A Family of Rebels
In the eternal day light of the urban center it was impossible to decipher the late evening hours from the early morning. This only contributed to the lost sense of time Retra felt as her and Idio completed the last several blocks of their walk home. As they passed everyone had a kind word for Retra’s parents as always and today a special wish for good luck. Her parents were known everywhere in town as the most generous two people anyone could know. They were also heros in the community for pushing the Wise Ones to open a clinic in their neighborhood by gathering enough people to sacrifice wages with them so that the facility could be built and maintained with no extra cost to the Wise Ones. It was impossible for Retra to go anywhere without being noticed, and she was very proud of her family name. The dirty streets weren’t much, but this was home and it held a certain comfort in that fact alone.
“You really are nervous, aren’t you?”
Retra pulled her coat all the more snuggly about her neck and shrugged. She was content not to speak for a change, but Idio always had a way of forcing her to talk.
“Come on.” Idio begged for reply, “Aren’t you the least bit excited?”
“Of course, I’m excited, but I’m also tired, hungry and nervous.”
“Right, yeah I mean besides work in the morning and the factory all afternoon, who wouldn’t be tired. But hey I know your mom she’ll have something good cooking when you get home. And nervous why be nervous?”
“Why be nervous? Heh.” Retra straightened herself to her full height of a mere five-foot zero inches and continued. “What if on the off chance I fail? You only turn sixteen once you know, and around here that’s your only shot. Or how about this what if I out do myself and am lifted off on some space shuttle? Huh? What then?”
“You mean, you think the Panel of Greater Society might select you for advancement to join them?” She smiled and began to skip about in a childish fashion. “You could be right. I mean you’re too perfect to stay here and it does happen you know. ….and then I could come visit you, and you…”
“Sshhhh…. stop.” Retra grabbed her by the arm pulling them both to a stop and dragging her best friend in close. “It doesn’t work like that. It couldn’t possibly. If I become on of them I can no longer be one of us.” She stared her directly in the eye to check for understanding, and then continued to walk.
The two walked in uneasy silence for the last block and up the stairs to their neighboring apartments twenty-three floors up. This was one of the nicest buildings in town, where all the supervisors and their families lived. Nearly the best earth could offer, it was nothing compared to the lavish conditions on the orbiting space ships reserved for the Wise Ones. The building was comprised of synthetic materials of all kinds on a solid steel frame. It resembled the crowed apartment complexes of twenty-first century cities but this was built to last. The building was clean and painted in modest shades of white and tan with no unnecessary adornment. There was an elevator reserved for supervisors and those moving furniture. Each family lived in their own apartment complete with a kitchen, dining room, a small living room, a master bedroom, a bathroom and a small bedroom for each child. On Retra and Idio’s floor like most, the doors to the eight or so apartments were left open until late at night, making it feel like one house rather than several small units.
“Hey Idio, any idea why the lights are out in the hall?” Retra whispered as they topped the stairs.
“I have no….”
“Surprise!” The crowed gathered began to cheer and turn homemade noisemakers as Retra and Idio entered the hall. The banner overhead made of old news transcript read, “Happy Review Day to our Next Shop Keeper”. Retra was close to tears as she made her way through the very crowded hall to where her parents stood leading her praises. She smiled back at each person that grabbed her to a hug as she passed by and finally made it to her father’s side.
“Attention, attention everyone.”
Her father,
“I’m not very sure how to respond to all this; I’ve never seen this hall so full. I’d just like to say thank you, for everything, and I hope to make you all proud tomorrow.” She was about to stop, but the gaze of the group wouldn’t let her. “I’m a little nervous about tomorrow. As all of you know I hope to be advanced in status such that I may receive training to run my own tailor shop. If this is granted I plan to petition the ‘Wise Ones’ for a shop right here in this very building so you’ll no longer have to walk to the edge of the neighborhood to have your work clothes hemmed and cleaned.”
“A noble commission!” added her father from the sidelines. Cheers from the crowd followed.
