"And that is why Mr. Marr is out there and you sit here. Each of you went through the same training. Would any of you like to test your skills?"
The room was silent. "Good."
Jamus said, "Just do us all a favor and don't tell him he's the smart one. He'd become even more unbearable than he already is."
"I am here to build a team, Mr. Turnbull. I'm fully aware of Mr. Marr's ability to annoy others, including me."
Most of the day had passed before the process that differed from that of Hallik's was identified. The oven temperature of the second kiln was one hundred degrees lower than the first, leading to 8 percent fewer rejections at the end of the line, and the subsequent 2 percent increase in profit. When his shift was complete, Dester Marr was pulled from his station and escorted to the exit. A hover taxi and an escort were waiting to whisk him away.
Chapter 5
* * *
Hallik walked in front of the group with a grin. "Most excellent work this morning. I've already ordered the adjustment at my own factory. I take it Bersa has filled you in on your next mission?"
The group returned nods.
"Good. This coming mission will require few skills from Mr. Pike. You will be wheeling in the lunch trolley, delivering food packs, cleaning up after the workers return, and of course returning the trolley to the kitchen area. There are sixteen trolley workers per shift. You'll be feeding just over four thousand miners. Just observe. Do not ask questions. Do not get involved in discussions. Roll in the food. Roll out the trash. Understood?"
Daniel nodded. "I can do that."
"Excellent. Bersa, the schedule has been moved up to tomorrow. You have the mine layout. You have a replica of the trolley Mr. Pike will be pushing. I'm certain you will have him ready for pick-up by morning. I have business to tend to. I'll be returning at first light. And give them an hour of free time this evening. They've earned it."
Hallik turned for the door without further word.
Bersa stood and pointed toward the classroom building. "Shall we begin?"
As the group walked, Bersa said, "Martin, you and Greta will be loading the cart. Mr. Turnbull, you and Kerena will play miners. Mr. Marr, you will be a manager. I will be directing you in your tasks, and I expect young Mr. Pike to observe and recall your activities."
Daniel frowned. "Does that mean I have to wear the shocker?"
"Yes. The learning collar will be used for every session. It has proven to be an effective training tool during the entire existence of the Markux Empire. But not to worry, it will only be applied after the training session ends, during evaluation."
Dester snickered. "Gonna blow off your head, kid. With as many questions as you'll miss, this is gonna be fun to watch."
Four hours were spent loading, dispensing, collecting, and emptying the trolley, and then repeating the process. Each time, Dester Marr was given different tasks to perform. When the four-hour mark was reached, the group returned to the classroom for an evaluation.
Bersa gave direction, "Mr. Marr, please place the learning collar on Mr. Pike."
"My pleasure," replied a grinning Dester.
Twelve questions were asked, only two answers were returned as wrong. Bersa directed the collar be removed.
Dester protested. "That's it? Those were easy. You only asked him about the things he did during that last round."
"Mr. Pike, please place the collar on Mr. Marr."
Dester returned a look of apprehension. "What?"
Daniel stepped up with the collar, latching it closed with a grin of his own. "My pleasure."
"Mr. Marr, on the third sequence, what was the last task I had you perform?"
"What?"
A mild shock was administered. The rest of the group laughed.
The victim turned with a scowl. "Funny. You're all funny."
"Again, what was the last task of the third sequence?"
Dester thought hard. "Uh, I held up four fingers."
Bersa administered a shock. The others giggled.
"No, no, no... two fingers." Dester scowled and then made a snicker of his own. "OK, I deserved that one."
The question that followed was answered correctly.
After the following morning's breakfast, Hallik returned. He chatted with the group for several minutes before taking Daniel Pike away. The group moved to the classroom.
Bersa stood before them. "One mission complete. One underway. Very well done. Next up will be Mr. Turnbull. I'm afraid this will be a physical assignment, but one you are familiar with. You will be joining a coal mining crew on Gatumon II."
"What? Not actual mining, is it? Are you talking swinging a pick?"
"Yes. If you would prefer, I can pass this assignment to Martin."
Jamus glanced over as he slowly shook his head with an unhappy expression. "No. I'll never ask that another take my work if I'm fully capable. What's our objective?"
"Production on this particular shift-team is 20 percent above average. Master Hallik would like to know why, so that improvements might be made at his own mines."
A long sigh was released. "I should be able to tell you that within a few hours. This a one-day extraction?"
"I'm afraid not. As with most mines, the Gatumon miners of Master Hilgess operate in ten-day shifts. Once inside, we won't be able to pull you from the crew for that ten-day period."
Jamus rubbed his forehead in thought. "Ten days in a coal shaft? That's an eternity. We don't have any other way to gather this info? Maybe attach the video gear to an unknowing miner when he's up on the surface?"
"Are you unwilling to take on this task?"
"Not saying I won't. I'm just getting a bit uncomfortable with some of this. The trolley pusher that Daniel replaced, what happened to him?"
"An unfortunate accident. He fell from his pushing position and was crushed by the trolley behind him."
