Inner City

by Scott Norton Taylor

  Chapter 11

  Lien took half an hour to navigate the winding track to the river’s edge. By the time he rode into camp Eve and Callen sat by the fire, fully clothed, enduring each other’s company. The only sign of their lie was the wet hair they shared. Eve asked about the girl’s father. Lien gave a brief, almost dismissive account. The girl had run a long way to find help. By the time they arrived back at her house, others had come to her father’s aid, so Lien was hardly needed. The man suffered a badly crushed foot and wouldn’t be able to work for many months. Callen wondered how he’d support himself if he weren't able to work.

  “His neighbours will keep food on his table, at least until he’s fit enough to work again.”

  Callen was impressed. Eve looked at him curiously.

  “How would they do it in the city?”

  Callen shrugged then awkwardly skirted the question.

  “There’s a lot of government departments, a lot of paperwork,” he said, moving quickly to a new subject.

  “Will he go to the hospital?” Callen asked. Lien ignored the question and brought the conversation straight back to the City and how they’d deal with someone unable to work.

  “In my time, the city would give you twelve weeks.”

  Callen looked awkward. Lien stared at him, waiting for a response.

  “What happens after twelve weeks?” Eve asked.

  There was silence. Lien let the hint of a smile slide across his face.

  “Are they still invoiced if they can’t work?” he asked.

  Callen ran pebbles through his fingers. He started imitating his game by the well, a variation of a game of jacks.

  “What if they have no money?” Eve asked, now looking confused and trying to work out what her father was hinting.

  “Callen?” Lien prompted. Callen looked to Eve, shame written across his face. Eve waited. Callen had no choice but to answer.

  “They get taken,” he said.

  “Taken where Callen? Lien pressed. “Eve wants to understand how your world works. She wants to know what sort of people you come from. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

  Callen waited a moment and then looked up to see Eve waiting for an explanation. He looked to Lien, who was also waiting, but with a self-satisfied look on his face.

  “They’re found work on public projects. If they can’t manage to work at all, they enter the donor program.”

  Eve looked quizzical.

  “What’s the donor program?”

  Callen paused, looking at his feet and nervously fiddling with the pebbles.

  “You get to help someone extend their life by donating your organs to them.”

  Eve screwed up her face in momentary confusion; then she broke into a broad smile, certain Callen was teasing her with a monstrous story. Callen didn’t look at her. His serious expression never changed. Eve looked to Lien with alarm.

  “They have laws to protect people; you said that. They wouldn’t kill someone because they can’t work.”

  “In my day the city put a lot of effort into teaching people that donation was heroic. They had a wall of names; donors who extended the lives of the ‘job creators’. It was seen as a charitable act, helping extend the life of someone meeting the standards of citizenship. They’d compensate the donor’s family for the life of the organ.”

  Eve looked to Callen with a look of disgust. Callen didn’t meet her eye. His silence confirmed everything Lien said. It wasn’t an aspect of his world he was proud of, nor was it openly discussed within the city, but every citizen knew how it worked and what was expected of them.

  Callen remained quiet. He kept to himself until he was called to come and share the meal. Lien had been given a rabbit by those he went to help. He barbequed the meat over open flames. The meal didn’t excite Callen like his other Outlocked meals. He was running through comparisons of his world with the Outlocked. He found it difficult to be proud of his culture, and that meant it was difficult to be proud of himself.

  After dinner, Callen wandered the river bank. He sat on the flat boulder where he and Eve had made love. He couldn’t stop thinking about his life in the city; it was a life with many shortcomings. The lessons taught about its perfection and enlightenment hid the many inhumane laws and decisions that affected so many of their poorest. They were decisions citizens openly supported or gave tacit approval to by allowing their existence without protest or complaint.

  As the fire dulled, Eve asked Lien about Callen’s future. Lien wasn’t sure how the Elders would view him. There was a precedent of going to great lengths to stop city dwellers returning home once they’d had contact with Outlocked communities. Lien assumed the same would be true for Callen. The Elders would likely make sure he had a reason to stay like they always did with difficult cases. Eve tried to hide her elation. Lien noted her held expression. Having seen the couple together, he could suddenly read her like a book.

  Eve told Lien she wanted to go for a walk. He looked sceptical, but all he could do was watch her wander off in Callen’s direction. Stopping her would tip his hand. He knew, from a lifetime of experience, his daughter never reacted well to being told what to do.

