by Kim McMahill
“If by chaos you mean people would be free to choose their companions, express their opinions and emotions openly, experience new and exciting things, move about when and where they choose, than I suppose you’re correct, Katherine. May I go now?”
Katherine clenched her fists at her side. She took several deep breaths and counted to ten, like all the digital parental guides had instructed, before answering her daughter. “Go, but those farm boys had just better be friends. You know committed personal relationships of the archaic nature are strictly prohibited. If men and women reverted back to marriage and such, we would be no better than the uncivilized countries of the world or the misguided generations before.”
“Isolationism has turned out to be really great,” Claire mumbled sarcastically.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing you’d understand,” Claire replied as she slipped out the door.
Claire wasn’t sure when her mother had lost her soul, but she was determined to find out what it was like to make personal choices. The law prohibiting marriage had come about because the government didn’t know how to deal with the often violent clashes over who should be allowed to marry and what benefits they should receive. She wondered if people would have left others alone if they knew the alternative was no unions of any kind and no public expressions of love.
As her house disappeared from view, Claire slowed her pace to a casual stroll. The evening was warm and pleasant, but something didn’t feel right. She looked around at the cameras mounted on every building and light post, slowly rotating back and forth, scanning and searching. She was sure the equipment had always been there, but tonight the cameras seemed to follow her, making her feel naked and vulnerable.
CHAPTER FOUR
Nyla was the first to arrive at the Java Joint. She passed her palm in front of the scanner, alerting the Central Tracking Authority, or CTA as it was known, of the exact time of her arrival. Tamping down her temper over the intrusion, she entered through the shimmering metallic door.
Her mother had worked at the café before her alleged crime, so it held a special place in Nyla’s heart. As she entered the coffee shop, she saw pity in the expressions of a few of her mother’s former co-workers, but most shuffled away, uncomfortable by her presence. The Java Joint was the only coffee shop in town, but even so, Nyla would have stopped coming if it weren’t for Crystal.
She spotted Crystal across the café, wiping crumbs from a table. The small Hispanic woman was the only one in the government-owned establishment who seemed to take pride in her work, despite there being no incentive to do a good job or provide customer service, and Nyla admired her for her unusual work ethic.
“The usual?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Nyla smiled at Crystal and sat down at the table.
Crystal had been her mother’s best friend and was one of the few people who thought Rachel was being unduly punished. Nyla knew Crystal was only third generation American and dreamed of returning to Mexico. Not long ago that would have been possible if not encouraged, but now the border into Mexico was tightly controlled. Mexican citizens could enter into the United States if they consented to a tracking device inserted under their skin, but few were willing to submit to the rules and physical mutilation, and most significantly, the land of opportunity no longer existed.
Nyla’s mind continued to wander as she watched Ethan and Jared enter the café. They always drew attention, since so few men existed around town. She had known the guys and Claire for as long as she could remember. She, Jared and Claire were in the same competency level and Ethan was in a level above them. Ethan would be the first to finish his schooling. After four years of pre-school, sixteen years of competencies and two years of mandatory career prep, men left—she knew of none who had ever returned home. The authorities claimed the opportunities were better for men in the larger cities, but Nyla feared the official party line lacked a great deal of truth and a summons to the cities started the clock on a ticking time bomb.
Ethan pulled out the chair next to Nyla and spun it around. He sat, his long legs straddling the seat and his arms resting over the chair’s back. Jared mimicked his actions, but chose the chair facing the door. Nyla knew Jared had chosen the location so he could watch for Claire. She winked at Ethan and smiled, knowing he had noticed Jared’s choice as well.
“Where’s Claire?’ Jared asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Probably fighting with her mother while trying to get out of the house,” Nyla replied.
“You know me too well,” came Claire’s perky voice as she approached the table. “Same old fightNyla’s a bad influence and men are just plain rotten. She can’t even be original, so we can at least have an interesting war of words.”
“She didn’t upset you too much, did she?” Jared asked.
“No, I’m used to it. I just find the usual conversation redundant and pointless. Surely she must know by now that the more she tries to keep me away from you all the more I want to spend time with you.”
“You’re such a rebel,” Nyla laughed.
The conversation stopped as Crystal approached the table. “Careful with that napkin, this latest shipment seems to be especially stiff.” She placed a latte and muffin in front of Nyla. “The rest of your drinks will be here in a moment.”
Nyla’s “usual” didn’t include a muffin, but if Crystal brought a muffin, Nyla had no doubt there was a reason. She stared at the item, unable to look away or focus on her friends’ voices.
“I wish more people in town were like Crystal. She’s not afraid to look you right in the eye, smile and say hello. I don’t understand why it’s such a crime to be a thinking, feeling human now days. And, they call this progress,” Claire huffed.
Nyla giggled. Though many people thought of Claire as conforming and fragile with her calm quite voice and delicate features, Nyla knew different. Under the sweet gentle exterior, her friend had a will of iron and a heart just as strong.
“How about going for a little drive in a bit?” Ethan asked. “We could go to the park. It’s not real private, but it’s a socially acceptable hangout for a group of mixed-gender friends.”
