The Foundling Saga: Revelation

by Bowring, S D

  The limited early success of the Latin Democratic Party (LDP) followed the spread of the newer immigrants into state after state, as these communities continued to move around seeking their share of the freely available wealth.

  Eventually the third party had a following big enough to make a difference. The two large parties cancelled each other out in election after election, with a few exceptions here and there.

  The USA found itself with relatively inexperienced LDP government in 2138. Inexperience is not ideal in a powerful capitalist world. The other three powers initially viewed the government with some concern and not a little hostility. However, business is business and they then simply used their experience to try to take advantage of a world power with an apparently naïve government. And take advantage they did. They made gains at the annual round of trade meetings; they also started work on softening the USA’s smaller allies who, incidentally, watched the events in North America with some alarm. They took advantage in revising older treaties, and they took advantage on pricing controls, exports, imports, trade routes and so forth.

  Suddenly, instead of four world powers co-existing with a relatively similar amount of wealth, influence and mutual respect, there were now three world powers. These were suspicious of each other’s predatory economic moves, as they all tried to divert and carve up the USA’s wealth, influence, allies and assets.

  The tensions spilled over to the less wealthy nations – the second tier countries. These were pivotal in the world order in that they each had allies in the top tier. It was when two of these decided to fall out that the situation took an inevitable path towards world disorder. The Japanese, still allies of the USA, fell out with the United Korean State (UKS). The Chinese were proud of their junior ally, having spent decades influencing the UKS government and its people, long after unification had been declared in 2064.

  A few ships fired on, some serious satellite sabotage, and even an incident on a UN Space Station several light years from earth, soon blew up into a violent skirmish on Christmas Day in 2143. By the New Year, the Chinese were involved and were then taken slightly aback when the still inexperienced USA government took the extreme view that they needed to regain self-respect and protect an ally in need. By March 2144, a seemingly inevitable war began. It had been many decades since humanity had decided to go hell for leather in destructive warfare. There was a definite sense to the wiser observers, that the governments of the day had long forgotten restraint and diplomacy when faced with a crisis such as this.

  The resulting war led to a huge decrease in population. There was also a huge decrease in land space on which the remaining population could live. There were now large areas were travellers would suffer from the effects of radiation exposure within a few weeks of roaming through the scarred landscapes.

  Some major cities were spared the radiation - most warring sides still had an eye on the need for post-war trading and diplomacy and, therefore, kept the finger off the nuclear trigger when it came to capital cities. There were tracts of land still suitable for agriculture and there were smaller viable populations in many countries. The world population immediately after the war, in 2145, was estimated at one billion but there was a steady decline from sickness and a lower birth rate than was necessary for growth. The earth’s population in 2170 was estimated at 430 million and declining slowly. This was five percent of what it was prior to the war.

  During the wars, the capital cities, certainly in Europe and the East, rapidly closed their borders from the influx of refugees from ‘Outside’. They also made strategic decisions to clear areas in, and immediately around, these borders so that they had enough potential agricultural land nearby to ensure some food security for their populations.

  In England, government, of sorts, was still based in London. A reasonable population survived here and the government and its people tried to isolate themselves from other external populations to some extent, given that some areas of the UK were tainted by the scourge of radiation. In the first year after the war, these Londoners soon found that some refugee groups were camping outside the new London borders demanding an audience with government representatives. To reduce the likely threat of these groups to the security of London, the government agreed to meet these ‘Outsiders’, as they became known.

  The government advised that London was effectively closed. They did, however produce a Community Survival Plan (CSP) for, and with the involvement of, the Outsiders.

  The CSP included the identification of fall-out zones where the Outsiders should avoid, thereby reducing loss of life. It included the promise of medicines, of agricultural advisers, and, for a crucial period, tinned and dried food from their own supplies to ward off starvation, and thus desperation, amongst the Outsiders.

  These refugees had no choice but to disperse. The various groups of families had formed a loose alliance out of mutual need but they spread out and settled in various safe areas around London and some beyond that. They generally rejected the life of technical sophistication that had caused all their woes. Gradually over the decades they became reasonably self-sufficient with the exception of the trade associated with medicines.

  Some places, such as London, were effectively satellite communities, albeit fairly large compared to off-world populations. The earth still yielded enough to be of use to some of the off-world populations who had already started to colonise a number of planets decades before the war. These Earth-based satellite communities provided a conduit for rare minerals, certain metals, animals, plants and seeds for off-world needs.

  In the early years after the war population growth was very much controlled in many capital cities. This was partly due to concerns over supply of food and drinking water, and partly after a spike in birth defects. The birth defects were caused by contamination of food supplies and drinking water. This took a few years to bring under control. At the time of Keller’s birth, unregistered pregnancies were likely to result in the killing of a child, such was the obsession to keep the breeding population pure, as in contamination free.

  This did however, not help the fact that part of the population was still dying off in contaminated areas. In London population policies had to change drastically to avoid an aging population without young blood to sustain it.

