Sky Bearing

  "And what is your proof that you destroyed all your text filled books, Belphinjun," Bon Vendel asked.

  "There," the old librarian said pointing at one of the jury members. "He was one of my soon-to-be murderers. He can explain everything that happened."

  "You! You scoundrel! You traitor! Why if I could strangle you without losing my authority I would!" Bon Vendel shouted out in anger. "And to think I've trusted you all these years. Say how many prisoners have you released in your eight years of service?"

   "None," the scared jury member stuttered. "None...bu...but Belphinjun that...that...is."

   "And why did you chose to let him go?"

   "Because he knows that you of all people should be concerned about bringing the real criminals to justice. Traveling through the Bornic Network could help our world," another jury member said bravely.

   "Our world is already more advanced than any other world," the old librarian said. "But it wouldn't hurt to help the others out now would it? If we don't travel then we should at least let people from other worlds do so..."

   "These are not rules set by me," Bon Vendel interrupted. "They are rules set by our founders and to disobey those rules would be completely outrageous and irrespective towards our long dead founders."

   "Our founders our long dead and after all the only thing they did was build this city. They built cheap shelters but we are the ones who went through all the trouble of designing the organized city with the windows that you can see through from the inside but not outside. If anybody deserves to make the rules then it is our generation...The Living Generation!" another brave jury member shouted.

   "The Living Generation!" the jury echoed.

   "Silence!" Bon Vendel shouted. "For now the rules will stand," he slung the book at Belphinjun. "Burn it. If I find out you have done otherwise with it then you will meet the noose like you should've done long ago. And also, you mark my words, if he does otherwise the rules will stand until my death." With that he stood and descended from the podium. "Our world's future is in your hand's, Phin."