Still, he knew he wouldn’t have much of a future here, and although his dreams were different from many of his friends who had trained for years to be considered by the Janissaries, his dreams were no less dependent on the outcome of this day.
He glimpsed Sue and Vince and Laurie standing in line for registration, and wondered if he’d ever see them again after today. They had grown up in the same part of town and spent their childhood years making all kinds of mischief together. He’d been placed in an advanced class three years ago, so they didn’t meet as often as they used to, but he still considered them his friends.
An officer directed him to the back of a shorter line, and his mind drifted off, while the line slowly snaked forward. When he reached the officer in the front, he started. He hadn’t noticed. He fumbled as he produced his ID, and the officer scanned it. Then his retinas were scanned, and he was ushered past, to more waiting. He saw Chas and Felicia from class standing close by, so he went to join them.
“Hey, Dave,” Felicia said, while Chas just nodded to him.
“Hey, guys.” There wasn’t much else to say. Everyone knew what happened next; they’d all seen it several times before. And now it was their turn. Dave didn’t really suspect any surprises. The three of them were the smartest in class, according to the tests. They would likely all be chosen for the Students, although Dave noticed an edge to Felicia’s voice. Normally, three to five Student Initiates were chosen from Charlestown, but the number varied, and no one could be absolutely certain. And of the three, Felicia was the weakest.
“Let’s get on with it already,” Chas said, jaws clenched. It was no secret that Chas thought this ceremony to be a ridiculous artifact, devoid of any real function. Even though officially, the representatives of the Services would make their final decisions right here, today, everyone knew the lists were prepared in advance. If not, there would have been instances of different Services choosing the same Initiates, and it never happened.
The square was filling up, and finally all the lines were empty. The officers formed a half circle behind them. As of this moment, they were all candidates, to be picked for any of the Services, regardless of personal preference. As soon as their names were spoken, their status would change to Initiate. Initiates were taken away immediately and would not be back for as long as their Service lasted, if ever. The remaining candidates would be asked to volunteer. Normally, the only Service that would take volunteers was the Corpus, always in need of more bodies to exploit for the good of the State. Whoever volunteered for the Corpus would have to be desperate—starving or on the run from something. The Janissaries might also take volunteers, if the losses on the front were exceptionally high. The North was constantly at war, but even if they accepted volunteers, the Janissaries were picky. The Students never took volunteers, though; the few Initiates they did take were chosen long before today.
Screens flickered, and a familiar face beamed before them. Head Servant Alexej Lunde, pure Moon blood all the way back to the Descent, and a few steps behind, his mysterious advisor Mark Novak.
“Welcome, candidates,” Head Servant Lunde said in a rumbling voice.
“On this day of Initiation, the greatest honor of the Covenant, and the greatest sacrifice, is about to be bestowed upon a select few of the young men and women of Charlestown. Today, those with the skills and abilities needed to become our future citizens will be chosen for the highest glory of all, known as Service to the State.”
Chapter 2
SUE
The huge screens made everything appear closer, and the greatest of them all sat in the front, above the podium. Sue could almost feel the eyes of Head Servant Lunde staring straight at her. Of course, it wasn’t real. Head Lunde and Counselor Novak were hundreds of miles away, in Legacy, the great sprawling capital, where most citizens lived, and the only place in which Moon people made up the majority. As far as she knew, no head servant had ever set foot in Charlestown.
“I welcome you all here today, to the annual selection of candidates. To remember how our great nation once rose from the ashes, like the phoenix of ancient mythology, a feat accomplished only because of the sacrifices and service to the common good made by our predecessors.
Long ago, these acts became an example of how one person’s Service can benefit all, for generations to come, and therefore, Service to the State became one of the founding pillars of our society. Only those who are willing and able to serve are worthy of citizenship. And capable of carrying the burden of responsibility that citizenship carries with it. And so, with no further ado, I welcome the representatives of the Services.” Sue looked down to the podium below the screen and saw four figures rise from their chairs, while Mayor Robertson remained seated.
