In the captivity of the doubt. Chapter XV

"I beg you, don't worry and calm down," said a calming and slightly domineering voice to his interlocutor. "I hope this is not your first interview? Is it, Notric?"

"No, it isn't, Mr. President. I work in the newspaper "Ears and Littletail" for a very long time, just I was a little shocked of your sincerity and manner of conversation," Notric answered in a kind tone to the question. "Forgive my directness, you are much calmer, more confident and more sociable than other rulers, Mr. Pelterson," the journalist said politely.

"That's fine. So we’ll conduct our conversation, praising each other's merits," President made a joke.

"You see. Well, how? How can you seriously talk about any topic?"

"Like this. When it is necessary, I can be more serious, especially if the question applies to my country," said Pelterson, smiling.

"Well then, our readers will have the first question," and the journalist paused to look around the president's office with his tenacious and professional gaze. "Please, tell me, how you got to this kind of life?" and he pointed to the situation in the cabinet and the president himself.

"I wanted to be honest with you, Notric, but I can't. My debt is to hide or to keep silent, having communicated only a part of the truth," Pelterson began his story. "Let's just say so. Residents of Raccoonia made honest and independent elections and as a result elected me to this position," he finished, smiling warmly and affably.

"It's understandable and sad because all our readers want to hear the truth from the first source, and this is you, Mr. Pelt Pelterson." The journalist said and made a couple of notes in his favorite notebook which he always kept on his knees for such a case.

"Thank you for your frankness and understanding, Mr. Notric. I really appreciate these character traits in people, and I try to be as frank as frank as possible with everyone," said President confidently and calmly. "You're recommended to me as an excellent professional and a competent journalist. That's why I agreed to this interview."

"I understand your feelings and beg you only not to make secrets and not to spin intrigues. We're a very respected magazine, and we don't publish gossip," proudly and strongly said Notric. "The history of Raccoonia has many white spots, and we hope you will fill them all up."

"Okay, then let's get started," said the president, coming to his table.

Then he poured himself and his companion a large glass of cherry juice.

"Our conversation will be long and not boring, so help yourself to juice and chocolate." He smiled and gave all the sweets and delicacies to the journalist.

"Thank you for kindness and care," said the guest in surprise and continued. "Then you start and I'll write everything down."

“You’re surprisingly interviewed, but I like your way of working. Well, then you listen carefully and try to write down everything because I'm talking very fast." Pelt smiled and began his story, sitting more comfortably in the armchair opposite to the interlocutor.

His hands were calm and composed in the form of a triangle. That's a symbol of trust and respect for the interlocutor.

Clippings of the article Notric Axburi, journalist of the newspaper "Ears and Littletail":

Special thanks to President of Raccoonia, Pelt Pelterson, for this help and assistance in this hard and difficult issue.

One of the most controversial and, at the same time, most mysterious corners of our vast continent Diopken is the country of Raccoonia. Raccoonia is located almost in the northern part of the mainland and has a vast amount of land, rivers and mountains. The history of Raccoonia goes back many centuries. Raccoonia had seen the development of its culture and the decline, and degradation of society. But still, Raccoonia is one of the most developed and successful countries in the entire inhabited world and beyond. So most likely it's right to start our story, the president of Raccoonia Pelt Pelterson told our magazine in secret.

In a distant and ancient history was, everyone remembers and preserves how many years didn't pass as a higher memory. In those distant times, Raccoonia was still a kingdom with its kings and counselors. Kings ruled skillfully, and the dynasty multiplied the wealth and power of Raccoonia. The inhabitants were satisfied and rich. Raccoonia didn't need the resources of other kingdoms and was self-sufficient in everything. But as the ancient sages say, "In the history of any prosperous and beautiful state, sooner or later, enemies or just envious people appear". Raccoonia was no exception to the rule of ancient and wise nations. The main neighbors, barbarian tribes of trolls of the Barbed Tower, wished at that time to take possession of all the wealth and power of the rulers of Raccoonia, Yarionson I and his wife, Eliren. A few years later, the kingdom had an heir, but he was not destined to grow up and rise to the throne. These were the last calm and quiet years in the whole kingdom. The troll rulers took their plan a lot of time, but it was flawless. For years, the trolls sent their spies, so that they could influence the opinion of raccoons in all matters. Very developed journalism and the press of Raccoonia helped the invaders very much, because any newspaper or magazine wrote with pleasure any opinion different from a society. Trolls believed in hatred and greed, so their plan succeeded. For several centuries, they raised some ones and humiliated others, falsely forming hatred between raccoons. Trolls compelled skillfully suspicions and greed, lies and strife between families, brothers and sisters. Families collapsed because of incorrect words. Raccoons suffered because of their own stupidity, envy, hatred and desire to have everything.

