Peter, who had deliberately cut himself off from his friends while he was away because he wanted to protect them against thoughts that might betray their real feelings about Orb, was very confused by this news.
“But otherwise it’s just like everywhere else I’ve been? People are now farmers, or herders?
“Yes,” Eli confirmed.
Eli continued in Peter’s head. I asked Orb why he did this, and he said it would be a monument to what he calls our ‘Lost Age.’ He’s planning on having pilgrimages here so that his followers, which is everyone who wants to live, can see how much better things are under Orb. He said he’s doing the same thing in one spot on each of the continents, except Antarctica, so everyone will have a chance to make a pilgrimage.
Since there are no more boats, except little ones used for fishing.
Yep.
Orb didn’t tell me anything about any of this.
“Umm,” Eli muttered as he sat down on the riverbank, his feet rocking back and forth kicking the dirt and rocks off the sloping riverbank below them.
Peter sat down next to him, very much aware of the fact that they had not shared a hug, or even a handshake.
“I’ve gotta go in and get some sleep in a minute,” Eli said, his voice cracking a little from tiredness.
“But it’s only 3:30.”
Eli grimaced, picked up a clod of dirt from the grass and threw it into the water, where it disappeared without a sound. He then used his fingers to dig a small rock out of the ground and sent it into the water. There was a brief ‘plink’ as it hit the water.
“I haven’t slept in two days.”
They fell silent and watched the water together. It had all started here, with a dried-up riverbed. They had released the world’s—the universe’s—most powerful genie and now spent their days enforcing its will.
“Are you mad at me or something?” asked Peter.
“No. Just tired. Orb said that teleporting is easy for you but it’s not for the rest of us.”
“I don’t know about that; it still wears me out. Towards the end of most days I can barely hold my head up.”
“How many trips can you make in a day?” Eli asked.
“I don’t know,” answered Peter, “thirty?”
“The rest of us can do two, maybe three.”
“Oh…I didn’t know,” Peter replied, a little embarrassed.
“And Orb told us that you have all of our powers. You can replace any of the other Disciples anytime you want.”
I don’t want to replace anyone, Eli.
It was Peter’s turn to throw a rock, which skipped twice before sinking. “I haven’t tried any of the powers. Orb told me not to until he shows me how to do it, or else I might fry myself.”
Eli didn’t say anything, so Peter asked, “How does it feel?”
Eli turned to him. “When the power moves through you?” Eli’s eyes brightened, diluting the impact of the dark circles below them. “When you hold the power, you feel like you could do anything. You feel better than you’ve ever felt—better than anyone has ever felt before.”
Turning back to look at the water, Eli continued, “And when you release the power you feel sick, like you want to die.”
Peter flinched at that description. Teleporting, especially days when he had numerous, long trips, made him tired, but he had never felt anything like what Eli was describing. Orb told him they would soon practice the other powers but, looking at Eli, Peter was not sure he wanted to.
Do you still have a plan?
Eli’s thought brought him back. Yes. Well, I’m working on it, Peter replied.
I guess you’re not going to tell me?
It’s safer if I don’t, Eli. I don’t know that all of this isn’t just another game, another test from Orb. He might be listening right now.
Maybe. But if Orb really knew what we thought of him would we still be here?
I don’t know. There are games within games.
Their unusual conversation ended with the approach of a large diesel engine. Eli and Peter turned to see Big Ed’s new Super Duty pickup approaching down the dirt road which formed one of the boundaries of their property. A large cloud of dust followed it as it slowed to enter their already open gate.
Both Eli and Peter got up and began walking towards their house. Big Ed’s monstrous truck fairly floated on the rough caliche road leading to the house, and he easily beat both his sons back to the house as he parked the beast of a truck alongside the garage. His old truck, like every other car besides Big Ed’s new truck, sat dormant and battery-less when Orb had all the batteries in the world disappear one day. The old truck sat inside the open garage only because the new truck was too large to fit in that space.
As the boys approached, the engine stopped rumbling, the driver’s side door flew open and Big Ed’s boots immediately appeared on the ground beneath the door. The door slammed shut with a satisfying thunk and Big Ed beamed a big smile at his sons.