  Eve found Callen deep in thought on their rock. Occasionally he’d flick a stick or pebble into the water, but he did it without thought. Eve joined him. Callen worried about being together with Lien so close, but Eve assured him her father had no idea what was going on between them. She passed on her good news; Lien thought the Elders would find a way to make Callen want to stay. Callen wasn’t sure about anything anymore. He’d confirmed the nagging doubts he’d had about fairness and equality in his world with their chat around the fire. What he’d seen in the Outlocked world brought everything into sharp focus. For all the rhetoric about being civilised and advanced, Callen knew his culture had huge flaws, and now he knew there was also a mountain of ignorance to the world just beyond their walls. The City survived on misinformation. The powers spent their time and energy convincing everyone of a beautiful lie; ‘Work earns advantage’.

  It may have been true, for some. Every day, in every branch of the media the successful young entrepreneurs, the celebrities, the inventors, the lucky investors and lottery winners were shouted about long and loud for everyone to celebrate and aspire. ‘If it could happen to them it could happen to you,’ was the publicised cry. But Callen knew the truth. Everyone knew the truth, even if no one cared to admit it. Only a tiny percentage ever lived the lives of advantage touted in the media. Many worked as hard, if not harder than asked of them and through a lack of opportunity or misfortune, often delivered by no more than random chance, their hope, hard work and motivation went without reward. But here, in this land, these savages, these Outlocked people had lives the envy of so many city citizens; they lived lives with greater opportunity and freedom than a majority of those in the city. They lived with freedoms the equal of the city’s lucky few. They could have children, and they had time to decide their futures without being relentlessly pressured to complete a never-ending quest to rise through an established career ladder. They were allowed to stop and consider what direction their life’s work should take and then choose a direction they wanted to travel. They were able to decide what aspects of life they felt most important.

  Callen had dedicated himself to meet every requirement along a path to become one of the city’s elite. Like so many of his friends, he had bought into the promise that it would lead to the promised rewards. But unlike his friends, he’d witnessed a version of that future that came with harsh contradictions. His first parents were hard working and virtuous, yet they were shown no mercy when their business faltered. Their reward for decades of sweat and innovation was the shattering of three lives.

  Eve tried to get Callen to open up and talk about his feelings, but Callen held back, crippled by ongoing inner crises. How could she ever understand his world and the problems confronting him and his friends?

  “You can leave all of that forever. Just
walk away. Say you want to stay, with me. That’s all you have to do?”

  “It’s not that simple,” Callen countered. He was a long way from making the decision Eve wanted him to make. She reminded him of what he’d told her of his first parents, how their memory hung over his life like a shadow.

  “Why would you want to go back to a world that treated people like that? And body donations - are you seriously saying you support that?”

  Callen showed his frustration. He knew Eve made sense, but he was still hoping to find a compromise that fitted within the city’s rules. He was still programmed by his past to chase that dream of success; the city’s dream of success. He’d been indoctrinated towards it his whole life and Eve’s relentless pushing finally caused him to lash out.

  “You don’t just give up!” he snapped. “I have friends and family. There are things I’ve been working towards for years! You don’t just walk away from that!”

  Eve recoiled in shock at Callen’s anger. He immediately looked remorseful, but he took none of it back. Callen was a city boy. He liked the technology, the advancements, and the benefits of a modern world and most of all he craved the promise of opulent success. He’d seen that success promoted every day, from the subtle suggestions of what was on offer to the overt and garish displays of wealth from those already successful. Callen’s turmoil was coming because he wished his world shared the freedoms offered in this Outlocked world, but he wanted those freedoms without giving up his modern luxuries or the promise of that feted lifestyle.

  “Do you know how great it would be if you had some of what we have in the city?” he asked in frustration, trying to get Eve to understand what she was asking him to give up.

  “We don’t want anything you have.”

  “How do you know? You think me staying here solves anything? It doesn’t. I’d have more freedom here, but what sort of future?”

  “Any sort you wanted,” Eve counted, desperately trying to understand.

  “Not any sort. It would be your future. I wouldn’t have any of the technology I’ve grown up with. You’re scared of our technology the same way we’re scared of you. That makes us as bad as each other.”

  They both went silent. As they sat ruminating, Callen began forming a new idea. He took on a faraway look.

  “Maybe this could change it?” he said out loud as he thought things through. A spark of excitement grew in him.

  “Maybe that’s what I have to do.”

  “What?” Eve asked with concern.

  “I could explain what I’ve found out here. Like an ambassador, the same as we have for other cities.”

  “They’re not going to let you go back. Even Dad said that. They’ll want you to make a life here, and if you tell them you want to go back, they’ll lock you up or worse.”

