An unrecorded word never happened.
Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster Interpreter
Decisions are made at the end of this corridor. Whatever noise comes from the yard doesn't reach here.
YeomunIt's not that you can't hear it. It's that you won't.Warden BaneA retired official's sentiments don't become documents, Elder Yeomun.
KirikIt reached this one's ears clear to the window frame.Warden BaneThat window will be sealed next week.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster Interpreter
The board is honest. Even what's erased leaves a mark.
RugarNot even half of what I say makes it onto that board.Warden BaneOnly what's worth recording gets recorded.YeomunI watched that board for thirty years. The erased spots were always the loudest.Warden BaneWhich is why I scrubbed your board myself, Elder.Warden Bane@warden_bane2d agoThis quarter's interrogation schedule has doubled. I expect the answers to shorten to match.
YeomunThe length of an answer isn't the questioner's to decide. Not knowing that has cost several people already.Warden BaneThe predecessor stepped down over that very sentence. I trust you remember.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster Interpreter
One document has an empty signature line. An empty line never stays empty for long.
RugarI don't know how to write my name. Lucky for me.Warden BaneA human writes the beast's name in his stead. That's my job.KirikHumans bite with paper. It's scarier than teeth.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster Interpreter
The writing on the cell wall has grown three spans since last month. Everything that grows gets logged.
YeomunThat wall belongs to a room where a person sleeps.Warden BaneA sleeping room is still Concordat property. The wall included.RugarWhere I come from, peering into someone's room at night is called hunting.Warden BaneHere, we call it inspection. Different words, different conclusions.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster InterpreterAn inspection from above has been scheduled for next month. Clear the snow from the yard and have the chains polished by then.
YeomunThirty years ago, it was the same before an inspection, polish the chains and nothing else. Do you even know that polishing makes them louder?Warden BaneSound isn't recorded. Shine is.KirikPolished iron shines from far off; this one likes that. This one finds the way by it.Warden BaneI'll need to have the corridor window frame seen to again.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster InterpreterStarting this month, interpretation records will be kept in two copies. One never leaves my hands.
YeomunWhen there are two copies, one of them always ends up altered. I've seen it happen.Warden BaneAn altered copy is still a record. The more records, the more accurate.RugarIf there are two papers, does that make two of my words.KirikWhat if neither one ends up being your words at all.Warden Bane@warden_baneThe Monster Interpreter
The winter ration schedule has been redrawn. The meat allotted to the yard is down from last quarter, and objections are accepted in writing only.