The first to step forward was Dr. Erle Nielsen, the senior scholar, an ageless woman with long grey wisps of hair, small glasses that threatened to fall off the tip of her nose, and a smile that never seemed to break through her absentminded demeanor.
“I’ll make this quick,” she said, producing a crumpled piece of paper.
“I welcome Initiates Chas Drummond and Felicia Petit to the Students.” She paused for a moment, scanning the crowd. “Yes, that was it.” She finished, crumpled the paper back up, and put it in her pocket. Sue frowned. She would have thought Dave to be a natural Student, but she knew they were extremely selective. Two Students from Charlestown this year then. Well, she’d seen worse.
“First Janissary Ivanov,” a booming voice announced, and an imposing figure, six feet tall, athletic, with short white hair, and clad in the customary black, took a step forward. A perfect face marred only by a long scar running from his temple to his jaw, set in stone.
“To the Janissaries, I welcome Initiates Susan Atlas, Frederick Burke Lowe, Hugh Winters, John Victor Preston, Lydia Dille Gardner, Peter Philip Howe, Lucinda Rice, Jeffrey Leighton, Stephen Balinski, Lawrence White, and David Wagner. May you reap honor.” Sue noticed Laurie straightening as the First Janissary spoke his birth name, Lawrence, while Vince looked more nervous than ever. She didn’t think the Wardens would pick him, although who knew what they were looking for. Now, he could only hope to avoid selection altogether. But in the end, it was Dave who caught her attention. She almost hadn’t noticed, since he never used his birth name, but there were no other Wagners around. Dave looked more confused than anything. He was about as far from the ideal Janissary as she could think of. Sue could only imagine the thoughts that had to be racing through his mind at this moment. Did the Janissaries select cannon fodder on purpose? She hadn’t thought so before, but now she wasn’t so sure.
Next were the Wardens, but Sue didn’t pay much attention. She had been chosen. She would serve with the Janissaries, which was about the best she could have hoped for. Sure, it would be tough, and the next three years would be the biggest challenge she’d ever faced, but as long as she listened to her instructors and did her best, she might be a citizen by her twenty-first birthday. The Master Warden, a big, bearded man she couldn’t remember having seen before, dark haired and olive skinned, only chose three Initiates, and then it was time for the final Service to choose their Initiates. The Whip Master stepped forward. The gaunt man was at least a head taller than the other representatives, bald, and clad in a shiny fabric that emphasized his lean figure. The electronic tattoos on his head, face, and hands swirled slowly around, changing patterns and colors, seemingly at random. His face remained expressionless, and as he began to list the selection of Initiates, he never once consulted a list.
“The Corpus represents the truest sacrifice, the complete giving of oneself to the common good. This year’s Initiates for the Corpus are the following: Herbert Trent Glover, Samuel Herrera, Juliette Dale Griffith, Cindy Quellar, Jack Burke, Leland Ferris, John Henry Minden...” As the list continued, Sue lost track of them all. So many! The Initiates for the Corpus numbered more than double that of the other initiates altogether. She had never heard of anything like it. So many of her friends a
nd neighbors to be swept off in chains. She was stunned.
“...and finally Christopher Jenkins. Welcome, Initiates. Serve well, until death sets you free,” the Whip Master said. And with that, the officers began to separate the Initiates from the former Candidates. Sue was ushered along to the front of the square, to stand in front of the representatives side by side with the rest of those chosen for Service. She was given a black armband, as were the other Janissary Initiates. The Students wore white, while the Warden Initiates put on green. The Corpus took a while to gather, but once they were all there, they were given red armbands, while officers paid close attention. It wasn’t unheard of that fresh Initiates tried to run, and those chosen by the Corpus had less to lose than the others.
Dr. Nielsen just waved an officer over to gather her Initiates, and Chas and Felicia looked more than ready to get moving. The Whip Master didn’t even look at the Initiates wearing their red armbands. Some were sobbing, while others seemed to let all hope die, steeling themselves for whatever might come next. First Janissary Ivanov walked around, looking each of his Initiates up and down, speaking a few words with each and every one. When he stopped in front of Dave, he seemed to wrinkle his nose at his skinny bones.