The leader of the trolls, Tukwak, put an end to this matter, fixing the result of his predecessors and finally quarreling the inhabitants of Raccoonia with their royal family. In the necessary atmosphere of the anger and hatred, Tukwak was not difficult to direct the people of Raccoonia against the so-called evil and tyrannical power. When the heir was exactly one year old, the trolls chose this date for themselves as ironic for their history, the trolls have made a coup in the kingdom. That day was the last for all who had royal blood or was ready to serve the old royal authority.

The enraged people of Raccoonia and their support of the trolls broke into the castles and houses, the streets and cities, demanding revenge for the humiliation of the Royal Family and their evil companions. All those who were caught then or could not escape were transferred to a fair trial or, more simply, executions. At that time, the royal family was called traitors by the residents, or as they were called by the trolls "Tyrants, murderers of their own people". Actually, many residents of Raccoonia lost hope that day, believing that the new rulers from their own people would be more honest or kinder than "Tyrants and Murderers". But this beautiful story never happened, and very soon the raccoons were convinced of it themselves. But while the slogans "Death to Tyrants", "Murder or Life", "There are no people's deaths" and so many others like this sounded on the streets and houses of Raccoonia very often, it is not the time yet.

"The irony or joke of fate over my people was that they thought and believed that the new rulers elected by the people or, more simply, the Presidents would care better about their residents and neighbors. But everything turned out wrong and after a few months everyone was convinced of this, but it was already very late," Pelterson said sadly and regretfully. Author's note.

The leader of the trolls, Tukwak, was more cunning than the many leaders who ruled the trolls before and even after him. Just Tukwak was who came up with the idea of forcibly taking away the lands from the rich and rightly give out it to the poor inhabitants of Raccoonia. So in the first week of the "New Authority" rule, under the leadership of unknown troll to anyone, Raccoonia lost all those who had some authority or power at least. Raccoonia was plunged into chaos and abyss. The seized and returned lands by the New Authority were divided among the inhabitants of Raccoonia but only on the paper. In fact, all the land and meadows, fields and forests, rivers and even Mountains of Raccoonia belonged to its neighbors, the Barbed Tower, and personally to the leader of the trolls, Tukwak.

"The trap slammed shut. Take out all that is necessary and expensive. Take away food and water. Take out the goods and bread. Steal their women and children. Everything must belong to us now and sooner, because the chaos is not eternal in Raccoonia, and people can understand how they're actually deceived."

“These are the historically known words of the leader of the trolls, Tukwak, to his commander-in-chief army and chief counselor on robbery and deception," Pelterson quoted with deep sorrow in his voice. Author's note.

In the first months after the overthrow of the royal family, the inhabitants of Raccoonia faced troubles that had previously been bypassed by them. The new country was hit by famine and robbery, the uprising of new rulers and the struggle for power. When some residents guessed how wrong they were, it was already very late. One after another, there were new people, wishing to rule Raccoonia. To rule everything that from this country is left, after all the troubles struck it.

"By the way, there is an interesting fact of that time. Nobody ever remembered the name of the first president of Raccoonia, or even didn't bother to inscribe it into history. But one thing is known, he was a troll by nationality and always wore a hat on his head," said Pelt ironically. Author's note.

Simultaneously with the first president, Raccoonia lost the status of the kingdom finally and became simply a Republic. Thus, Raccoonia became the first land with such a status. For many to this day, this experience of Raccoonia remains the most important when choosing to hold onto the monarchy or boldly entrust power to its people.

In the meantime, Raccoonia was still falling desperately into the abyss. The power changed almost every day. Some presidents were replaced by others. Some presidents have fled the country, others held on to power until the last breath.

"A famous joke of that time says, "If every overthrow of the president of Raccoonia was appointed a public holiday, the raccoons would have to celebrate these holidays for only a few hours a day,"" the current president of Raccoonia spoke quietly and sadly. Author's note.

Hunger and suffering pursued the inhabitants everywhere literally. This went on year after year, until the first honest and kind President of Raccoonia appeared, which went down in history as "The First Honest President Entirson". His aspirations and support of residents, attempts to change and establish fair laws and changed the course of the history of this country, first giving faith in the future.

"Entirson would be able to change this society and make their life better, if his life didn't end from very strange and mysterious circumstances," said the current president in an ironic tone and hastened to add. "At that time, all problems were solved only in this way." Author's note and editor of the magazine.