“It’s nothing really. Fulfilling a promise to the community and my father. Plus, just something I’ve always wanted.”
“And you wanna marry that jerk Jardin from across town” a tall handsome man from the back interrupted, “Don’t ya?” Mixed with a bout of laughter the whole crowd busted into cheers, as Retra’s boy friend pushed his way toward her.
“Yes, yes I do” gasped Retra fighting to keep balance on her chair. “Is that an official proposal? Or are….”
“It’s official alright,” he said finally reaching her and taking her into his arms. Now firmly on the ground and overwhelmed by the whole situation there was no continuing her speech. He softly whispered daydreams into her ears and how she really must stop crying before everyone saw her fear of the coming day.
“Everyone to my kitchen if you can make it there,” shouted Retra’s mom, Marca, a muscular woman not much taller than Retra, “I’ve got some good old left over meat stew and god only knows what else you’ve all been nice enough to pitch in. Now come on lets get to celebrating.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” a loud yet, level voice came from the over crowd.
“Ah, perhaps a toast is in order then. I can’t believe…”
“No, I meant the Pronouncement of Thanks,” the voice said as the crowed parted quickly in silence to reveal the well-dressed speaker. He walked with a certain air of grace making him seem much taller than he actually was and with a pride that could not possibly be shaken. A lean man, he appeared much younger than he actually which only added to his mystery. He wore wire-framed glasses and wore his hair a little long for one of his position. Retra’s mother bent humbly, before the speaker as everyone tried not to look him disrespectfully in the face. The crowd was stirred, but no one made a sound.
“I did not come here to ruin your celebration, miss.” The man gazed around the room, and smiled a bit. “It is obvious you have planned a rather nice occasion to the best of your means. You may rise and explain yourself.”
“Dear Wise One, I must have been overcome with joy at my daughter’s engagement announcement, and foolishly forgot to offer Pronouncement of Thanks. And especially thankful for your presence….. it is an honor. Please forgive me for not acknowledging your entrance, I didn’t…”
“You weren’t meant to see me enter.” The man bent over now. “Your apology is accepted, but don’t tell anyone ok.”
“Now as for everyone else,” he said standing. “In case you are wondering why I am here, I too would like to wish this young woman the best of fortunes. May you continue your celebrations for her sake, and let my attendance go unnoticed.”
It was impossible for his attendance to go unnoticed; his kind were very rarely seen, and never at functions such as this. Those of the higher classes, “The Wise Ones” lived on there legendary space ships and only intermingled with the commoners to boss them around or seek out praise. For those of the meekest up bringing they were revered as God’s and they preferred it that way. But here in the homes of the more intelligent and more highly regarded of the earth’s people, they were acknowledge for what they truly were, the ruling class. Still despite the usual resentment toward his kind the crowded seemed surprisingly at ease in his presence. Retra had regained her composure and was standing straight next to her new fiancée by the time he reached the happy couple.
“Hello, Retra I see you’ve got yourself a fine young man. How are you Jardin? Do you remember me from the Panel, I believe it was two years ago. You advanced to be a factory foreman correct?”
Jardin stared at his shoes trying to think of the correct reply. “It was a very anxious day for me, please forgive me I do not remember you.” Of course he knew him, but this was the answer that seemed most appropriate.
“The job as foreman has been treating him fine, sir.” Retra interrupted.
The Wise One turned to look at her, and she stared back with the most intense of gazes from her hazel eyes. “All this excitement has lead you, like your mother to speak out of turn I see.”
“No sir. I am simply answering in my soon to be husband’s place, because he is too overcome to better express himself.”
“Is this true?” the wise one turned to the Jardin, again, “An awfully risky day to be making purposals, not knowing what tomorrow may hold, don’t you think?”
“Please…ahh..Wise One. ..She does not mean to speak so to you. Please do not count it against her tomorrow…. I beg you to please understand that she is quite not herself with all the excitement.” Jardin was trying his best to act surprised by Malu’s appearance, but the best he could do was stare at the ground.
