Epic

by Alexander Strijewski

  Nym gave it some thought. “Yes it is true, I found the lead shielding quite by accident. I had been exposed to the tower for many years. I just happened to pass it in front of my head and suddenly felt much better. After some testing I finally found out why and made the hats. But maybe I have been conditioned like all the rest.”

  “Well I haven’t been. If you felt better we can get others. But I forgive you. One thing’s for sure though. Whatever we do, we’re gonna do it together, uncle.” He fell into his arms and they held each other, the only two beings left capable of even feeling affection in a world gone mad.

  * * *

  The placid morning slumber was broken up not by the rising sun, but by yet another shrill shriek coming from down the hall by the manual laborer quarters. Both Nym and Brevin woke with a start, heard further clamoring as there was a physical struggle and then the sound of someone being dragged away.

  “I don’t know how much more of this I can stand.” Brevin said.

  “You’ll get used to it.” said Nym in his usual consoling voice.

  “No, I’ll never get used to it. Not now that I know what it is.” He got up.

  Walking over to the kitchen he started preparing breakfast. “There are some things I still don’t understand. You said that we might be the last free thinkers on this planet. What makes you think that all the other cities on this planet are like Ariton? We could make our escape and make our way elsewhere and ask for help.”

  Nym rose up, wiping the cobwebs off of dreams filled with men chasing him through alleyways and back streets, he stifled a yawn, “I really don’t know for sure. But I call to your attention that this city has no means of travel, like an airport or canal. There is no bus line or transport heading anywhere but within the city limits. The other thing is the power of the signals. You saw yourself, they went completely off the dial, my equipment is actually too sensitive to measure it accurately, but something that potent will stretch out for thousands of miles. I can almost guarantee you that this city is all we have.”

  “How can you say that? If you’ve never even left this apartment complex, you’ve never seen the other side of the city, how would you know that there is no airport? How would you know anything of the outside world?”

  “Well,” he started apologetically, “I used to go outside regularly, that’s how I found you. I know there is nothing like that. The data feeds tell regularly of other countries and cities and towns, but when I trace the source of that information, it originated from a governmental channel from which all data is suspect. It’s also repetitive. ”

  “Wait you went outside regularly? Why not now, with me?”

  Nym looked down at the floor again dolefully, “I couldn’t leave you alone, I was worried about you. And to be honest, I am old Brevin. I am not the young man I once was, craving adventure, sneaking out and braving the world with a dauntless a sense of heroism. I am content to be here with my books and my work.”

  Brevin never thought about his age before. The thought had just never even crossed his mind, but now he looked Nym over, noticing the crows feet and the few grey hairs domed by his very worn hat. He never thought of the fact that Nym never really physically exerted himself or played with him. He watched as Nym’s wrinkled hands strained in putting on his socks. It was just the way it had always been. It must’ve been the tower forcing him to believe everything is fine, but it was true, Nym was older.

  “But if you had never went out you never would’ve rescued me. Did you ever think of that? You would’ve been completely alone What about all the other people we haven’t helped? Think of them. We could make an army.”

  “Oh ho, an army! Please Brevin, every time I hear a new citizen taken away by an enforcer, it just affirms the fact that I want nothing to do with the outside world anymore.”

  Brevin walked back up to the window and looked out, “Every time I hear another citizen taken away it just adds another coal onto my burning fire, a flame that is about to explode. That’s for sure.”

  They both had breakfast in silence. The most deafening din of a silence either of them had ever experienced. After food, Brevin didn’t really have anything to do, Nym could’ve worked but was far too distracted now to get his thoughts wrapped around anything work related. He returned to staring out the window.

  “Yaaahhh-arg!!” came from the distance.

  “THAT’S IT! I would rather be dead than a coward! We fight back, TONIGHT!”

  “What!? Tonight!? We can’t, that’s suicide. Do you want to kill us both? We have no idea what’s out there, we can’t just go out there blind, with no plan. I don’t even know what we’re up against.”

  Brevin’s gimlet eyes seemed to pierce into Nym’s very soul, “Then you better get to work planning, because I don’t want to die either. But we leave tonight!”

  Nym’s hand’s started quivering. He stared back at his tools and receivers. He had no idea where to start.

  “If we aren’t ready by tonight, then I leave by myself, with or without you. Ready or not, tonight we begin.” Brevin said resolutely.

  “All right.” Was all Nym had to say, in no mood to argue. He began his planning like his life depended on it, which it did and he knew it. Not just his life, but possibly the fate of all the citizens of the city, the planet even, rested in the hands of an aged fearful old man and a small boy.

  * * *

  He had spent that whole day on his data pad researching the various feeds, studying maps, and triangulating the signals from the tower. He watched carefully the schedule the enforcers kept and made sure to include their patrols in his planning. He knew he was very want on information. It would be suicide to attempt any type of violent attack without knowing more about the enemy. He wasn’t even half way through when Brevin came up to him.