“Initiate Wagner. It seems we’ve got quite a challenge here. Well, we’ll just have to try to make a Janissary out of you, kid. Any questions?” Dave seemed to hesitate before he answered.
“Sir, I wonder if there’s been a mistake...” he said, before trailing off.
“Speak up, boy. Here’s your chance,” the First Janissary barked.
“Sir, I don’t think I’m Janissary material. I mean, I’m the highest ranked for academic achievements. In school. I wonder if there’s any chance of being transferred to the Students?”
God, how can you be so stupid, Dave? Sue thought. She wanted to scream at him to stop. She almost expected the First Janissary to slap him or something. But Ivanov just nodded and seemed to consider what Dave had said.
“I think you’re right, son. You don’t look like you have what it takes at all.” A smirk crept across the face of the older man, and Sue shivered.
“Sadly, Dr. Nielsen just left, and I won’t be able to reach her for a while. But I think I know someone else who would have use for your talents.” He looked over at the Whip Master, and Sue saw sweat break on Dave’s forehead, as he struggled to say something. He remained silent, though his face turned pale and his eyes closed as the First Janissary moved on.
As he reached Sue, she felt herself shrink before his eyes.
“Initiate Atlas. I fear we are out of time, as the train leaves in fifteen minutes.” Sue was torn between self-preservation and friendship, but in the end, friendship won. She spoke just as Ivanov moved to turn away.
“Sir. I think it would be a waste to send Initiate Wagner to the Corpus. Look at him. He’d be dead meat in a month. What kind of Service would that be, sir? Perhaps the Wardens would take him?” She had no idea what the Wardens actually did, as most of it was secret, and there were few, if any, Wardens from Charlestown. But the way she saw it, anything would be better that the Corpus. The First Janissary fumed and was about to lash out at her, probably ready to trade her black armband for a red one, when the Master Warden interjected.
“She’s right, Ivanov. It would be a waste.” He smiled. “We’ll take him.” The First Janissary looked furiously from Sue to the Master Warden, and then back again at Sue. Then he exhaled and shook his head.
“All right then, enough of this nonsense.” He turned toward the Master Warden. “Take the boy. Now, let’s get on with this. Damn kids need to learn some respect.” The last was murmured as he walked off, signaling the officers to take the Janissary Initiates to the waiting train. As the Corpus Initiates walked off to the southbound train, the others followed their representatives toward the trains that would take them north. Dave followed the Master with the three other Warden Initiates, and as he passed Sue, his lips moved, mouthing a silent thank you. Sue smiled briefly, although she was angry with him for opening his mouth. That head of his will get him in trouble again, she thought. And the next time, she wouldn’t be there to save him.
Sue wondered if she had just made a huge mistake. She wasn’t the most social, but as far as she knew, she’d never had an enemy. As she boarded the train, she caught the eye of the First Janissary and wondered if she’d made her first.
~
Sue found a vacant seat by the window and sat down. After a minute or so, Laurie came and sat down next to her.
“So, you know how far north we’re going?” he asked. Sue shook her head.
“No idea. Never been north of Stonehaven,” she said. Stonehaven lay inland, northwest of Charlestown, and was the town everyone went to for trade goods that were hard to come by at home. She had gone there with her father once, while her mother and little Jason stayed at home. Thinking of her little brother almost choked her up, and she turned and stared out the window. They were going faster than she’d expected. The train hovered inches above the tracks, and the smoothness of the ride was amazing. Not like riding the steam cars back home. She’d done that once, too.
“It’s magnetic. Maglev, I think it’s called,” Laurie said. She turned back and looked at him. Curly, dark hair, wide lips and nose, and originally the prankster among them, he’d changed after his sister was chosen. More serious, Sue thought.
“We have no idea what to expect, do we?” she said. He half-smiled back.