“Excuse me for misjudging Wise One, may I please speak” She found herself now despite her best efforts staring the other right in the eye. He was only human and not really intimidating at all. “May I know your name so that I may properly introduce you to my parents and my guests?”
“A bold suggestion, young lady, my name is Malu Debor and you may stop trying to fake your humility its not won’t work on me.” He offered his hand in a surprising gesture and she took it.
Her father used one of his Christmas' subway vouchers, so she could take it to the Grand Hall where she was to be presented for testing. The train was full of hopefuls like herself from around the continent of Earth, and while a bit over crowded the hundred-mile trip was smooth and took only about an hour. It seemed like an eternity. She kept remembering her father’s promise that she would be able to return home, and that they could not force her to accept any offer she did not want. Without feeling much comfort she filed off the train with the rest of the hopefuls and into the large castle like building.
Dressed in her Saturday best, a blue self-made dress from fabric Jardin had earned her, she waited impatiently in the Grand Hall for her name to be called. The wall said “A bit of Space on Earth” in elegant liquid laser light on a projection screen of pure gold. The seats were of a fabric of tighter thread and finer quality than she had ever seen, and the whole scene was enough to make her nauseous. It was the lavishness of the Wise One’s she had been told about. After living on scraps her whole life it was amazing to see how the “Wise Ones” lived. She wouldn’t have believed it had she not seen it for herself, but they truly had it all. Before long, a liquid light orb appeared before her.
It read simply, “Please follow me, your name has been chosen.”
She followed the dancing blue light through a set of large silver doors on the side of the Grand hall. The walls were lined with eloquent paintings that seemed to spring into life as she approached. There was no one else around and she began to feel quite certain that she was being led into some kind of trouble or perhaps had taken a wrong turn. Not being certain what to do she followed the orb up a small set of stairs till she reached another set of doors at the end of the hall. The blue orb then chimed and disappeared into the air from which it had come.
“Come in dear.” Malu said as he pulled open the large door to let her in. “You’ve found the right place as I expected you would.”
“I have,” Retra whispered as she entered the room. Then gaining more strength to her voice. “I don’t understand this place looks like a laboratory” her pulse quickening “I am here to take a test. For advancement. I mean I am sixteen today…and.”
“And yes you are here for testing.” Malu completed for her. “Just relax there’s no need to be afraid. You are here for testing that is much more efficient than the type you are accustomed to, we are going to scan your DNA and your brain activity and do a comparison of your muscle mass to your baseline.”
“Where are the other members of the Panel?”
“We work independetly during testing, the others will review your scores later.”
“Will any of this hurt me?” Retra said, reluctantly standing by the door.
“Of course not.” Malu said with a gentle smile. He suddenly did not look as frigid as he had on the previous night. He was almost attractive in his own right and his eyes were blue not brown as she had recalled. She just wanted to be home as soon as possible. Home to Jardin's blue eyes and home to her family. So she sat down calmly in the chair beside Malu without protest.
“Now close your eyes,” he said, “I’ll be here when you wake.”
Retra woke from a pleasant and easy sleep. She lingered with her eyes closed stretching a bit and holding onto her dream. Then suddenly as she noticed the luxurious texture of the fabric around her she awoke suddenly to reality. She sat up in a panic and shoved off the heavy pile of blankets. Then, “Thunk!” She fell hard onto the thickly carpeted floor. In a break out of cold sweat she tried to right herself but found her muscles had lost all of their strength. It seemed like an eternity before Malu picked her up and carefully lifted her back into the bed. She felt cool wetness on her cheeks and a hand holding hers but nothing made any real sense. As her breathing began to slow and she began to register the room around her Malu took a seat beside her bed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I should have been right here when you came to. I know what a shock this is. I’m sorry. Please don’t panic, you’ll just make yourself sick.”
