Jedi Apprentice(6)

Nield and the council had gone to work immediately, forming squads to address the separate problems that Zehava faced. Obi-Wan was head of the Security Squad. It was the most

dangerous duty, involving a house-to-house weapons sweep of the entire city. Until further notice, only members of the Security Squad were allowed to carry weapons. All others were directed to turn their weapons in to a warehouse until the tensions eased. Obi-Wan had not been surprised when many people did not want to cooperate. Even some of the Young were reluctant to hand over their weapons. They had all lived with conflict for too long.

The policy had been discussed at the first general meeting. There had been shouting and furious arguments.

Cerasi had faced them all down. She had stood in the middle of the ruined building and seemed to meet every eye in the packed house. “Peace isn’t just a concept to me,” she had said. “It is life and breath. I will never pick up a weapon again. I have seen what they can do. If a weapon of destruction is in my hands, sooner or later that weapon will be used. I will not contribute to one more death on Melida/Daan!”

After a silence, the Young had burst into cheers. Cerasi had flushed with happiness and pride as boys and girls streamed up to the council table and handed over their weapons. It had been a proud moment.

“First order of business,” Cerasi now said crisply, breaking into Obi-Wan’s thoughts.

“Let’s get progress reports from the squad heads. Nield, would you begin?”

Nield stood. He was head of the New History Squad, which was in charge of demolishing the symbols of hatred and division in Zehava - war monuments, military statues, and the great Halls of Evidence, which housed holograms of warriors telling tales of hatred and bloodshed.

“As you all know,” Nield began in a ringing voice, “the building of a new society can only take place if the old rivalries are stamped out. How can the fragile peace hold if both Melida and Daan still have places to go to fuel their hatred? I say that the destruction of the Halls of Evidence should be our first priority!”

Many onlookers cheered. But Taun, the head of the Utilities Squad, in charge of bringing back power and heat to the many ruined buildings, raised his hand.

“The people are cold and hungry,” he said. “Isn’t helping them more important?”

“It’s when they’re cold and hungry that they blame the other side,” Nield answered. “That’s when the lines at the Halls of Evidence grow long. People would rather warm themselves with hatred than blankets.”

“What about the med centers?” Dor, a quiet boy, spoke up. “The sick can’t line up at the Halls. They need medicine.”

“And the orphans?” someone else called. “The care centers can’t handle the overflow.”

“I would say that rebuilding housing is our first priority,” Nena, the head of the Housing Squad, spoke up. “There are so many who were displaced by the war.”

Nield suddenly brought his hand down on the table with a sharp crack. The buzz of conversation stopped.

“All of these problems come from the endless wars!” he cried. “And the endless wars spring from the endless hate! We must destroy the Halls first. It will give the people hope. Hope that we can bury the past as easily as we bury the symbols of our division!”

A hush fell on the room. Everyone stared at Nield. His words rang true.

“I know destroying the resting places of our ancestors is asking people to sacrifice their memories,” Nield continued. “That is why I’ve chosen the resting place of my ancestors as the first Hall to be demolished. I want to remember my parents as people. Not warriors! I want to remember them with love. Not hate! Come with me now,” he urged, leaning over the table, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. “Let me show you what a great mark of unity this will be. Are you with me?”

“We’re with you!” the Young shouted.

Nield sprang up and strode down the center aisle. “Then come on!”

Boys and girls jumped up and ran behind him, cheering. Grinning, Obi-Wan and Cerasi followed.

“Nield will always be able to bring us together,” Cerasi exclaimed, her face glowing.

The crowd followed Nield to the Daan sector, where a huge Hall of Evidence was located on a large, glittering blue lake. The low black structure hovered on repulsorlifts, covering almost the entire surface of the lake.

Already, workers from Nield’s squad were carrying out the stone markers on small speeders. They dumped them in a growing pile.

Mawat waved Nield over as soon as the crowd arrived. “Hey, I made sure they saved these intact,” he told Nield in a low voice. “I didn’t know if you wanted to keep them.”