by Bowring, S D
Whenever Keller witnessed trade between the family and any Regents, he noticed that their children, when present, were taller than the children from the fields. He would watch these tall, plumper children who would be staring from a safe distance at the disorderly noisy families on the other side of the barrier. They would be in the background whilst trading took place, somewhere behind their fathers or guardians, and they would watch the strange Outsiders in their heavy, often tattered, clothes with many of the men sporting unkempt beards. The children were generally in awe of the Outsiders and showed a politeness and respect that their guardians clearly demanded.
Trading with the Outsiders was a necessary part of life for the rich particularly for herbs, spices, vegetables and certain meats and game. The Regents would allow children to attend and watch from afar but often parents themselves would send paid guardians to do their trading at the barrier.
Keller attended his first trading Sunday in the early summer, aged seven years old, after a long trek from Suffolk Road. The trading area was known to the Outsiders as ‘The Arpo’. The story his elders told him was that the pre-war people used to ‘fly’ from the Arpo to other parts of the world. Keller’s imagination went wild when he first heard that, visualising a race of graceful flying angels in his young mind. He soon forgot about this vision when he saw how some of the men and women behind the barriers seemed to have no warmth in their faces and no smiles. These were the troopers. They all wore the same grey clothes and carried the legendary and frightening stun guns that he had heard about from the other children who shared his field.
Nola, standing nearby, told the young Keller not to stare. However, he noticed no fear in her eyes when she looked over at the troopers. Nola took his hand and distracted him with a task to watch over their bundles of unsold herbs and other items.
Keller sat on the bundles and watched the brisk trading. Other members of his family were involved in discussions at various points along the barrier. Nola told him that each member of the family had a set task - effectively seeking a different type of product to trade for - be it medicine, tools, or manufactured and imported items.
Cormic was seeking a musical instrument which was said to have come from the eastern lands of China. He would trade some jewellery and precious metals for this. Cormic was one of a group of men from the family who would wear protective haz-suits and venture into the abandoned cities and towns further north in the country. His expeditions would take weeks at a time but his homecoming was the most exciting time for Keller. Whenever Keller saw what the old people had left behind in the cities, he would wonder how such a clever people were no longer rulers of this world.
On Cormic’s return there would be a procession of relatives and friends visiting Nola’s tent. Cormic would have his ‘showing’ in this tent which was roomier than his own. In truth, Nola loved to have visitors and her and Nerys would provide freshly baked bread, fruit and cider for the occasion. He would lay out all his treasures on a blanket and would talk about them one at a time to those present who sat in awe while he described his latest adventures.
Later in the evening, when the procession of visitors had ceased, Nola insisted on hearing again how each of her favourite treasures had been found and what trials Cormic had endured to get the items. He had small toys on strings, jewellery in abundance, sharp knives for cooking and butchery, long boots for walking into the river with for fishermen, coats that required no drying as the water would run off the fabric. The treasures seemed never-ending to Keller, but these items were few and far between unless a man was willing to search for days in the old cities and towns. Keller would never forget the wonder of those evenings and he loved to see his aunt and mother having such fun together.
Cormic once told Keller that whilst the Regents had advanced technology and seemed well fed and healthy, their dependency on their life-style and the privileges that came with it was a form of imprisonment. They rarely left the city limits and didn’t experience the simple freedom of walking through the countryside. Truly there were areas requiring haz-suits for whoever travelled through them, but there was still enough world out there which could be safely explored by a person for a lifetime.
At the age of nineteen, his world was turned upside down at the Arpo. He was by then 6ft 1in tall and had attended these trading days several times a year since he was seven. He stood at least a head taller than the rest of his family. His blue eyes and fair hair added to his distinctive looks. He walked tall and proud and was rarely bothered by his peers who shied away from tormenting him. They had learnt that he had strength and speed and could look after himself. Perhaps more relevant was the fact that Nola and his immediate family had a fierce protective streak for their foundling son. Keller was still a little embarrassed at the memory of his Aunt Nerys ducking some poor boy in the stream half a dozen times for throwing stones at Keller when he was thirteen, and in his view capable of dealing with the situation himself.
Keller was never allowed too close to the Regents when he attended the Arpo. He didn’t question this. He knew that his family were wary of them.
On this particular occasion, whilst Nerys had stayed at home, Cormic, Keller, Nola and a number of others had attended the Arpo. Keller sat by his family’s bundles of goods protecting them from straying hands whilst they traded nearby. He noticed two of the Londoners staring at him. A heavily built portly man, who deserved the ‘delicate’ tag, was talking to a trooper and gesticulating in Keller’s direction. Keller looked on with interest and a little nervousness. A second trooper was called over and the original two observers were having what appeared to be a discrete discussion with the third, a trooper of some rank, judging by his distinctive uniform insignia.
Keller now saw his mother suddenly alert further down the barrier. She concluded her discussion with a Londoner and came over to Keller with one eye on the trio showing interest in Keller. As she approached she called out to Cormic, who was in deep in negotiations with a Regent across the barrier nearby.