“Sounds good to me, besides I’m really not hungry anyway,” Nyla replied.
Nyla wrapped the muffin in the napkin while they finished their coffee. Crystal returned with a hand-held scanner. Nyla stretched out her palm while Crystal ran the small device over the chip, transferring virtual funds from her account. The all-powerful radio frequency identification tag and chip in her palm always made Nyla feel like she had no control. She hated the practice, but there was no other option since cash no longer existed.
After they settled with Crystal, they headed toward the café’s exit. Nyla gave Crystal a wink and a smile as she followed her friends. She couldn’t believe Crystal had remained true to her and her mother, and had risked her own freedom more than once in an attempt to bring the remnants of a scattered family together. Nyla believed Crystal was a treasure to cherish, but the authorities clearly felt the woman was potentially dangerous and must be monitored.
“It’s not very enjoyable going there anymore,” Claire stated as the door eased shut behind them. “I feel like a criminal and I’m always afraid Crystal will be handcuffed and dragged out of the Café just for talking to us.”
Nyla nodded agreement, but didn’t respond. Her eyes followed Ethan’s broad shoulders as he strode toward the truck, but her thoughts remained with Crystal. Their grandmothers had been born into a different culture and had memories of freedom that SLIC had tried to expunge from society’s collective memory or at least label as barbaric. The old women were forced to live in the present and had adapted to the best of their ability, but they had also shared their remembrances with family. Nyla cherished her grandmother’s stories, but with the knowledge came a tremendous burden and she hoped she could use the tales to make the right decisions about her own future, which was exactly what the authorities feared and tried to
prevent.
CHAPTER FIVE
Nyla loved riding in Ethan’s truck because they were able to sit close without drawing attention. Few people owned trucks since they weren’t as fuel efficient as cars. Solar technology still couldn’t provide the dependable power and endurance needed for larger work vehicles, so Ethan’s single-cab pickup had been approved by SLIC to carry out farm functions. The vehicle ran on alternative fuels, but was still considered a relic from the past.
She scooted in next to Ethan, Claire sat close to her and Jared squeezed in next to the door. When Ethan first started driving, they could fit in the truck comfortably, but it was tight now. They had all grown up, especially Ethan and Jared. The breadth of their shoulders left little room for her and Claire. Nyla knew people snickered at them behind their backs, but she didn’t care. She liked the feel of Ethan’s shoulder touching hers.
He started the truck and gave Nyla’s knee a squeeze before putting the vehicle in gear and easing away from the curb. The streets were empty as they made their way toward the park. A few pedestrians bustled along the sidewalks, hurrying to lock themselves behind closed doors before curfew, still several hours away.
Nyla’s knee still tingled where Ethan’s hand had touched her. His small displays of intimacy seemed so natural, yet left her with a disconcerting feeling, especially as of late. She was confused by the effect Ethan was having on her and wished she could talk to her mother, but knew it would be impossible to broach such as subject at the Facility.
When they reached the park, Claire and Jared jumped out of the truck. Claire grabbed an old Frisbee® from behind the seat and took off running.
“First one to the old pecan tree sets the game rules,” Claire shouted over her shoulder as she darted toward the massive tree.
The plastic disc was another relic of the past that drew snide remarks from others, but they still liked tossing it to each other. Playing with the outdated item allowed them to spend time together and enjoy the mild temperatures of early evening in the desert southwest.
Nyla shook her head and giggled as she watched Jared purposely throw the race so Claire could win. Claire danced around jubilantly holding the Frisbee® high over her head.
Ethan reached for the door handle, but Nyla grabbed his wrist, stopping him from tripping the latch. Her fingers lingered on his until he glanced down. She jerked her hand back and looked away before he could see the red creeping into her cheeks.
“Wait a minute. I think Crystal has something for me.”
She scooted over to the passenger’s side and took the smashed muffin out of her pocket, throwing the crumbs out the window for the birds and removing the note folded inside. As Ethan leaned toward her, she couldn’t help but inhale the masculine scent of her childhood friend and it made her forget what she was doing. Ethan had changed. He was no longer the little boy who had thrown rocks at snakes and bugs. He was a man and she found the transformation unsettling.
Nyla regained her focus and unfolded the paper. They stared at the words crowded onto the small slip of paper. The note contained the information they had been waiting for. Everything was now in place, but the window of opportunity was small, much smaller than they had hoped. The time had come to make their move. Nyla was scared, but as she looked up into Ethan’s dark eyes, she was more frightened not to try.
“Do you think Claire and Jared will be with us?” Nyla asked.
“Well if they aren’t now, they never will be. Jared is starting to give in and accept life the way it is. He’s starting to worry too much about breaking the rules and of being locked up. But if we get Claire on board, we can count on him. He’d do anything for her.”
“I know Claire doesn’t want to be like her mother. She can be strong and rebellious, and the feeling is mutual where Jared is concerned. I’m confident we can count on her. She may look fragile when she bats her long eyelashes at Jared, but she’s tough, stubborn, resourceful and intensely loyal to those whom she cares about.”
They stared at the words on the paper. The information on the page could change their lives forever if they chose to use it. Most people wouldn’t understand or consider the risk they were contemplating, but the scheme provided an opportunity they couldn’t turn away from.
