Chapter 9
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It was the full cycle of violence and hopelessness. Nobody was able to protest. Even if someone was hungry and asked for food, they were arrested for challenging the power of God. For this same reason, the Ladies One got rather disappointed again, and most of them became destitute and fled to the mountains or emigrated to other cities. Furthermore, some of the lady warriors started marauding their own city, and other cities.
The Monster Number could not go anywhere because of his big body, but there was one who loved him and could help him: the Horizontal Line. One of the Horizontal Line’s advisers was secretly sent to our area to offer the Monster Number a proposal. She told the monster, “We want to support you. You would lose weight, only on this condition: that you kill the Vertical. H. Line.”
The Monster Number did not reply and was quiet. After a time, he spoke to my father and made an urgent request for help. My father answered, “First you must capture the Horizontal Line, and then I can help you.”
But Monster Number was never able to capture his enemy (the Horizontal Line). Furthermore, whenever any number was captured, my father added it, so the Monster Number became more and more miserable. He got angrier and angrier every day.
On a cold autumn night, as the moon was shining and the yellow leaves were falling, the Monster Number finally appeared in front of the Horizontal Line’s house and capitulated. Breathlessly he cried out, “Help me, for the sake of God, my lord.”
The Horizontal Line thought that my father was alone so he ordered his soldiers to destroy the Vertical. H. Line, but Monster Number said, “Oh, my God, I have already killed him with my big hands. Please help me.”
Oh, it was true; I hid myself behind an old box, and I saw the Monster Number slide its big hands around my father’s neck and try to strangle him by squeezing.
For some minutes, my father struggled and next shouted and ordered the Monster Number, “Go… Get out of my bed!” But Monster, like a dog, growled at him.
My father lost his breath and was slowly strangled to death. Alas, I could not do anything except watch and cry.
When my father’s corpse lay on the bed, only Comrade Zero and I stood by his dead body. I cried for my father, and Comrade Zero could not stop my sobbing. Although my father was an egotistic, ugly man, losing a father really hurts.
Chapter 10
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After my father was killed, the Horizontal Line became the leader of the city and treated the Monster like a hunting dog. Sometimes, he would make it lighter, but not completely because he wanted to keep his control over the Monster.
Several days later, he caught the Ladies One who had written the letter to the Dictionary, and sent them to jail until the end of time. Also Sergeant One was executed for political crimes, and he again sentenced our family to quarantine. The Horizontal Line has become a ruler who has complete power and uses it in a cruel and unfair way. A tyrant needs to use any means to obtain loyalty and obedience from his subjects, and the Horizontal Line does this by creating and using horror.
And now, all things have been nationalized. Nothing has been done without the permission of the Horizontal Line, even going to the toilet. Many people fled Math City after the Horizontal Line concentrated all power in his hands.
But after my father was killed, he became a national hero. Some people think that my father would have done great deeds for Math City, and it was precisely that the Horizontal Line (with help from foreigners) killed him for. Now my father is one of our national heroes, and many people would like to see a member of the Vertical. H. Line’s family to become the governor of Math City.
I am that member, and the new leader must fight against the tyrant of Math City. The Horizontal Line is afraid of me, the eldest son of the plus family, and is now chasing me.
It is night, and I have been sad and homeless for a long time. I wandered around the city with Comrade Zero until we saw this warning on a wall.
Warning:
To all dear numbers of the city:
Beware! A plus, called Second Vertical. H. Line, is prowling around the city. Avoid him. You will explode if he touches your body. Oh yes, you know that being big is equal to explosion. This plus is armed with cold and hot weapons, including a sharp knife, a fully armed gun, and powerful bombs!
It is snowing, and the white flakes help me forget the darkness of the night. I say to myself, “Am I able to change this state of total chaos? Now what difference is there between the Horizontal Line and me? He once was homeless, too, but he became a tyrant... Oh, my God, I do not know what will happen to me! Will I become a tyrant, too?
“No, I am different from the Horizontal Line because I am the only person who is able to see and understand poor Zeros and miserable people. I cared about it and have befriended Comrade Zero! Yes, I am unlike the others.”
Comrade Zero has gone into a deep sleep. I lie down and snuggle, too. My dream is to go to school; I would like to be friends with children and learn more about this creature, Mankindman. Maybe they can help us to solve the puzzle...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a graduate of Art University. The books were written in a new concept and fantasy form. He hopes that his books make you think, while you enjoy it.
Other books by the author:
Big Fish
Big Travel:
Our Grandparents' Last War:
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