Read Online Broken Angels by Harambee K. Grey-Sun - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Harambee K. Grey-Sun
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movie you see, every other insipid television show is telling us all constantly that love is the supreme feeling. Every other person you bump into on the street just can’t wait to tell you how happily in love they are, or how they’re looking for love, or how they’re so miserable because they’re not in love. And in spite of all these thoughts and feelings and sentiments of love everywhere, look at the state of our planet, look at the state of humanity. It’s shit going down a toilet.”
Zel bristled at the language. Normally Robert would have paused to apologize, but he was on a roll.
“That’s Darryl’s thinking,” Robert said, “and he’s not a stupid guy. But he read this dumb book when he was in the hospital recovering from his most severe seizure, recovering from the brand new idea that he had a bizarre new virus, an STD. He read those poetic words, thought about the world around us, saw through the metaphors, and he put two and two together, concluding Vastion was on to something. Love really is a false god, the ruler of this crappy world. Peace is what we all should be striving for. Reading that damn book over and over, Darryl came to the conclusion that, as penance for the acts that caused him to get the Virus in the first place, in order to gain some type of redemption, he’d devote as much time as possible to acts of charity, steering people away from love, convincing them to accept peace.”
There was a period of silence before Zel broke it by laughing. “Well, I guess everybody needs a hobby!”
Robert only stared at him, his expression unchanging.
Zel cleared his throat. “Okay, seriously, I see your point. Darryl is allowing his charms and good looks to attract women—”
“And men.”
“Okay, fine, both, and he uses his, uh, talents to convince them not to bother with trying to find love. Don’t even think about it. The pursuit of love is the wrong way to go.”
“Exactly.”
“So?”
“ So?” Robert wanted to hit the table. “Look, ignore the fact this book he swears by has a flat-out ridiculous premise, ignore the fact this book he’s basing his entire life on is overwritten and terribly written, ignore the fact the philosophy is just bizarre and stupid, and—for the moment—just ignore the fact it’s interfering with the work we do for the Institution. People who are in our condition, who can do the things we can do, have a responsibility to either help humankind or stay out of the way. We do not have the right to screw with other people’s minds.”
“What’re you saying?” Zel asked.
“I’m saying that he’s not just reading them poetry or whispering sweet-nothings in their ears. Darryl’s using his talents, his real talents, to hypnotize these women, these men—anything he can attract—to come around to his way of thinking. From manipulating light—standing eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose—it’s not a far cry to manipulate another’s thoughts too. Maybe even permanently.”
“Aggressive hypnotism?” Zel finally looked concerned. “Is that what he’s doing?”
“I’m pretty confident.”
Robert had a suspicion the act Darryl was performing was closer to an actual lobotomy than mere hypnotism, but he wanted to be careful with his words until he knew for sure.
Zel clasped his hands on the desk and bent his head. It seemed he also wanted to carefully choose his words before he spoke.
“Listen, Robert, I don’t pretend to know all of what Darryl does and doesn’t do, what he believes and what he doesn’t, but he’s been with the IAI for longer than you have. I don’t know him as well, but I know his reputation. And whatever philosophy, ideology, or theology he believes in—well, actions count far more than beliefs. And Darryl has helped the Institution recover dozens of lost children and young adults, including you. If he is taking whatever messages he sees in this book to heart, I’m sure he’s taking to heart only what he sees as good and
Zel bristled at the language. Normally Robert would have paused to apologize, but he was on a roll.
“That’s Darryl’s thinking,” Robert said, “and he’s not a stupid guy. But he read this dumb book when he was in the hospital recovering from his most severe seizure, recovering from the brand new idea that he had a bizarre new virus, an STD. He read those poetic words, thought about the world around us, saw through the metaphors, and he put two and two together, concluding Vastion was on to something. Love really is a false god, the ruler of this crappy world. Peace is what we all should be striving for. Reading that damn book over and over, Darryl came to the conclusion that, as penance for the acts that caused him to get the Virus in the first place, in order to gain some type of redemption, he’d devote as much time as possible to acts of charity, steering people away from love, convincing them to accept peace.”
There was a period of silence before Zel broke it by laughing. “Well, I guess everybody needs a hobby!”
Robert only stared at him, his expression unchanging.
Zel cleared his throat. “Okay, seriously, I see your point. Darryl is allowing his charms and good looks to attract women—”
“And men.”
“Okay, fine, both, and he uses his, uh, talents to convince them not to bother with trying to find love. Don’t even think about it. The pursuit of love is the wrong way to go.”
“Exactly.”
“So?”
“ So?” Robert wanted to hit the table. “Look, ignore the fact this book he swears by has a flat-out ridiculous premise, ignore the fact this book he’s basing his entire life on is overwritten and terribly written, ignore the fact the philosophy is just bizarre and stupid, and—for the moment—just ignore the fact it’s interfering with the work we do for the Institution. People who are in our condition, who can do the things we can do, have a responsibility to either help humankind or stay out of the way. We do not have the right to screw with other people’s minds.”
“What’re you saying?” Zel asked.
“I’m saying that he’s not just reading them poetry or whispering sweet-nothings in their ears. Darryl’s using his talents, his real talents, to hypnotize these women, these men—anything he can attract—to come around to his way of thinking. From manipulating light—standing eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose—it’s not a far cry to manipulate another’s thoughts too. Maybe even permanently.”
“Aggressive hypnotism?” Zel finally looked concerned. “Is that what he’s doing?”
“I’m pretty confident.”
Robert had a suspicion the act Darryl was performing was closer to an actual lobotomy than mere hypnotism, but he wanted to be careful with his words until he knew for sure.
Zel clasped his hands on the desk and bent his head. It seemed he also wanted to carefully choose his words before he spoke.
“Listen, Robert, I don’t pretend to know all of what Darryl does and doesn’t do, what he believes and what he doesn’t, but he’s been with the IAI for longer than you have. I don’t know him as well, but I know his reputation. And whatever philosophy, ideology, or theology he believes in—well, actions count far more than beliefs. And Darryl has helped the Institution recover dozens of lost children and young adults, including you. If he is taking whatever messages he sees in this book to heart, I’m sure he’s taking to heart only what he sees as good and
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