Cormic looked up as Nola gestured towards the trio of Londoners who were now warily looking from Nola to Keller. His reaction finally caused Keller to be concerned but he still couldn’t understand the situation. Cormic came over to Keller and told him to leave the family bundles to Nola and to walk with him towards the far side entrance of the Arpo.
“Keller, come with me and don’t look back. We need to leave immediately.” He said taking Keller’s arm and leading him away. “You can’t come to the Arpo anymore; it’s not safe for you. Those pigs will take you.” Cormic seemed fearful.
Keller realised later that he only became really scared when Cormic described the Londoners as ‘pigs’. This was not a light insult amongst the Outsiders.
He only glanced back once as he was led away and took in a situation that frightened him. The Londoners were looking towards Nola, and, with her hands on her hips, she was clearly berating them. Others on both sides of the barrier were now watching the situation develop, and he noticed one or two looking in his direction.
“Don’t look back Keller, let’s move!”
“I don’t understand!” said Keller as he obeyed him and headed for the Outsiders usual exit. “What’s wrong?” His confusion, and fear, led him to raise his voice for the first time ever to Cormic, who didn’t seem to react to Keller’s tone.
“Just keep going, we can discuss this later,” Cormic continued in a calmer voice now, not looking back but holding onto Keller’s arm with a tighter grip.
Keller and Cormic waited some way beyond the entrance, which itself was almost a ten minute walk from the barrier. In the distance, most of the traders seemed to be continuing with their business. He could, however, see a group heading towards his position, and with a sinking feeling realised that his entire family were making an early exit. He knew the hardship they endured each month just to get here. Not all of the family were able to get to each trading event and may have waited several months or so between visits. This earl
y exit was something to do with him and he didn’t understand what had led to this.
“Cormic, they are all coming back. What’s wrong? Why were the Londoners staring at me?” He said as he paced up and down. He held his hands by his sides and Cormic observed the clenching and unclenching of fists, and sighed.
“Listen to me Keller, you are safe with us but we can’t bring you here again. Nola and I will talk with the older ones at tonight’s meeting and then we will come to you and I hope we can explain.” Cormic spoke with real concern. This was the man who would wander bravely into the abandoned towns and cities in the North wearing a haz-suit, but suddenly he seemed afraid. Keller knew he needed to give Cormic time to gather his thoughts as something was clearly wrong.
Nola reached them first. She looked hot from the exertion, and clearly angry. Standing between the two of them she looked at Keller with concern and then towards Cormic. “We must go on. I think they are likely to follow. We have to get moving.”
Keller saw the look between the two of them. It was a look of mutual concern and he saw something else, perhaps sadness or possibly resignation.
“I agree, let’s get ready and go,” Cormic said, looking back towards the rest of the family. Keller followed his gaze. There were a dozen adults bringing up four mules. Several children were accompanying them, and further behind were a group of eight young adults of his age.
The trek home back to the tents would normally be a good eight hours with several stops for rests, both for the family and for the mules that pulled the small carts. Keller noted that the pace was definitely faster than the outward journey.
The weather was also in their favour. Keller ploughed on like the rest of them without complaint, hanging just behind Cormic and some of the other older men. He frequently found himself walking alone, pondering on the earlier events with some concern. Their rest stops were brief and it seemed everyone was happy to get moving after a short break, as soon as the mules had taken water and everyone had a chance to rest and perhaps eat a little.
Keller helped lead the mules to water when they stopped, but he was aware during these rests that the family were silent on the whole, and he noted concerned glances in his direction. It seemed to him that even the mules seemed a bit contrary and not their usual obedient selves as he watered them in the shallow stream.
They had just stopped again for a rest by some fruit trees. Several members of the family came by to touch his shoulder or show a kindness during the journey back. This was not unusual over the course of a week, but he could see that they were showing more concern and more kindness than usual. He felt miserable.
They weren’t far from home but would arrive in the dark, so this would be a longer rest to ensure they at least ate one hearty meal today. Keller again helped with the mules before he sat down against a tree for a rest. He looked over towards Nola, Cormic and several other family members who were in discussion around a new camp fire, away from the younger ones. Two of their men had been hanging back from the group and had now caught up. It seemed to Keller that they were presumably reporting on whether they had indeed been followed by anyone. Given that they continued with their rest stop, Keller assumed that they weren’t being followed after all.
Keller was in deep thought, when Nola bought him some soup and sat with him. It had meat in it. He looked at Nola surprised. “Well we weren’t there long enough to trade it all. So we all may as well have some now, we have plenty to take back for the others tonight”.
He looked at the soup and then at Nola who was looking down worriedly at her own clasped hands. “Thanks,” he said. “What’s going to happen? Are we okay? I can see you and Cormic and the others seem to be full of worry. So am I. Cormic said he would explain but he hasn’t yet.” Nola put an arm around him and pecked him on the cheek. “Keller, we aren’t sure yet if there is anything to be worried about beyond some Regents being nosey about you and your appearance. However, we aren’t taking any chances – know that, and know that we are taking precautions to avoid any confrontations again”. Nola stood up, “Eat up, it’s been a tiring day and we still have miles ahead of us”. She smiled down at him. “Don’t worry”, she added and went back along the track to the mules.
