey-skinned police officers sitting on our sofa,
talking with mother.
 I recognised the larger one as Beria Slyrake.   The other officer was
tall and slender.  She was showing mother a brochure which she had
just pulled out from her neon pink handbag.
When the other police officer noticed me standing there, she pulled
out a packet of cucumber sandwiches and a bottle of drinking water
which I stared hungrily at.
“My name is P.C. Rickshaw.  Would you like some of my sandwiches?” she
offered.
I nodded enthusiastically.
“Say please may I have some sandwiches,” mother ordered.  I expected
her to hit me for just nodding, but she seemed different today.
“Please may I have some sandwiches,” I repeated politely.   The other
police officer gave me the sandwiches which I wolfed down.
“Is she always this hungry? Hopefully she will learn better table
manners when she gets to the hearing impaired unit at NIRC,” P.C.
Rickshaw commented.
"Oh, but Nadir doesn't really need special education at all.  I really
want Nadir in mainstream school.  Nadir doesn't belong at a special
school.  Thanks to the great science demon my son was cured of both
deafness and blindness..." my mother simpered.  For once she was being
very agreeable.
"Unfortunately the great science demon won't cure your child
completely.  My parents enrolled me at NIRC which has a strict oral
only approach…” P.C. Rickshaw replied.
“I remember you very well, Melissa Rickshaw.  After all I married your
brother.  I thought you went to the local high school.  In fact I
don’t think you had a hearing loss at all back then.”
  “Well I did, I was sent to NIRC at the age of eighteen months, up
until first grade when I was transferred to mainstream school.  I was
taught to listen.  I have much better use out of my residual hearing
thanks to the dedicated staff they have there.  If Nadia is placed at
NIRC up to fifth grade you can enrol her fully into mainstream school
after that.  Plus you will have got chance to get over your denial.
You see, whilst the cochlear implant is a truly remarkable device I'm
afraid your child is still hearing impaired,"
"So there won’t be any of that signing nonsense that the other school
subjected him to.  I don't like him mixing with children like that,"
Mother demanded.
"Of course not, Signing is only for deaf with lower abilities," PC
Rickshaw agreed.  She had obviously never met my twin sisters who
could write and sign in more then one language.
"Like my other children then.  I gave birth to triplets. One was very
sickly and died soon after birth. The other two were mentally deranged
so I had to send them away. My sister Liza is also a little mad.  I
thought it would be a good idea to keep the three fruitcakes together,
away from normal people.   I never thought Liza would kidnap my son.
At first I let him stay there.  I thought it would be good to make
poor Liza feel more involved.   However I made a big mistake to let
them stay together for so long.   I had no idea she would make the
poor child share a room with her mentally deranged sisters.  My poor
son was absolutely covered in bruises when I first got him back..."
"We were going to ask about the bruises. There have been some
complaints about that too..."
"Quite understandable,   I'm afraid they’ve got the wrong end of a
stick.  Speaking from one witch to another, I'm sure you realise how
easily these signs can be misinterpreted by lesser beings."
I tried to speak at that point in order to correct all the lies that
mother was telling,   but I found myself unable to do so.
"We understand,” said P.C Rickshaw smoothly, “All the same,   I would
strongly advise you to consider NIRC as the best placement for your
child.  In fact I believe you’ve gone through all the local elementary
schools in the area.  There have been many complaints about Nadia not
responding in class, and Nadia stealing food and water from the other
children.  I’m afraid they don’t think they can manage a child like
Nadia at all.”
“I would rather she stayed in Mainstream.  I can always move to another area.”
“Oh I wouldn’t advise you to do that, since the police in any other
area would be working under a different supervisor, who would not
understand your personal circumstances,” Beria put in.
“If it was left to me your personal circumstances would count as
nothing, but I‘m under P.C. Slyrake.  I’m being forced to toe the
line. Move from the area and I would very gladly send your file with
all the recent complaints marked on it, to the main police stations,
in all the surrounding area‘s.  You would be arrested in no time…”
P.C. Rickshaw threatened.
“That will do, Melissa,” Beria interrupted before turning back to
mother, “Nadia will be residential at NIRC.   At least while you get
over your denial about her unfortunate limitations and her sex.  If
you comply with this request we will be quite happy for you to keep
her during vacations.   If we keep getting complaints about Nadia;
family ties won’t save you.  We will be forced to take further action
against you.   Good day to you, Madrella," and with that the police
left us.