  The Earth-based population also needed continue to provide people to help the colonies become sustainable. The Earth’s usefulness was under threat if these off-world colonies didn’t grow to help maintain the need for trade routes from satellite cities such as London.

  By the early 24th Century, it had become an obsession of these satellite communities to seek out healthy, still fertile, young men and women from beyond their own borders. The reward for these communities was continued survival.

  The fact that Keller had been noticed by the guardians, and identified as a possible healthy young male, would set in motion a series of events that would soon change the course of his life.

  It was an irony that didn’t escape some people that a child that may have been subject to ‘humane disposal’ as a baby might now be so sought after for his healthy potential as a young man.

  The Excursion

  Keller sat in the tent watching his Aunt Nerys stir the large pot over the fire. Cormic’s sister, Sara, was seated on a low stool preparing vegetables. In the pot, water was being heated and he watched the smoke rising, firstly as a cloud trying to spread outwards and then into a more defined channel as it was taken by the draught up through the smoke flap above.

  Cormic came into the tent and asked to speak with Keller. “Let’s go for a walk,” he indicated, pointing back over his shoulder.

  Keller collected his hat and scarf. He silently followed Cormic out of the tent looking back towards his Aunt Nerys, who pretended to be closely examining the contents of the pot, but he caught her eye nevertheless and she gave him a sympathetic smile.

  The two walked along the duckboards between the tents that led to the top of the field. They made the
ir way into a small copse nearby, where Cormic sat down on one of a group of rocks near a wide stream.

  “Sit down, Keller.”

  “Cormic, please tell me what is wrong? Everyone is acting serious and I am worried sick without even being sure why.” He looked distressed. Cormic recognised the signs as soon as Keller started pushing his long hair back, as though irritated that it was clouding his thoughts. This was a habit he had displayed many times during his childhood when in trouble, particularly if he felt there was injustice toward him.

  “Keller, we had company behind us all the way back from the Arpo. Two troopers. They kept their distance but we spotted them several times. They were dressed like us but they were definitely troopers. When you left the Arpo there was much activity amongst a small group of the Regents. Several troopers left in a hurry. We can only presume two of them were sent to follow us, however their intentions aren’t totally clear. It was safer to return here as we have many friends here - two troopers cannot watch every field exit. Now we need to help you leave here for a while and we intend to escort you away from here in the morning,” Cormic paused before looking up again at Keller.

  “I will be taking you away – the decision has been made for your benefit. It will be for a few weeks, we have to hope that the Regents will believe that they have lost you. They will not interfere too much with the families directly but they will certainly try to separate individuals from us if they can. They will claim innocence but we have known this happen to other families in the region.” He paused again and chewed on his fingers as he watched Keller look of dismay.

  Keller was dumbstruck. He shook his head several times as though shaking the events away and then blurted out, “Why should we run? What have I done? Why can’t we talk to their elders?”

  “Keller, I have watched you grow up under the careful guidance of my sister Nola. Your mother is devastated but she will not show this and you need to be brave for her sake. Show her that you are not afraid – Tomorrow we must leave with courage in our heart. We will both take a backpack and light bedding and lie low for a week or so.

  We will be taking our haz-suits, as we will be entering a town in the north for shelter. It’s always possible that some winds have brought contamination to those areas, albeit unlikely.”

  To Keller, the prospect of travelling with Cormic had always been a dream of his, but not under these worrying circumstances.

  Cormic looked over at Keller and he could see he was having difficulty taking all of this in, but he pressed on:

  “Your mother is packing for you – we both need to check what is going in the backpack as I need you to be fleet of foot. You cannot carry unnecessary items. I will come back and eat with you tonight, and I’ll stay with you and Nola, so that we can leave early together. We will need to travel at first light. Some of the family will be coming by to see you tonight, to wish you well on your first town expedition.”

  Keller was silent, watching the stream make its way between the rocks.

  “Let’s go back Keller, we have much to do and you need rest – Just be strong for Nola.” He stood up and walked over to Keller putting his arm on his shoulder. “You are very dear to Nola, to all of us, Keller. You may of come to us out of nowhere but we will care for you and look out for you as we have always done. Now let’s go back.”

  Keller stood up and followed Cormic; he looked silently at his back as they walked back through the tents with his mind spinning with thoughts. “Are the troopers near our fields now?” He asked Cormic nervously.

  “We don’t know. We will need to be careful as some of them are good trackers and not from the same mould as the other Regents – I suspect they are from one of the other families closer to London perhaps. They will sell their souls, I am sure, just to help line their pockets with treasures, but don’t worry about them.” He paused again before adding “You might be interested to know that we will be having some help tomorrow. We aim to confuse any troopers who may be hiding nearby.”