Keller felt like he still had unanswered questions even though he knew Cormic would sit him down later and talk to him honestly, as was his way. For now, he was grateful for the soup and sat upright to eat it. It didn’t take long to finish it and he ran the little pot through the steam to rinse it and sat back on a rock looking at the sky thankful that the weather was holding.
“An apple, Keller?”
Keller looked up as he recognised the voice of Merna, a girl his age whose father often travelled with Cormic on expeditions. The two families were close and supported each other, and Keller, for his part, always welcomed her company and liked her maturity, which he thought made a change from one or two other girls his age. “An apple would be nice, Merna,” he replied.
She tossed him the apple. He caught it and invited Merna to sit next to him. He took a bite, thankful for some thirst-quenching fruit, as opposed to the dried fruit they carried in their knapsacks.
“Did you enjoy the soup?” she asked. He nodded, his mouth still full of apple.
“You seem sad, Keller. What is going on with the elders? You seem to have caused a storm and they won’t let on why - so what happened back there?” Merna asked.
Keller swallowed his mouthful of apple. “I have no reason to believe I did anything. I just found myself being the object of attention from some Regents,” Keller said tiredly, between mouthfuls.
Merna could see how bewildered he looked. She put her hand on his shoulder and he turned away. He was clearly upset by today’s events and Merna seemed to make a decision as she looked at him with some concern.
“Keller, they are always on the lookout for healthy young men and women and you must be aware, my dearest friend, that you stand out in a crowd of Outsiders. Perhaps it was a mistake to take you along. Maybe we’ve all been complacent.”
Keller sat still, staring down at his partially eaten apple. He looked up at Merna. “I don’t understand. Why me?”
He was looking lost, and Merna persevered. “My father says they have the same problem as us. Their birth-rates are as low as ours. Like us, they need family members who will create the next generation. You have the old look. You are tall and healthy, untainted by the old winds that caused our population to shrink to a fraction of what it was a hundred or more years ago. You have no visible flaws.”
Keller looked at her. She seemed wise beyond her years and he felt her fondness toward him and saw her concern.
“But Merna, My family is my family. You seem to be suggesting that they want me to go across the barrier at the Arpo. They are different, so soft and weak, except perhaps the troopers who look like they have each sucked on a sour apple.”
Merna took her hand off his shoulder and sat down next to him. He liked her warmth and comradeship but he couldn’t return her sympathetic smile. He looked out to the woods alongside which they had stopped to rest.
“Keller”, Merna nodded towards Cormic and the others, “They will try to protect you with whatever they can. The troopers do the bidding of their masters – Let us not assume that this incident goes any further – they are just being cautious for your sake and for ours. You are part of the family and the family is strong.” Merna then put her arm around him, gave him a gentle squeeze and gestured towards the others who were getting the bundles together to move off.
Keller looked around and suddenly felt vulnerable. It was as though the firm ground, that he thought he lived on, was now swampland and not a permanent place to rest.
“Let’s go,” he said. They stood up to join the others, and shared a smile as they had to hop over a fresh pile left by the mule just ahead of them. This lightened the mood for a moment. Keller, however, felt a dark cloud had appeared in his life. He still had many questions. He again noticed Nola
and Cormic, deep in discussion ahead. The sun would soon fall behind the trees and he longed for his bed mat in the security of his family tent with its familiar smells and home comforts.
During the 22nd Century there started a top-down decline of civilisation.
The world’s four most powerful economies were, for many decades, totally reliant on each other to ensure their mutual wealth. This mutual wealth led to a lack of internal strife and given the size of these countries led to minimal external strife. However, all four economies suddenly had a problem when one of them reached the end of their democratic way of life. For one major country, the economic life-cycle was to reach a point of crisis.
The USA had long enjoyed economic success, albeit with occasional pauses and short term downward blips. This success, however, encouraged democracy to start to deliver a lack of choice. When a party is in power during a boom, the opposition are never going to get a look in if they take opposing stances. Why would the voters risk a different strategy when everything in the garden is rosy? Therefore, over a long period of time, the opposition in a wealthy country have to move closer to the incumbent party and look for subtle differences to woo the voters. There was very slightly more emphasis on the health service, very slightly less emphasis on curbing immigration and so forth. In effect, each of the two main parties simple tinkered with each other’s policies. In the case of the USA, it created a vacuum in the southern states as migration from South America changed the demographics little by little and state by state until everything the two main parties stood for became irrelevant in part, to the populations in those southern states. The lobbyists found that they had been hedging their bets with the two main parties to no avail. A third party grew around the ‘Spanish occupied states’, as one less than polite northern senator referred to them. These states had a different style of lobbying and a different style of ethics and, importantly, a different style of immigration controls. This allowed a huge surge of immigration in to the lower states. In turn this then led to a very different demographic picture.