                 ***  ***  ***

Mother roughly shook me awake the following morning.
 “Come along now, Nadir or we will miss the train,” my mother cried.
I could not see anything in the darkness, but I was afraid to say so
in case it evoked yet another beating.
“Hurry up Nadir.  The train to Stilosarka leaves in just 20 minutes
time.  Really, you are quite impossible! I guess I’ll just have to
carry you. ”
With that mother picked me up and slung me over her shoulders.  We
only just managed to catch the train.
The train took fifteen minutes to get to Stilosarka.  I spent the
journey anxiously wondering where I was being taken to now.
 After disembarking from Stilosarka underground railway station, I had
to struggle up a ladder and along several busy streets.  I found it
almost impossible to keep up with mother.  I tripped over several
times as a result.
“Stop that infuriating snivelling, you repellent child.  Why can’t you
just look where you are going? The great science demon cured you of
your blindness.  We both know that.  Or are you just trying to play
for sympathy.  That nonsense won’t work with me. I would have thought
you would have known that by now,” Mother yelled.
In the end we reached a high wire fence, which looked more like a
prison then a school.
My mother rang the bell impatiently.   After several minutes a
grey-skin woman in a blue tunic and matching trousers answered.  She
looked us up and down before ushering us in.
  I recall waiting next to an office.  Mother was arguing with another
woman about something.  This woman was very bony, in white overalls.
There were many drawings of happy looking, winged children, on the
whitewashed wall.  They were flying across various beautiful
landscapes.  There was also a poster with the words:  “How would you
like the gift of flight?”
There was a lot of other print but it was too far for me to see.  I
dare not go any closer without evoking my mother’s wrath.  After all
the beatings that had been inflicted on it, my body still felt very
sore.
 “I’m going now Nadir.   Remember what I told you.  Be a good boy and
don’t give the staff here any trouble,” she told me.  She gave me a
quick unwelcome hug.  She did this more to impress the waiting woman
in the white overalls, then because she cared about me.  Then she
turned and left me there.  I felt very relieved to see her go.
“Come along Nadir,” The woman said into my speech processor.  I‘ll
take you to the hearing impaired unit.”
I was led to a ladder which I had to climb up to get to several more
ladders, until we reached the eighth floor.  By that stage my legs
felt wobbly and I was gasping for air.  Despite being used to ladders,
the climb took me a while due to my sore limbs.
“Come along boy, we haven’t got all day,” the woman snapped before
escorting me to another whitewashed room.  There were several posters
on the walls.  One of them had a sad isolated child on it with the
words, “The tragedy of silence”.  I felt puzzled having spent the
previous year in the company of so many other signing deaf children,
along with Zahira and Zaina who were deafblind.  None of them were sad
like the girl in the poster.
I was led to a room with several similarly aged children.  Now they
were more like the girl in the poster.   They all wore cochlear
implants and/or powerful hearing aids like me.
That day I spent many dreary hours having bossy women speak into my
speech processor with their mouths covered.  I kept telling them to
move their hands away from their mouths but they wouldn‘t.
“My Aunt Liza says it is rude to cover your mouth when you talk,” I told them.
I was sent to stand in the corner because of that.


