by ipam
They all wear the face mask.
Garbage hill and the northwestern blue barrier wall
Marsilla wipes the blue dust from the wall. She fingers the sticky yellow colored trash on the wall. “I marked it, here, so I won’t forget. There! There are two separate spots, both cold…”
The mayor orders. “Everyone, snap pictures of the wall, now! Let’s get out of here, now. My sinuses can’t take the stinky smell. We will analyze the photographs and these cold spots, inside the map room. Move. Everyone shuffle back into the travel car, now. And, before we meet inside the map room, everyone will take a bath, immediately…”
Chapter 11
Colfax
11:01 am. map room
Rincon wiggles side to side inside his chair with excitement.
Marsilla fingers the photographs. The photos are displayed upon the wall from her cell. “When I discovered the two cold spots, along the barrier wall, I, also, drew a line between the two spots. The line is a perfectly straight, coming down from point A to point B. Therefore, I conclude that a smart teen has stabbed something through the barrier wall, here and there. Then, the ions scattered or parted from the something object. The parting created an opening or a hole, where one teen could walk through the wall.” She nods and smiles.
The mayor gasps. “Is this possible?”
Marsilla nods. “Yes, it is very possible. The smart teen has figured out and duplicated the simplistic concept of the travel car. I can’t explain the how, or the why, or the what, either. But, I am more than willing to find out for you, Ms. Mayor.”
Nephella wiggles side to side inside her chair with annoyance. “Not possible, Mama! The travel car is made of raw nickel minerals. When the car enters the barrier wall, the car absorbs some of the radiated electrons, tossed from the electromagnetic field. This is how we survive, passing through a barrier wall. This is how the car survives, passing through a barrier wall. No human, mammal, or insect can pass through a barrier wall, without the protection of the travel car. The human would burn into sizzling ashes. No smart teen has figured out nothin’. The cold spots are deep indentations associated with numerous hits upon the barrier wall, thus the continuous pings inside the map room, here.”
Marsilla frowns and fingers the wall map. “How do you explain that the newest black circles are very new, not old? I did my homework, late yesterday afternoon and last night. I stayed here, almost all night, looking for the results. I went backwards in time and reexamined the historical black circles, specifically, inside Montag. The new black circles are new, since last night, inside Montag. As of today, there have not ever been any visual black circles, there, positioned inside the two cold spots, because the trash bins are immovable. The trash bins are not placed there. The trash bins do not move, unless the me-chees move it. So, the trash bins did not make the two black circles on the barrier wall. Therefore, the smart teen, like Rincon keeps proclaiming for some weird reason, has punched the barrier wall, two times with something, and then entered Montag, committing a crime, stealing the cakes from the shop owner.” She nods and grins at Rincon.
Rincon frowns with annoyance at Marsilla.
The mayor nods, holding her chin. She walks around the center of the platform, looking at the polished floor, cleaned by the people from the outer township of Hamlin. “Last night, the shop owner was robbed. So, we can conclude that the smart teen has breached the barrier wall…”
Nephella frowns with annoyance, shaking her facial piercings. “No, Mama! The cold spots are deep indentations, within the barrier wall. This is, why the trash bins are not located against the barrier wall. You have asked about the pings, before from the me-chee leader, like months ago. Therefore, the me-chees shifted that particular trash bin away from the two indentations. And, the shop owner left the door unlocked. Any mischievous teen or a group of teens could have entered her store and stolen the cookies, the cupcakes, and the cakes. The shop owner needs to lock the door. Or, the shop owner needs to tattle to the other shop owners and the citizens of Montag about the crime. The citizens of Montag should investigate their own criminal incident, not us, here, inside Colfax. This is not our concern, Mama. What is the next assignment for the interns?”
