A Crack in the Sky

by Mark Peter Hughes

  The mongoose chirped softly and rubbed her paws together as if she were carrying the weight of the world. It was amazing to Eli how human she sometimes looked. It’s not me you need to worry about, Eli. It’s your family. You’d better hope they don’t find out what happened, because if they do I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes tomorrow. She leveled her gaze at him. You haven’t forgotten, have you, about the Festival of Optimism?

  Eli’s stomach sank. In all the excitement, he had indeed forgotten, and now he realized the timing couldn’t be worse. What happened today wasn’t exactly his own fault, but still, he’d met with a Fogger, an anti-InfiniCorp criminal. It was arguably the most disloyal thing he could have done. In any case, he was certain his family would see it that way if they ever found out. Which was why the thought of having to face them tomorrow was making him feel suddenly nauseated.

  I’m glad to see you at least have the good sense to be ashamed of yourself.

  He lowered himself onto his bed. “Why do I do these things to myself, Marilyn? I don’t know why you put up with me.”

  Marilyn looked like she’d been struck. After a moment she dropped to the floor, raised herself to her full height, and narrowed her orange eyes. Because, you dense, selfish boy, you’re my only friend. You’re all I have!

  With her whiskers pulled back and her teeth bared, to anybody else she would have been a fearsome sight. Only then did it occur to Eli that she was fully awake, which could mean just one thing: she’d stayed away from her dream game all this time. She was his only friend, and he was hers. But now he realized that he hadn’t been a very good friend to her lately. Meeting her eyes, he felt like the worst person in the world.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, looking away.

  Her whiskers twitched again. What are you going to do?

  “What choice do I have? I’ll go to Grandfather’s tomorrow. At least I can ask Sebastian. Maybe he’s heard of the Friends of Gustavo.”

  I wouldn’t do that. Keep this to yourself. You don’t know who’s safe to talk to and who isn’t.

  “Safe? Of course Sebastian’s safe. He’s my brother.” He flopped back onto his pillow and stared at the ceiling. “Listen, I know it sounds weird, but there’s something out there. I can’t help sensing it. That kid on the Bubble, he lifted his mask. He showed me his face and let me see into his eyes. He didn’t have to do that. And he looked as normal as anyone else.” He let out a long breath. “I don’t know what’s going on, Marilyn, but I feel like I need to figure it out.”

  All I know is that you need to be careful, Eli. Don’t let your guard down.

  Eli slept badly. The whole following morning he kept expecting Uncle Hector or another of his uncles or aunts to suddenly materialize in a cloud and accuse him of disloyalty. Father and Mother were coming home so they could travel to Grandfather’s together, and before they arrived he imagined how they would corner him. They would inform him they’d heard all about the Fogger and ask him why he’d disappointed them yet again.

  But none of it happened. Nobody even brought it up.

  This was a good sign, of course, but Eli realized that just because the ax hadn’t fallen yet didn’t guarantee that his secret was safe. His was a family of mysterious and powerful people. He knew better than to relax just yet.

  At Grandfather’s celebration he kept to himself until Sebastian arrived. When he did, Eli watched his brother parade through the packed ballroom, shaking hands and greeting everyone. It seemed to Eli that he’d grown taller in his weeks at the Program. The CloudNet cameras followed his every move. With his silicone shoulder pads and reflective robe, he looked more like a real executive than ever.

  Everyone made a big fuss over him.

  Eli waited for his chance to speak with him alone. He kept trying to get his attention, but it wasn’t easy. After a quick hello there was always some interruption. Uncle Demetrius needed him, or Spider would call him over to address some business issue or other. After having so many unpleasant incidents with Spider, Eli was bothered more than ever to think of Sebastian working so closely with their strange cousin. But there was no denying that Sebastian looked happy. And it wasn’t his fault he was so busy. He worked for the company now. He had real responsibilities.

  Eli’s moment finally came later in the afternoon. Sebastian was in the hallway, checking his InfiniTalk messages, so Eli made his way over to him. When Sebastian saw him, he grinned. “Just a sec,” he said, raising a finger. “Answering a ping.”