“Guess we don’t.” He leaned forward to see better. “We haven’t heard from Lisa since last Initiation Day. Not one word.”
They both stared out for what seemed forever, and Sue felt herself doze off as daylight receded. The train suddenly slowed, and they emerged from a tunnel. In the distance, they could see the capital, Legacy, in its entire splendor. Lights everywhere; no shortage of electricity there. And soon, the train stopped on the platform. This was clearly separate from the civilian platforms, as there were officers everywhere, herding groups of Initiates around. Black, white, and green armbands still separated the Initiates, while the officers wore the grey uniforms she was familiar with from back home.
Their train car was Janissaries only, but she knew Dave, Chas, Felicia, and the others from Charlestown were on the same train. Now though, their ways parted. She saw a group with green armbands boarding another train; no familiar faces, though.
“There go the Wardens,” Laurie said quietly. The Wardens were something of a secret society, especially since there were so few from Charlestown. The rumors said the Wardens mostly stayed in the West, even further than the miner towns and wildlife preserves. But no one knew for sure. Initiates from Charlestown generally went to the Janissaries or the Corpus, with a few now and then to the Students. Student Initiates rarely returned to their hometowns. After having served their seven years and earning their citizenship, many chose to stay on in the Service to become Scholars.
While the Students were treated well enough to not only survive their seven years, but thrive, the Corpus spent their Initiates and spewed out what was left. Usually that wasn’t much; if they even made it through, they returned home with disabled bodies and broken minds, though their citizen pensions could easily feed a family for the rest of their lives. The Janissaries had a high casualty rate, but those who survived were awarded citizenship and if they chose to return to their hometowns, they did so with fanfare—the pride of the town. Every time one did, it was cause for celebration.
So, since the Corpus was an absolute horror, the Wardens were a mystery, and the few that were chosen for the Students were always from the advanced class, whenever Sue and her friends had discussed the prospect of Service, they had implicitly discussed service with the Janissaries.
Sue saw Chas and Felicia pass right outside their window and waved at them. Felicia noticed and waved back, while Chas seemed to be lost in thought. They would be taken to the Legacy Academy or the Covenant University, which both produced scholars. Sue didn’
t really know the difference between the two, and right now, she didn’t care. She just hoped her friends would fare well.
“I was worried for Vince there for a second,” Laurie said. Sue smiled.
“We all were. I was so certain he’d be chosen. He’ll be fine back home.” she said.
“Yeah, better than the Corpus,” Laurie said, as he sat back, ignoring the window and staring up at the ceiling. The train started moving again. Slowly at first, but soon it was moving at top speed again.
“Still going north,” Sue murmured, as sleep seemed to pull at her again.
She was almost out when the doors to their train car slid open and a man clad in Janissary black entered.
“Listen up,” he said, loud enough to wake those who’d dozed off. Laurie sat up straighter, and Sue craned to see better. The man was lean and tall, and when Sue looked closer, she saw he couldn’t be more than twenty-five or so; it was the trimmed beard that made him look older.
“In an hour, you will enter Camp Sharpe, where you will begin your training. In the meantime, you are to read this information sheet.” He produced a stack of papers, and started passing them out.
“You can all read—the Janissaries have no need for illiterates—so I suggest you pay attention to everything this sheet tells you. On arrival, we expect you to know this by heart.” He let the Initiates pass the sheets along, and turned back. Just before the sliding door, he turned again.
“Initiates, in one hour, the toughest part of your lives will begin. For some, it will be the final part. No matter how well prepared you think you are, make no mistake; the coming days and weeks will test you. Everyone has a limit, and we intend to find yours. One day, you might find these trials will save the lives of yourself and those around you.” Sue found herself absorbing the advice, and although his words were disturbing, they also made her eager. She had felt that way ever since hearing her name being called by First Janissary Ivanov, and as the train took them north, the feeling had grown stronger. The Janissary hadn’t finished though.
RIFT (The Rift Saga Book 1) Page 2
