When Donte and Quade finally arrived, they were both solemn. Neither spoke unless they were spoken to. Their response was brief. A glance at Chait assured her that he was equally concerned.
At the end of the meal, Quade pushed his eating utensils away: “Kenyon, Donte and our guests; I want you all to come to my office for a meeting. Donica, if you want to wait, we’ll travel with you part way on the tram.”
Donica glanced at Donte and Kenyon. “That would be nice.”
Quade stood and led them all to his office. He set out a half-circle of chairs for them around his desk before sinking into his chair. Kenyon sat at the opposite side of Quade’s desk, refusing to look at them.
Akira’s throat felt tight. It would have been hard to swallow, but fortunately her mouth was dry so there was no need.
Quade immediately came to the point. “I brought you all here because it has come to my attention that Kenyon has been a captive in Lochfowk for the last thirty years. Kenyon, I’d like to know your side of it first.” He glanced at Akira and Chait. “You’ll have an opportunity to speak, but I want you to remain silent until Kenyon has told his part.” He nodded at Kenyon. “Proceed.”
Kenyon shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat. “There isn’t really much to say. I came into Lochfowk at the time the borders were being shut down because of the plague. After that, I wasn’t allowed to leave. I was told that they had made a law that said if you entered, you stayed.”
Quade nodded. “That isn’t much to say for thirty years of your life. How were you treated? Did you ever try to escape and if so, were you punished?”
Kenyon lifted one foot and put it on his knee. He met Quade’s probing gaze. “I tried to escape twenty times. Eighteen of those times I took at least one of the captives with me. After the fifth time, I was put in chains for a year. The next time I was forced to do labor. Each time there was punishment, but I was never physically harmed. The last time I tried to escape, five years ago, the captive who was with me was killed. I was taken on a work crew to maintain the paths in the lake country. I liked it there and was told that if I would vow not to try to escape, I would be released in that area. I made the vow. Someone was sent out at random times to make sure I was still there.
“How many captives were there?” Quade asked.
“I don’t know,” Kenyon said. “They were in different areas, often working for families as slaves. I personally only knew of five.”
“What part did Chait and Akira have in this?”
“They were following orders.” Kenyon said, still refusing to look at them.
Quade nodded again. “I understand that, but what part did they play in it?”
Kenyon finally looked at Chait. “The last three times I escaped, Chait led the group that caught me. Akira was sent many times to make sure I was still in the lake country.” He finally looked at Akira, a wry smile twisting his lips. “I don’t think she liked the fact that she kept finding me there.”
Akira looked at the floor. At least he didn’t say all the things she had called him.
Quade looked at Chait. “What do you have to say?”
Chait shrugged. “I was told to bring him back. I did it.”
“Did you agree with the captive law?”
Chait glanced at Kenyon. “I did. Especially in his case. He was constantly causing trouble with the other captives.”
Quade kept his attention on Chait. “In what way?”
“Trying to get them to escape. Telling them they should fight back - just generally causing dissention.”
“Dissention? Then you thought it was fair to capture people and never let them go?”
“They made a choice,” Chait said. “We didn’t invite them into our territory. It was a law.”
“Even people who came in unaware of the law?”
Chait snorted. “Everyone says they didn’t know. What else would they say?”
Quade leaned forward, his gaze intent on Chait. “Are you calling both of my sons liars?”
Chait’s face turned red. “No. But it was the law - and we didn’t hold Donte a captive because Akira brought him there.”
Akira jerked her head up and looked at him. Was that why they decided to release him? That wasn’t what Sima said.
“Akira,” Quade said, his attention finally focused on her. “You look surprised by that answer.”
Every eye in the room was on her. She would have liked to become invisible, but since that was impossible, she decided to confess and hope for mercy.
“I led Donte to the main colony of Lochfowk because he wanted to talk to President Sima, my sister. I knew of the law, but I thought they would make an exception because he had saved my life and had…neutralized…Farasi. I was not present when the council made their decision, so I don’t know what their reason for releasing him was. I thought it was because they considered him a diplomat.”
Quade leaned back in his chair, watching Chait as he contemplated the information. “Chait, were you on that council?”
Chait lifted his chin. “Yes. I voted to let him go.”
Quade glanced at Donte as he asked Chait the next question. “Why did you consider him a diplomat rather than an assassin?”
Chait looked at Donte. “Because he carried word from the Anialwch that King Neirin was going to have a conference and President Sima was invited.”
Quade looked from Chait to Donte and back again. “The Anialwch knew where he was going and why he was there. I take it that the Anialwch were unaware of your captives and the law about coming into your colony.”
Chait shrugged. “I don’t know. We don’t communicate with them directly. If we want to send a message to them, we contact one of the traders in Vlaktes.”
“Vlaktes is aware of this law?”
“It doesn’t pertain to them because we trade with them.”
Quade stood, his voice low and cold. “You are telling me that you have no contact with anyone but Vlaktes, and they don’t know about this law because it doesn’t pertain to them. All these captives came to your colony unaware of the law.”