  Rather than waiting for another of his uncles to interrupt again, Eli took him by the arm and pulled him through a nearby door into one of the sitting rooms. It was empty. “What are you doing?” Sebastian asked, ending his transmit. “That was important!”

  Eli closed the door. “I need to talk with you about something. You need to promise you’ll never tell anyone. Okay?”

  Sebastian looked wary. “I guess so.”

  Eli took a deep breath. “Have you ever heard of the Friends of Gustavo?”

  “No.”

  “How about something called the Wild Orange Yonder?”

  He shook his head.

  Eli dropped his voice even lower. “Has anybody in the Program ever mentioned anything to you about using the CloudNet to control people’s minds? Have they talked about the Outsiders and the end of the world?”

  Sebastian studied him, his expression growing darker. “I don’t believe it. You’re still obsessing about that nut job we saw, aren’t you? Why can’t you just let it go?”

  “No, that’s not it—”

  He held up his hand, obviously uninterested in hearing more. “God, Eli. What’s the matter with you? I’m beginning to wonder if you caught brain fever out there. You’re starting to sound like a Fogger.”

  Eli didn’t think that was fair. He was only asking. He was about to say so, but then Sebastian’s InfiniTalk howled. Sebastian tapped his ear. “Just a sec,” he said to Eli after a moment. “Another company ping.” Fuming, Eli waited while Sebastian received the transmit and sent his response, his voice calm and commanding. Eli realized the change in his brother went deeper than just his new clothes. There was a new authority in his manner, a confidence that hadn’t been there before.

  At last Sebastian tapped his ear again. “Look, sorry to do this to you, but I gotta go. The office needs the quarterly numbers and … well, I have to get back right away.”

  “Listen to me!” Eli said, grabbing his sleeve. “Yesterday I rode the Bubble. There was a boy dressed like an Outsider. He came up to me and—”

  By then Sebastian had already pulled his arm back and was walking away. “You don’t get it. I really don’t have time for this.”

  Eli wanted to grab him by the lapels and shake him, but on the other hand he could imagine how pathetic he must seem, still whining about Outsiders and the end of the world. He looked away, focusing on the window so Sebastian wouldn’t see him turn red.

  “Listen, I’m sorry. Hey, would you look at me?”

  Eli did.

  “I know what this is really about,” Sebastian said, his tone softer now. “You’re worried about getting into the Program. I totally understand that. Everyone feels the same way until they get the news. But seriously, you need to let this stuff go. Everything works out in the end. The company makes sure of it. In the meantime, you have to pull yourself together.”

  “Sebastian, I really need to speak with you.”

  His brother rubbed his forehead. “Okay,” he said after a moment. “Ping me tomorrow. We’ll talk then.” He spun around and started toward the door again. As he left the room, Eli couldn’t help thinking he looked more like Father than ever.

  In Grandfather’s office an hour later, Eli and the old man were playing their usual game of checkers. By then Eli had mostly calmed down. After his frustration with Sebastian, he wondered whether he should say something to Grandfather about the masked boy. If there was anyone who had always been on Eli’s side, it was him. In the end, though, he
decided to take Marilyn’s advice. Talking with Foggers was no ordinary transgression. It was safer to tread lightly.

  But there was no reason he couldn’t ask a few innocent questions.

  “Grandfather?” he began, as casually as he could manage. “How does the company know the world is cooling back down and going back to the way it was?”

  The old man was barely listening. His eyes were fixed on the game board. Eli couldn’t help noticing how since the last time he’d seen his grandfather, his breathing had grown wheezier and the wrinkles on his face seemed to have grown deeper. “It’s what our scientists tell us. How else? Why, are you concerned?”

  Eli shook his head. “No. It was just something I was thinking about.”

