Gregory finished the Calculus book and asked for another book, but Lou told him no. “Why not?”
“Because you would end up feeling like something was missing. Before you start the final math book, you need to go through several others first.”
“Like?” Gregory asked.
“Nine books that deal with Chemistry, electrical formulas, and advanced Physics. Once you finish them, I’ll give you the final book.”
Gregory wanted the next math book but forced himself to slow down. He had all the time in the world, and he didn’t want to run out of things to learn. He agreed and Lou handed him a book off the second shelf titled, ‘College Chemistry’. Gregory opened the book and was once again deep into the pages in very little time.
• • •
Gregory turned twenty-two years old when he finished the books Lou required and Lou finally handed him the last book. The cover simply read, ‘Advanced Mathematics’.” Gregory took it to his bed and realized that the books Lou forced him to read were absolutely essential to understanding the complex mathematics in the book. He went through the book and the universe seemed to open to him; it was the Nineteenth Year of the Suppression.
Two years later, Gregory put the book on the table and asked, “Do you mind if I look over your shoulder?”
Lou looked into his eyes and said, “Pull up a chair.” Gregory pulled a chair up and Lou said, “I’m going to write down the equation I’ve been working on and you’ll just observe what I’m doing for a month. Do not ask a question; simply observe, understand?” Gregory nodded and Lou began writing on the tablet. It was next to impossible to follow what he was doing but after a week, he was starting to keep up.
During the third week, Gregory said, “Stop, please.” Lou glared at him and Gregory said, “There is a mistake in the line you wrote eight lines before, you failed to eliminate ‘E’ from the left side of the equation.”
Lou stared at the line Gregory pointed out and then turned to Gregory, “If you see anything else, let me know. You may also ask any questions.”
Gregory nodded and smiled when Lou went back to writing after he made corrections. It had taken more than eight years for Lou to accept him at the table. That one thing filled him with immense pride.
They worked on the equation for a year and Gregory asked, “Where did this equation come from?”
Lou turned to him and said, “It just seemed to evolve in my mind. I don’t really understand but it just seems to be…right.” Lou paused and said, “But I just can’t seem to solve it no matter how hard I’ve tried.”
“Is it possible something is missing from the equation?”
Lou turned to Gregory, “I’ve not seen anything.”
Gregory shook his head, “Lou, you are brilliant. What are you doing here?”
Lou looked at Gregory and said, “I’m living to solve this equation.” He turned away and said, “I was a college math professor once.” Gregory was silent and Lou continued, “I won a large number of awards and was quite well known. But one day I came home early and found my wife with another man.” Lou was silent and Gregory also didn’t speak. Lou raised his hands and looked at them, “I killed both of them with my bear hands.” He lowered them and sighed, “There were numerous famous people who asked the judge to be merciful in his sentencing. But when he asked me at the end if I would ever be capable of doing it again, I told him I had no idea. He said he had no choice but to sentence me to the docks for the rest of my life.”
“Why did you tell him that? You would have avoided all of this,” Gregory asked.
“Because I don’t know why I killed them in the first place. I can still hear her screams in my dreams and working on this equation is the only thing that’s kept me going.” Lou turned back to the equation and went back to work.
• • •
A year later, Gregory knew he was being selfish. Lou was staying alive on sheer will alone and his days were filled with pain. There was a good chance he would die never having solved the equation that bedeviled him for more than thirty years. That night, Lou wrote the equation down on the tablet and Gregory grabbed his hand. Lou looked at him and Gregory said, “Lou, I think we’ve missed something.”
“What is that?”
“This equation deals with three dimensions, right?” Lou nodded. “It should be written in four dimensions.”
“Show me!” Lou said simply. Gregory added a letter to the left side of the equation, erased a letter from the right side, and replaced it with a different letter. Lou stared at the changes and his eyes widened. He began writing furiously and in four hours, he solved the equation. He looked at Gregory and his smile was angelic. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” He hugged Gregory and went to his bed and closed his eyes as he thought about what he had just done. Gregory watched him closely and soon, Lou stopped breathing. Gregory’s tears fell and he put his head in his hands. Lou was gone and the world would never be the same. Gregory covered Lou and saw he was still smiling. Lou sat beside his bed until morning and then left early for the cafeteria. He found the Port Manager and walked up to him and said, “Lou passed away last night.”
The Manager looked into Gregory’s face and said, “Doctor Kessler was a remarkable person.” Gregory nodded. “In all the time he’s been here, he’s not spoken to anyone unless forced to do so. But he came to me several months ago and requested that you be given his books if something happened to him.” The manager blew out a soft breath, “I think he knew he didn’t have much longer. I’m not required to honor his wish, but I will in this instance; his books now belong to you. Go to your morning meal and I’ll handle removing Dr. Kessler.”
Gregory’s mind screamed wanting to know what was going to happen to Lou’s remains but knew it was better if he didn’t know. He turned and walked toward the cafeteria. It was the Twenty-Third Year of the Suppression.
