And Eighteen

Mirabell marched down the door lined corridor with a grim expression. He didn't want to do what Chrystal had ordered him to, but if he didn't then she would probably get someone else to do it. And if Ralf said yes, even though he'd never see Angele again, at least he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life without sight. Mirabell opened the cell door and entered. Ralf, who had been lying down trying to sleep, now got up and looked at Mirabell. Mirabell had seen this look before, the look of the prisoner facing his captor, but this time was made harder, since Mirabell had known and made friends with Ralf. That made his task more hateful and despicable than ever.
"Ralf." He began. "My leader, Chrystal Sky Weaver inquires whether... you are willing to become a part of our force."
"Your force?"
Mirabell couldn't read Ralf's expression or tone.
"What does your force do?"
"We take from the controllers."
"How?"
Mirabell was feeling very uncomfortable.
"We attack and confiscate what they own."
He waited anxiously for a response.
"But the controllers own all the camps on the Frozen Plains."
"Yes." Mirabell hated himself as he watched Ralf consider.
"So if I say yes, I'll have to steal from the innocent people I grew up with because your leader doesn't like the people in charge of them?"
Mirabell had nothing to say.
"What will happen to Angele?"
Here it was, the question Mirabell had been dreading.
"She stays in the dungeon."
Ralf's expression didn't change as he said, "Well no then."
Mirabell wished he'd declined and someone else was here to do this, but he was here and nothing he could do would change that in a positive way.
"Ralf. If you say no, do you know what they'll do to you?"
Ralf looked resigned. "Kill me?"
"NO. They'll blind you."
"Well anything's better than living without Angele OR a clear conscience." Ralf's unnatural calmness was very unsettling, distracting Mirabell from the pointlessness of the remark.
"Besides, there isn't anything here that I'd particularly miss seeing."
"Are you SURE?" Mirabell was beginning to worry about Ralf's mental health; life in a cell could DO things to you.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Mirabell unhappily opened the cell door again and escorted Ralf away.

END SECTION