“What about you? You’re probably the closest to your family. You would be giving up people who truly care about you.”
“Mother and Grandmother are important to me, but they’re part of the reason why I have to try and with you graduating at the end of next term, you’re the reason we have to succeed.”
“I don’t like it when you phrase it that way. It makes me feel responsible for putting everyone in danger. It means more to me than you can possibly know that you care about my future, but you have to do this for yourself. If things go wrong, which is very possible, and you find yourself sitting in the Facility with your mother, I don’t want you hating me.”
“Sorry. I could never hate you, but it’s nice to know someone shares in my guilt. If it weren’t for my connections and silly dreams, we would’ve never even started down this road.”
“Well, sounds like were equally culpable, so it’s settled then. Let’s go twist some arms if we have to. As much as I hate dragging Jared and Claire into this craziness, it would be worse never seeing them again.”
Nyla nodded and stowed the note. After one last conspiratorial glance at each other, they got out of the truck and jogged toward the game in progress. Nyla watched as Ethan tackled Jared and stole the disc. Ethan was a little older, but the two were evenly matched in height and build, though Ethan always dominated Jared whenever they wrestled. She knew Ethan’s edge was primarily attitude. He was confident, strong and fearless.
Ethan tossed the disc to Jared and he tossed it to Nyla. She quickly flung it to Claire as she spied Ethan running toward her. She considered holding onto it and letting him tackle her as he had Jared, but feared it would look inappropriate and he would be seized. Occasionally she wondered what it would feel like to be that close to him, but those thoughts were dangerous and could get them into a lot of trouble if she ever acted on the impulse to find out.
The disc flew over Claire’s head. Nyla watched as Claire and Jared darted toward the disc. She glanced over at Ethan and he stood hunched over with his hands on his knees, panting from all the exertion, but with a content smile on his lips. Nyla wondered how he could look so at ease when they were about to take the biggest risk of their lives.
The flying disc hit Nyla in the chest, bringing her out of her thoughts. When it was clear she hadn’t been hurt, her friends burst into laughter and the game continued. They played until they collapsed on the grass in exhaustion, far from anyone, enjoying the last slivers of light. As soon as Nyla’s breathing slowed to normal, she looked over at Ethan.
“We need to talk about something important, but not here. We’ll meet tomorrow at the usual time and place. Make sure no one notices where you go and be ready to make the biggest decision of your life.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Tell me about Daniel and Carlos,” Nyla asked.
“You know I’m not supposed to talk about them. If we’re overheard you’d be forbidden from visiting me again.”
“I don’t want to get you into trouble, Mother, I’m just so curious.”
Rachel searched her daughter’s pleading eyes. She wanted to share everything with Nyla and was so tired of being afraid that it made her angry and exhausted. She often dreamed about going to sleep and never waking up. Nyla would hurt at first, but she believed it would be better for Nyla in the long run to quit coming to this depressing place.
“Forget I brought it up. I can see the mention of their names has hurt you.”
“Thinking about them doesn’t cause me pain. In fact, remembering them and thinking of you are what has kept me from going insane while imprisoned. The sadness you see in me is really guilt. I tried to get everything I wanted, but I let everyone down, especially you.”
“Don’
t ever feel guilty, Mother. If you’d succeeded, it would’ve been a better life for me too. At least you tried and I’m proud of you for placing your principles above your fear.”
Rachel smiled at her daughter. They were so much alike it scared her and she feared Nyla would repeat her mistakes. Rachel glanced over at the monitor and could see the woman behind the glass was absorbed in her video game and had an ear bud pressed securely into her ear. She sighed and spoke softly to her daughter.
“Daniel was the most beautiful baby, aside from you of course. His skin was so soft that I still dream of stroking his round satiny cheek. Even as a newborn, I could see Carlos in him. But as much as I loved him and Carlos, I loved you just as much. I couldn’t stay where I was and build a new life without you. I had to come back.”
“Now I’m the one feeling guilty. I had my friends and Grandmother Ruby. You should have stayed with Carlos and Daniel. You could have been happy and free, but look at you now. We missed you, but we were never angry or resentful, we understood.”
“There could be no true happiness or freedom without my darling daughter. You have always been my world and I hope you know how precious you are to me. Daniel had Carlos and they both had a life without restrictions, but you had few options if I couldn’t take you away from here. Regardless, despite my best efforts, I failed and now you have none.”
“What options? There’s nothing here worth having.”
Looking at the timer, Nyla saw they only had a few minutes left. She didn’t know how many more chances she would have to share her mother’s memories, hold her mother’s hand and feel the depth of her love or if she would ever again see her mother’s eyes brighten as she relived a cherished moment of her past. Nyla knew whatever she had experienced in Mexico must have been powerful to have sustained her for so many years in the Facility.
“Maybe SLIC and CTA know what’s best for us after all. I followed the rules with you and look how wonderful you turned out. You’re smart, beautiful, kind and caring, just like the hospital promised me you would be when I was impregnated. I knew the law, yet I allowed my emotions to interfere and it has hurt those I love.”
