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Friday, 28 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - X is for eXaminer Tharl

Welcome to Day 24 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. This month I'm sharing my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's X for eXaminer Tharl. Okay, I stretched things a little.


Examiner Tharl’s services hadn’t been called upon for a long time. He was kept on as a retainer by the government, and his job was to re-educate people so that they saw things more clearly.

His last case had been a while ago. People tended to accept the status quo, especially after a select few had not returned from the Centre. But this boy… he was stubborn, Tharl had to give him that. He constantly countered Tharl’s officially sanctioned version of events with the things he claimed to have seen. What did he have to gain from it? To help someone out who should have meant nothing to him?


Tharl cracked his knuckles and checked the time on his pad. Almost time for Round 4.
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18 comments:

  1. Barbara In Caneyhead28 April 2017 at 07:40

    Okay, freaky because I feel we are not too far from this reality!
    Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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  2. Sara C. Snider28 April 2017 at 07:44

    Round four doesn't sound too fun...

    A to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs

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  3. moon28 April 2017 at 07:58

    Tharl's method of re-education sounds frightening to me . I sense its not words alone.
    Great work , Nick
    Best wishes
    Moon
    https://aslifehappens60.wordpress.com

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  4. JeffO28 April 2017 at 10:48

    The title of your post reminds me of when a radio station I listened to was doing a "Rock A-Z" thing, where they were going through band names alphabetically. The DJ got to 'W' and played a song by the Who. When the song was over, the DJ says, "'X'--eXtra Who!" and played another number by the Who.

    The question about Tharl is, does he really believe the things he's 'teaching,' or does he know the real truth?

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  5. Ronel Janse van Vuuren28 April 2017 at 12:07

    "Re-educate"... sounds terrifying! Happy A-to-Z-ing.

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  6. Jean Davis28 April 2017 at 13:00

    Oh no! The poor kid. I wonder if Tharl knows the truth or may begin to question it after working with this kid.
    Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

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  7. Darla M Sands28 April 2017 at 14:12

    Chilling! You have a true gift.

    I'm glad you enjoyed my musical choices for today. I have to tell you that it's no surprise you never heard the Michael Stanley Band song. They had one breakout hit in the USA but never really reached beyond the Cleveland Ohio region. Be well!

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  8. Tamara Narayan28 April 2017 at 14:26

    Oh the intrigue! Great teaser here.

    X is for the X-37B Space Plane

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  9. Sherry Ellis28 April 2017 at 15:27

    Re-education, I'm sure, would not be fun at all. The boy should be dreading Round 4!

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  10. Emily in Ecuador28 April 2017 at 15:50

    Stubborn kid - trying to stick with the version he saw with his own two eyes. How dare he not adjust his memory to the official version. Next thing you know, he will be spreading this fake version and others may believe him! Good thing Examiner Tharl's dealing with, er, helping him.

    Emily | My Life In Ecuador | Xanthophobia, Xenoepist, Xyzlacatosis

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  11. Josie Two Shoes28 April 2017 at 18:18

    Sadly, in this case and as it so often is, efforts to help someone "see things more clearly" translates to "see it our way" or "pretend you don't see it". This place is very scary for anyone who dares not to conform, and I suspect I would be vaporized before long... what a convenient way to dispose of incorrigibles! You've created a really interesting story, Nick!

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  12. Hilary Melton-Butcher28 April 2017 at 18:29

    Hi Nick - not stretched ... just a very good adaption. Though not sure I want to find out what Mr eXaminer Tharl's going to do next ... well done ... cheers Hilary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/x-is-for-x-war-facts.html

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  13. Nilanjana Bose28 April 2017 at 19:27

    'See things more clearly' sounds not a little disturbing! I hope the little boy bunks that round 4 lesson.

    And X is just asking for a little stretching! :)


    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

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  14. Liz A.28 April 2017 at 20:13

    Eeek. People are supposed to doubt their own eyes? Not good.

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  15. Laurel Garver28 April 2017 at 23:01

    Very Orwellian in showing us the inner world of a puppet of a repressive regime--especially the coyly coded phrases like "see things more clearly" for "embrace our propaganda." Nicely done.

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  16. Anonymous29 April 2017 at 00:43

    Re-education is such a scary word to me.

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  17. Carrie-Anne29 April 2017 at 21:22

    It sounds like a most brutal interrogation is coming up, full of torture!

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  18. CAAC10 May 2017 at 10:48

    Nick,

    I'm in agreement in with other commenters, "re-educating" sounds scary. Sounds like $10 word for brainwashing if you ask me but then when does the government ever ask, it just does what it wants!
    ~Curious as a Cathy
    Art Sketching Through the Alphabet “X” (X-ray & Xena)

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