Season 03 - Episode 20

‘see the terrible’

Ri is standing again and listening again but now attempting to look as well.

“GovCo are definitely leaning into Constructionism,” Chastity is saying to the women around the table. “But our lot are still pretty loyal right now, so I'd probably vote no to a crackdown. Not worth the effort.”

Peeking from under her hood, Ri fights to control her breathing. She can see the back of Pho's chair at the head of the long table, three virtues down either side. She also sees that the chair far opposite Pho is empty. Patience is missing.

“Constructionism's just baked into them,” sighs Temperance. “We see it all the time in arrests for heathen practices. I'm not sure a crackdown could even work, so I'd vote no too.”

“We don't see much of it among The Cherubim,” Charity offers. “Most of them were too young to have started learning Constructionism before they came to us. If we just leave it, Constructionism will probably die out on its own. Give it a generation and The Theory of Renovation will be the norm anyway.”

“The Theory,” says Pho quietly, her voice seething with scorn. “Of Renovation.”

Ri notices each of the virtues' bodies stiffen with tension.

“Even this name betrays the taint of Constructionism!” she snaps suddenly, so that all the others jump. “It is no theory, but self evident truth! This belief in a Constructor god and infinite rooms and corridors is barbaric nonsense!”

Ri watches as the virtues bow their heads.

“Take our Archangel,” Pho continues, waving vaguely towards Ri. “This poor, broken creature is living proof that these structures we inhabit have not always existed and so must be finite, the work of human beings. Do you see?”

The terrible, crackling silence that encompasses the table makes it clear they do not.

Ri repeats Pho's words in her head and doesn't like them.

“She is a claustrophobe!” says Pho, visibly irritated. “Afflicted by a crippling fear of enclosure. When she thinks of the rooms and corridors all around her, it seems to her that they press in on her, choking the life from her. Do you see the proof she offers?”

Another painful silence squeezes the last of the air from the room.

“The Archangel is not the only claustrophobe,” says Pho. “They are rare but I have met several in my time, during my previous ministry, on my travels. Ask yourselves, if humans have always lived within walls then from where could such a fear arise? What purpose could it serve? This fear is a relic, a reminder of a time before, when humans lived in open spaces.”

Ri cocks her head.

There are others like her.

“The Outerside?” Humility whispers involuntarily.

“Just so,” says Pho. “It may be a foolish children's tale to you, but to truly civilised people it is simple truth. People will be brought to understand this for their own good. The proposal is that a crackdown on Constructionism should begin immediately. All in favour?”

Six sets of eyes stare down at the table. Six nervous arms are slowly raised.

The silence is broken suddenly by the sound of the doors to the room opening. Ri is finding the watching and the light and the sound difficult now, feels herself starting to slide towards chaos, but she persists.

Patience steps into the room and approaches the table, halting a few steps away from Pho, back perfectly straight, face perfectly blank.

“Is it time?” asks Pho.

“It is time, Holy Mother,” says Patience reverently before bowing deeply.

“My virtues!” says Pho with sudden intensity, rising from her chair and raising her arms, her robes unfolding around her. “The Great Correction is upon us! Charity, release The Cherubim. Patience, ready The Seraphim. Humility, dispatch the Orders on their final mission. The rest of you know what to do. Away!”

Ri watches the virtues goggle at one another then rise uncertainly and hurry from the room, a messy train of flapping robes. Pho remains standing and Ri wonders what is happening but by now it has all become too much and she returns to the dark safety of her hood.

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