Descending Road - THE PROVISIONAL by Dana W. Paxson

THE PROVISIONAL

1544 4D

Andrew awoke the next morning after a sound and peaceful sleep to see Mentrius, Yuss and two other top leads standing by his bed. He tried to rise.

“Lie back,” Yuss said. This shouldn’t take long. We’re doing an inquiry on what happened between you two. Adrili here says we have to ask you about the knife wounds you’ve got. All he says is that he slipped and you rescued him. Alliji Harren says you want to testify. What have you got to say?”

Andrew glanced at Mentrius. “I was trying to cut a length of line when he went over the edge. I dived for him and the blade nailed me in the side when I landed. The cut on my ear, I don’t know. It was a scramble.”

Yuss looked Andrew long and steady in the eyes. “Why were you over there, away from the rest of us? That was a direct violation of safety orders.”

“Yes, sir. We had a private matter to discuss that wouldn’t wait.”

“So important you had to defy orders?”

“Sorry, sir.”

Yuss stepped back and glared at both of them. “Luce, Adrili, I’ll give you both a choice. You can spill it all and I’ll let it pass. Or you can keep it to yourselves and I’ll file a year’s provisional, conditioned on good conduct. It’s up to you.” A provisional was a probationary term.

Andrew and Mentrius exchanged looks. Andrew said, “I’ll take the provisional, sir.”

“I’ll take the provisional,” Mentrius said, stonefaced.

Yuss nodded, then said, “We’re done, then. Come on.” And they all filed out, and left Andrew to rest. On his way out, without looking back, Mentrius raised one hand a little, tentatively, in a furtive farewell.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	THE PROVISIONAL 1544 4D Andrew awoke the next morning after a sound and peaceful sleep to see Mentrius, Yuss and two other top leads standing by his bed. He tried to rise. “Lie back,” Yuss said. This shouldn’t take long. We’re doing an inquiry on what happened between you two. Adrili here says we have to ask you about the knife wounds you’ve got. All he says is that he slipped and you rescued him. Alliji Harren says you want to testify. What have you got to say?” Andrew glanced at Mentrius. “I was trying to cut a length of line when he went over the edge. I dived for him and the blade nailed me in the side when I landed. The cut on my ear, I don’t know. It was a scramble.” Yuss looked Andrew long and steady in the eyes. “Why were you over there, away from the rest of us? That was a direct violation of safety orders.” “Yes, sir. We had a private matter to discuss that wouldn’t wait.” “So important you had to defy orders?” “Sorry, sir.” Yuss stepped back and glared at both of them. “Luce, Adrili, I’ll give you both a choice. You can spill it all and I’ll let it pass. Or you can keep it to yourselves and I’ll file a year’s provisional, conditioned on good conduct. It’s up to you.” A provisional was a probationary term. Andrew and Mentrius exchanged looks. Andrew said, “I’ll take the provisional, sir.” “I’ll take the provisional,” Mentrius said, stonefaced. Yuss nodded, then said, “We’re done, then. Come on.” And they all filed out, and left Andrew to rest. On his way out, without looking back, Mentrius raised one hand a little, tentatively, in a furtive farewell.