Chapter 66: Wheel of Truth

Chapter 66: Wheel of Truth

“Try to remain truthful. The power of the truth never declines. Force and violence may be effective in the short term, but in the long run it’s truth that prevails.

Dalai Lama

Despite my anger at my choice in the matter being removed. I was struggling to think of any lie or omission that would not sound as equally strange as the actual truth. They say truth is stranger than fiction but in my case, I couldn’t think of anything saner than the strange truth that was my reality. Resigned to my fate and compelled by a skill, my words fell from my lips like a dripping tap, drawn like blood out of a stone. Gradually they grew quicker and quicker until they fell like a torrent of water. They rushed out my mouth over the edge of the cliff like a river of words, crashing down over my chest before hitting the silent rocks of reality down below.

. . .

That I remembered another life.

. . .

That I had been someone else.

. . . .

A teacher, writer, soldier, son.

. . . .

A farmer, father, magician.

. . . .

A student, scholar, salesperson.

. . .

I had lived a long and full life.

. . .

That I had lived in a different world.

. . .

A world without levels, without experience or system.

. . . .

A world with monsters true, but only ever in human form.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

. . . .

But despite the ocean of words that came forth to many of the questions he had asked all I could say was . . . I don’t know.

How did I arrive here?

I don’t know.

. . .

Why am I here?

I don’t know.

. . .

Why I was reborn?

Although as he did he continued to talk trying to persuade me that the truth was the best policy. Almost as if he was trying to distract me from the revelation I was having. An idea that was taking root in my mind. Moreover, while his arguments carried weight I ignored them and concentrated on something else, a thought, a feeling, a suspicion. Motivated now by curiosity on top of the fear I currently held, I was focussed on the fact that whenever I had ordered him to do something he had done it. Had I never commanded him before? I had asked, questioned, but maybe I had never commanded. Had I discovered a new skill?

I took a quick look but didn’t notice a new skill anywhere with my list.

Things really couldn’t get much worse in my opinion and he was suggesting I throw caution to the wind in telling my whole family. I would tell them one day, when I was older. When they knew me not only for what I was, their son. But also for who I was as an individual. Scared to try, yet hopeful at the same time. I interrupted his arguments to say, “Stand on one leg.”

Nothing happened. My heart plummeted back down into my stomach. I felt hollow. Then I pondered the possibilities. One moment I thought that he had to listen to what I said and perhaps was simply ignoring me while talking or rather talking over me. But then in the next moment after thinking about how facetious I had been in answering his questions earlier while avoiding actually answering his questions. Maybe I had to do something similar now with him. I repeated my words adding in the word now. “Stand on one leg, now.”

Surely, if you had to follow my instructions then now would be the time . . .

Nothing happened as he shifted to lean against the wall continuing his arguments for telling my family.

Then again other than a slight shifting of his weight he . . .

A shifting of his weight . . .

Arguably you could say that you didn’t have to lift up one leg to stand on the other leg. If he was shifting his weight he was obeying the letter of the command if not the spirit of the command. He would be standing on one leg while resting the other even if it appeared to still be resting on the ground.

In for a penny in for a pound

"Sit down now." I unequivocally commanded

Grandfather... sat... down. Stopped talking and stared at me in . . . was that shock, horror or fear. He never stopped talking though, changing tack and saying, "I understand if you don't want to tell them right now. Maybe waiting a while would be better. But some day soon we need to tell them if we are going to make you as strong as you can truly be."

Bingo!

This was interesting!

I ignored his rapidly changing arguments to consider the most critical question. Why did grandfather have to obey my commands? There was something strange going on here. How would he like it when the shoe was on the other foot? I have to confess that I found the idea of being able to tell my grandfather what to do somewhat thrilling. But didn't want to count my chickens before they had hatched.

“Why are you following my orders?” I asked inquisitively about this strange development unwilling to let it drop. Especially if I could find a solution to having to tell all to my family tonight.

“I don’t want to upset you or your family. But I believe telling them the truth would be for the best.” That was a bit of a non-sequitur and about as obtuse as you could get in answering a question.

That was perhaps his worst lie or rather stretch of the truth he had ever given and kind of proved the point that he was avoiding answering it on purpose.

I didn’t have ear for deception or the ability to compel truth getting him to answer clearly and concisely without obfuscating the truth was going to be ...

Wait just a second maybe I did! Just in a different manner.

Phrasing my question very carefully as a command I said.

“Answer the following questions without misleading, avoiding or attempting to deceive me in any way and answer immediately.”

He suddenly stood, attempted to flee the room and my questions but the benefit to being Quick Witted and on a dexterity elixir meant that my words or rather commands could keep up with my brain and shot out of my mouth like bullets striking him still.

"Stop!" I shouted.

He stopped and turned to me resigned to his fate much like I had been to mine. I wondered if he would be as angry about having to answer as I had been or find the experience as equally cathartic.

“Why grandfather, do you have to follow my commands?”

Grandfather sucked his lips together as if he had just bitten a bitter lemon, before answering.

“Kai, I’m not your grandfather.”