             ***  ***  ***


A few months later my Aunt Liza marched into the room wearing her dark
red police uniform.  I rushed to hug her.  She ignored the protesting
members of staff and hugged me tightly.  She took me out of the room
and down the ladders towards Stilosarka underground railway station.
“Oh dear, you seem to have lost weight.  Would you like a veggie
burger?” My aunt signed.  She looked at me in some concern.
I nodded enthusiastically.  There was a small café on the platform,
which Liza took me to.  She looked particularly concerned when I even
wolfed down the accompanying salad.
“That’s enough now Nadia.  I don’t want you to be sick.  Besides, our
train to Druzil should be here any minute now,” Aunt Liza announced,
after my third veggie burger.
 I felt so happy to be travelling back home with Aunt Liza.
As we disembarked at Druzil railway station, I saw mother and a group
of police officers.  We stared at them in dismay.
“How dare you kidnap my child again,” Mother yelled.  Her face twisted
up with hatred.
“Nadia, I’m going to have to sort this bitch out once and for all.  Go
home now, Talmon will be waiting for you…” my aunt signed.  She tried
to push me towards the cycle path but I found myself routed to the
spot. To my horror, someone had put a spell on me, to keep me from
getting away.
“Stop those infuriating monkey signs or I will punch your other eye
out!” My mother threatened.
My aunt Liza swore at her.  There was an equally enraged look on her face.
They continued to shout and swear at each other.  At one point their
argument got so heated that both mother and Aunt Liza had to be
physically restrained by the police officers present.
“I’m afraid this is going to have to be settled in court… You can’t
just take Nadia    like this…” Beria told my aunt.
At that point I found myself being wrenched away from my aunt and
bundled into Beria’s flying rickshaw by a blonde pale skinned officer.
“NO! How dare you take my niece away like that?” My aunt shrieked in
anguished tones.
“What are you talking about you crazy Duman.  That’s my son Nadir Murat.”

Chapter 10:
Going to Court by Liza Bronze.
23/2/1995

The court case went very badly.  I had to sit for hours on a hard
wooden bench in a court room, that smelt strongly of wood polish and
Beria‘s cheap perfume.  Beria was sitting next to me in stony silence.
  The lighting was terrible, with bright sunlight streaming from the
window.  It meant I could not see anything at all.  I would just have
to depend on my cochlear implant to let me know what went on.
“Beep Beep,” went my cochlear implant. The batteries were running
flat.  I put my hand inside my pocket, to pull out my spare batteries.
To my horror I could feel some loose change, and several bits of
paper, but no batteries at all.  I knew I had slipped some spare
batteries in my jacket pocket, but then I remembered changing that
jacket.  I wasn’t sure the jacket I’d originally selected would make a
favourable enough impression.  Time was running short by then.  I
completely forgot to transfer my cochlear implant batteries to my
other pocket.
I tried turning the hearing aid in my non-implanted ear right up, but
I have very little hearing in that ear now.  I could hear people
talking around me but I had no idea what they said.
Although I was unable to understand much in the way of speech, the
banging of the Gavel was painfully loud for me with my hearing aid
volume turned up to the max.
I sighed deeply.  I would just have to swallow my pride and tell Beria
what had happened.   After all, it was what she was supposed to be
there for.  I suspected she only offered to help so she would have
something to gossip about later on.  I was sure she would repeat my
failure to bring extra batteries to all our colleagues at the police
station.  The idea was quite unbearable, but Nadia’s case was more
important.
“Beria, my cochlear implant batteries have run out.”
Beria put her finger to my lips.  Then she put my hand over her mouth
in order to do the Tadoma method of communication.  I felt
uncomfortable having to put my hand over Beria’s mouth like that.   I
had a terrible time trying to understand what was going on.
Consequently this account has been patched together from what little I
did decipher, along with a lot which was explained to me after the
court case was over, by various people.
First Madrella said her piece.  Alas Madrella is a very good actress.
  She managed to play the part of the misunderstood and concerned
parent well.  She accused me of kidnapping Nadia just because I didn't
approve of her method of education.  Well I don't, but that was
entirely beside the point.  If the oral only system was the only abuse
that Nadia was getting, I would have butted out and minded my own
business.   Madrella even managed to shed a few tears on Zakia's
behalf.
My father came next.  He told the court what a 'help' Madrella had
been to him whilst we were growing up.  How she would never have
dreamed of harming anybody…  All lies.
Then a man who I had never met before told the court how 'caring' and
'concerned' Madrella was when dealing with her children.  It wasn't
Nadia’s father anyway.
Nadia’s father was the first witness to testify against Madrella. I’m
told he put his head in his hands and wept through the entire court
case.  In fact he was blubbering so freely that nobody could
understand what he said.  Something about all this being the wrath of
god, I think.  The judge must have written him off as a fruitcake.
“Traitor!” hissed Beria as the next witness came forward.   She pulled
my hand away from my lips.
“Who is it?” I asked wondering which of the numerous witnesses I had
selected to testify against Madrella had come forward first.  I felt
indignant at Beria for pulling away my hand at such a crucial moment,
so I put my hand back on her lips. I could feel her muttering some
strange words.
“Oh dear, P.C. Rickshaw has just fainted, she was the last of your
witnesses too,” Beria commented.  She seemed to be gloating.
“But that can’t be right! I got a number of witnesses together.  Where
are they?” I asked in utter dismay.
“How should I know, now be quiet.  They have just finished carrying
out your colleague and the court will proceed once more.”
It seemed that all the other witnesses that I had put together
simultaneously suffered from mysterious ailments, which prevented them
from coming to court.  I suspected magical interference from Madrella.
 It wasn’t natural for all the witnesses to fall sick at the same time
in this peculiar way.
I really needed a powerful witch on my side to counteract all the
spells that Madrella was using. If only Katrina Parvesh had bothered
to show up.  I had not heard from Katrina at all since getting her
letter.   I desperately hoped that she would get back to me at some
point.   Her help in this matter would have been invaluable.
Aunt Beria was a very powerful witch, but she clearly was not on my
side.  I had assumed up until now that she had just allowed Madrella
to deceive her, but now it seemed as though something far more
sinister was going on.  Surely that couldn’t be right?
As for P.C. Rickshaw, It quite astonished me that she was taking my
part.  She had even announced to Beria that she would be going to
court to take Madrella’s part.  Once in court she must have switched
sides.
No sooner had she made her way to the witness box, than she had
clutched at her throat, and collapsed to the ground in a faint.  She’d
been holding Madrella’s file but all the pages had become completely
blank.