  “You don’t know that”

  “Yes, I do. That’s what happens. That’s why we have the border patrols. Keeping the city away is the most important thing we do.”

  Callen took Eve’s hand and held it firmly.

  “Why couldn’t that change? Our worlds could do amazing things together; our technology, your freedom?” Callen was exuberant, his excitement spilling with every word. He almost jumped to his feet and began walking back to the campsite.

  “I’m going to talk to Lien about it. If anyone can understand what I’m on about, it’s him.”

  Eve couldn’t believe the sudden change in alliances.

  “What about us?” she called after him.

  Callen stopped and turned. He slowly walked back and took her hands.

  “I have to do this. I need you to try and understand,”

  “You’re an idiot if you think anyone’s going to let you,” Eve warned. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”

  Callen tried to wrap Eve in his arms, hoping to calm her, but it was futile. She pushed him away. Everything Callen had told her about his life and his world was thrown back at him. Eve couldn’t understand, after all he’d been through, why he was willing to risk his life for a society that treated him so poorly.

  “Do you have any idea what your people did when they shut us out?” she screamed at him. “Hundreds of thousands starved. We had nothing and no help from anyone. The city only cared about themselves. And now you want us to share what we have with them?”

  Callen had only ever heard this history as a measure taken for good. Those in rural areas were locked out because their productivity was too low and their numbers too high for the city to support. Their refusal to accept the city’s proposals threatened to destroy everyone, so they were cut off and left to fend for themselves.

  “That’s not how it happened,” Callen challenged. “People in rural areas wouldn’t change, they couldn’t accept technology.”

  The argument grew. Eve and Callen were both certain of their histories. They ended up shouting at each other, trying to get the other to hear their truth, not caring about being overheard. Lien approached looking like a man seduced to an attraction by a fanfare. He watched the couple argue for a moment before he spoke, startling them to silence.

  “Is there a problem?”

  Callen and Eve turned sharply to stare at Lien.

  “No,” Eve said a little too quickly. She looked to her father and forced a tight smile.

  “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Callen said.

  “No, there isn’t,” Eve urged.

  “Yes, there is,” Callen insisted.

  Lien looked bemused as he turned to his daughter.

  “Why is something he wants to tell me a concern of yours?” Lien was sure Callen had decided to do the honourable thing and confess their relationship. Eve looked nervous and said nothing.

  “Why don’t we all go back to the campfire, settle down and discuss whatever you want to tell me,” Lien said, in a serious tone. Then he marched them single file back to camp. They walked in silence to the flames coming from the open pit fire.

  At the fireside, Lien took a large log from a gathered pile of dried wood and added it to the blaze. Bright sparks flew in all directions as they sat and made themselves comfortable.

  “So, what’s causing so much trouble between you two?” Lien asked.

  “Nothing,” Eve said, again too quickly.

  “I want to go back to the city and tell them what I’ve found. I think if they knew, the city and this world could work together and both be better off.”

  Eve was hoping Lien would explode and talk Callen out of the idea; an idea that may get him killed. Lien sat in thought, giving little nods of his head as he framed a response. They still hadn’t owned up to their relationship and that angered him. Lien held his emotions as he gave a measured response.

  “You need to put it to the Elders,” he said calmly.

  “Why? It’s the stupidest idea ever!” Eve barked. “He’s going to get himself killed!”

  Lien was simmering inside; furious Callen and Eve were still concealing so much from him. It was all he could do to maintain his composure, but Callen was presenting a plan that would have him, at very least, separated from Eve for a long period and he wasn’t about to discourage that.

  Lien moved to his bedroll. He knew he was doing the wrong thing by encouraging Callen, but he simply couldn’t help himself.

  “We still have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow, so make sure you’re well rested,” Lien said as he lay himself down. Then he rolled over and did his best to appear like he wasn’t listening.

  Callen tried to catch Eve’s eye but she wasn’t interested in any final good-nights. She stared daggers at Callen and with a final disgruntled shake of her head, moved away to sleep near Lien.

  Callen was left alone by the fire. Above him, stars shimmered through a clear night sky. In front of him, the river flowed relentlessly. The water added a symphony to the reflections of the night on its surface. Callen didn’t notice any of this natural beauty. As much as he tried to convince himself his new quest was selfless, it wasn’t.
He was a child of the city, and his mind was entertaining excited imaginings as a pioneer of these savage lands. He imagined himself as the catalyst for change and dreamed still, of this new course, delivering him one of life’s rare winning tickets.