by Celie Wells
“Resolve? What the hell are you talking about?” I set my glass down on a nearby table and crossed my arms. “My grandson agreed to stay local, to stay away from the Guard, if he can convince Karine to marry him. The boy believes he is in love with her.”
“You think this idea of his is so farfetched, the love part I mean.”
“No, of course not, but love is not a good basis for marriage. Not for original families. I have no contractual obligation to marry him off to an original twenty. He can choose his bride, but I lost my daughter to the Guard. I won't have him join.” Dredge's passion for the task was easy to see. His grandson’s well-being tainted his normally calm demeanor.
“Hmm, so you want me, on my last day on this spinning brown dot, to give you my youngest granddaughter, so she can anchor your boy to a safer life path,” I confirmed.
“Yes, I want you to stay here a few more years and give me your granddaughter. You already gave me your son for my lab. He worked out splendidly. He has a gifted brain.”
“He's my son-in-law, and I didn't think he would turn out to be this useful. This isn't the dark ages Dredge. I can't give you a human being.”
“Of course, not literally, but you could join me, join my family line. I can give your lineage my name, my protection from the government in the years to come. You could...”
“Yes, “I interrupted. “I could do damn near anything I please in the next 24 hours, but why do I need to? Why is this so urgent?”
“I can't share that information.” Dredge clutched his hand over his chest and seated himself on the chair next to me.
“Come on,” I pressured. “I'll be dead by this time tomorrow. What harm would it do? Unburden yourself, Old Man.”
“You can't breathe a word. And I'm not exaggerating here, not a word.” Dredge warned, rising from his chair and blocking my view of the room.
“All right, enough of your bullshit already. I understand.”
“When you left the business, we had a direction. The space elevators and crews constructing the substations were working in unison. The whole planet joined together in the common goal of getting our people to another habitable planet.”
“Yes, and that is still the worldwide goal,” I stated firmly, folding my arms across my chest.
“No, it's not. The plans have failed. We haven't found a viable planet to colonize. Nothing is reachable within the current human life cycle. We will need a generational voyage to reach the nearest planet with a habitable zone.”
“But Dredge, we will be out of water in fifty years. That's a fact. Our planet's water is almost gone.”
“A few comets can be harvested, and some other conservation efforts will be put into effect. The primary shelter in place format will be imposed. We don't have the propulsion technology needed to find a new planet in time without...”
“Without what?” I demanded.
“A second quell.” Dredge whispered reverently. “We would need to thin the population by fifty percent.”
“No, no, we are above murder as a society. We don't kill our citizens anymore. There is no reason for it.”
“Your life celebration, they are coming back into fashion. Tradition is fashionable. Have you considered why?” Dredge probed.
“I don't pay attention to marketing and money-grabbing nonsense.”
“No, it's media management to help explain why only the original twenty families and their charges are living in more habitable locations like our little town. I need you to stay, but if you won't. I need you to give me your family. I can't protect them otherwise.” Dredge all but tossed his half-full drink on the table next to us.
“You are a crazy old-bastard Dredge. You have always been overly dramatic, but this farce is in bad taste. Why should I believe any of your nonsense?”
“I can bring you reports and graphs with colored slides if you need proof to convince you I'm telling the truth.”
“Reports of what exactly?” I asked, moving in closer to my old friend.
“A comet from the far belt is heading this way. We have two years, closer to twenty-two months. We aren't going to disrupt it. The government is going to let it hit the Pacific Rim. The Hawaii cliffs will be wiped out. The area is only sparsely populated now, but we expect atmospheric changes, earthquakes, and widespread devastation of our less cooperative neighbors to the east.”
“Jesus Christ, you're serious,” I exclaimed.
“We can't say that name anymore, Edgar, it is unlawful.” Dredge chuckled and shifted his weight off his bad knee.
“Like I give two shits, what are they going to do, kill me twice,” I snickered, taking another drink.
Dredge positioned himself between my shoulder and the room. “I'm convinced this will be the end of our way of life. They have been upcycling the West Tree, getting ready for more dormitories and habitable spaces. The East Tree in old New York is already being retrofitted with a shuttle doc pointing directly at the West Tree.
“A plan to connect them above the planet is in motion. Almost six thousand miles of connected space. Every scrap of metal is going up, but they won't finish it in time to beat the comet.”
“This was a scenario way back when I was a young man with old NASA. The prediction held that ice comets would be mined successfully with the right cargo holds. Still, mining might destabilize the remaining material, and send some larger mass objects out of orbit now-and-then.”
“About every two hundred years, some piece of garbage gets tossed over the galactic back fence. We have known for some time that Eris is off its already elliptical orbit and dragged significant amounts of material with it.
“We have been unable to colonize a new planet or clear the field of larger mass debris. The outcome is yet to be determined, but the rock we stand on today will look much different in two years.” Dredge put his hand on my shoulder. My old joints protested in pain. Even if I wanted to, I can't help save anyone.
“This is too much for tonight. I will have to think about all you have told me, discuss it with Constance. If what you are saying is true, their last name won't matter. We are all dead either way.”
