Chapter 24
The Red Lake
Back at the camp, everyone was getting ready to leave and help in the cities where the attack happened. Almost everyone who was originally living in the camp decided not to go. They had just escaped a similar situation, and going back would be a suicide. After Yazan and Samir made it back safely, they used the gas to fill in the car and left as quickly as they could.
“You know, I could not bring myself to ask anyone from the civilians to come with us. I thought it was not fair of me to ask them… to go back to the places… they had run from.” Rain said.
“I can’t blame them. Besides, this is our responsibility as soldiers to protect them.” Laith replied.
“I’m glad that my mother decided to stay at the camp. I didn’t want her involved.” Samir said.
“There are only six of us now. I’m not even sure what we are going to do. We may or may not be able to save anyone.” Yazan added.
“We will check those cities out. The bombing stopped few hours ago. We will do what we can. After that, we should all get ready for the real battle.” Rain said.
“Do you really think that whatever your uncle is preparing will work?” Yazan asked.
“I know that… It will work. We just need the right people to believe in the change.” Rain said.
“You know… the entire world is turning against Maki Lion. As a result, the International Peace Agency, IPA, is forcing him to hold presidential elections so people can vote him out.” Laith said.
“Yeah, I heard. But it sounds like B.S. to me. There is no way he is going to stand down that easily.” Rain stated.
“That might be true, but it looks like he’s going along with it. Maybe he is just buying time or something.” Laith said.
At the tank where Sidra and Mai were waiting:
“So, you and Rain… When are you guys thinking about getting married?” Mai asked.
“I don’t know. Any time before we die… I guess.” Sidra replied. “It’s sad how things are at the moment. We can’t even enjoy the little things we have.”
“I just hope and pray that we will have peaceful lives, and that our future is not the same as the present.” Mai said.
“Amen to that. Oh, look… I think that’s them.” Sidra pointed.
“It is. Let’s go.”
After the car stopped, Laith looked at Sidra with disappointed eyes.
“Let me guess, the tank is not functional.” Laith said.
“You are actually wrong… Because this is not a tank. It is a useless piece of junk.” Sidra said.
“Right… We have wasted enough time. We need to go. Get up and let’s go.” Laith said, “And by the way, you guys smell like… ammm… how do I say this… yes… Garbage.”
“Thanks… those are women’s favorite words.” Sidra said.
They started the drive towards one of the major city. Just as they were getting closer, the bombing started again. They had to stop and watch as the city was burning to the ground. It was dark and very hard to see. They could not do a single thing about it. They did not even know why the city was bombed. All they saw was fire. All they heard was the sound of explosions. Their eyes started bursting in tears as they watched the fire eating and burning everything. It was a night they never forgot. They thought that it was the most painful thing ever. Only had they known what was coming.
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Few days had passed since that night. They tried to forget. There was absolutely nothing they could’ve done. Soldiers had surrounded the city, and there was no way in or out of there. People inside could not leave and seek medical help or even just get food. People outside were not allowed to go anywhere near the fences that surrounded the entire city. The weather started to change and became hotter and hotter by the day. The longest river in Estil started to dry a bit by bit, until it was almost completely dry. The lack of food and water was the main concern to people everywhere in Estil.
As summer approached, dehydration became the biggest problem. The locals could not even grow crops any more. The federal administration closed the dams on the rivers and made the cities suffer from drought. As a result, people started fighting over food and water rather than freedom. Some were able to steal from warehouses, others stole from neighbors, and some just died out of hunger. It was the perfect plan to shift people’s attention from how much Lion’s administration was actually stealing from the country’s wealth. They were indeed being punished by simply being there.
The crew found another camp in the southern side of Estil where many people lived as refuges.
“It’s been few days. We still cannot do anything to help anyone. I am sick of the life we live. I really feel like I do not want to be on this planet anymore.” Yazan said with a mad voice.
“According to Rayan, who is still at the Burj… Three days from now, the commander is planning on taking an entire team of soldiers to the capital. We believe that will be our chance to get the Burj and its recourses back.” Sidra said.
“There are only few of us. We can’t take the entire place down on our own.”
“When the Chinese built the Great-Wall of China, they made it invincible. They believed that they will never be attacked at all. During that period, China still had many invasions. Their enemies always went in from the front door using the help of the Chinese guards, who worked for them. They built a great wall but forgot to build great guards.” Sidra said.
“I see your point. You are saying that we will get in easily with the help of Rayan, regardless of how hard it is to get in.” Laith said.
“Exactly, that was the plan from the beginning. Rayan needed to gather information about what really is going on, and what their plans are for the near future.” Sidra said.
“Guys… I’m sorry to interrupt, but the people here need help getting water. We should go help.” Mai said as she was entering the tent that they were sitting in.
“Good, you are all here. There is a lake about 30 miles away. Who wants to go get some water?” Rain asked as he entered the tent as well.
“I’ll go.” Yazan replied.
“I’ll join too.” Sidra added.
“Good… The three of us will go. Would the rest of you be ok staying here and helping the people? They are trying to dig a well.” Rain said.
“Yeah, I’m already helping out. The sooner you guys leave, the sooner you get back. Just be careful, and be sure to be back before sunset.” Laith said.
“Ok… mom…” Rain replied sarcastically.
“He’s just asking us to be careful. Let’s get some containers and leave.” Sidra said.
“Sidra… would you please bring some energy bars with you as well. We might take all day.” Yazan asked.
