December 5, 2012

Chapter 10 The Subject

  In his earliest memories, they called him "the subject".
  "Bring the subject here."
  "The subject weakens."
  "Can't I just dissect the subject?"

  They did things to him.  Things they called experiments.  Not that they told him.  He heard them talking about it.
  He knew to obey them.  The idea of doing otherwise gave him a great sense of foreboding.  Like some lesson learned before his memories began.
  Even hesitating to do as they bid filled him with fear.  But hesitate he did.  He did not mean to.  It took time for him to force his body to do what his mind dreaded.
  "Look at the subject.  He doesn't come as quickly...the subject hesitates."
  "I could beat the subject."
  "I could bleed the subject."
  "The subject trembles.  Perhaps the subject is broken beyond all repair."
  "Can I dissect the subject now?"
  "Wait.  The subject is nervous."
  Then they laughed.
  After that they referred to him as nervous subject.  It was the closest thing he ever had to a name.
  One day Nervous told them that when he grew up, he wanted to be a lord.
  Hearty laughter reverberated against the stone walls.
  After that they called him Lord Nervous, mocking him.
  When he reached manhood, he told them he wished to be a guard.
  "Nervous Subject wishes to be a guard!"
  "Guard what Nervous?"
  "To ensure g-g-good, of the p-p-people."
  They game him chain mail with cloth old and stained.  Try as he might he couldn't get it clean.
  Lord nervous thought of this as he put away their clothes.  He thought of what he had said when they had given him that chain mail.
  "I w-will do muh...muh...my best to sssserve you well."
  He had bowed deeply.
  Then they had laughed.  They laughed.

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