6.
The bench was cold. Many eyes watched the proceedings. For the first time in over a century, cameras filled the courtroom. They too would soon approach the bench. There were many people on trial for the uprising, but there was just one sentence.
Several robbed individuals stood to pass judgment upon the swarm of protestors. But first, before all else were those who had planted the seed, who had germinated the resistance with the words of an ancient book. First Jose would watch Liza and Aaron’s judgment. There was no doubt of the result. Only his own fate was in question. His love and his best friend would share the same sentence. A part of him wanted to be with Liza, to become a Runner as well, but part of him was terrified of that prospect. He was disgusted at his cowardice.
Supreme Justice Allistair said, “And where did you find this book?”
“We found... it in the library,” said Liza. Her voice was hoarse and soft, barely audible among the sea of whispers and whimpers.
“The Library? And the Librarian just let you check this one out, even though it was on the banned books list?”
“No sir, we... well... I really had to use... the bathroom, one night on the way home from school... and well... the window was open...”
“Isn’t the library locked after designated dark?”
“Yes sir, but Liza really needed to use the bathroom and—” Aaron started. There was half-muffled laughter in the room. No one wanted to laugh, but something needed to ease the tension.
The Supreme Justice turned quickly toward Aaron, his eyes ablaze. “So the need to use the restroom allows you to break the law, young man?”
“No sir, of course, it doesn’t, but we never meant for any of this to happen,” answered Aaron.
“So you’re saying you found this book just laying around?”
“Yes Sir, well, actually sir, it was in the archives, and we heard a noise, and when we investigated and the book was laying on the floor. Then we took it with us.”
“So you stole it from the archives? You were aware that entry is forbidden to all but a select few scholars?”
Liza and Aaron nodded together silently.
“And it was just the two of you?”
Liza shot a quick glance over at Jose. It was a look that Jose would never forget. He knew she was telling him not to speak up, to go on with his life, that her life was over and there was nothing he could do about it. At that moment, he had absolute certainty that Liza loved him and he regretted all the time he had hesitated.
“No sir, it was just the two of us,” Liza answered.
“So why, after you found out the book was forbidden, did you not turn it in?”
“Well sir, we were afraid that we would be sentenced to... to...”
“To the Runnercore?” The judge's voice grew even harsher.
Liza nodded again. Aaron was dead silent. Jose sat in the viewing area and watched in horror.
“Young lady, we do not sentence people to the Runnercore for youthful mischief. Being in an old building after hours would have, at most, earned you some community service. Minors are not automatically sent to the Runnercore. What is really troubling is what you decided to do with the forbidden book. How many copies did you distribute, again?”
A thin-mustached man in a SO uniform with a nametag that read O'Brien cleared his throat, “Sir, we found several dozen copies floating around the Lowers. Every individual who had a copy of the book has been arrested.”
“I was asking the young lady,” said Justice Marshall, his tone sharp.
“Sir, we... we don’t know how many. We just kept making copies and sharing it with our friends and family. It was... it was the first any of us had ever read of that part of ancient history... you know, before the migration. We just wanted to share it; we thought it was important.”
“But, did it not occur to you that we banned this book for a reason? 27 people are dead, including your parents, because felt you needed to share this text by this...” Justice Allistair stopped and skimmed a moment through his data tablet. “...Zinn fellow. The entire Sanitation Department and Welders Forge went on strike, and the security forces had to be brought in to ensure our city’s sewers didn’t flood the whole city. Can you imagine what would happen to the city if our sewer system was destroyed, how that might threaten the lives of everyone in the city? Young lady, you and your friend, are guilty of starting a riot and endangering everyone in this city. That is, in fact, a crime worthy of being sentenced to the Runnercore.” The judge’s voice was just below shouting now.
Jose shuddered. He had already lost his father to this mess, and now he would lose the women he loved and his best friend. Every part of him screamed in horrible agony. The Supreme Justice might as well have sentenced Liza and Aaron to death, for he would never see either of them again. It would have been better for him to have been caught as well, better for him to be a Runner. Maybe then he would at least see Liza on occasion. He screamed, and everyone in the courtroom turned.
“It was me! Take me instead. Liza just covered for me. I swear she was guilty of nothing.”
The Supreme Justice turned and looked at Liza. “Is this true, young lady?”
“No Sir, he had nothing to do with any of this.”
“Did he read the text?”
“I don’t believe so, Sir. I barely know him; he is just a boy from one of my classes. I think he has a crush on me. Please, your Honor, he isn’t involved.”
“No!” Jose screamed again. “No she is lying, this is all my fault, take me instead, and leave her alone.”
“Take this young man and remove him from this courtroom,” yelled the Supreme Justice. “Make sure he is properly questioned.”
The security guards grabbed Jose by the arms and dragged him, kicking and screaming from the courtroom. Jose had lost everything all because of one stupid book. His life was nothing. He was nothing. That was the last time he ever saw Liza or Aaron.
7.