The mayor exhales, studying her daughter, nodding. “You are very wise, daughter. The shop owner was most careless, leaving the front door unlocked. And, the crime occurred inside Montag, therefore the shop owners should attend to the matter.” She smiles. “The next assignment…”
“Ms. Mayor, I would like to point out the duplication of the cold spots found by Rincon, yesterday, inside Dookie Town. I find it remarkable, that we are investigating the black circles, which are causing dings to the important barrier wall. And, I find it remarkable, that we have found a series of cold spots, within two different outer townships, which are causing dings to the important barrier wall. And, I find it remarkable, that Rincon mentions a smart teen, who might be creating and causing the dings to the very important barrier wall. And, I would like to point out that the barrier wall is our only defense against this savage teen and the other more savage teens, within the outer townships. And, I have a demonstration for you and the interns, Ms. Mayor.” She presses the button on her cell.
The map room disappears. It is replaced with the blue barrier wall inside Montag.
Marsilla smiles. “I have simulated an object, two objects, punching through the blue barrier wall, inside Montag. Please, watch upon the wall. When the two objects are stabbed in the exact twin positions of the cold spots, it forms a perfect straight line. Then, the straight line scatters the charged ions, within the barrier wall. Then, the charged ions drop away, forming a neat vertical up and down opening. I would like to point out that this opening could, somewhat, allow a small external object, or a small body to slide across the barrier wall and then land into the new outer township…”
The mayor gasps.
Rincon laughs. “That’s good illustration of a fantasy fun mathematic child’s game, Marsilla. I propose that you be a me-chee designer, instead of a legal technician. And, that’s impossible to breakdown a barrier wall.”
Marsilla sneers. “I…am not breaking the wall, slo mo joe. I…am scattering the ions of the wall. Matter is not destroyed. It is changed.”
Nephella frowns at Marsilla. “And, what do you propose, Marsilla?”
Marsilla stands and grins. “I propose that we revisit Dandine and question the residents, finding and locating this particular mischievous smart teen, before any more harm is done to the very important barrier wall.”
The mayor studies Marsilla then Duchie. She nods and says. “Yes, we should visit the outer township of Dandine, again. Let’s talk with the residents and listen, if we can find that mischievous teen. I, for one, would like to learn how to penetrate a barrier wall, without the usage of a travel car of raw nickel mineral.”
Dandine yellow barrier wall
The travel car halts beside the cesspools, again. The me-chee driver sits inside the car.
The mayor slides out the car, walking towards one of the workers. The interns scatter from the car, swinging around and examining the barrier wall.
Rincon slams his hands into the wall, scattering the yellow dust, then whispers to Duchie. “Do ya think Ketona figured out how to part the barrier walls?”
Duchie whispers. “Naw! That’s impossible. I agree with Nephella’s explanation. Only certain minerals allow an e-field to scatter. And, the minerals have to be mined from the soil, usually underground. This is impossible for someone to walk between a barrier wall…”
Nephella lights the cigar, waving the smoke in the air, calming her nerves. She wishes her granddaddy was alive to give her a hug and control her mama. Her mama gets on Nephella’s nerves with her foolish folly.
The mayor stands away from the slate covered walls, yelling. “I am the mayor of Colfax. I am interested in learning, if there has been any type of visual or social activity near this yellow colored barrier wall. As you know,
it is against the law to mess with the barrier wall.”
The lonely worker, dressed in yellow gear, stirs the cesspool water, ignoring the mayor.
The mayor exhales, turning towards the thicket of trees. There is a table with gathered workers. She stands away from the table, yelling and tossing her arms. “I am the mayor of Colfax. I am interested in learning, if there has been any type of visual or social activity near this yellow colored barrier wall. As you know, it is against the law to mess with the barrier wall.”
The workers chew their food, staring at the mayor.
One of the workers nods and chews, spitting out mouth salvia and food particles. The worker fingers the wall. “I saw some kids playing around there, the other day.”
The mayor gasps, nodding. “When, the other day? When is the other day?”
The worker chews. “The other day.”
Marsilla stands next to the mayor. “Hello, I am Marsilla from Colfax. I work with the mayor of Colfax. So, you saw a couple of kids, playing near the barrier wall. Could you, be so kind, as to, point out that particular area along the barrier wall for me? I would really appreciate your kindness, honey.”