“Please, Edgar, think about this matter quickly. I can make you my cousin. I have papers from my mother's estate with her thumbprint in blood. She and your mother had this document drawn up back when you and I were boys.
“Both our families held contingency plans in case something went wrong. I can do this, Edgar. I can claim all of them as my blood and get them out of harm when the time comes.”
“Dredge stop,” I put my hands up in surrender. “give me time to speak with Constance. You're making my head spin with all this crap.” I picked up my glass and held it high in the air. “Toast the day with me.”
My old friend wiped his forehead and stared at me for a moment before raising his glass to meet mine. “May you have food and raiment and a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead.”
Dredge was telling me the truth or at least the version he truly believed. The enormity of his worries set firmly in the crinkle of his brows and the intensity of his gaze. It was his tell, something that gave me an edge over him at card games but now filled me with panic.
“Thank you, my old friend. I'll have a chat with Connie.” The retired rail master came over to shake my hand and wish me well. The man's name escaped me, but his face was familiar.
Dredge walked into the happy crowd with an empty glass in hand and the strength of a much younger man. A fire lived inside his chest, and I envied him. A righteous battle is good for the soul.
* * * *
“Constance, may I speak with you for a moment?” Dredge pleaded, offering up a fresh glass of synthetic blueberry juice.
I felt a tinge of apprehension at hearing his voice. “Of course, Dredge. The kitchen may be a nice quiet spot.” And there are sharp knives, I mused to myself.
“This is a beautiful ceremony eve gathering Constance. You have a way
with these social requirements. My late wife was the same. Karine reminds me of her.”
“Out with it, Dredge.” Repeating my name like an imbecilic fool won’t garner you any favor old man. “What do you want to say to me?”
“I want your Karine to marry my Jason. I need you to talk to her and convince her that he is the right choice for her.”
“You mention your late wife so casually. Did you know she and I were classmates?” I took a drink from my glass and scanned his face. “Such a beautiful girl, she seemed to live apart from the world, free and unaware. As if the last doe was taken from the last green meadow and told it was to be a girl. So, it grew beautiful hands and shed its hide.
“We were awful to her, the girls in my class, we were jealous, and truth be told I hated her for reasons I didn't quite understand. But do you know what she did? She took an interest in everyone. She was thoughtful and kind, as if she didn't notice we treated her poorly. That girl was truly charming, and it made me hate her even more.
“When your betrothal was announced, I cried for days. Being genetically modified limited me, I knew it would. They only changed my eye color and gave me better immunity, but they didn't make me unbreakable. I let myself believe that you and I had a future, and I blamed my parents when it all fell apart.
“Then I saw you with her. You were so cold and distant. Any reasonable man, even a young and stupid one, would have been overjoyed with your situation. Pictures from your betrothal party and the plans for your wedding and honeymoon were in every paper. I forced myself to read it all. Then it came to me, if he can't be happy with her, what chance would have? Your beautiful wife only wanted to make people happy, and from what I saw, she lavished you with her attention while you actively ignored her.”
Dredge took a long sip from his glass and turned to look at the crowded living room. “I don't see what our past has to do with my grandson now, Constance.”
“How is Jason any different from you? The beauty your wife embodied—I see that in my granddaughter. I will not have her married off to a cold man that ignores her and takes that rare beauty for granted.” I explained.
“My grandson is a better man than I could ever hope to be. I love him with all the life my old body can contain. He worships your Karine. He won't be able to ignore her.” Dredge explained.
“You are sure of this. My granddaughter listens to me, you know, more than my own daughter ever listened. Edgar told me about your plans for my Karine. My last piece of advice to her will be to find a worthy man or woman if she chooses—regardless of lineage or wealth.”
“Please be reasonable, Constance. For the love of God, consider the life my family name can provide her,” Dredge pleaded.
“God? You must be desperate to come to me like this with God of all things on your heathen tongue.” My words spat out at Dredge. This close to death, any mentions of my faith taken in vain enraged me.
“You have never lost your only daughter as I did mine. You have no idea what desperation will do to you. Jason is all that's left of her. If I must leave him here alone, I will know he is settled with the woman he loves before I go.”
“I can understand that need, believe me, I want to hold my great-grandchildren and learn to knit little sun suits. This ceremony is the right thing to do and the right time to do it, so I am leaving. My Rose and her family are well cared for. The children are grown. It is not for me to share in their futures. You need to leave Jason to his life. It is selfish for you to stay so long.”
“You think I don’t know that, when I scan my bank card, my age pops on the screen, and I get that judgmental look. Most of the time, I have Jason use his cards. I'm very aware I have overstayed my welcome.” Dredge admitted.
“I put your names on the guestlist for the Tree museum Sunday night. There will be a theology reading and a final remembrance. Attend for me, listen to the message of the old words, sit with my family, so they are not alone. If you are going to be a nuisance, you may as well be a useful one.”
“You will talk to Edgar about joining my family. I have all the papers showing that he is a cousin on my mother's side. It gives your children a lineage status. Jason and Karine would be far enough removed to marry.”
