| |
| A
noble and virtuous man teaches a lesson in duty and faith.
This
is what I think a children's story might be like in the schoolrooms
of the Imperium of Man. I
based it partly on the Acians in Gene Wolfe's The Book of
the New Sun, partly on the Anarres civilisation in Ursula
le Guin's The Dispossessed and partly on an old Christian
children's book called Listen and Do, which you can see
scanned in at Flickr (parts of which I filched for the opening
of Chapter 2 of
Heaven's
Altar).
1,000 words
| Writing
time |
: A morning |
| Finished |
:
30th
July 2007 |
Download
as Word file  |
(suitable
for ages 5+)
(approved for use in all Schola Primum, Secundum and Tertium. Approved
for use in all Schola Progenium)
(vid-version also available. Violence may cause disturbance in under
7s. Teachers should medicate as required)
Aushun lived in the Hive
and worked happily all shift long at the transport hub, where he was
a ticket reader. Aushun was a devout worker who never complained, who
recited the Imperial Creed every day and who was never disciplined by
his supervisor or his preacher.
One day, Aushun’s shift were told that their performance was not
satisfactory. Aushun was very troubled, and could not sleep that night.
The next day, Locke spoke to Aushun. Locke was a ticket reader, and
had been a soldier in His Most Glorious Imperial Guard. Locke told Aushun
that it would help to have three hands when reading all the tickets.
Aushun went to the Templum and soon his preacher came to see him. Aushun
told his preacher, who was a source of inspiration, what Locke had said,
and asked for the preacher’s advice. The preacher told Aushun
that the Emperor was watching him, and that purity pleased Him most
of all. Aushun knew what to do.
The next day the Arbitrators, who live the words of the Book of Law,
came for Locke. As he was taken away, Locke thanked Aushun and the Arbitrators
for helping him, and he was never seen again.
Aushun then spoke to his supervisor, and confessed that he was the reason
the performance of their shift was not satisfactory. The supervisor
told Aushun that if this happened again, Aushun would lose an ear. Aushun
was then beaten by the supervisor and the rest of the shift, but he
did not cry or utter a word of protest.
A week later, Aushun’s shift were told that their performance
was poor. Aushun was very troubled, and could not sleep that night.
The next day, Arman spoke to Aushun. Arman had been a ticket reader
since Aushun was a boy, and he was very old. Arman told Aushun that
it would help to have the stamina of an ork to read all the tickets.
Aushun went to the Templum and soon his preacher came to see him. Aushun
told his preacher, who was uplifting and righteous, what Arman had said,
and asked for the preacher’s advice. The preacher told Aushun
that the Imperial Creed was his only guide, and that the xeno was accursed
in His sight. Aushun knew what to do.
The next day the Arbitrators, to whom the Emperor has spoken His wisdom,
came for Arman. As he was taken away, Arman praised Aushun and the Arbitrators
for helping him, and he was never seen again.
Aushun then spoke to his supervisor, and confessed that he was the reason
the performance of their shift was poor. The supervisor told Aushun
that if this happened again, Aushun would die. Aushun was then beaten
by the supervisor and the rest of the shift, and his left ear was cut
off, but he did not cry or utter a word of protest.
A week later, Aushun’s shift were told that their performance
was unacceptable. Aushun was very troubled, and could not sleep that
night.
The next day, Glaus spoke to Aushun. Glaus had been awarded extra prayer
time three months in a row for being the most productive member of the
shift. Glaus told Aushun that the reason the shift was performing so
badly was the fault of the supervisor, and that he should be replaced.
Aushun went to the Templum and soon his preacher came to see him. Aushun
told his preacher, whose benedictions could heal the sick and comfort
the dying, what Glaus had said, and asked for the preacher’s advice.
The preacher told Aushun that the truth was seen only by the radiance
of the Emperor, and that heresy could only be cleansed with holy and
blessed fire. Aushun knew what to do.
The next day the Arbitrators, whose Justice and Might lay down all those
who would oppose them, came for Glaus. As he was taken away, Glaus acclaimed
Aushun and the Arbitrators for helping him, and he was never seen again.
Aushun then spoke to his supervisor, and confessed that he was the reason
the performance of their shift was unacceptable. The supervisor thanked
Aushun for his honesty. Aushun was then beaten by the supervisor and
the rest of the shift, who beat him until he died, but he did not cry
or utter a word of protest.
The Emperor, in His Divine Wisdom, bid Aushun stand with the Blessed
at the foot of His Throne, and Aushun’s shift saw his sacrifice
and redoubled their efforts.
Questions for the class (answers at end of teacher’s
edition):-
1. Were Aushun’s shiftmates right to beat him?
2. Why did Aushun confess to being responsible for the poor performance
of the shift?
3. What was the real reason for the poor performance of the shift?
4. Who is the real hero of this story?
Answers:-
1. Yes. Failure must be confronted, or it will fester. This is true
even though the failure was not Aushun's, but that of another. Instruct
your Head Pupil to note to the class that Aushun did not cry, or utter
any words of protest. Ask them to reflect on this. He who is our Emperor
shed only one tear when His son betrayed Him. What was Aushun’s
pain compared to this?
2. Aushun did not wish his shiftmates demoralised by the knowledge of
the true nature of their colleagues’ crimes and transgressions.
Aushun did the only right thing to do. Discuss with your class the nature
of right and wrong. Punish one child who expresses doubts as a lesson
to the others. Encourage them to see in this punishment the lessons
of Aushun.
3. Lack of piety and devotion to the Emperor in all of the shift apart
from Aushun, who alone was dutiful. Show your class that there are no
reasons for failure other than lack of piety and devotion, no matter
what the circumstances or facts may suggest. Encourage them to reflect
on this as they prepare for their exams.
4. The Divine Emperor.