  “Ok are you ready? We leave in half an hour.”

  “Brevin PLEASE! That’s just not enough time, we need to gather data right now. We know nothing about where we are going, how many people are there, if they are tranced. Please! We need to spend the next several days not raiding, but gathering information if we are going to do this right. We can go, but only for reconnaissance, not an all-out assault!”

  Brevin thought it over for a moment, it seemed feasible, “All right, but we leave in 30 minutes. We are going to learn as much as we can. We can use some of the kitchen knives as weapons for defense.”

  Nym sighed, “You know that kitchen knives are not going to be a defense against blasters and shotguns right? This is why we need to prepare, we need to find decent weapons AT LEAST!”

  Brevin handed him a knife, “I know, but it’s all we have, do you have any better ideas?”

  “We need to make proper defenses a priority in our scout tonight. We need to be on the look out for something we can use. Also, and this is very important, you have to be able to pretend that you are entranced. You know, you have to look the part, otherwise the enforcers could possibly spot you. You most definitely need to mimic the motions of the civilians in this city, be very deliberate in your gait and don’t stop to smell the roses and chase butterflies no matter how interesting the scenary is, that may give us away.”

  “OK that makes sense.”

  Nym briefed him on what he remembered of the geographical locations of all key points of interest and where they would be going. They would be planting several listening devices to see what people were saying and if the people of the city actually talked.

  “When was the last time you actually did go outside?”

  “4 years ago, when I saw you.” Nym replied.

  “Oh wow, ok.”

  He handed him some stretchable leaden caps and they made their way to the door. The frame seemed to practically be stuck in the doorjamb as Nym tried to muscle it with his weary limbs.

  “You just have to jiggle the handle and lift it up a little bit to get the door to slide open.”

  “And just how would you know that!?” asked an incredulous Nym.

&nbs
p; “Well, I may have done it a few times before.” Said Brevin a little put out of countenance.

  “Well this is just getting better by the minute.”

  He managed the door and they peered down the hallways of the building.

  “The elevators are down that way. Don’t forget what I told you about how to act. Us being outside without having reason, as my job description doesn’t warrant any travel, is already suspicious enough.”

  “Gotcha.” Brevin put on his best glassy stare.

  They made their way to the elevator without seeing anyone and the doors opened to an empty lobby. It was already after 8 and not much traffic was about. The sun had set.

  “Ok well this is good for a first day. We can make it to the lobby pretty easily. I think we can turn back for now.”

  “Not so fast grandpa, we should head out to the street to survey the surrounds. Come on.”

  “Please don’t call me grandpa.”

  He pushed open the front door with a trembling hand. His heart was racing, this was the site of an abduction just two nights ago. They didn’t immediately see anybody, but it was dark. A nearby wavering street lamp cast dancing parabolic shadows across the unkept cobblestone. It was a bit windy outside and the change in humidity and smell of fresh air was a bit of a shock to the both of them.

  “OK follow me and act confident.”

  They ambled their way up the main street. They saw a pair of men walking opposite their direction, seeing them up close with their grotesque look, made it all too real. Nym could sense Brevin’s panic starting to set in again. He tried to think of something to keep his attention off of the passers by, “Up ahead is the munitions dump. If we can manage to find some type of weaponry or bomb then we can move onto further planning.”

  They rounded a corner and saw small group of enforcers standing in a circle. Nym fought back the pangs of terror in his stomach and tried to pretend all was well. He could only imagine what the boy felt. He looked back at him and was met by slate eyes pointing ahead, ignoring everything other than his destination. Man this kid knew what he was doing, he thought. With his heart in his throat, Nym affectedly walked in a calm manner right past the group, holding the boy by the hand. He could see the dump ahead now.

  “Aren’t you guys out a little late?” one of the men asked as they all turned to stare.

  “Just running an errand.” Said Nym keeping his eyes fixated on the forward path.

  “Towards the munitions dump? And just what errand is that?”

  Nym thought fast, “replacement machine parts.” He said without breaking stride and keeping his gaze straight ahead. There were several machinery production plants past the munitions dump. He prayed that that was sufficient.

  No acknowledgement came, they just kept walking. Not looking back, not knowing if they were being investigated or followed now, they just kept on. Finally they turned into an alleyway out of view as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

  “Listen, I don’t know if we are flagged now. I don’t actually know if the civilians of this city really talk. But we can’t be seen talking and veering off our path for long as we may be under video surveillance. I’m going to plant a listening device here and several other places and then we stake out the dump.”

  They continued on the realized that the munitions dump was locked tight, very secure. This was not going to be an avenue for them to find arms. They made their way around the building, hoping for some type of ingress, but no luck. Under the cover of night, Nym felt that was his best chance, but it was impregnable.

  “Now what do we do?” asked Brevin.

  “We double back on a circuitous route noting any possible important locations for future reference, careful not to go near any enforcers.”

