Paul Robertson - According to Their Deeds

“No,” Charles said. “And that was where my question came from, about one person suffering for another. That’s what redemption really is.”

“In the case with Karen Liu, who would suffer for whom? In real redemption, not just anyone’s suffering would count.”

“No. It would have to be someone who’s earned the right.”

“I think your queen is in trouble, Charles.”

“She has been from the fifth move, Derek. That’s the problem with bringing her out so soon.”

“You’re usually more conservative with her.”

“I thought I would try to upset your expectations.”

“In this case, Charles, perhaps you shouldn’t have. There.”

“Then… there.”

“It doesn’t help. The lowly pawn moves… and there, you can’t save her now.”

“Perhaps. I’ll try this.”

“Wait. Let me see what that does. Ha! Very clever. And that means… at least I take your knight. Poor fellow. Nothing of his own doing, was it, Charles? The queen makes a mistake, and the knight pays for it.”

“They are all in it together, Derek. Don’t ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. And there. That’ll make up for it anyway.”

The sky was a maze of light-punctured clouds. A clever beam could break through the shifting layers, evade fast-moving curls and strands, and attain the streets of Alexandria. An especially bright ray landed on the bookshop’s steps at the same time Charles did.

The brightest light was already inside.

“Hello, dear,” he said to her.

Dorothy looked up from behind the counter. “Was everything all right?”

“Yes. Packages are mailed and staples are bought.”

“Thank you. And do you have any plans for the rest of the morning?”

“If nothing else comes along,” he said, “I have some work to do in the basement. It looks like some of Morgan’s inventory orders from Briary Roberts came in yesterday afternoon. Do you have anything you’d like me to do?”

“I’m low on change in the cash register.”

“I will go out and get you some. And have we sold anything yet this morning?”

“I hesitate to tell you, Charles.”

“Oh, good! It must be something fun! What is it?”

“A Complete Shakespeare.”

“What outrageous fortune!”

“Please keep its slings and stones to yourself. Alice is not in on Saturdays, and I refuse to play your games.”

“But it is who I am, dear.”

“Then try not to be.”

“That is the answer?”

“Yes, and I would like you to leave now, at least until you get it out of your system. You could go get my change. I need ones and fives.”

“I’ll go.” Charles smiled. “I know a bank, where the-”

“Stop. Do not say anything else.”

“For you, my love, I will be silent. My kingdom to be hoarse!”

Dorothy giggled. “You are incorrigible.”

The sun had seized more of the sky by the time he again approached the front steps. He opened the door and stepped over its bright threshold.

“Congresswoman!” he cried. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“Thank you!” She glowed in emerald and gold, as if a beam of light had even found its way to the middle of the room. “I loved this!” She held the Proverbs Garden like evidence at a trial. “I just loved it.”

“I’m so glad,” Charles said, just reaching the floor.

“And I want to buy it.”

He finally reached her. “You can get less expensive copies.”

“I want this one,” she said. “A copy wouldn’t be the same.”

“Then I’m honored.”

“And I just loved talking to your wife.”

“I always do, too,” Charles said.

“Now I want you to show me more of your store.”

“Then I need to take you downstairs.”

“These are the old books.”

The whole political exterior slid away. Karen Liu was as purely amazed as John Borchard had been.

“There are so many…” she said.

“About three thousand.”

And finally she said, “I don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t really either,” Charles said. “The books just speak for themselves.”

“They do.” She began to recover. “How long have you been doing this?”

“Thirty years.”

“How did you start?”

“Dorothy and I were just out of college and just married. We decided to give it a go.”

“Why books?”

“Well, let’s see. I was in history and Dorothy majored in English. We wanted to stay in Alexandria. And we both liked books.” He smiled. “And it worked, despite our youth and inexperience. We started out of our house, and it took about five years to build up to a storefront.”

“Did you have anything to start with?”

“I had four books that my grandfather owned.”

“And now you have all this.”

“We made a few fortunate discoveries early on. Prices have risen over three decades, so we rode the ups and downs and put the inventory together. Now we have to compete against the Internet, but it makes it easier to find things ourselves.”

“What is all of this worth?”

“We could say about ten million, but it’s very soft. It could drop by half overnight if something changed the market.”

“That is amazing. I have never had a head for business.”

“You’ve had your own successes, of course,” Charles said.

She was done being amazed. “Yes. I have. Mr. Beale, when you were starting out-what compromises did you have to make?”

“I had to settle for less than I wanted many times.”

“What if there had been an offer for help, but it meant compromising? What if the only other choice meant giving up on ever having a store?” She was the most intense, and tense, that he had seen her. “Do you understand what I’m talking about, Mr. Beale?”

“I’m glad I never had to make that choice. Besides, I’m a different person now than I was then. I think I can only answer for what I’d do now. What would you do?”

“What would I do now?”

“What would you do now,” Charles asked, “if you had to make a choice like that?”

She said flatly and firmly, “I would turn it down.”

“I hope I would, too.” Then, just as firmly, he said, “Please tell me about Patrick White.”

It was hard to tell what was going on inside her.

“We’ve been friends a long time,” she said, not so firmly.

“A professional relationship?”

“We met at a Bar Association luncheon the first year I was in Congress. He became my unofficial advisor on judicial matters.”

“And you were friends?”

“We were kindred spirits. For both of us, the Law, and the legal system, was our lives. And occasionally, Mr. Beale, for social gatherings, a lady may appreciate a gallant escort. Even me.”

“Even you.” Charles sighed. “Then I especially convey my regrets.”

“It is very regrettable.” She was especially grim.

“But I take it you still communicate?”

“We still have a few things in common, even now.”

“You mentioned that on the telephone,” Charles said. “I understood there was some connection between you and Mr. White, and I think also John Borchard and Derek. Mr. White described a bill that Mr. Borchard wanted to pass through Congress.”

“The Sentencing Reform Act. Yes, that is part of the connection between us all.”

“Mr. White was against it, but you allowed it through your committee.”

“Another compromise, Mr. Beale. I’m not proud of it. Patrick White was very disappointed.”

“But you had to make a difficult decision,” Charles said.

“It went against my values and it still troubles me very much.”

“What could you do about it now?”