Chapter 8 - House Fire

The Perkin's Institute suddenly burned to the ground.  No one was injured, but 48 students were rendered homeless and they were moved to Camp 29 for temporary quarters.  Of them included both ex-Artesians Michael and John.  One of my Captain's reached out to them to extend a place in another Institute, but they declined and preferred to stay with the other students.  They were not treated like prisoners and given free range and encouraged to leave the camp grounds and visit the city.

They were all assured that their graduation would not be delayed and would be released from the re-education within six months.  Michael and John were also both offered positions at the Montresor by invitation of Ingrid Glikmann after their graduation.

I didn't think much of it until Oliver shared the Perkin's Home was also the repository for all the re-education records for the last 55 years.  All of those were lost in the fire and there were no additional copies kept, which was not standard procedure.

No investigation was made and the grounds were already being cleared to make room for a new Perkin's building.  A faulty electrical circuit was blamed and it originated on the fifth floor which thankfully gave the students who slept on the second floor ample time to escape the burning building.  All records were kept on the forth floor.

The Housing director was fired for incompetence and a new director quickly replaced him.  Oliver as part of his duties was in the selection committee and as a favor to Ingrid hired her college friend.  I asked how much more in debt was she, he laughed it off and walked back to his office.

The day after the fire, Ingrid called and paid a visit at my apartment.  She shared that she extended the employment offers to Michael and John as a favor to me.  I wasn't clear as to why as I had little to do with them and if anything my only connection was through Karl and even then a weak one as they were ex-Artesians.  She then floored me by saying she is an Artesian and so was Oliver.

I slammed the door after demanding she leave.  She seemed bemused and strangely relaxed at having told a stranger she had never met before that she was a member of the most reviled group with nearly all of its known members having died in prison, including Knut.

My thoughts began to race and I immediately wondered if Stephan Gustafson was also an Artesian?  And if so, how many more members of the Commissariat, or even the entire Politiburo were also Artesians?  Knut was a very charismatic individual and it wasn't outside of fantasy that he may have rallied even more people to his cause, but other than to avoid arrest and imprisonment, why would they start to unmask themselves now?

It pained me, but I reached a difficult decision to inform on Oliver and Ingrid and speak to General Gustafson.  The Colonel was awaiting my command and spoke with Gustafson.  Within minutes of our conversation agents and cars arrived at the homes of both Ingrid Glikmann and Oliver Pleagos.  It was also inferred both Michael and John were transferred back to Schols and placed into hard labor.