Chait shrugged again. “I didn’t make the law.”
Quade leaned forward, hands on his desk, his hard gaze on Chait. “I see. You only enforced it.” He stepped around his desk, confronting Chait. “I am sending you back with an escort to deliver a message to Sima. I want every captive released to me within two weeks. In the mean time, I will get together a council of my own, including Vlaktes, Bergen, Bosvrouwen and Anialwch to discuss what action should be taken if that is not done. There will be no negotiating this release. Is that clear?”
Chait stared up at Quade, all the fire gone from his eyes. “Yes Monomi.”
Quade turned and stalked back to his chair. “Donte has promised that you would be taken to the airfield and up to see the spaceships. This will happen today. I want you to fully comprehend what you are coming up against. This nonsense of isolating yourselves and making laws to capture other colonists who chance into your territory will not be tolerated.”
Quade stood at his desk for a moment, his gaze falling on each of them in turn. “Akira, I want to talk to you alone. Donte, Kenyon, stick around. When I’m done talking to her, I want to talk to each of you. You’re dismissed.”
Akira watched everyone leave, her stomach feeling queasy with anxiety. When they were alone, she looked at Quade. “Am I going to be executed?”
Quade looked startled. “Absolutely not. What would make you think a thing like that?”
She let her breath out slowly in a sigh of relief.
He shook his head. “Some of the colonies are getting barbaric. We have to stop this before it erupts in war.”
By “some of the colonies,” he meant Lochfowk and Nyumbani. It was embarrassing to think he even compared them at all, let alone lumped them together as like minded. She waited for him to scold her the way he had Chait. She had it coming. How could she have been so stupid as to lead Donte into Lochfowk?
Quade sat on the corner of his desk, looking down at her. “Akira,” he began, “I know you tried to help both my sons, and I thank you for that. I don’t want you to take all this personally. I do want you to tell me about President Sima.”
That, at least, she could do. She looked up at him. “She didn’t make that law either. She inherited it.”
He nodded. “I can appreciate that, but has she tried to repeal it or set the captives free?”
She looked down at her hands. “There have been no more captives in her presidency…”
“Except Donte.” He corrected.
She lifted her chin and looked at him. “Donte was no more a captive than I am.”
He smiled, his eyes kind. “I stand corrected. He was detained.” His gaze scoured her face. “You are not a captive, Akira. You may go anytime after I talk to you.”
She shook her head. “I do not want to go back to Lochfowk.”
He frowned. “Why? Are you afraid they will punish you?”
She shook her head again. “No.”
He waited for her to explain, but there was no way she could. She wasn’t sure she understood her reason. He sighed. “You haven’t answered my question about President Sima.”
“She tried to repeal the law and she was responsible for the amount of freedom that Kenyon had. She has only been president for five years. People are afraid that if they let the captives go, they will retaliate.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some backlash. When you accept a position like that, you take the responsibility for everything, not simply the things that make you look good. How many people are on this council that guides her?”
“Four.”
Quade’s brows shot up. “Only four represent all of Lochfowk?”
She shook her head. “No, they represent different groups.”
“So you don’t actually know what everyone in Lochfowk wants - only certain groups.”
“They are powerful.”
Quade stood. “I think I’m beginning to understand the problem.” He smiled down at her.” It was the council who asked Kenyon to make the vow?”
“Yes.”
And President Sima banished him to a remote area with only occasional check-ups?”
“Yes”
“And President Sima agreed to send one of the council members to Libertad? It seems to me that she has finally figured out how to get council approval to free the captives - and initiate contact to open the border as well. I’m afraid I underestimated her.”
Of course. Why hadn’t she thought of it? Sima had instantly seen the opportunity when Donte arrived. That was why she gathered the council and made a decision so quickly. By now the council realized what she had done. What would they do?
Quade was watching her. “Do you still want to stay here?”
She shook her head. “No. I want to go home and help Sima.”
She stood. For a moment she gazed up at him. He was taller than Donte or Kenyon - better looking in a mature way. The crazy idea flashed across her mind that this was the man she had been waiting for. She stepped away from him.
“If you are through with me, I need to put my things together.”
He nodded in an absent minded way, still watching her with a strange expression. “Go ahead. Donte and Kenyon are waiting.” He walked her to the door and opened it for her. His hand touched the small of her back as she walked out the door.
“Kenyon, Donte; I’m ready for you now.”
As the two men walked into Quade’s office, Chait joined her.
“What was that all about? You didn’t tell him about the way I let Kenyon get to the border.”
She looked up at him, seeing him for the first time as a selfish child. “No, I didn’t tell him, but Kenyon might. I doubt he’ll ask, though. I think everything will be alright now. After we see the airfield and the spaceships, I’m going back with you. I think Sima needs my support.”
He frowned. “What is he going to do?”
“You heard him. He’s going to demand the release of the captives. From there on, I think he is going to let us do our own housecleaning.”