She laid there for a long time in silence processing the situation as Malu caressed the back of her hand. She couldn’t see much while lying down except that she was obviously in a room far too lavish to be on earth. She noticed her skin felt different as though she had bathed and that she was obviously in different clothes. So this is how they do it she thought. I always assumed they would come out and ask; it would make declining easier. Finally after sometime and drifting back and forth into sleep, she felt confident enough to speak.
“Malu, are you there Malu?” she asked from under the large pile of covers.
“Yes I am here,” he answered placing down his book and rushing to her side.
“Please help me sit up Malu, the last time didn’t go so well.” He lifted her on to the pillows and offered her a glass of water. She took a deep drink and then returned it .
“I assume I got here via a space shuttle while I slept, and that the sedative hadn’t quite worn off from before. Am I to assume this is your home Malu?”
“Not exactly, these are your new living quarters in the student’s wing of Space Gate Ten.”
“Did you bathe me and change my clothes?” she inquired with more suspecion.
“No,” he laughed “But the floor maid did and I can assure you that she meant no harm in it.”
“I cannot stay here” announced Malu, sitting up straight in bed, “I have a duty to my community and family. Plus I’m getting married.”
“I realize it may surprise you,” whispered Malu, “But it is your desire to help your people that is the very reason I brought here and your ambition and intelligence of course. You should be a leader of your people, not just a shop keeper.”
Her father had warned her that they may make lavish offers, but they never said she would be swept away without even being asked. She stared at Malu a long while. She had all the fears of a small child left at market and all the frustrations of a prisoner. Seeing her obvious daze, Malu sat back in a near by padded rocking chair and resumed his reading. They sat in silence for a very long time as she carefully examined him and the room. The bed in which she sat was larger in size and height than any she had ever seen. Its posts were carved of an amazing synthetic stone that shone with all the colors around the room. There were rich burgundies, purples and shades of gold. No windows she observed but instead a beautiful painting of trees and a stream, things she had only seen in books. It seemed as though she could step into the picture, as though it were somehow a real place. Behind where Malu sat there was a door slightly ajar leading to what she presumed to be a bathroom. Next to the door was a small desk made of the same beautiful stone as the bed, and on it a set of stationary.
“Are those so I can write home?” she asked finally.
“Oh those, yes” Malu answered. “Surely you will want to wish your family best wishes and fair well, and be sure to write Jardin.”
“You don’t expect me to actually stay here,” Retra exclaimed crossing the room. “I will speak to whoever is in charge expressing my concerns right away.”
Retra turned in disgust nearly tripping on the heavy carpets as she headed for the door. To her surprise the door did not open in the conventional way it instead simply slid aside at her touch. As she peeked around the door she realized the hallway was in stark contrast to the lavish room in which she stood. The long gray hallway was lighted with a soft blue glow the emanated from an unknown light source. It was quiet, empty, and down right creepy. She turned back to Malu who was calmly reading his book. For some reason she had imagined herself opening the door to find a home; forgetting the obvious fact that she was indeed on a space platform.
“It’s rather bleak around here during resting hours,” Malu stood crossing the room to her. “Now if you’d like to talk I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”
Retra crossed the room silently and sat again on the bed. She did not see the use in running from the only person she was at least somewhat familiar with. “Why are you the only person I have come into contact with?” she questioned him.
“Because, I am the one who chose you to come here and I have been put in charge of helping you get settled. You have only been here a short while.”
“Who do I speak to about going home?”
“You may write to the commissioner,” he said cautiously, “But I am afraid without any good reason to let you go he will force you to stay here, because you are a threat if you leave. You are far too intelligent and far to concerned about the betterment of your people to stay on earth.”
“I want to write to my family.” She demanded.
“By all means.” He said. Then leaning he dropped his voice “it is my job to monitor these letters you understand to make sure that nothing in them might cause a public uproar for your return or any other decent. You do understand that it would be tragic if I were to miss something and they would have reason to let you go. I mean I wouldn’t want anyone to demand your return” Retra stared at him, she could swear she saw him wink, but before she could answer him. “Now goodnight, I will be in at the morning bell.” He said with conclusion and disappeared out the door.
