A bell sounded, breaking through the stillness like a shotgun blast. Terro stood and packed up his belongings with the rest of the students in silence. They all knew what was at stake for their new government, and they all knew it would take severe sacrifices to keep the cogs of progress turning.
“Terro, do you have a moment before your next class?” said a voice from behind him. A quiver ran down his back when he realized it was Professor Creo.
“Certainly sir,” he said, placing his last book inside his bag.
“You may not know it, but you are, in many ways, much like your father. I served with him for many years and he taught me to fight for freedom, tolerance and equality. He gave his life so your generation could have a better quality of life.”
The student turned to Professor Creo. “Is it true, did my father really help save Tisaia with Senator Spurious?”
“Without his leadership, we would never have destroyed the CRK’s headquarters.”
Terro gripped his book bag tightly. He had heard this many times, but each time it sent chills down his back.
“Senator Spurious was right. You’re the future of Tisaia now, son. You, like your father, will have the opportunity to change things for the good of all Tisaians, but we can save that discussion for a later day,” Professor Creo said, placing his hand on the young student’s back.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, professor, have a good night,” Terro said. His voice was precise, controlled, not a hint of nervousness present. He wanted to be like his father, respected and humble.
As Terro walked away he began to suspect there was more to his life than he thought. Like all young men, his dreams were overflowing with ambition. And Professor Creo’s lecture ignited his excitement of the future even more.
The hallway was packed with students heading to their next classes. Some laughed and played, while others remained silent, intent on making their next class on time. Terro was like the second group, concentrating on his way to the Royal Gardens. He often studied there on his breaks between classes, especially when he needed a chance to think.
He remembered being told the center of the gardens used to be home to the first Governor of Tisaia’s statue. It was said to have been removed in the uprising of 1971.
Now the gardens consisted primarily of fountains, and the single monument to his father, Obi Hepe.
It was early September and most of the hibiscus, roses and other perennials were shriveling up and dying, waiting for the spring to re-emerge. The fountains, however, were still alive and spouting clear water into the fall afternoon air.
Terro strolled through the grounds towards the statue, remembering stories he had heard of his father’s time as the leader of Squad 19. They weren’t just stories—they were legends, and they always made him wonder if he too could be a brave leader.
The steady trickle of running water reminded him he was close. He took in a deep breath of the fresh air as the top of his father’s statue came into focus through a row of trees.
He studied the features of the man he had never met; his short cropped hair, thick jaw line, and obsidian black eyes. I wish I could have met you, he thought, reaching out to touch the statue’s stone hand.
When he was younger he never quite understood why his father hid him away as a child, choosing to fight the CRK instead of being a dad. Sure it probably prevented his family from being slaughtered, but growing up Terro was constantly angry, never really forgiving Obi for his decision. It wasn’t until Terro’s first day in Professor Creo’s class he finally realized why his father hid him away so many years ago. Obi choose to fight over being a father so Terro could one day grow up and live in a world where he would be able to be a father. It was the ultimate sacrifice and gift to his separated son.
Suddenly a gust of cold wind bit into his shirt, distracting him from the painful memories. A squadron of dying leaves twirled about the statue. He cocked his head to look at the sky and watched a pair of dense storm clouds moving in over Lunia. The wind began to pick up and a soft drizzle began. Change is coming, he thought, gazing back up at his father’s statue one last time.
If what Senator Spurious had said was right then change would be something his generation would see often. It would be his duty to help stop corruption.
“You’re the future of Tisaia now, son. You’ll have the opportunity to change things for the greater good of all Tisaians.” The words of Professor Creo echoed through his mind one more time before he stood to pay his final respects to his father.
“I’ll serve Tisaia, this is my promise to you,” he whispered, stopping in the middle of the stone path to watch a pair of dark storm clouds creep over Lunia. Taking in one last lungful of the rain scented air, he picked up his bag and headed for the school. “Change is coming indeed.”
* * *
Liked the Biomass Revolution? Read the new short stories chronicling the lives of Squad 19 and the Royal Knights before the events of the Biomass Revolution, now exclusive to Amazon.
Look for Book II — Into the Gray Wastelands
Coming winter 2013.
About the Author
Nicholas entered the whirlwind of self-publishing in 2013 with the gripping dystopian thriller, The Biomass Revolution, a coming-of-age story set in a post-apocalyptic future after fossil fuels have vanished. Two prequel stories that detail both sides of the revolution—Squad 19 and A Royal Knight—followed shortly after. His second novel, Orbs, is a terrifying and suspenseful sci-fi account of a science team working in a Biosphere that finds they are suddenly cut off from the rest of the world. When the blast doors hiss open they enter the horrifying aftermath of a cataclysmic cosmological event (anticipated release in October 2013).
His writing consistently addresses topical issues such as climate change, immigration, fossil fuels, religion and war by adding the intriguing twist of science fiction. His motto as an author is, “Forever writing something different,” and he strives to create unique concepts.
When Nicholas isn’t writing he is more than likely attempting to find innovative ways for his insurance company to take away his life insurance. An adrenaline junkie at heart, Nicholas exploded onto the triathlon scene in 2012, consistently finishing in the top 10% of his age group in short distance races. In 2013 he decided to up the ante and completed his first Half Ironman in Galveston, Texas and Full Ironman in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. In September he will compete in the Hy-Vee 5150 National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Check out his blog at nvrstoptriing.tumblr.com for fitness and health tips.
An honest gentleman and humanist, Nicholas is known for his compassion. A vegetarian and animal lover, he started the not-for-profit 2RRacing in 2013 with the idea of running a dog in races across the Midwest to raise money for animal welfare. Look for him and his dog on the race scene in 2014 and visit them at 2RRacing.org.
He pays the bills as a project specialist with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency management where he helps communities recover from natural and man-made disasters. He has undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa in Political Science and American Indian Studies, and a graduate degree from Drake University in Public Policy.
Nicholas lives in the Middlesex historic district in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa with his dog Bella.
For more info, follow his wave of spilled ink at: http://nicholassansbury.com
Copyright
BOOK ONE OF THE TISAIAN CHRONICLES
By Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Nicholassansbury.com
Edited by Michelle Brown
Artwork by Phoebe Smithers
ISBN 13: 978-0-9892447-0-1
Copyright © 2013 Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Great Wave Ink Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright own
ers.
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