One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 11, page 8

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Emperor Bhanar followed the large, old man toward the bedroom door. Bhanar held his chin high, walking tall. The High God of Fire had healed his legs. He was the emperor.

He failed to keep a smile off his face, but did manage to mute it.

Right before he stepped into the hallway, a man bellowed, “Enforcers! Stop where you are!” His tone of voice implied a drawn pistol.

Bhanar froze, the Enforcers out of sight down the hall to the right and Pí‘oro and the medics out of sight to the left. If he stepped into view now, he’d probably get shot.

“Let him go!” the Enforcer commanded.

Why were the police here, waving guns around? Were they upset that the old man had carried him inside? Hadn’t Pí‘oro told them that his wife would call Zhíanoso to heal him? Bhanar scowled. Did she call Him or was that me?

Breathing so hard that Bhanar could hear it, Pí‘oro growled, “Have you captured the murderer Zhíno, yet? You won’t find him in here. He ran out the back, remember?”

Bhanar didn’t understand all of the words, but he felt the rebellious intent. What the plagues is he doing? Trying to get himself killed?

Before he thought about it, Bhanar called out, “Everyone be calm.”

Silence filled the hallway.

One of the police snarled, “Who is that?”

Fighting against the rising panic in his gut, Bhanar replied, “I am Bhanar. If you are looking for me, I am here. I was hit by the automobile, but Zhíanoso healed me. I don’t need the paramedics.”

Quick footsteps in the hallway ended with a Colonial Enforcer appearing before Bhanar. Blond with a thin face, he might have been the same Enforcer who bandaged his leg. The policeman narrowed his eyes at Bhanar’s face, glancing down at his legs.

After a moment, he turned to his compatriots and said, “Either he’s got a twin or this is the kid.”

Relief flooded Bhanar. The Enforcer had seen the truth, even if he didn’t want to believe it. With all seriousness, Bhanar emphasized, “I am Bhanar.”

The Enforcer nodded curtly Bhanar’s direction, then to his fellow officers, he commanded, “Arrest them both.”

Bhanar stood dumbfounded. He must not have heard that right. The Enforcer must have used some Sarıman phrase that Bhanar didn’t know. He couldn’t be under arrest.

The tall blond grabbed Bhanar’s shoulder and spun him around, grabbing his left arm. Cold metal clacked around his wrist.

Don’t resist. Be imperial, he told himself, but in reality, his compliance was mostly a product of his shock. What had he done?

He held his chin high and his right hand back for the remaining handcuff. The steel tightened around his right wrist and thus he was detained.

A scuffle erupted in the hallway. Pí‘oro shouted, “What the plagues for?”

Grunts and thuds followed. Radios squawked with voices unintelligible.

Through heavy breath, a man replied, “For obstruction of justice.”

This was all a huge mistake. Surely, once the police discovered the truth of the matter, they’d realize the same. It would only take a bit of discussion, is all. Once everybody settled down, Bhanar and Pí‘oro would be released.

The Enforcer at Bhanar’s back said, “Come on, you,” and pulled on Bhanar’s shoulder, spinning him around towards the doorway.

Bhanar stumbled momentarily, but entered the hallway walking tall. He looked left to see a writhing tangle of bodies and limbs on the floor, jammed between the walls of the hallway, with at least two black-uniformed policemen forming the top layer. A blue-shirted paramedic watched from the other side, a wince frozen on his face.

The Enforcer shoved him the opposite direction, saying, “Put him in your local jail.”

Bhanar recovered from the shove with three quick steps, then raised his head to find himself only three feet from a beautiful woman. She wore a black police uniform, but it did little to hide her curvaceous figure. Her heart-shaped face drew Bhanar’s attention, though. Smooth, tan skin with large, brown eyes that seemed to sparkle even with her stern expression. Full lips pursed ever so slightly and a delicate chin. She wore no makeup, and yet she was stunning.

He couldn’t help but smile at her.

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