“Sure, I only have four left. I brought them from the Burj when I was there. They should be enough for the three of us.”
After half an hour, they were all ready to leave.
“We are all set. Let’s go…” Rain said.
“Be careful everyone.” Mai waved.
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“It’s really hot today. I can’t believe we have to walk almost 30 miles.” Yazan said.
“We don’t have other options. The car we have will draw attention to us. The militias will have no problem shooting us down. The lake is near a military base. We can’t just drive there.” Rain said.
“Yeah, I know. Oh well… No harm in some long walk.” Yazan said.
“We have been walking for few hours now. At this rate, we might not make it before sun down.” Sidra said.
“That is actually possible. So, we will have to be prepared to the idea of walking all night. We can’t spend the night on the road.” Rain said.
“Wow… Look around… This used to be one of the busiest cities in Estil. Now, it looks like a ghost town.” Yazan said.
“Yeah, I remember this place. There used to be many shops around here.” Rain added.
“That’s weird.” Sidra said.
“What is?” Rain asked.
“That tree.” She pointed.
“Half of it is burring. What’s weird about that?”
“Half is burning and the other half is green. Green trees don’t burn that easily.” Sidra said.
“Oh… Guys… Look over there…” Yazan pointed.
“They look like two kids looking for something on the ground.” Rain said.
“Maybe they just lost a toy or something.” Sidra said.
“Let’s go help them find their toy then.” Rain said.
“Just know that we don’t have much time. What are these kids doing here anyway?” Yazan asked.
“Well, hello kids... Did you lose your toy or something?” Sidra asked.
“Toy? What’s that? We are kind of busy, lady.” One of the kids replied.
“Then, did you lose some money?” Rain asked.
“Money? I don’t see any money.” The kid answered.
“Right… So why are you still looking on the floor for something. I don’t see anything around with any value.” Rain said.
“How can you not see all of this around? This is the closest we have been to food in days.” The kid said.
“Food? It’s just some rocks and old plastic bags.” Rain said.
“No, look closely. These small pieces between the rocks are dry bread. Few days ago, we heard that some people got food in this area. Some of those people threw pieces of bread on the ground. We collect it and put in water to eat it.” The kid said.
“Where are your parents?” Sidra had to ask.
“Our mom left home few months ago looking for food, and she was not allowed back here because they closed the outside boarders. Our dad was killed a week ago.”
“How old are you?” Rain asked.
“I’m ten and my little brother is six.”
“Stop… Just stop… You do not need to look in the dirt anymore. Here, take this. It’s called an energy bar. I have four. You can have them all.” Sidra said.
“Are you sure, lady? This look very expensive.” The kid said.
“I am sure. Please take it. Now, where do you live?” Sidra asked.
“We stay with our aunt just around the corner.” The kid answered.
“Go home… This life will change one day. I promise you that.” Sidra said.
As the kids walked away, Sidra looked at both Rain and Yazan not sure of what to say. She remembered the orphanage she was able to sponsor for years with any money that she had. She only did it because she knew that there is nothing worse than losing a parent. Seeing kids who looked for food on the ground like that was just too painful to watch.
“I’m really sorry, but we have to go.” Rain said.
“I know…” She replied.
After walking for hours, they finally got to what was supposed to be a lake. The three of them just stood there and kept looking at the lake with open mouths. They were so shocked to what they saw. They could not believe their eyes. Since they had to walk many hours with no food or water, they just assumed that they started to hallucinate.
“You are seeing what I’m seeing…right?” Sidra asked.
“All I’m seeing is red water with things flouting on top. Maybe some factory dumped some red ink in here.” Yazan said.
“This is not ink. It is blood, and those are not things, they are human bodies or what’s left of them at least.” Rain added.
“This is insane. Who did this and why?” Sidra said as she just fell on her knees not knowing what else to say, or how even to feel.
“No one said this world is sane. We better get used to it.” Rain said.
“This means that we still don’t have water or food for that matter. We need to find a solution for all the people at the camp.” Yazan said.
“The fact that the river is drying out in the south only means that someone just closed the gates on the dam in the north. If that’s the case, the cities in the north most be flooding.” Rain said.
“We should go back to the camp. We will figure something out. The guards in the nearby base will soon notice us.” Yazan said.
“Can I use someone’s phone?” Sidra asked.
“Yeah, use mine. Who do you want to call?” Rain asked.
“No one. I need to use it in order to have access to the satellites. Something is going on in that base. They are moving things in and out of there, and I want to know what.” Sidra explained.
“Do you think they killed all of those people and dumbed them in the lake to hide something? It could not be just because they wanted to kill people? Sidra do not try and rationalize things. This is Estil, where people just get killed for the purpose of killing. It is their logic.” Rain said.
“I’m not disagreeing with you. I am just saying that there might be another reason.” Sidra said.
“Guys… we should start walking. Sidra, you can hack a satellite while we are walking.” Yazan said.
“No way…” Sidra said.
“What is it?” Rain asked.
“It is weapons. They are moving new kinds of weapons in. I need to get a clear image to prove that. And yes, Yazan is right. Let’s start walking. We need to get back to the camp.”
“How much time do you need to get a clear image? Do you think you can get it before we get to the camp area? Because there is no reception in there at all.” Rain asked.
“Yeah, I can.” She replied.
National Exile: A 21st Century Novel about Nobility, Poverty, and Cruelty Page 28