It had been three
days since
“A letter from Retra, everyone.” He shouted up and down the hall. “It’s addressed to all of us.” The hall quickly filled with neighbors despite the late evening hour. They whispered in a quiet tired hush waiting to here the news.
With a nod from his wife, and Jardin who had stayed there some days awaiting news he began to read her words out loud.
“Dear family, I have been here on the Space Deck Ten for about two days now. I am safe and well fed and everyone here has been kind. I am living in a ward with other young people, a dormitory of such for students with young adults down to small children. I regret to inform you that I have been told that I am never allowed to leave this place. I must stay here though I have voiced my desires to leave. They tell me that I can better serve our people here. I am a well-treated prisoner and they wish to turn me against our own people. I do not know why I am writing this, for I am sure that Malu will never let such a letter get to you. I think he too was forced to stay here and has since been brain washed. Please pray for me. Demand for my release. I am afraid here and want nothing more than to come home. I have refused to leave my living quarters and will not hear any of their offers. I just want to come home. And Malu made it sound like I might be able to if it was demanded by the people. Since I am sure there is no real hope in you hearing my pleas, I’ll leave you with good cheer. I love you all. Tell Jardin I love him and regret not being his wife. Please forgive me for failing to keep my promise to all of you. They say I can have a life of learning here long after I am twenty-one in things I cannot even begin to imagine. Forever yours, Retra.”
The crowd stood in dead silence.
Finally, Idio’s father spoke. “I’m not sure how this got by them. There must be some way we can partition her release.”
“This could be the very thing we’ve needed.” Trantor announced “Let’s spread my daughters news to everyone before daybreak.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d
like to see that letter,” continued Idio’s father. “Being the letters man
of the group I’d like to take this down to my press office right away to
make sure it’s authentic.”
“Sure thing,” answered Marca lacing up her boots and fastening her coat. “I’ll just be walking to spread the good news to our neighbors on the street.” Idio and her father had already disappeared into action down on their printing press. While everyone else sprinted into action preparing to head out into the cold.
“I’ll head toward my end of town,” said Jardin. “And check for more word.”
“I’ll head down to the labor pub” said Trantor, “I’m sure the guys down there would love to know.”
Less than ten minutes had passed before the group had disbanded spreading through the streets the tragic story of Retra’s capture. The number of truth tellers grew exponentially throughout the night. The subway drivers took the letters printed by Idio’s dad from one side of the continent to the other. By the time the police had arrested Retra’s kindred too much attention had been drawn and their arrests just turned silent unrest into small city riots that were quickly dispelled. By 6 a.m when the work bells rang all was quiet, and calm. The factories, fields, and shops sat silent in Retra’s part of town. Those who had not gotten the word elsewhere either quickly joined the cause, or dared not descend against their neighbors.
“As you know you have all been called here for an emergency meeting” the Commissioner shouted from his podium in the central hall of Space Deck One. “Please be seated, everyone.” The large hall was rather modestly decorated with the softest of browns painted in a fabric like texture upon all the walls. The chairs were well cushioned for long meetings of committee members, and padded benches lined the great auditorium for the rest of the Greater Society to join as they wished. On this day about 10,000 filled the hall, many had traveled from the other Twelve Space Decks positioned just outside the earth’s orbit to answer the Commissioner’s urgent call. Front and center was Malu standing before the commission with all eyes squarely focused upon him.
“Malu Dubor, you have been brought here under charges of treason, a sentence punishable only by death.” The Commissioner spoke in a harsh tone. “However, you are granted the opportunity to explain this little stunt.”
“I am afraid I know not what you mean” Malu said with a certain amount of defiance. “I simply allowed a scared child to write her parents I see no harm in that.”
“Do you know the contents of this letter?” demanded the commissioner.
“Only that they pray for her return, your Lordship.”