  His eyes still on the board, Grandfather grunted. “Very good. Questioning assumptions is a sign of a sound mind.” Over his shoulder Eli could see the amazing music box shaped like a domed city, its people safely tucked in their houses and office buildings. Grandfather reached out and jumped one of Eli’s red checkers with one of his black ones. He set Eli’s lost piece to one side of the board.

  “Your move.”

  But Eli wasn’t finished. “I have something else I wanted to ask. Have you ever heard of Outsiders climbing the domes to tap into the water supplies?”

  The old man raised his bushy eyebrows. “What an extraordinary question. Why would you ask such a thing, child?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “I was just thinking about Outsiders and where they must get their water from. I just wondered about it.”

  Grandfather smiled. “Another outstanding line of consideration. The answer is yes. As a matter of fact, I have heard of such a thing. At least, I’ve heard of Outsiders trying to tap into our water supplies. But it’s not something they would ever get away with.”

  “Well, let’s just say they tried and got hurt doing it, maybe even killed. Would the company ever want to hide the truth about that? Or about anything else?”

  “Hide the truth? What exactly are you getting at?”

  “I’m just curious, that’s all. Would InfiniCorp ever try to stop people from knowing something? Would we, say, use the CloudNet to keep their minds distracted?”

  Grandfather eyed him. Eli had been trying to sound like they were just having a regular conversation, but he realized he’d probably gone too far. As the old man continued to take him in, Eli was struck once more by the gray pallor of his face and the dark circles around his eyes.

  “Are you all right, Grandfather? You don’t look so good.”

  Grandfather started to cough, a series of deep, raspy spasms that went on for a few seconds. It was worrying. Eli started to get up. “Should I call for someone?”

  But the coughing fit soon subsided and Grandfather shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’m fine,” he said, waving his hand. “Are you planning to make a move sometime soon, or are we going to sit here all day and talk about my health?”

  Eli considered what he should do, but Grandfather seemed okay again. Plus, he could tell he’d hit a nerve, so he decided to let it go for now. Instead he reached over, picked up a red checker, and jumped three of Grandfather’s black ones, including the one that had just jumped his own. Now his game piece was all the way across the board, on Grandfather’s side. “King me.”

  Grandfather’s brow furrowed. He blinked at Eli and then glowered down at the board again. Finally he laughed. He placed the lost red checker on top of Eli’s victorious one. “Sharp move. You caught me with my guard down. You’re improving.”

  Eli tried not to smile. “What about my question?”

  The old man’s eyes stayed on the board. He chuckled. “Oh, you are a troublemaker, aren’t you?” he said, pulling an air-filter stick from his pocket and clamping it between his teeth.

  Eli wasn’t sure what to think, but he was glad Grandfather was smiling.

  “You’re asking serious questions, child, so I suppose I should give you serious answers.” He leaned back in his chair. “You need to understand that InfiniCorp is in the business of keeping people safe and happy. It’s no small task. And in the course of normal events, sometimes situations arise that the company feels could cause unnecessary concern, needless interruptions in otherwise pleasant, productive lives. Do you follow what I’m saying?”

  Eli didn’t, but he shrugged. He knew he would explain.

  “Think about the many perils all of us face each day even in the relative safety of the domes. Unpredictable, often dangerous weather Outside. Exterior walls in need of constant repair. Continuous risk of attack from savages. The Great Sickness has passed, but we still live in troubled times. Perilous times.” He removed the filter stick and narrowed his red-rimmed eyes. “Do you have any idea how many threats the company has to deal with at any given moment? Can you imagine what would happen if the alarm was sounded for every incident, no matter how minor? Employees would feel perpetually vulnerable. In a vast and complex organization such as ours, few people understand the lengths the company goes to in order to maintain the feeling of security. Imagine the disruption, the civil unrest, if it weren’t there. What would be the purpose? The fact is, there’s no point in worrying if the company is taking care of everything. And if the CloudNet helps keep the general population focused on the things the average person can control, well, all the better.” He put the filter stick back in his mouth. “InfiniCorp’s job is to look out for everyone so all our honest, hardworking employees can live without pointless anxiety.”

