by Clint Stoker
His knees shook, and he almost collapsed. He searched his mind for something comforting, a speck of logic that would insist she would live.
“Promise me,” she started.
“We’re almost safe.” He hushed her.
“Promise me you won’t go to them.”
“Who?”
“The city people. They’re bad people, Air.”
“We’ll stay together someplace safe, far from the city.”
She didn’t respond. He stopped several times to listen for her breaths. They were soft and shallow. Air pushed on, but he had given up on shelter.
When she died, Air kept on walking. He knew she was gone, but he couldn’t stop looking for a safe place to lay her. He trudged until the sun came up again.
A bullhorn sounded in the distance. People were calling from a building. Air knew they could see him, but he didn’t care.
“Please put down your weapon,” they said.
Air took the gun from his back and let it sink into the water. The man holding the bullhorn perked-up and went back into the crumbled building. Two men came out from around the corner and started toward Air.
“Stay right where you’re at. We’ll come to you.” They walked closer.
“I’m not coming with you. I just need some help,” Air insisted.
They stopped a few yards away.
“I need a place to bury my wife.”
The men looked at one another and shrugged.
“Will you help me get out of here so I can bury my wife?”
One of the men stepped forward and nodded. “Yeah, we’ll help you.”
Air lifted her lifeless body in his arms and started toward them. He tripped and fell into the water then, with some effort, stood again. He felt so pathetic. The men came toward him and helped lift her body.
“You must be starving,” one man said.
“I’m fine.”
They walked back where the water was shallower. The trucks were parked, waiting. Three more men stood looking at Air. They looked surprised.
“What’s your name?”
“You know exactly who I am,” Air said.
“When did she die?”
Air didn’t answer. It wasn’t any of their business. He lifted her, and put her in the truck. “Just take me to a dry place so I can bury her. Then you can do what you want with me.”
“We don’t have any interest in killing you, Air.”
“Your Founder wouldn’t mind seeing me dead.”
The man smiled and climbed into the truck. They drove to higher ground and stopped.
“When did she die?”
Air climbed out of the truck and pulled her body out. He ignored the men and laid her down next to a tattered tree.
“I’ll bury her. I’ll dig the grave big enough for the two of us. That should save you some trouble.”
“We’re not going to kill you, Air. The Founder wants something else from you.”
“He’ll have to settle with killing me.”
“You know, we have a procedure that could save her. We’ll consider it a trade.”
Chapter 16
The media claimed the cleaning center explosion was a freak accident. It was only a minor footnote compared to the rebirth coverage. To the contrary, Dex believed the explosion was something much more sinister. First thing in the morning Dex called the purgers together for a meeting. They sat around the table in the purging office and Dex ranted about his fast-acting policies.
“Ben and Dharmesh are to be purged today regardless if they give us any names or not. I don’t want any more escape attempts.”
No one could argue with that.
Dex looked through the calendar on his phone. “The rebirth is tomorrow.” He spoke as if it were only an addendum to the purging.
“We have a purging today and cleaning tomorrow?” Helix looked around to see if any of the other cleaners were as put-out as he felt.
Dex ignored Helix all together. “I need those of you participating in the cleaning to be ready by the end of the day.”
Everything was happening too fast. Air realized his chance to get out of the city might pass him up. “I can help with the cleaning tomorrow.” Air thought it was worth another try.
A few purgers chuckled and smothered their comments before they caused any unneeded contention.
Dex gave Air one of his infamous scowls and cleared his throat. “No way, Air. We need approval from the administration before you can be a cleaner. It isn’t up to me, and even if it were...”
Air bit his tongue hard enough to break skin. He could reach across the table and slap Dex in the face. He controlled himself by imagining the look on Dex’s face when he finds out the rebirth has been stolen.
“Cleaning is the most important function of the city.” Dex gripped both hands on the edge of the table like a preacher. “Without it, nothing else could function. The rest of the city has no idea what it takes to keep life in balance.” Dex stood up and walked back to the exit. “Let’s get started. It’s going to be a busy day.” No conversations. No questions. The meeting was over.
Helix scowled at Air and shook his head in disapproval.
“Go back to your cave, Helix.” Napal jumped in. Not that Air needed somebody to defend him.
Helix just laughed and walked out the door.
“You know why Helix cleans?” Napal nudged Air.
“Because he looks better in a dark basement?” Air said, anticipating the punch line.
“It’s because he’s no good at purging.” Napal lifted his index finger like he had just nailed-down the greatest question known to man.
“Let’s be honest, you don’t need much talent to shoot a chained man.” It just slipped out.
Some of the other cleaners smiled as they left the office to make preparations for the cleaning ceremony.
“Since we’re going to purge Ben and Dharmesh so soon an interrogation isn’t going to do much good, but it’s all yours if you want it.” It could be a nice gesture if they were talking about anything else.
“Yeah, I’ll take care of it.” Air cringed at the thought of torturing them for answers he already knew.