• • •
Six weeks later, the Port Manager stopped Gregory as he left the cafeteria in the morning, “Mr. Jennings, please come with me.” Gregory’s head tilted and the Port Manager tossed him a duffle bag. He led Gregory to his room and said, “Please put all of your books in the duffle bag.”
“Sir?”
“You’re moving out of these quarters. I assume you want to keep them with you.” Gregory nodded and immediately began putting the books in the duffle bag. He lifted the heavy bag over his shoulder effortlessly and followed the Port Manager up the long walkway. They continued moving toward the front entrance to the port and Gregory came to a stop. The Port Manager turned his remote to him and pressed a button. “Please come with me, your collar has been deactivated.”
The Port Manager walked up to the entrance and Gregory saw the police officer that brought him to the port more than eleven years earlier; he was now a lieutenant. The Port manager handed him a tablet and the officer signed it. The Port Manager turned to Gregory and said, “Make Lou proud.” He turned and walked away.
Gregory turned to Lieutenant Jiles and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Mr. Jennings, you have been chosen to participate in a program and there are things you need to understand before you decide whether or not you will enter it.” Gregory stared at him in silence and Jiles said, “It’s called a fresh start program. You will leave the Port and be taken to a facility where you will be given living quarters. You will be required to live there and follow the rules of the facility to the letter. You will also be given a job where you can make a living. You will report to that job on time every work day and perform your work without causing issues. Clear so far?” Gregory nodded. “If you can fulfill these requirements for five years, your collar will be removed, and you’ll become a full citizen again.” Gregory started shaking his head and Jiles held up a hand, “However, if you hurt or harm anyone during that five years, you will be immediately returned to the port to serve out your sentence. Also, since you will be wearing your collar for those five years, those around you will know you are a convicted criminal and you will sh
ow the proper respect to the citizens you encounter. Give them room to pass and lower your head when near them, understand?”
“Why have I been chosen to do this?”
Jiles shrugged, “It appears the Port Manager has enough pull to make it happen. He insists that you are not dangerous, and you are the most respected person among the prisoner population. He pleaded your case to the judge personally and the judge agreed to allow you to enter the program. But do not forget that you are on probation and any violation of the conditions of your parole will have you back at the port.” Jiles paused and asked, “What did he mean by ‘make Lou proud’?”
Gregory lowered his head, “Lou is someone I highly respect, Sir.”
“Come with me.” Jiles led him to his cruiser, lifted it and moved above the city. He arrived at a tall apartment building and landed in front of it.
A man met them outside and smiled at Gregory, “My name is Gene Watson and I’m the building supervisor. Please follow me to your quarters. Lieutenant, will you wait for him?” Jiles nodded and sat down in his cruiser.
They went to an apartment on the first floor and Gene kept a running commentary, “The laundry room is just down the hall and we don’t charge anything for using the washers and dryers. You will however have to provide your own washing detergent. Your room will cost you five hundred a month due before the first.”
“Sir, I don’t have any money,” Gregory quickly responded.
Gene handed him a folder, “This folder has your contracts on your entrance into the Fresh Start Program along with a credit card and check book on the First Bank of Boston. The wages you’ve been paid over the years are in that account for you to use to support yourself.”
“I thought I was required to give that money to charity.”
Gene shrugged, “Slavery is outlawed, even for criminals so the state is required to pay you minimum wage for every hour you’ve worked at the port. Ordinarily, when you died, you could specify which charities you want the money to go to but since you’re legally out of the criminal system, that money goes to you to help you pay your own expenses. You will also be paid on the new job you’ve been given, and you may use that money if you choose.”
Gene led him into his apartment and opened the closet, “The Port Manager sent me your sizes and you have six pairs of jeans and shirts. Wear them to work and if you need more, pay for them out of your funds. You have two pair of sneakers and a single pair of boots. Do you have any questions?”
“No Sir.”
“This building has a population of criminals who have committed various crimes but all of them haven’t been assault or other physical breeches of the criminal code. Do not get into an altercation with any of them, understand?!”
“Yes Sir.”
“Change into jeans and a shirt and meet me outside with Lt. Jiles.”
Gregory changed clothes and Jiles looked at Gregory, “Do you agree to follow the conditions you’ve been given?”
“I do.”
Jiles held a tablet out and said, “Sign your name on the bottom line.”
Gregory signed and Jiles said, “come with me; I’m taking you to your job.” Gregory got in the cruiser and asked, “How far away is the job.”
Jiles turned to him, “Around five miles from here. You’re due there every morning at eight. I suspect you’ll need to take public transportation to get there on time.”
“Would you mind if we go there on the streets.”
“Why do you want that?”
Gregory shrugged, “I’m going to walk or run to work each morning; I don’t want to waste funds on transportation.”
Jiles shrugged, “Suit yourself.” He drove away from the apartment building and pointed out the streets Gregory would have to take to go to work. As they pulled up to the factory, Gregory asked, “Do you know anything about my mother?”
Jiles shook his head slightly and turned to Gregory, “She died of a drug overdose the night you were arrested. We sent someone to question her about your alibi that night and found her.” Gregory lowered his head and Jiles said, “Come with me; I need to introduce you to the man that hired you.” Gregory followed him in to the front office and forced his mind away from his mother; he’d deal with that later.