The worker chews then fingers. “Somewhere, over yonder, I’d say. Somewhere, about even with the first row of houses. I saw some kids playing there, the other night…”
Marsilla nods, grinning. “You are so kind. Thank you.” She swings, dashing to the rows of houses. She stands at the edge of the sidewalk, in the grass, narrowing her eyelashes at the wall, scans the wall. She paces forward from the row of houses, then touches into that point along the wall. She gently bushes the yellow dust from the wall. She gasps, when her hands gently touch the dried red patch of flowers. She reads out loud. “I…b…here. I be there. The message is printed in crashed red flowers. There is a message from the smartie teen. I know it. There is a teen, here. And, the teen can walk through the barrier wall. But, I will find her, first. Or, I will beat it out of Rincon, first. He knows who the mystery teen.” She squats, gathering grass then mouth spits on the grass. She sticks the wet grass next to the printed message.
Rincon gasps, rubbing the wall. “I found it, again. There…is a cold spot, here, kinda near the bottom of my ankles, like someone was squatting and then stabbing at the wall.”
Duchie gasps, back stepping from the wall, frowning with confusion. “A single cold spot’s near your ankles.” She steps towards the wall, reaching her hands, rubbing the wall. She gasps. “I found it, too. There’s another cold spot, here. It is very tiny.” She gently traces her finger from the upper cold spot down towards the bottom cold spot.” She gasps. “Rincon, this is a straight line, not perfect, but very close. Something has been stabbed, twice, through the barrier wall. If we follow the logic of Marsilla’s silly mathematics, then the straight line would crack an opening inside the barrier wall.” She turns towards the noise then gasps. “Marsilla, she’s found something on the barrier wall, on the other side…”
“Ms. Mayor! O Ms. Mayor!” Marsilla dashes across the grass.
Nephella stands beside her mama.
The mayor talks with the workers, who are more interested in eating their lunch.
Marsilla stands and pants in front of the table, viewing and nodding to the mayor. “I found something, Ms. Mayor. Please, come and see!”
The mayor gasps then studies Marsilla. “What!? What have you found?”
Marsilla grins and pants. “Come and see this, Ms. Mayor!” She swings around, pacing to the wall.
The mayor and Nephella follow behind Marsilla.
Duchie and Rincon run from the opposite side, halting.
They stand in front of the yellow dust.
Marsilla prances to the wall, scattering the dust then fingers her grass stain. “I stained the object with grasslets for easy identification. See, the message in crumbled red flowers, here. I…b…here. I believe the original message reads: I be here. This is my proof, that the mischievous teen has broken through the barrier wall, right here, inside Dookie Town. We should…”
The mayor gasps then exhales. “I really can’t believe that one teen could possible break through an e-field, physically or scientifically. But, I do see an encrypted message...”
Nephella waves the smoke of the cigar around the air waves, frowning with annoyance. “Mama, these are kids, children, probably learning to spell and definitely needing to learn how to construct a proper sentence structure. If the message is supposed to read: I be here. That is visual proof, that the children failed their grammar class. And, this is not a good bragging boast.” She laughs with Rincon and Duchie. “I believe to interpret the sentence. The kids were here playing for fun. That’s all! That’s it! Let’s go back to your office.”
Marsilla stomps her sandal, dashing to the wall. She vigorously rubs her hands back and forth along the wall.
Rincon laughs, swinging around towards the car with Nephella and Duchie. He whispers into Duchie. “Do not mention our…”
“Found it!” Marsilla bounces, touching the wall. “I found a cold spot, right here, above my head. The teen must be tall, taller than me. The teen is busting through the wall, right here, Ms. Mayor…”
The mayor swings around, gasping. She runs to Marsilla. “What have you found, intern Marsilla?”
Marsilla doesn’t remove her hands. “Found it. I found another cold spot. You should touch it, here, Ms. Mayor. So, you can understand the sensation, that I am experiencing, too.”
