///Indie Journal Daily///

Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Halls of Knowledge, part seventy-five

I looked at Vantarvian, who had begun to weep from telling the story. I said, "You let the fake priest go, then?"
"Yes," said Vantarvian.
"And the Justine who found me in the cafe and knows about the scandal at the Halls of Justice is the daughter of fake-priest Macksennett?"
"Yes," said Vantarvian.
Kantarpatine and me looked at one another, obviously thinking the same thing. I said, "So what does this have to do with why we are here?"
Vantarvian said, still streaming tears, "Don't you see?"
"I don't," I said.
"Me neither," said Kantarpatine.
Vantarvian stopped weeping for a moment and scratched the top of his head. Then he said, "Do I have to spell it out for you two?"
"Yes," Kantarpatine and I said in unison.
"I am Macksennett!"
"Huh?" Kantarpatine and I said in unison.
"There is no Vantarvian," said Vantarvian who was claiming to be Macksennett from the story he just told us. "Justine is my daughter."
"So just one moment," Kantarpatine said. "The story you just told us was a lie?"
"Not all of it," said Vantarvian who was claiming to be Macksennett from the story he just told us.
"Why did you tell us, then, that you are Macksennett?"
"I was protecting Justine, as I have from the day I got her back," said Vantarvian who was claiming to be Macksennett from the story he just told us.
"You are a chronic liar? Is that it?" I said.
"No," said Vantarvian who was claiming to be Macksennett from the story he just told us. "Well, yes," he said. "You must believe me. Justine is Macksennett's daughter and I am Macksennett."
"Is that a real name?" said Kantarpatine.
"Yes and no." said Vantarvian who was claiming to be Macksennett.

~To be continued

Frank Cotolo 12:06 PM