Lt. Jiles introduced him to the owner of the factory and he smiled, “I’m Patrick Callahan.” He turned to Lt. Jiles, “I’d like to show him around the factory; do you have time?”
“Not really and I’m required to take him back before I can go.”
“I’ll give him a ride, if that’s ok?”
Jiles nodded and looked at Gregory. He started to say something but instead turned and walked away. Pat smiled and said, “Let me show you where you’re going to be working. One of my good employees is retiring and I need someone to take his place.’
Pat led Gregory to a long assembly line and stopped behind an older man. “Frank, this is Gregory and he’s being hired to take your place. Please demonstrate for him what he needs to do.” The two men on the assembly line beside Frank said, “Pat, what’s going on? He’s wearing a collar!”
Pat looked at them with an angry expression, “You just do your job and he’ll do his! Got that?!” The two men nodded and glared at Gregory as they turned away. Pat had Gregory move up beside Frank and watch him. Frank had two pieces of an electrical device move in front of him on an assembly line and he expertly snapped them together. He took another part out of a hopper in front of him and snapped it into the bottom of the two pieces he just assembled. He put the part down on the assembly line and a few moments later, they moved to the next man. Two more pieces moved in front of Frank and he repeated the process. After ten minutes, Pat asked, “Do you think you understand what’s required?”
Gregory looked at Frank and said softly, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Frank smiled, “No, ask away.”
“I notice that you angle the first two parts such that the top right arm is inserted first; is that needed to put them together.”
Frank continued to snap the parts together and smiled, “It took me more than a year to learn that reduced the time needed to put them together. You’re pretty observant.”
“And the back two legs on the third part have to be slightly inserted…” Gregory suggested.
Frank smiled, “Now that is hard to see, but you’re right.”
Pat said, “Step back Frank and let him give it a try.”
Frank stepped back and Gregory stepped up to the assembly line. He grabbed the two pieces as they moved in front of him and snapped them immediately into place. He inserted the third piece in less than two seconds and put the part down. The two men beside Gregory on the assembly line were shocked at how fast he completed the process. The tolerances of those parts were tiny, and he picked it up instantly. Frank smiled, “Looks like you’ve found a keeper, Boss.”
Pat nodded and said, “Gregory, do you mind staying and working until the end of the day; I’ll give you a ride home afterwards.” Gregory nodded and continued snapping the parts together. Pat smiled, “Frank, thanks for all the years you’ve worked and especially thank you for staying until I found a replacement. Go home and start enjoying your retirement.” Frank hugged Pat and walked away. Gregory continued to snap the parts together and tried not to think about his mother.
• • •
At the end of the day, Pat took him into the front office and said, “Janie, please set up Mr. Jennings for payroll.
The woman turned to Gregory, “I’ve been notified by the court that you have a bank account at First Boston. Is that where you want your pay direct deposited?”
“That is fine.”
Pat said, “He worked six hours today, credit his time card with those.” Janie wrote on a card and Pat said, “Come with me.” He led him to a clock beside the entrance and took the card and entered it into a slot. The clock made a sound and Pat showed Gregory the card, “Notice the clock has stamped your time card showing the time you
clocked out. Your card will be in this rack beside the clock and you will clock in when you arrive in the mornings and clock out when you leave in the afternoon. Any questions?”
“No, that seems pretty straight forward.”
Pat smiled come with me and I’ll give you a ride home.”
Gregory turned to Janie, “Do you happen to have a map of Boston.”
“Why do you need that?” Pat asked.
“I intend to run to work each day.”
Pat blinked, “Are you serious?” Gregory nodded. Pat took him to his car parked out front of the building and they got in. Pat turned to him, “Are you sure about running here?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we have a shower facility for you to use to clean up when you arrive; you might have a certain smell about you after running five miles. I recommend you get a backpack and carry a clean set of clothes with you to change into.” Gregory nodded. “Also, make sure it’s waterproof, we get a lot of rain here.” Pat thought a moment and said, “You should also get a rain suit to wear in the event it’s raining.” Pat stared at Gregory, “You’re sure about this?”
“I am.”
“Well, I’m going to show you the shortest route back to your apartment.”
“Lt. Jiles said it was six miles by his odometer this morning.”
“If you stick to the streets, he’s right. However, there’s a faster route if you’re not taking a car.” They drove away from the factory and after a mile, Pat was stopped beside a large park. He pointed out of the windshield and said, “Do you see that tall building with the dome on top of it across the park?” Gregory nodded. “When you get here, run directly across the park toward that building.” Pat drove forward and traffic was packed bumper to bumper. Pat drove to the end of the park and then made a right. After a long delay he said, “Look across the street.” Gregory looked and said, “Isn’t that the building you pointed out?”
“Yes it is. And I can’t show you from the street but between that building and the one on the right is an alley that runs between them. Go through that alley and it will cut more than half a mile off your run.”
The Watcher II: The Time of Suppression Page 10