On this, it is best to stop in describing the events of the formation of the old Raccoonia and to move on to events from the present.

In the modern world, Raccoonia is not the last place and its policies affect many kingdoms and countries. At the moment, the people of this country live well, confidently and comfortably. Raccoonia doesn't have its own army or military structures and doesn't need them. All known and even the most distant neighbors signed peace treaties with this country. They recognized it as a kind and non-aggressive country that gave the exclusive right to have protection and support from all parties to the treaty.

The Land of Raccoonia brought up and raised many talented and even brilliant personalities, giving the world new writers, musicians, actors, journalists and even scientists. We have been developing culture and society for many years.

The main idea and value of the people was engraved on the building of the Presidential Council and it says, "We try to save the history and remember the mistakes of our grandfathers", so that no one has forgotten and nothing has been forgotten.

The most serious and painful shock of the time for raccoons was the loss of magic over many years of fear and disbelief. Among them, there are no more sorcerers and wizards of even the simplest forces and directions. But raccoons moved in a simple way, they left completely in the exact science and technology, thus changing part of the history of their people.

Many years of perseverance and painstaking work on themselves and their future has brought an enormous potential to raccoons. Raccoonia became very quickly one of the most industrial and developed technological countries on the continent. A lot of factories, scientific centers and literacy of its inhabitants and specialists made Raccoonia a desirable ally for any country and kingdom in the world.

In modern history, there are still bad presidents, there are tyrants and villains, but a new control was established for these cases. Namely, "Commission of the President" decides who he is and how he rules. If he violates rights and laws, removes him from office and appoints another. Those are who serve in this commission, they have the greatest sense of responsibility and care. They are selected very strictly because they have the honor to make history. This method of governance led the country to the well-being and happiness of its inhabitants again.

Today's Raccoonia is a prosperous country with huge potential and opportunities, and this is the great merit of the current president.

"The potential of this land is very huge. The possibilities are almost limitless. All inhabitants have a desire and faith in the future. I rule at the very best of times, at the thrive of our country, Raccoonia. It's an honor to be president at this perfect time." "Fourteenth Honest President of Raccoonia, Pelt Pelterson" finished his story.

"Excuse me, Mr. Pelt, why do you have the title of "The Fourteenth Honest President of Raccoonia", if there were more of them in history? Right?" Notric Axburi asked at the end of the interview.

"That's right. Everything is very simple, Notric. After the presidency of the president, a special commission meets and decides the rules, he is honest and dignified, or was a Tyrant and Murderer. Then they give the president the number and rank. I'm the fourteenth of the honest. The previous president Piggoroty was the forty-seventh tyrant. That's all. Actions make us honest or tyrants," Pelt Pelterson completed his thought, elected for a third term as a honest and fourteenth president of Raccoonia, a country with huge possibilities.

Today was an ordinary beautiful day, or rather, a fine night in the renewed and independent Raccoonia. The sun has long left its cozy place in the sky, and the night came into its possession too long ago, so the sunset has come. Today, the stars shone dimly, as if someone had covered them with a black and dense shroud. Usually a very busy pass seemed to doze quietly on the border in the mountains. The watchtowers and the house of the tax collector were empty and it would seem that they didn't even stand out with a spot of light on the dark passage in the mountains. There were no travelers wanting to rest before going downhill or going uphill. There were no caravans with very different and even rare goods on the road. In the light of lonely and dim moons, it all seemed as if there had never been anyone there.

But a sensitive eye, accustomed to seeing in even the gloomiest and deaf cellar, would have seen the details yet.

Two people stood on a lonely tower from a hewn tree and rock, which served as a signal fire for an attack or just a warning. The silence, around the mysterious two huge figures, was disturbed only by the quiet creaking and rustling, which came from the boards rubbing in the wind and brushwood. Raccoons were still cautious, their history taught them how to live. Therefore, the President's personal guard was always present at all borders of the state. Their bodies lay silently over the entire area with a signal fire.

"Perfectly, my leader," the troll roared quietly behind Tukum's left ear. Today is the best day to attack, even the stars were scared of your greatness, and somehow today they are shining dimly."

"Prophesy of the future will be at home to wife and children," the leader said quietly and rudely. "Hurry up, you command an attack on the nearest village. And faster, until I didn't decided to nail you to the rock near these fires..."

Tukum turned quietly toward his army and began to watch with curiosity and disgust how these slackers stand into battle ranks, preparing for an attack on command.

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"Realm of Hope"

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