“You have compromised the safety of this girls own people.” The Commissioner turned on a screen to his left, which displayed various locations on earth. “They are not working. None of them are….all over this one insignificant girl. They do not realize that if they do not work they do not eat. They cannot keep this up forever. Your foolishness has caused all these people to starve.” The commissioners lecture was interrupted by rude and obnoxious laughter from Malu. He stood huddled over, laughter bringing tears to his eyes. “What is all the laughing about?”
“Oh nothing,” Malu said composing himself. “Simply that you think we’ll out last them, if they refuse to work. Frankly in a hunger strike they’ll do much better. Remember that without their labor at the factories, we do not have the purified water we need for the production of our air. But what’s funny is they’ve figured it out, this is more than I could’ve dreamed for.”
“Silence” the Commissioner stood. “And what do you suppose will happen to the girl if we all die? You seem rather fond of her?”
Malu stood, much more serious now. “Dear commissioner, you were not planning on letting everyone die, were you? That would go against our First Commandment – one must always provide for the care and survival of all. You have to let her go back. That’s all.”
“Just let her go back,” the Commissioner shouted. “After she has caused the first revolt in our history. She is a threat. She must die.”
“Aaahhh….an unwitting martyr, that’s a lovely idea.” Mayla turned to the committee. “But could we really justify her death under our by laws. She does not want to stay here. She’s just a girl, and this is not her home. So we send her back home immediately with a great apology to the world that we had no intention of forcing her to stay. Suddenly, they rejoice in her return and feel foolish for ever doubting our great wisdom. I really don’t see the big deal.”
“He does have a point.” Announced a member of the Panal of Greater Society. “We could find a way to spin this trechery of his into a positive. If we act quickly, but I am more concerned about how well organized this rebellion seems to be.”
“Yes it would seem that the people of these recent generations have many very intelligent people,” added a Member of the Committee for Earth Education. “Malu, you have been on the Panel now for twenty years, continuing the work of your father before you who served for fifty. It seems to me that many people have slipped through our grasps in recent times.”
“Well I think your right,” said Malu with a large smile “there have certainly been a lot of these brilliant young people slipping through our grasp, but that was simply a matter of time. You must forgive myself and my father for not forcing young people to come here against there will. Except of course for poor Retra which I feel just horrible about.”
“I’ve heard about enough of this.” The Commissioner shouted once more. “Kill this treasonous man.” With a simple flash of light Malu fell dead at the feet of the grand audience. As people began to rumble with fear and confusion the Commissioner clanged his mallet for silence.
“We will release the girl to her family” he said calmly taking his seat. “So that the people of the world will see their foolishness, and she will not pose a threat to us here. I have been told that she has refused to leave her room so her knowledge she has gained has been very limited. I will see to the girl myself. As for the committee make the announcements on earth and prepare for her grand entrance.”
Retra was of course very excited to go home and it was no time at all before she had changed back into her original clothes and was ready to go. She questioned only briefly about Malu since he had been the only one she had seen since her arrival, but was simply told that he was no longer in charge of her. The ceremony was grand a Retra politely nodded as the Commissioner explained the clear misunderstanding.
The day was joyous and exhausting and Retra was ever so thankful to be back at home with her family.
“So how do you suppose we got your letter?” asked her father as they sat crowded together in the hallway with most of the floor.
“I suppose it was Malu,” she said. “The man who came….”
“Yes, we all know Malu,” interrupted her mother. “Just as rebellious as his father bless his heart.”
“May they rest in peace,” added Jardin. Followed by a long sigh from most of the hallway. “At least he died the way he would’ve wanted,” he continued as a tear ran down his cheek.
“I don’t understand?” asked Retra.
“Oh you see not everyone up there is brain washed,” said her father. “Just like everyone down here aint clueless. Getting you back was just the vote of confidence our people needed and just the right thing to shake them up. What I’m curious about is what that son of his has planned?”
“Well” said Jardin, shrugging back at Retra’s astonished stare. “Getting me down here was quite the trick, and so was getting my fiancée back, but lets just say I’m working on a few things.”