Chapter 7, Part II

“We are at the fourth floor.” Gerate sighed as he spoke to his comrades. “They have heightened security on this level and all the levels after leading up to the throne room on floor ten. If things get bad-“

He stopped as the elevator door glided open, revealing a hallway crawling with guards. But there was no need to complete the sentence, for everyone knew what he meant. Death to all men, life to the brethren. Strike X.

Inusha tried to hide his nervousness as he followed his friends into the hallway. He hated the deception they had to use at every floor to get past the guards. Of course, they really had little option, but if it was the Unseen’s will, would he not allow them to do it without deceit?

The rebels halted as guards blocked their way, demanding identification papers. Even as Gerate gave them his identification card, Inusha knew that they would not be able to deceive the guards this time. Something was afoot, he reasoned as he watched his leader reason with the officer in charge. Perhaps they discovered the dead guard – the one he had accidently murdered while defending himself. That would certainly give them grounds for suspicion.

Ehoti nudged Inusha, pointing behind them. “There are more guards coming up the elevator. I think they suspect something.”

Think? It was obvious that they suspected something. But what did they suspect? Was it them and their unbelievable story? Inusha watched as the officer demanded Ehoti’s papers and closely examined the information, finding fault with details no previous guard had noticed.

The two began to shout, emotions heating with every piece of information. Finally the officer ripped the paper in two, throwing it to the ground. They would have no security clearance from this level on, unless…

“Now!” Gerate whipped out his weapon and sent a spray of gunfire into the midst of the guards, crumpling them to the ground in a heap. Instantly the security checkpoint transformed into a battle-zone – only, the rebels were prepared and the guards were not.

Despite his growing anxiety about their mission, Inusha fumbled for his weapon and joined the fray, shuddering as a guard fell to the ground a few feet away. A guard who had simply been doing his job for the day before returning home to his family. He felt so sickened he could have vomited.

The fight did not last long, for the guard’s weapons were large and bulky, hard to unsling when surrounded by a jostling crowd and flying bullets – in addition, they did not have the training and experience the rebels had obtained.

Gerate laughed, wiping the end of his weapon with his jacket. “We did it, friends! We are still alive!”

Inusha ignored him, gazing around the room with tears in his eyes. This was not simply a natural catastrophy that created this chaos. He had helped create it, killing men who did not deserve to die. He was a murderer. And a liar.

And a figure of light. It was all so horrible that Inusha stopped thinking about it.

*****

Narva scanned the busy street anxiously for guards, but none seemed to be watching the marketplace this morning. He turned back to the dealer with a sigh of relief.

“It must have been a disinterested stranger.”

The dealer shook his head. “I distinctly felt someone watching us. But, please, let us finish this business and depart.”

As Narva handed the dealer the currency, he began to feel somewhat of the same feeling. It felt as if someone was scanning them from a distance off in curiosity, watching what they were doing.

Quickly, he hid the package in his jacket and strode away from the dealer, glancing anxiously into the crowds for a uniformed guard. But then he sighed in relief.

It was simply a regular citizen, no doubt confused at what two men were doing at the corner of a building. But it was no matter, for a regular citizen could cause no mischief without a guard to assist them. And not a guard was in sight among the throng of consumers.

But this regular citizen was one of Netopia’s biggest threats. For it was Wenla, the infected escapee from the Northern Border Outpost. True, Narva had nothing to fear from him in regards to being reported for purchasing narcotics. There were far worse dangers lying ahead.

It was working swiftly in the infected Wenla, spreading itself among merchants and consumers alike. It was what drove Wenla on and on, keeping his interest set on highly-populated areas such as the marketplace. The control of several men was not enough – It wanted to pollute Netopia with its foul infection. And It was well on its way to doing so.

*****

“How did you come to learn about us, Reshnu?” Yive motioned to a chair on the balcony, taking a seat himself.

“I just read about it.” What else could he say? Reshnu could not bring himself to tell them about the heroic Lova – not to hateful men like these. He felt as if he was going to cry, but restrained his tears with an effort.

“Well, I am glad you decided to forsake the darkened pleasures of this world to come live with us.” Yive smiled at him as he poured a golden liquid into a glass. “Try some of my fresh Yakob – it very refreshing.” He handed the glass to Reshnu.

It was refreshing, especially to a little boy who had not quenched his thirst for two days. It was sweet, though the slight hint of sourness made his tongue tingle. Reshnu also ate a few veva cakes, though the taste was rather bland after the drink.

He looked up as a young woman entered the room and began to talk rapidly to Yive. “Is this the boy you brought back, Father? How old is he? Where did you find him? I-“

“That is enough, Kartena! Young women must learn to restrain their tongues, especially when addressing their elders!” Yive’s authoritative tone faded as he began to answer her questions, leaving Reshnu to sit and observe the newcomer.

She could not have been more than twenty-one, he thought as she talked to Yive. And her eyes are so shiny, like the sun. But she cannot be his wife – he is too old! No, she must be his daughter.

But suddenly Reshnu wondered why she was not asking him the questions. After all, she was asking about him, not about Yive. He sighed as she left the room, leaving him and Yive once again to conversation.

“Why was she asking you all the questions?” He looked to Yive for an answer.

Yive cleared his throat. “It is wrong for women to converse with men on a casual basis – only on matters of importance is communication permissible. All the citizens of our community stick to this basic principle-“

“But why? Why do you do this?” Reshnu had never heard of such an idea before – it sounded very strange.

“It is the Unseen’s will, my child. We have assumed that the line between male and female should be quite distinct.”

The little boy was confused at the reference to the “Unseen”, but he wanted to talk to the pretty woman who seemed totally different than these men. Maybe she knew Lova!

“But did the man say so?”

Yive smiled, patting his head. “These topics are far above your understanding, Reshnu. Perhaps another time we can discuss this more in detail. But please, help yourself to some more refreshment while I go check on my disciples.”

Reshnu settled back in the large chair, looking out on the large fields and beautiful gardens. It was a very nice community, with plants that Reshnu had never seen before. But he felt sad inside, almost oblivious to all the new sights.

He had expected so much more than this – a tribe of people like Lova, really. Sure they glowed the same color, walked the same stride, and talked the same way as Lova had. But there was something about Lova that made him different and better than these people, who let the men in the forest die at the hands of the Vehimar. It was all so disappointing to him.