“I can ask Edgar for anything, but getting him to agree is a separate matter, besides Beryl is not married yet. Betrothing Karine before her is something of a slight,” I explained.
“Beryl chose the Scientific path. She isn't interested in marriage. I can give her fifty full university credits as a betrothal present to the family, and I can provide Hess with a trust and a status increase. As a chosen Three, that can only do good things for him.” Dredge stated.
“We don't talk about the sacrifice Hess made with outsiders. It's a personal family matter.” I scolded.
“Then speak in facts and truth woman. As a Three with lineage status, Hess would gain the most from Edgar becoming my cousin. Don't think I am not aware of your family's secrets, Constance. I have watched your grandchildren grow with my own. I remember the issues with baby Karine.”
“I could not believe it when they told me my grandchild was slated for disposal. I could have died, exploded like a bomb right where I stood.” I could easily recall the pain from that day—it was the worst day I have endured.
“No, you would have lived. The loss would have taken a toll on the family, but you would have lived with the pain. It would have changed you all. Make Edgar understand, and then call me once he does. It can be settled before the party tomorrow night. We can announce the new lineage, formally declare a betrothal between our families, and assign gifts to Beryl and Hess. It will be a ceremony the townsfolk will not soon forget.”
“Even with our history, Dredge, it pains me to think you may leave this world alone, let me try to arrange a widow's parting for you, there must be a woman close to your status that could use the company.”
“Please don't, just leave me a token of yours to take with me. I'll go alone, but it will be easier if I have something to remind me of how young we once were.” I nodded yes in agreement and pressed my rouged cheek to his bearded face before making my way back to the living room full of guests.
Old school pictures were set aside for Dredge long before I heard of his ridiculous plan. Now with his request, a blanket I assembled from scraps of school uniforms decades ago came to mind. The patchwork blanket meant nothing to my family. Dredge would appreciate the golden threads of my merit badges and the bright green and blue colors we wore for so many years. The nostalgia might bring him the comfort of a simpler time in his last moments alone.
The willful young girl that once loved Dredge with all her heart sat quietly in the back of my mind. The betrayal from those days was still fresh in her mind, and she wanted me to tell Dredge to go to hell. No, you can't have Karine too.
The real world requires diplomacy and sacrifice. My life with Edgar was so fulfilling I put the past out of mind ages ago. As part of the working class, we were free to travel and make choices the original twenty families simply couldn't. My life was better because Dredge married another woman, and perhaps now, Karine's life would be better if she married Jason.
GOLD AND LACE
My grandmother has a fascination with gold. It's a soft metal that looks pretty when polished but holds no real-world application. The evening booklets were gilded with gold monogrammed M's and tiny gold moons. It was something those in her age group would appreciate.
She loves lace as much as I do. A quilt made from various lace scraps she collected over the years and four old books printed on real paper was given to me the night before. The volumes smelled of decay and old leather, but they felt beautiful in my hands.
The day ran past me in a blur of errands and pictures. My time was spent pretending to smile for strangers. I was only home to grab a quick steam, change my clothes, and fix my hair, but I wanted to hide under my new quilt with the old books and read. Maybe the progression towards their death would halt if everyone stopped w
hat they were doing to find me, but there was no time allotted for my escape. Every minute was pre-scheduled.
Hess arrived late last night with a beautiful dark-haired, young woman by his side. It stunned everyone when Hess walked into the house with a guest. The two appeared coupled, but he introduced Nina as his traveling companion. I was doing my best to avoid my second father and his mystery woman. It was easy enough while everyone buzzed around the pair looking for first-hand news from the top of the space elevator.
My evening dress is an ugly pink sheath with bioluminescent sequins and a slightly fluffy pink caplet. To say I don't care for the dress is a wild understatement. It looks childish to me, even the shoes are covered in sequins, but my grandmother loves the outfit. So pink is what I will be wearing.
Five minutes was all that was left. Five minutes until I was to be downstairs and ready to board the transport taking us all to the ceremony. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I looked down at the animated spots of light cast by the sequins and beads encrusted on my shoes. It was all happening tonight, and there wasn't anything I could do to change things.
A knock on the door down the hall from mine caught my attention. I peeked into the hallway just in time to catch a glimpse of my grandmother walking down the hallway towards the stairs. Tripping over my sparkly feet, I grabbed the pink coat off my bed and followed after her into the calm night air.
Cars began arriving outside to take us to the gathering. I found myself shuffled into a car with two of my mother's old friends and Beryl. The women began discussing some new strain of algae that did something they all agreed was extraordinary. Beryl was hanging on their every word. I just nodded and smiled appropriately when the conversation warranted.
My head was dizzy, and my neck was hot. My breath caught low in my chest. The car stopped under the bright golden lights of the event center entrance. The back door opened, and the passengers emptied, taking their obnoxious perfume and high tone banter about the super algae with them.
A cold gust of air rushed into the cabin. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the crisp night air. When I opened my eyes again, Jason was there. He leaned into the car with his hand out to greet me.