Jamus again slowly shook his head. "I'm not liking this whole setup. Two Humans killed to get Dester into the factory? Another killed to place Daniel? How many are dying so I can play miner?"
"I see this is causing a moral dilemma. You do realize what a decision to not go means, don't you?"
"I can go," said Martin.
Bersa gave a pursed smile to the volunteer before looking directly at Jamus Turnbull. "Regardless of your eagerness to help your friend, Mr. Gecka, he must make the decision as to whether or not to continue with this group on his own. If he decides not to, and accepts the consequences, he should know that he will only be replaced with another, and the slave who will be terminated will still be terminated."
Bersa looked over the group. "You must realize by now that sacrifices have to be made. You will not be asked to take the life of another Human, but you should not expect that none will be lost. Consider the sacrifice these Humans will be making as part of the path that will one day lead all Humans to freedom.
"You were each selected for this duty because you were aware. Must I remind you what that means? Master Hallik believes this alternate existence to be far superior to your other option. He also believes this group can be key to one day freeing humanity. The decision is yours, Mr. Turnbull. All I ask is that you make that decision here and now, so our efforts here, and the lives of the remainder of your group, can continue."
Jamus placed his hand on top of his head, leaning it back as he stared up at the ceiling. Was this it? Was it over for him? Hallik had never promised it would be easy. Was he genuine in his offer to actually free Humans?
"Mr. Turnbull?"
"You get Hallik to tell us all... straight up... that he will free us all, every Human, and I'll commit fully to this... whatever this is."
"I can assure you Master Hallik has made that commitment."
Jamus shook his head. "I want to hear it from his mouth. Not that you have lied to us at all, but I... we... need to hear it coming directly from him. It would mean a lot to all of us, and to our level of enthusiasm for this program. Tell him if he gives us that, we wi
ll give him the success he desires."
Bersa tapped her chin with a single finger for several seconds. "Would you be willing to compromise?"
"How so?"
"You commit fully until Master Hallik returns to speak to the lot of you. In the meantime, I will relay your... offer. Would that be satisfactory?"
"If Daniel is returned this evening or tomorrow, can we expect Master Hallik to be bringing him?"
"I cannot answer that. I am not privy to his schedule. I only follow directions. Master Hallik comes and goes when he has time. I cannot promise a time for his next visit."
Jamus stared intently for several seconds at the former Girda spy standing before him. "I suppose that's a reasonable compromise."
"Excellent. Now, shall we continue with our training?"
"What about Daniel? Shouldn't we be watching as he goes about his deliveries?"
"The mines of Gatumon do not operate on the same time schedule as we do here. Mr. Pike's shift won't begin for another four hours. During this wait period, we'll be reviewing our observation techniques. Who would like to be first in the learning collar?"
Five would-be spies spent close to an hour each in the collar. Dester Marr went last. Twenty-six questions about prior events were all answered correctly. The elder spy grinned as the collar was removed. Minutes later an image appeared on the display as Daniel Pike stepped out of a hover-taxi.
As he walked toward the entrance to the mine, the layout of the external operations was revealed. Four immense stacks of ore sat in piles to the left. A fifty-meter-tall conveyor carried newly mined ore to the piles. A crane then filled the bays of transit shuttles, and the ore was hauled off for further processing elsewhere.
Immediately in front of Daniel was a large set of warehouses, where parts and equipment were housed and repairs were made. On the right was a building with administrative offices that sat atop housing for a full contingent of slaves. Four thousand members of work-crew alpha were on day nine of rest from their prior shift. Daniel Pike was escorted directly into the mine's entrance.
A small rail system carried the new trolleyman deep into the works. Three mining train transfers were made before arrival at the new shaft. Daniel was hurried into the carved-out kitchen where his trolley was being loaded. Not a single happy face was there to greet him, only the somewhat blank stares of smudgers. They followed orders, not conversing or acknowledging those around them.
Daniel could be heard mumbling, "Depressing."
With a full trolley, the young Human followed a caravan of similar vehicles as they made their way down the five-degree slope of the new shaft. As a horn blew, all activity came to a sudden stop. Miners came trudging out of the dimly lit tunnel, lining up at their assigned food trolleys for the handout of their four-times-a-day meal.
Daniel worked the second shift. The miners would toil with picks and shovels for sixteen hours before being taken back to a previously emptied shaft for rest and sleep. The next shift would come in for sixteen hours of their own before the process was once again repeated. Sweaty, dirt-faced miners with expressionless stares came one by one for their meals. Ten days in the hole was a miserable existence.
When the food had been consumed, the miners stood in a second line. As Daniel hurried about to collect the trash left from the meals, a group of blue-coated lab techs arrived on a number of personnel movers. The techs walked to the front of each line carrying a small tank and an injector. Each miner received a boost injection before being directed back down the shaft.
Bersa nodded. "Juicing. The management is injecting stimulants."
The Girda spy-trainer moved to a console and began to type. Seconds later she again nodded. "We missed this. Those mines have a high slave turnover. By as much as 25 percent over average. They are juicing their workers at the expense of losing many of them."