“Okay. I’ll make sure everything is ready for the purging.” Napal started to the door then paused. “You owe me.”
“Owe you… for what?”
“I had the door fixed last night. Can you imagine what would have happened if Dex found out the door had been kicked down?”
“I don’t care what Dex thinks anymore, Napal. I just want to get out.”
Dex burst back through the door just as Air finished his sentence. He was out of patience. “Cleaning floor. Ten minutes.” Dex ordered.
“Yes, sir.” Napal mumbled and left without saying another word.
Air stood alone. What a mess. He rubbed his palms on his forehead. He didn’t want to care about Ben and Dharmesh, or any of the other council members. He didn’t want to be a purger. He didn’t want to kill another man or bury another body. He didn’t want to care, but something nagged at his heart. He had to try. Guilt motivated him to rethink another escape plan.
Air trudged into the holding cell. Ben was sitting on his cot, staring into the cinderblock wall. He looked defeated and at peace all at the same time. He had accepted death.
“I’m supposed to interrogate both of you.”
Dharmesh knelt on the floor with his head bowed in reverence. He stayed in that position for a few moments longer like he needed the time to complete his meditation. “They sent you?” He smiled like none of it mattered.
“Yeah, I’m supposed to make you both talk then we’re going to kill you.”
Ben didn’t seem to notice Air was even in the room.
“This puts you in a strange position doesn’t it?” Dharmesh said.
“It certainly does.”
“You’re not going to give them any names are you?”
“No. I’m not going to torture you either.”
“That�
�s good news.” Dharmesh laughed then leaned back in his cot.
“I don’t know what to do. I might be able to get the keys to your cells but that’s not the problem. We’ll never get out of the cleaning center. Everyone knows who you are.”
“Don’t worry – Ben and I are going to get ourselves out.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to do that, but you better do it soon. They want me to kill you both today.”
“Would that make you feel guilty?”
“I shouldn’t. This entire mess is your fault. I warned you against it… but yes, if I had to kill you I would feel guilty.”
“It’s nothing new.”
“Everything was fine before you and your cause screwed everything up!”
Dharmesh stood and pressed his face against the bars. “Everything was wrong.” The muscles in Dharmesh’s cheeks throbbed. “You felt guilty every day. You just ignored it or called is something else, but you never stopped feeling guilty.
“That might be true for you, but things were different for me.”
“It’s the same for everyone. You really think because you were a revolutionist, in a previous life, you’re any different? You’re here aren’t you?”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know you enough. That’s why we sent you to purge. It was the only thing that would wake you up. Someone with that kind of trigger has a lot of reason to feel guilty.”
“And what was your trigger?”
Dharmesh looked up and rested his chin on his fist as though planning a diplomatic approach for the answer.
“Lying,” he said, “I lie, intentionally, to everyone, every day.”
“You can’t really feel guilty about that. You have no idea.”
“You’re underestimating the vice.”
“But everyone lies!”
Dharmesh laughed and clapped his hands together. “You’re finally beginning to get it. Yes, everyone lies. Everyone kills, they just don’t realize it. But there are very few people who are willing to do anything about it.”
Ben took a sudden gurgling breath and looked to Dharmesh. His consciousness seemed to surface. “I do feel better,” he said. It was like he finally replied to a previous conversation.
“That’s good, Ben.” Dharmesh patted Ben’s shoulder. “Air, we are ready to leave. We just need some time. Do you think you can make an excuse? Leave us for a few minutes.”
“You’ll need more than a few minutes.”
“We’ll accept as much time as you can give us.”
Air sighed. What else could he do? He tossed his hands and turned to leave.
“Oh, and, Air, in case you’re wondering, I don’t regret any of it. I tried to trigger the whole city. I hope it worked for at least a few. Something drastic needs to happen.”
Ben still looked shaken, but he fought to erect a smile. Air left them alone. He had no excuses for leaving the purging office, so he stayed in the file room and pretended to do something important. He rolled through possible escape routes in his mind. The city was beginning to make him feel claustrophobic. He needed to leave with or without anyone else.
The hours passed. Lunch-time came. Air met Napal at a restaurant down the street. They ordered and sat listening to the media. Dharmesh had already been replaced by another newsman. The rebirth schedule had been announced and everyone was in frenzy making preparations for the celebration. Pregnant women were interviewed. It was all in a very positive light. Air listened only because he didn’t know what else to do.
“I have an idea,” Napal sunk down over the table. “I know how we can take the rebirth with us. We can start our own city… Well, it will be more like a settlement first, but once people find out we’re running things better than the city, we’ll have no problem gaining residents.” Napal spoke just over a whisper.
“How?” Air said, desperate for a real answer.
“We were down on the purging floor cleaning things up, and getting the equipment ready. I was trying to avoid Helix, as usual, so I went exploring and I found a tunnel.” His eyes widened with excitement.