CHAPTER 20
In Donte’s absence, the tram route had expanded. In addition to the rail leading to the airfield in Bosvrouwen, a spur had been built from Bosvrouwen to Bergen. All the colonies had maintained the standard that the rail must be a minimum of 10 feet off the ground at all times, thus not interfering with the wildlife and presenting no danger to pedestrians or other transportation. The equine remained the major source of transportation other than the tram. The elevated rails offered an excellent view of the country as they passed through it. The sun provided power to run the trams, as well as the little power needed to send messages.
Donte stared out the tram window at the flat land that made the airfield possible. His thoughts were not on the airfield or the spaceships they would soon visit, though. What occupied his mind was much darker. He wasn’t sure where his life was heading, but he wasn’t particularly proud of where it had been. Once his life had been about family and honor, but now it had sunk to abandonment and betrayal. Of course his father was right about the captives. He trusted his father and respected his authority. It wasn’t about his father. It was about making promises he couldn’t keep. There was a point at which a promise could be implied - like fathering children who expected him to be there for them. He had promised Kafil and King Neirin that he would deliver their messages to Lochfowk, even though he knew nothing about their colony. It had seemed so simple…deliver a message and go home. He had promised the acceptance of Chait and Akira in Libertad even though he had not been there in six years. Even this trip to the Airfield and the Spaceship would not have happened if it were not for his father’s indulgence. All of it had happened because he had assigned himself far too much importance. Things were working out, but it certainly wasn’t due to any skill or humility on his part.
In the reflection of the window, he suddenly noticed that everyone was watching him. Quade’s voice was gentle and caring.
“Son, what is bothering you? You haven’t said a word since we boarded the tram.”
Donte sighed. “I guess I’ve had the opportunity to take a good look at myself and I’m not at all satisfied with what I see.”
“It’s the Nyumbani.” Akira said, and turned to Quade. “How could you let him go there? They completely destroyed his self-esteem.”
Donte gasped and turned to Akira. “I don’t think we can blame the…”
Kenyon’s humorless laugh interrupted him. “How many days did you spend on the trail with him, Akira? It only took me one to know that if Donte has his mind set to do something, you’re not going to stop him.”
Quade glanced at Donte and spoke to Akira. “He was full of passion. He was only twenty-two and his life had been destroyed. We all warned him, but he thought an heir would solve the problem.”
Donte reclaimed the conversation. “I thought I could use that excuse to get into Nyumbani, and I did. My every thought was on finding those who killed Liana and Bjorn and taking revenge. There was nothing noble about it. I didn’t think they would let me live long enough to produce an heir. I really didn’t think about that part at all.”
Quade nodded. “And you were dead set on doing it all on your own. We wanted the same thing you did. We simply had a different idea of how to go about it.”
Kenyon looked at Donte. “I probably would have felt the same way, Donte, only I would have wanted a militia behind me. It’s not surprising that you took it personally. It says a lot that you were willing to walk in there and risk your own neck…literally.”
Donte frowned. “There was no point in more lives being lost.”
Quade smiled. “See what I mean? It wasn’t a selfish act.”
Donte shrugged. “Just stupid.”
Quade sobered and shook his head. “No, it wasn’t stupid. It was an alternate choice - one that considered the lives of our militi
a as well as the lives of those in Nyumbani. Knowing what you know now, what would you have changed?”
Donte grimaced. “I would have killed Farasi the first time I met him.”
They all laughed and Kenyon spoke. “If only we could turn the clock back. But we can’t. We have to learn from our mistakes and keep moving forward…with the full knowledge that the only thing certain in life is that we will make more mistakes.”
“Tell that to my children in Nyumbani.” Donte said in a bitter tone.
Quade nodded. “I’m sure that would be excellent advice for them as well.” His gaze shifted to Akira as he finally answered her question. “I could have prevented Donte from going to Nyumbani. In fact, Pieter and I discussed that possibility. We both decided that, right or wrong, he was old enough to make his own decisions. Much as we love our children, we can’t live their lives for them. At some point we must recognize that they are also members of the community. We cannot assume we know best for everyone. What if we had prevented him from going and we were wrong? Look at the events that have come to pass since. Doesn’t it make you wonder if there was a higher purpose?”
Akira looked at Donte. “He’s right. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you were there when I arrived in Nyumbani.”
Kenyon nodded. “He couldn’t have arrived in Lochfowk early enough for me. Who knows how long I would have been stuck there?”
Chait grimaced. “With all due respect, you haven’t done my life much good.”
Donte looked at him. “No, I suppose not. Sometimes we get ourselves into trouble so deep that only we can drag ourselves out. It isn’t as if your situation is hopeless.”
Kenyon gave Chait a disgusted look and spoke in unison with Akira.
“Chait, you are one selfish person.” only Akira substituted person with a vulgar term. When everyone looked at her in shocked silence, her face turned red “Excuse me,” she said.
Quade broke the tension with a slow chuckle. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Kenyon raised his brows and looked out the window. No doubt he was thinking that she had a large vocabulary of those kinds of words - and yet, she had not used them any time on the journey until they reached Lochfowk.
The Purlieu Experiment, Book 1 Page 16