Beria didn’t have to interpret for the judge, who communicated to me
via Dramic.
I was sent images of me as a bitter, vengeful human.  I visualised
Nadia as a well cared for child in the arms of Madrella.  Next I saw
an image of me sleeping with some bloke; me pregnant;    an image of
me with a child; and finally Nadia being properly cared for by
Madrella.
He refused to take my accusations of child abuse seriously at all, and
was suggesting I got a bloke so I could produce children of my own.
I blinked.  How could this dragon judge misunderstand everything in
this dreadful way?  I had always thought so highly of the Dragons,
assuming them all to be like Talmon and the other Bronze dragons.  I
had heard about Julius Darth and his taste for human legs, but that
was only one rogue dragon.  All the rest were good, weren‘t they?
Just when I thought things could not get any worse, I was accused of
abusing my power as a police officer, by collecting Nadia from NIRC
while wearing someone else’s police uniform.
The only consolation I had was that, as a result of the upcoming
trial, Madrella had not been allowed to take Nadia with her over the
new years break after all.  I had been hoping the judge would ban
Madrella from seeing Nadia altogether, but now our case wasn’t looking
good at all.
The fact that no one at the hospital had actually seen Zakia’s remains
didn’t help our case either.  No post mortems were ever performed on
Zakia.   When she died halfway through the journey, Mr Murat took her
body to my father’s place until a funeral could be arranged.  So it
was just Mr Murat’s word against Madrella’s.

The banging of the gavel at the end of the case rattled my already
strained nerves.  That was followed immediately after by Madrella
getting away with her abusive behaviour.  She had full access to
Nadia.  Access that I was being denied.  To add insult to injustice I
was then given six months in which to find myself a bloke.  If I
hadn’t found one by then, Beria had been instructed to find one for
me.
I lost my temper completely after that.    I even swore at the Judge.
 In the end Beria had to cast a muting spell on me in order to shut me
up.