A command was sent to the video feed, where the faces of the miners who were still in line were zoomed in on and revealed. "Elder slaves. Cheap and expendable. And readily available in the trade markets. The production is getting a boost from juiced workers, many of whom are probably done for after their ten-day shift. They will be discarded for new elders who are brought in fresh from the markets."
Jamus frowned. "Worked to death. How is this information supposed to help Hallik?"
Bersa thought for several seconds. "Master Hallik would not stoop to such methods as juicing."
"So how do we stop this?"
"I don't know that we can. Although… I suppose the reason Master Hilgess is able to make extra profit is due to the reduced expense of the slaves."
"Any way to make them more expensive?"
"I was just thinking the same thing. We could go in with bids of our own, pushing up their prices. Although we would need a profitable use to justify those costs."
"What about Hallik's diamond mine? Does it have to make a profit? What if it only breaks even, but still drives up the price of the elder slaves?"
Bersa slowly turned with a smile. "That is an excellent suggestion, Mr. Turnbull. The master will be impressed with that coming from a Human. Indeed, we may bring an end to this extra production with a mere investment. And who knows, perhaps a profit can still be gained."
"Either way there is benefit to us all."
Bersa looked around at the others. "Mr. Pike will now be idle for perhaps three hours before preparations are made for the next feeding. I'm going to do something unusual here and release you all for an hour of free time."
"In the middle of the day?"
"Yes, Mr. Turnbull. In the middle of the day. When we return we will continue with our training."
Bersa rubbed her chin as she sported a slight smile. "Mr. Turnbull, would you please remain for a moment? The rest of you can go."
The remainder of the group made their way out the exit as Jamus turned to stand in front of the much smaller alien.
"I believe we may have the justification for this operation you were looking for, Mr. Turnbull. If adopted, this method may save thousands of Human lives each and every month. A tremendous accomplishment, and from a single suggestion. You see, Mr. Turnbull, there may have to be sacrifices, but there can be tremendous rewards as well. The trolley worker would likely have been dead within two years anyway—I looked up their longevity stats. His life has now been sacrificed, but thousands of others will be saved. Does that not make the sacrifice worthwhile?"
"I still don't approve of those methods. But I can see where my help could make a difference."
"You think of others, Mr. Turnbull. Not all Humans do, even those who are aware. You have contributions to make to the cause. And this cause needs you."
"If you're trying to get out of Hallik making a commitment in person, forget it. I'm not caving on that demand."
Bersa smiled. "I wasn't thinking of pulling it. Now go, enjoy your hour of freedom."
Jamus smirked. "Freedom... right."
A short walk had Jamus sitting in the lounge with Kerena. Dester moved off by himself while Martin and Greta used the time to build on their relationship.
Kerena asked, "You ever have a wife?"
"I did. Sixteen years. And a son. After pairing, we were sold off to an owner who had five million acres of forested land. I was a logger, as was my wife. My son was only four months old at the time, so she was at the camp caring for him while I was out felling trees."
"Where are they?"
"It was a flash flood. Wiped out the entire camp without warning."
"Do you miss them?"
"I was on the Smudge. Don't know that I could have missed them. My memories from that time are foggy. Kind of like I was someone else. Do you and Greta have family?"
"We did. Our parents were servants in a well-to-do Brekan household. One of the other servants dropped a tray of hors d'oeuvres during a party, embarrassing the owner. After the guests left, she terminated her entire staff. The children were sold off the next day. I guess we were lucky Master Hallik kept the two of us togeth
er."
"Do you miss them?"
Kerena shrugged. "I want to. I almost feel ashamed that I don't. I was only four at the time. Everything seems so different now."
"How so?"
"I find myself caring about others. I care about what they think and if they are ill. I care about the hardships they face. I don't remember having those feelings before. I just did whatever was asked of me and waited for my Smudge at the end of the day."
"That would be all of us. Over the past twelve seasons I can't tell you how many times I wanted to punch a face because some smudger wasn't watching their children, or properly feeding them."
"I never saw any of that in our village."
Jamus frowned. "Our village was mild compared to many. For years I've been stepping in and performing tasks that are needed for proper care. Without having to say anything, most of the mothers picked up on what I was doing and began to do it themselves. I often wanted to yell at them, but couldn't without fear of exposing myself."
The remainder of the free-hour passed quickly. Bersa herded the crew back to the classrooms, where observation practice was again the drill of the day.
Chapter 6
* * *
As the group watched the video feed, Daniel was on his fourth and final round of feeding. Once finished with the trolley, the caravan turned and made its way toward the kitchen. As Daniel's trolley crossed a track for another shaft, a train came freewheeling through. Its brakes had failed and it was now on its way toward the lowest point of the shaft.
The trolley was struck. The camera jerked violently as the young Human was knocked and thrown from his location. An instant later the video feed stopped.
Jamus stood. "What just happened?"
Bersa slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid we both know what happened, Mr. Turnbull. A mine is a dangerous place. Accidents happen."
"No. This isn't right. He's coming back. Get someone in there to help!"
FREEDOM Legends Page 5