Jose waited in detention for several hours. Finally, the door opened and in stepped several security guards and Senator Tera Reevas. Jose sat waiting, not knowing what to say. The Senator was beautiful, almost as beautiful as Liza, and immediately he felt a sense of betrayal for the thought.
“I just thought you would like to know, they have processed the paperwork on your friends. They are officially a part of the Runnercore now, and you will never see them again.” Senator Reevas was sneering. The broad wickedness of her expression ran through Jose’s veins like ice. Why was she here? What business did a senator have with him?
“I also thought you might like to know that your father and the rest of the traitors to the city will not receive a funerary service. In fact, their bodies will be cast out into the Barrens to rot as a sign to all those who would threaten our city.
Something in Jose’s guts twisted. Agony and fury pushed on his heart and lungs.
“Did you have a copy of, or read that book?” Reevas asked.
Jose didn’t answer; he couldn’t make up his mind. What was the right course of action? He had thought about it a lot in the last few hours. If he became a Runner, it would hurt his remaining family. His mother was aging now; they had given up their rights to the alcoves because his parents decided to have two children. She wouldn’t be able to support herself and his brother. On the other hand, if he became a Runner, maybe just maybe he could see Liza and Aaron, even if it was only once every few decades.
He made his decision. It was what Liza would want, and that was first in his heart.
“No, I lied, I was in love with that girl. I have been for a long time, but she barely knows I exist.”
“Hmm, I think we ought to teach this one to Run as well, just in case. What do you think, Edwards?” She turned to one of her escorts.
“Senator, we don’t have any available space left in the Runnercore, the trial filled the last empty alcoves down in the docks. We have completely replenished our numbers in the last few weeks.”
Re
evas frowned. “I suppose we could leave them in this cell ‘til one of them dies in the Barrens, then?”
"We would have to get approval from the Supreme Justice, Senator."
She stood over Jose, who was now kneeling on the ground since there was no chair in his cell. He could feel his knees start to ache.
“On the other hand, I can be merciful. I do have a special relationship with the Supreme Justice.” She cast her shadow on Jose. “But usually I expect something in return.” She smiled. There was greed in that smile, a kind of greed he didn’t fully understand and wouldn’t for many years.
“You are a fine young specimen,” she caressed his cheek with the tips of her sharp nails. “Perhaps you would like to come to my chambers and show me what kinds of things you wanted to do to that little girl. I am especially interested in the ways you would have liked to lick and kiss her. I promise you will enjoy yourself immensely. She wasn’t nearly as beautiful as I am, anyway.”
It was the wrong thing to say to Jose at that moment. He had been calm and quiet, but in the way that a bomb was just before exploding, all the ingredients were ready for detonation. Jose looked up at her, looked directly at this woman, who had just been at least indirectly responsible for sending his friends to spend the remainder of his life as Runners and for casting his father’s remains out into the Barrens, and he watched her shiver under his gaze.
He remembered the lessons of Zinn’s words. He remembered the abuses that the poor had suffered at the hands of the rich even in ancient history and suddenly realized that this Senator, this beautiful monster, was the embodiment of everything he hated about this city. He felt his anger toward her. A warm sensation, an almost sexual need to destroy her gave birth in his belly. He felt sweat gathering on his brow, pouring in cascades toward his eyes. He knew, if he were able, he would cast them all out in the Barrens. There they would die under the heat of the sun, choking on poison air. He wanted to kill this Senator, to strangle her, to see the last bits of life squeeze from her eyes and the drool escape her wide gaping, dying mouth.
Jose mumbled.
“What’s that, boy?” Tera bent forward to hear what he was saying, the smile still on her face.
Jose waited for the right moment. He waited until she was face to face with him. He could smell the monster’s perfume. He circled his tongue around inside his mouth and wadded up all the spit he could muster. He breathed in deeply, gathering all the phlegm in his throat, and all at once spit right into Senator Reevas’s face.
His spit landed right in Tera’s left eye. Taken completely off guard, Reevas stumbled backward and fell right on her ass. He jumped up to pummel her, to rain blows on her body, but her escorts grabbed him. They were simply too strong.
Tera shrieked. Echoes tumbled around the cell. “Hold him!” She stood and moved closer. “One of you bring me a pair of pliers; if he doesn’t want to use his tongue to please me, then perhaps we should remove it.”
Edwards, the one holding Jose’s left arm, said, “But Senator, he’s just a kid...”
“Bring me those fucking pliers and do as I say or the next time there is an opening in the Runnercore you will be the first recruit.” Her voice was shrill.
Jose’s eyes filled with fear, his whole body broke out in a cold sweat. He tried to struggle free again. No matter how hard he squirmed, the SOs seemed to be able to subdue him. It didn’t take long for the other man to return. He had an emergency repair kit in his hand. He opened it and handed the pliers to the Senator.
For a moment Reevas looked down at the pliers, considering something, and then handed them back to the SO.
“Why did you hand them to me? Do you think a lady of the Senate should participate in this kind of discipline?” Her sweet sickly smile was back. All of her teeth, white and sharp, were on display.
“No Senator, I mean...”
“Just take them and do as you’re told.”