“You’re serious?”
“Yeah, I went inside to see where it went.”
“And?”
“It had to have been half-a-mile long. It opened up at the end. It ended under another building.”
“What building?”
“I’m not sure. It’s hard to say how far it went and what direction it was going, but it was definitely another building.”
Air chewed on his sandwich while he digested the information.
“What do you think?” Napal grimaced.
“You can actually take the rebirth with you?”
“Yeah, everything we need will be down there.”
“What exactly is the rebirth?”
“It’s too hard to explain, but it’s tangible. All we need is something to carry it with.”
Air nodded. It could really be his way out. He looked down at his meal. A memory started to surface.
“Are you okay?” Napal said.
“I’m fine, but… Do you know anything about the Founder?”
“Who?”
“The Founder.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I didn’t think so… Never mind.”
“You still want to leave don’t you?”
“Yeah, I still want to leave. What do I need to do?”
“Nothing, I’ll have everything under control. Just come to work tomorrow and do whatever Dex tells you.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” Napal reached across the table and patted Air on the shoulder. “You finally have your chance to fix something that’s actually broken.”
Helix burst through the door, slamming it against the wall. He shot his eyes around the room then settled on Napal and Air.
“What are you doing? You lunatic,” Napal snapped.
“Something happened with Ben and Darhmesh. Dex wants you in his office right now, Air.”
“What happened?” Air tried not to smile. With any luck they bought some time.
“You know we can’t talk about it here.”
---
The purgers all stood in the cleaning office. They were remarkably quiet.
“What’s going on?” Air closed the door behind him. They could finally speak freely. “Where’s Dex?”
Zeke pointed to the holding cell. Nobody else had anything to say. Air stepped through the file-room and stopped just before he opened the door to the holding cells. He took a deep breath in preparation. He thought up a few more lies he might need. Dex would be furious to see two empty cells. Air slowly opened the door. Dex stood with his arms folded, looking into the cell.
“What’s going on?” said Air.
Dex looked up with an unsettled expression. Ben and Dharmesh lay on their backs. Their faces lacked normal color, but they looked comfortable. They were dead.
“They poisoned themselves,” Dex shrugged.
“I don’t understand. Why would-”
“It was a suicide.”
Why? Air knelt down beside the bars.
Dex held out a crumpled piece of paper. “Dharmesh had this in his hand.”
Freedom at last.
Chapter 17
As soon as nightfall shrouded the city, Air caught the first transport to the library. He decided not to mourn over the deaths of Ben and Darhmesh. They were ready for death. They wanted it. Was there anything to be upset about? Still, Air couldn’t help but wish he had done more to get them out.
The transport stopped a few blocks from the library where Air got off. Celebrators buzzed around in their masks and cloaks, swarming around buildings like white insects. They all looked alike and lived oblivious to anything higher than themselves. Air slogged up the stone steps to the library door and tapped with his knuckles. He waited a moment then tried the door knob. It was unlocked. The door swung open and Air walked inside. A light was on up the stairs.
He closed the door and shed his mask. From the top of the stairs he saw Eve playing with a stuffed doll on the floor.
“Hello.” Air was surprised at how perky his voice had become. It seemed natural to talk to Eve that way.
She made a playful shout that was more like a coo and retreated back into the council room.
“Fields,” Air called.
“Yes, I’m here.” His voice reverberated from the room.
Fields was reclined in a plush chair reading a book. He looked surprised to see Air, but happy. Air’s heart sunk as he attempted to report the happenings as delicate as possible. He had given bad news like this before the city.
“Something happened today. Something bad,” Air said.
“Anna-Desi told me you weren’t coming to the library anymore,” Fields smiled, “but I had a feeling you’d be back. Anna-Desi told me all about last night. Fenton is already putting together another plan to free them.”
“It’s too late.” There wasn’t any other way to say it.
Fields closed his book and leaned back. He looked solemn as he contemplated. “Purged?”
“No, they did it themselves. It was suicide.”
“Suicide?”
“They poisoned themselves. Dharmesh must have had pills with him when he came to the cleaning center.”
“Oh, dear…” Fields lowered his gaze to Eve. She was, rightfully, unaware.
“You can still save them can’t you? There’s a procedure. I remember it.”
“The rebirth is another name for the procedure.”
“All you need are their bodies, right? You can bring them back.”
“No, Air. They can’t be saved.”
“Aren’t you a doctor?”
“The procedure prolongs life. It can’t restore life.”
“Then it’s different than the rebirth. Another doctor… The Founder can do it, right? He’s done it before hasn’t he?” Air caught himself sounding naive.
Fields’ widened his eyes and shook his head. He was careful to avoid striking a nerve. “I’m sorry,” was all he said.
Air’s stomach churned as his mind raced for conclusions. He tried to remember her face, his wife, but all he could see was the Founder laughing. He’d been played.
“Do you know how to find The Founder?” Air fumed.