  They headed back. After noting that the city had an operational tram heading to the hub of the parliamentary district and the tower, a garbage dump with all sorts of discarded metals and machines as well as noting the location of the barracks for the Enforcers. Nym, with some sleight of hand, placed a listening device as close as he could to where the enforcers lived so that could gather more information.

  When they finally got back, Nym breathed a huge sigh of relief, exhausted.

  “Well that was fun! We should do that again!” little Brevin wailed out.

  “Listen to me very carefully Brevin. We may be flagged. This is no game. The government is always looking for suspicious activity. Everything we say and do now may be bugged. Be very careful what searches you put into your data pad now and what you say. One wrong move and we will be taken away.”

  Brevin tried to contain his excitement, “OK I’ll try!” His spirits still not dampened.

  “We should listen to the devices to find out what we can and we still need to find some type of armaments.” He said as he reclined into his cot, “That’s our next play.” Within minutes he was asleep.

  * * *

  Over the next several weeks, Nym and Brevin made many jaunts into city. They found the best, least suspicious time was around 3:30 since that’s when most traffic occurred and they could blend in. The central tower of the city was in fact where all the emissions were coming from and they were coming from the second highest level, probably to be able to send the signal out across a greater distance. Getting at the tower was practically impossible however because the entire perimeter was lined by Enforcers at all times, a good 60 of them.

  The edges of the city were lined with a 20 feet high wall and no one ever ventured outside, due in part to the fact that there was no actual gate anywhere. The entire city was self-sufficient and practically autonomous.

  One interesting fact was that the Enforcers were wearing an earpiece which cancelled out certain wavelengths by harmonizing with them, but that they were still subject to other signals. Nym thought that this is why they must have an undying obedience to the state, but were still functional. They were the only people who actually regularly spoke. All other civilians did however talk when spoken to, but only in response to necessary essential communications. No small talk, no hi how are you, no talk about the weather or the latest “news” given out in the data pad RSS feeds. Which were almost certainly planted information, but by who was still in question. Thus the listening devices proved fruitless recording only silence. But you could talk to the people and they would answer questions about trivialties.

  When someone was abducted, they were taken to the far side of the city into a heavily armored building. What happened to them after that was a complete mystery. They tried not to think about it. Anyone who was taken did actually fight back, they must have had some sort of impulse to attack which was surprising.

  As far as weapons, the best they could do was to get a set of rivet guns normally used in construction which fired a piercing rivet one at a time and a set of seismic survey charges, not very practical but better than kitchen utencils. They carried them with them at all times in case of emergency.

  Traversing the city, as long as they were mindful of certain limitations, was viable, but still dangerous. The weeks passed and no one came to take them. Some enforcers were almost even polite in their discourse or so it seemed. The more they ventured out the more freedoms they realized they had, the more freedoms they had the more data they gathered.

  However with nothing eventful happening, Nym was running into a brand new problem. Brevin was becoming more and more doubtful with each passing day.

  One night Brevin couldn’t contain himself anymore.

  “But people will talk if you talk to them? Don’t you remember that conversation we had with that man in the tram?”

  “Yes I do, I also remember the look in his eyes and the way he only answered in terse sentences. I also remember the way he finally got up and walked out as if we hadn’t even been there.”

  “Look, I think you’re taking this too seriously. Maybe people not talking very much is just normal, how do we know what is normal or not if we never meet any people? We need to go out and t
alk to someone. You were cooped up in this apartment for years and years and now we realize that it’s not so bad. We can go almost anywhere we want. If the enforcers stop us, we just tell them where we’re going or make something up and it always works. We don’t even know what happens when someone gets taken. Maybe they are taken to work, or to a hospital or something.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  “I just don’t know, I don’t know if I buy into all this leaden cap business and carrying rivet guns everywhere. I mean this is crazy, who carries rivet guns!? Maybe we should just talk with an enforcer and find out what this is all about?”

  “Brevin, you are just young and naïve. You don’t know what can happen to people, you haven’t seen death and pain and suffering. Other than people being mysteriously taken away, you don’t have experience like I do and I’m telling you that we are in danger.”

  “We can’t be. Nothing has ever happened to us. We’re safe here as long as we don’t break any major rules, no one is going to take us. We should just approach the authorities directly.”

  Nym was exasperated, “Brevin what have you been reading, have they fed you information that I don’t know about? Because I can guarantee you, one false move and that’s it, we never see each other again.”

  “You don’t know that! I could probably take this cap off and nothing would happen.” He started reaching for his head.

  “NO! Please! Dear God! They will come for you! And they will come for me! Those wavelengths are real, I’ve been over them again and again and they are real!”

  “You can’t know that sitting in this apartment all these years. This is what hermits are and what they do. I can’t believe that I’ve been stuck here for all these years for nothing.” He turned away.

  “Brevin you have to believe me! When I first saw you, you were a zombie just like all the rest. But I saw something, a look in your eye. You actually looked at me, as if wishing me to save you. You never see anyone out there looking you in the eye do you?”