The security guard shifted the pliers from his left hand to his right and looked long and hard at Jose. The guard's eyes were soft in pleading. This wasn’t something that the security guard wanted to do.
One of the other guards grabbed the back of Jose’s head and held his hair tight. He felt tiny prickles of pain in the top of his scalp, and it made his eyes water.
“Open your mouth,” said Reevas.
Jose did not. In fact, he clamped his jaws shut. He might not try to squirm, but he doubted they could compel him to open his mouth. He did not have much in the way of resistance, but this he could do.
“Open your mouth, or I’ll have them slit your throat and get to it that way.”
Jose opened his mouth for one brief second and said the final words he would ever speak. “If you kill me, you’ll be Running soon enough.”
The SOs did not move, none of them seemed to know what to do. A momentary stalemate.
Reevas’s eyes did not leave Jose’s face. “Taze him ‘til he screams, and once he opens his mouth, I want his tongue for a trophy.”
Again, the security guards looked hesitant until Tera broke eye contact with Jose and shot them a cold hard stare.
One of the security guards pulled a Taser out of his rear pocket and switched it on. Jose could hear the hum of electricity moving through the device. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out long against the device, but he had to try. His resistance was all he had left. It was the one small act of bravery he could do for Liza and Aaron.
Then the pain came, white-hot and searing directly in his left arm. He had never felt pain quite like this before. It spread from the tiniest spot on his arm, and within microseconds, the terrible sensation was in every corner of his body. It was all-encompassing, a pain that was everywhere at once. He felt his jaw clamp hard and his teeth landed on his tongue. Jose could taste the blood filling his mouth but knew if he opened it there would be so much more blood and pain.
“Again, use it on him again,” Reevas yelled.
The security guard with the Taser hesitated but only for a few seconds. Jose stared deep into the man’s eyes. He had no hate for this man; he knew this was not something he wanted to do. The SO averted his eyes as he brought the Taser down on Jose, this time in the shoulder. Jose still did not open his mouth.
“Raise the voltage.”
“But Senator, that could kill him, and if he died at our hands...”
“Do as you are told.”
Jose saw the guard turn a dial on the Taser. He didn’t know if it would kill him, but he knew that he might lose consciousness, if he did, then he would have lost. He must stay conscious no matter how much it hurt.
This time the guard used the Taser on his chest. Never again for the rest of his life would Jose experience pain quite like this. He fought to maintain his consciousness, but the body has involuntary defense mechanisms, and with his nervous system overloaded from pain and electricity, Jose felt the world slipping. His jaw loosened, and he let out a scream.
Then a strange sensation filled his mouth, a kind of pressure or tugging in the back of his throat. There was a wet feeling and then a horrible tearing noise. In some ways, he was later grateful for the pain the Taser had given him because he never felt the removal of his tongue. He heard a distance voice. It was kilometers away.
“Now put him in an alcove and make sure it’s not set for full regeneration. I don’t want his tongue growing back. Once it’s healed over it won’t regenerate on his further uses. I don’t want him bleeding to death. I want this little shit to live a long time knowing what it means to cross me.”
He felt lighter then, as if someone was carrying him, and realized that he was in the arms of several of the SOs. His memory skipped, and the next thing he saw was the door of the alcove sealing him in. He would spend two days inside healing, and then the rest of his life without a tongue.
8.
It had all been for nothing. Liza and Aaron’s sacrifice was meaningless. There he lay, years later, in a cell for assaulting a security officer. He had come fu
ll circle.
Jose had tried to sneak down into the Runner docks on several occasions after he had lost his tongue, but he was always caught and kicked out. For some reason, perhaps it was pity or guilt, he never ran into any trouble from security for trespassing in the Runner docks. He suspected that the guards who had removed his tongue had spread the story amongst themselves.
A few weeks into beginning his job in sanitation, Jose received a note. He never found out where it came from, nor did he know if it was true, but he suspected it was. The note read only, ‘They died in a sandstorm.’ It was enough to make Jose stop trying to sneak into the docks. For weeks he barely ate, barely slept. He became nothing more than a bag of bones, a cog in the machine of the sanitation department. He would have died if not for Linda, who had nursed him back to health, whom he went on to marry and had a child with. But now his family would suffer because of his actions. They would struggle to survive.
Perhaps it was better this way, perhaps if he was a Runner, the only life he could destroy was his own. Jose buried his head in arms and wept.
Chapter 16
In the Ruins of Langeles
Morning approached. The thick golden light washed out over the horizon and spread across the ruins of Langeles. It was lazy light and took its time casting long shadows over the rubble. Eddies of dust twirled and danced between the fallen buildings. The city was silent, a towering seashell jutting at an awkward angle from the earth.
Runner 17 watched the exposed metal glittering as the morning light kissed it. The landscape wouldn’t shimmer for much longer, the sands and winds would claim it all soon, but for now, it sparkled like a billion stars in the night sky. It would have been beautiful if he didn’t know that the bodies of hundreds of thousands of innocent people were scattered across the landscape.
Upon Stilted Cities - The Winds of Change Page 26