The mayor steps forward, touching the spot. She nods. “Yes, there is a deep indentation, like something was directly stabbed into the wall.”
Marsilla rubs her hands along the bottom of the wall. She gasps. “I found a second cold spot. It is located at my ankles.” She swings her face, winking at Rincon.
Rincon frowns with annoyance, standing next to Duchie.
Marsilla rubs the spot then traces her finger upward towards the second cold spot. She touches the mayor’s fingers. Marsilla says. “This is both physical and scientific proof, that a teen has messed with the barrier wall. We should find and locate the teen, and then question her, immediately.”
Nephella frowns with annoyance. “Mama, you’re creating a scene, here. We should go and discuss with phenomena with both logic and scientific facts, first.”
The mayor removes her finger, nodding. “Yes, my daughter is correct. We shall leave, immediately, for an academic discussion. Please, everyone back into the car.”
Colfax
1:01 pm. map room
Duchie wiggles side to side with nervousness inside her glass desk located on the northwestern side of the platform.
The mayor stands in the middle of the platform, frowning with confusion. “What do all the numerous cold spots mean socially, physically, and scientifically.”
Marsilla drops her mouth to speak.
The mayor fingers Marsilla, saying. “Wait on moment, here! I have taken on your personal training for six months to teach and instill some exact character building qualities of something. Which intern would like to answer my ‘something’ query?”
Marsilla drops her mouth, saying. “Ms. Mayor, I believe Rincon knows…”
The mayor swings to Rincon, nodding and smiling. “Rincon, what are some of my character building qualities in becoming a very good citizen of Colfax?”
Rincon sneers at Marsilla then frowns at the mayor. “Well, I would guess, based on our first assignment, when we each had to cross the scary bridge, the first character building quality would be fear.”
“Very good, intern Rincon! Fear is not a good quality, but a good reminder of courage. It took courage for each intern to cross the bridge from my office and then into the map room. So, each intern has learned courage, be brave with your tasks and actions…”
“Mama, what are you doing?” Nephella wiggles side to side inside her chair.
The mayor paces around the platform, nodding and smiling. “I am building the character of each one of my interns, except my daughter N
ephella. She has always possessed courage and bravery. What was the character building with the second assignment?”
Marsilla sneers. “Honesty is the ability to be honest, and always telling the truth about everything, like our mamas have taught to us, Rincon.”
The mayor swings to Marsilla, nodding and smiling. “Excellent, intern Marsilla. I am teaching each one of you to be honest, not lying or fibbing about anything. So, now, we can discuss the cold spots, that we have found along the barrier wall. I would like to hear an explanation from each intern, except for Marsilla. She believes that a super smart teen has magically created an object. Then, the object has been magically thrusted through the barrier wall. Then, the barrier wall has magically parted, which defies all scientific explanation. Who would like to give me another explanation?”
Nephella wiggles side to side, smiling. “Mama, within Dandine, the kids were playing then accidentally hit the barrier wall with something hard. Then, they had some fun, writing the improper sentence structure on the barrier wall for more fun. Or, maybe, they did it to annoy the new legal technician. Within Montag, the me-chee robots are machines, very strong machines. The machines are stronger than the humans…”
“Except, when the machines are unplugged, they aren’t strong. They’re dead.” Marsilla nods and grins.
Nephella says. “It is so obvious. One or more of the garbage me-chees banged the trash bin edges, which are very sharp, against the barrier wall, creating the pinging echoes recorded, upon the map room. Then, the lead me-chee moved the trash bin from the slightly damaged barrier wall for the inspection me-chee. The inspection me-chee was called. The inspection me-chee inspected the wall, finding the wall, not damaged. The trash bin was not moved back into place. Petty crime is part of Montag’s history for centuries. Crime occurs there, all the time, because the shop owners do not pay to place working locks on the front doors of their individual shops. That particular shop owner was finally a victim of crime, for the first time, so she has learned her valuable lesson of life.”