  Eli considered. It made a kind of sense, he supposed. What was the purpose of the company if everyone had to worry all the time? Even so, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

  “But what if there were real danger?” he asked. “Like, what if it turned out there was an apocalyptic storm coming, a hurricane powerful enough to destroy the domes, and we knew about it ahead of time? Wouldn’t not telling people leave them defenseless?” He realized he was pushing his luck again, but he’d already gone this far and, after all, this was Grandfather. Eli couldn’t think of a better person to ask.

  “An apocalyptic storm?” The old man laughed, a deep, phlegmy chuckle. “Eli, if it was really the end of the world, then what would be the point in worrying? No, the domes are strong. Believe me, I made sure of that.” He gave a wry smile. “Now, what do you say we drop all this foolish talk and get back to the game? You’re about to beat me, child, and I can’t let that happen. I have a reputation to keep up.”

  Eli was alone as he trudged up to the mansion roof, where a transport pod waited to take him home. Mother and Father had both left the celebration early, pulling him aside to say that important meetings had come up unexpectedly. It was unavoidable, they said. This wasn’t unusual for them. Even when they were at home, they often disappeared without warning to meetings too mysterious for Eli to understand or care about. It frustrated him each time they left him like this, just as it did now as he walked on his own to his ride home.

  The moment he stepped out onto the landing pad, he heard a breathy voice: “Hello, Eli. I’m so glad I was able to catch you before you … flew off.”

  “Spider! What are you doing here?” His cousin’s spooky, blank gaze was only inches away, and it took Eli by surprise. Without realizing it he shrank back in revulsion.

  If Spider was insulted he didn’t show it. “Many apologies. If I alarmed you it wasn’t my intention. I’ve been meaning to speak with you all afternoon. It’s difficult to talk openly, though, with so many … ears around. You understand? Ears that might overhear something they shouldn’t?” He smiled. An insect smile.

  Eli studied him. Did Spider know about the Fogger? He forced himself to appear calm. “Okay, you wanted to speak with me. So speak.”

  “Your brother tells me you appear somewhat … overwhelmed. It’s understandable, of course, with your fourteenth birthday coming up. Believe me, I know how difficult the pressure can be. But Sebastian thinks you’re more anxious than most. He’s concerned about you
.”

  Eli tried to keep his face expressionless. That was what all this was about? It had nothing to do with Foggers? But as relieved as he felt, the mention of Sebastian brought a fresh wave of irritation. Their conversation had been private. His brother shouldn’t have shared anything about it with anyone. Especially Spider.

  “Sebastian doesn’t have to worry about me,” he said at last. “Nobody does.”

  “Oh, but he wants to help. And so do I.” Spider paused, sensing, it seemed, Eli’s doubt about this. “Look, I know you and I haven’t always been on the best of terms, but no matter our differences we’re still cousins, am I right? Surely cousins ought to help each other whenever they can? Oh, but perhaps you disagree. Maybe kinship means nothing to you.”

  Eli wasn’t buying a word of it. “What do you want, Spider? Just tell me.”

  He looked hurt. “Only what’s best for you, of course. And if only you had allowed me to, I believe I could have been most helpful. Unfortunately all I can offer at this point is a little information. Enlightenment to ease the mind.”

  Eli didn’t know what kind of game this was, but he figured there was no getting away unless he played along. “All right,” he said. “Ease my mind how?”

  “I thought it might comfort you to know that worrying is no longer necessary. Your position in the company has already been determined.”

  “Already determined? How can that be? I haven’t even had my Final Assessment yet.”

  “Yes, I know. But it turns out that as a member of the Leadership Council, I have a measure of influence over the assignment process. In fact, as head of the Department of Loyalty, my input is given substantial … weight, shall we say? And it seems in your case there were special circumstances that demanded some departure from the normal procedure.”

  Eli’s mouth went dry. “What special circumstances?”

  Spider gazed down his long nose at him. His thin lips formed the faintest suggestion of a smile. “Ride the Bubble much?”