  The two Outsiders made their way back to the tent. Nola was back and Keller saw two backpacks nearby with various items of clothing and other travelling necessities. Whilst Aunt Nerys continued with the meal preparation, Nola had roped in Merna and Cormic’s older sister Ida, who were rolling preserves into bundles. They had the food rationed out into separate meal size waterproof wraps. He noticed a long fish-knife next to each backpack, and Ida wrapped these in cloth slipping them into side pockets.

  Ida was one of two teachers of Suffolk Road who taught the children how to read, write and draw. He noticed that she was putting some of the smaller cloth maps into both backpacks, presumably as instructed by Cormic. Paper maps, like books, were rare, and generally anything permanent such as ‘family rules’ were often printed onto cloth.

  “Ida, Merna,” Keller nodded at them, “Thank you for coming to help us.”

  Ida looked at Merna and then back at Keller. “We should,” she said matter-of-factly. Merna nodded and smiled at him, then turned back to continue selecting the preserved food for parcelling up.

  They all stopped for food. They ate mainly in silence, exhausted from the days walking. He noticed Merna, Ida and his mother glancing back frequently to the array of items to be neatly packed into the backpacks. They were keen to ensure they didn’t forget anything as Cormic would soon be checking the contents. He would, no doubt, add his comments about why he should have taken care of it all himself. In truth, the women of the family always remembered the essentials when they packed for the men on these trips. They wanted them to come back safely and didn’t trust the packing to the men, who would invariably be thinking of the adventures rather than the practicalities and realities of the journey.

  Keller sat with Nola throughout the meal. They managed a light conversation about the trip ahead rather than the cause of it but he could see, as the night drew on, that his mother was indeed concerned.

  “Mother, this is fine. I have always wanted to visit the old towns and it’s not for long. We will be careful. I promise you that.”

  Nola brushed some crumbs from her lap pausing for a moment as though pondering what to say next. She looked up at Keller. “I know you will be fine with Cormic. I have always been nervous when you go to the Arpo and anywhere for more than a day. I found you. I am bound to feel protective. I do trust you though – so be careful that my trust remains justified!”

  To Keller, his mother was a strong person. He noticed now a mixture of sadness and resignation in her face.

  Keller felt humbled around his family this evening and especially his mother. It was a rare event for her to remind him of his foundling status. “Like a gift”, she said.

  After the meal, Cormic checked the packs, then left for an hour or so to gather some odd bits before returning in time for a sleep. At this point, after finding excuses to remain in the tent, to tidy up and check the packs again, Merna and Ida finally got up to leave for their own tent. They embraced Keller before they left, wishing him a good journey and assuring him they would be waiting for his return soon, to hear of all his adventures. Merna, in particular, held him for a while and he flushed as Cormic surreptitiously winked at him, as he bent to unroll his own bedding mat on the other side of the tent.

  Keller was woken by Cormic. It was still dark outside. “Come, it’s time. I have something ready for you to eat and drink and then we must go.” He gestured to the bowls waiting for them.

  Within 30 minutes, a still tired Keller had his backpack on and awaited Cormic who had left the tent briefly. His mother had also surfaced and took the opportunity to embrace him, telling him to take good care of Cormic. “Keller, you need to put your hood up and you should keep low until you reach the woodlands edge, lest your height give you away.”

  Cormic returned, checked Keller’s straps and boots and then nodded to him that it was time to go. Nola embraced him again.

  Keller felt he was about to get emotional, so he gently pulled himself away from his mother. He he
ard a lot of movement outside the tent on the duckboards. He was startled to see lots of other family members stood around in the dark, including Merna and Ida who sidled up to him to say farewell and both squeezed his hand. All those present were dressed in a similar fashion with backpacks and hoods up.

  “Sssshh,” said Cormic, as several of them whispered hellos at the same time. “Keller, these kind people will be helping us. We are going to leave from the top of the field and cut over to the high field and through the camp of our friends in the two fields beyond that, until we reach the small wood.” He paused to gesture a welcome to another couple of family members who had just arrived.

  “Our friends here have agreed to act as decoys and are all going on a one hour trek, in pairs, in different directions to each other and us. We are hoping that any watching troopers will not know who on earth to follow.”

  “Thank you all, I am really grateful!” Keller whispered to the decoys. Now he did have tears in his eyes. He quickly wipe his eyes and shivered at the chill. He looked over at Merna and saw that here and Ida were dabbing theirs eyes discreetly.

  Cormic indicated that they needed to leave now. He whispered them all good luck and vice versa, and then they set off. Some of the pairs followed them towards the high field, they gradually split away towards the various exits.

  Keller reflected that in this light it would be impossible for anyone to identify anyone else and this gave him some hope. His visits to the Arpo were so full of new and exciting experiences that the troopers in the background had only ever been of passing interest to him. He hadn’t observed any signs of fear or distrust of them by other family members. Perhaps, he hadn’t been looking hard enough. In the space of less than a day, the troopers had changed from a passing interest to a growing menace in his own mind, not helped by the fact that he had so little information to go on. No doubt he would be able to find out more from Cormic over the coming days.