“Who peed in your Wheaties, gents? And where have you been, Peter? Big Ed closed the gap between them to deliver his customary bear hug. Both boys grinned in spite of themselves, then grimaced when Big Ed squeezed their heads against his sweaty shirt. Peter, all five-foot-three of him, was squeezed into the armpit of Big Ed’s shirt while Eli tried to push his face away from their father. His efforts were not successful as Big Ed’s right arm applied even more pressure.
“Let go, please, Dad,” Eli stammered as he fought for enough space to move his jaw.
“Not until you both cheer up!” Big Ed gave another hard squeeze. “I missed you, Peter. All Orb would tell me is that you were doing good work, but don’t you have any way of checking in and telling me how you’re doing? I know you’re the big Disciple now but you’re still my boy.”
Peter’s voice was muffled by his father’s shirt. “I don’t know, Dad. I think I’ll be coming home every day or two for a while.”
Still crushing them both to his body, he spun back around so he could see his truck. “It’s a fine day out there. We’ve got fields working across the county. There’s plenty of water—clean water!—for everyone. The bees have rebounded. The stink of the chicken processing plant no longer makes you want to puke when you drive into town.”
He means when he drives to town as he has the only working car. Peter grinned a little at Eli’s frustration with their father.
Big Ed looked down at the backs of their heads and gave an extra squeeze. “So, what are you two so sad about. Is it girl trouble?”
Peter groaned and wriggled against his father’s grip. After much twisting and groaning, and largely because Big Ed did not attempt to fight, Peter pushed his way out and, red-faced from exertion and compression, said, “You know I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Big Ed released the struggling Eli from his grip and smiled at his sons. “Well, all I know is that you Disciple-types get to ignore most of the rules, and you never tell your old dad anything. For all I know Eli here could be hitched to Jenny.”
Eli reddened even further. “Jenny and I aren’t married. I barely even see her.”
Big Ed nudged Eli with his oversized elbow. “You better make sure you pay attention to her or your brother might steal her away, right Peter?”
Eli’s jaw dropped and Peter groaned loudly as Eli’s face reddened. Big Ed was teasing Eli on the one topic that instantly sent him into a rage. Big Ed had a theory that if you teased someone about a thing they were sensitive about, they would eventually grow a tougher skin and get over it. This theory was not, in Peter’s view, a solid one and at any rate had never worked on Eli.
Eli pushed Big Ed’s elbow away and took a step back. “As for paying attention, Dad, you might want to see who else is driving a truck around here.”
Big Ed’s smile faded, and his hands came down to perch unhappily on his hips. “I’m doing good work. Orb wanted people who knew what they were doing to help with the farming so that the rest of the population didn’t sta
rve. Now it’s my problem that I’m useful?”
Peter, trying to defuse the volatile Eli, waded in. “It’s not that, Dad. It’s just that I’m seeing a lot of resentment and unhappiness around the world when a person, or family, has more than their neighbors. We’re one of the few families still living in a house. It’s a little…”
“Little what?” Big Ed asked.
“Uncomfortable,” finished Eli. “Don’t think that everyone around here is happy to see you blow by and eat your dust while they walk or ride a bike everywhere they go.”
“Mmph,” answered Ed, who remained unconvinced. “I stop and give people rides all the time. People see my truck coming and they know their crops are going to grow and they’ll have food aplenty on the table.”
“Most people now live in tents and they’re lucky to share an old picnic table with their neighbors—who are also in tents,” said Eli.
Big Ed squinted. “Is that what this is all about? You guys want to get rid of the truck and live in a tent? What’s that going to accomplish? We know more. We can do more. The community relies on us. There’s nothing wrong with being rewarded for that—and you and your friends are the ones causing all of the jealousy with your popping around the world by twinkling your noses.”
Big Ed paused to catch his breath, but when neither Eli nor Peter seized the opening, Big Ed continued, “As I see it, your friend Orb has reshaped the world in his vision. Farming matters now like it hasn’t in hundreds of years. Technology is done. Fatcat lawyers, CEOs and politicians aren’t lining their pockets with our money anymore. There’s a big word for the way things work now that I’m forgetting but now, we each get what we’re worth out of this world, and I for one like that.”
“Meritocracy,” mumbled Eli.
“What’s that?” asked Big Ed.
“That’s the word you wanted. It’s where society dispenses power based on a person’s abilities, and the value they add to that society.”
Peter shot Eli a strange look and Eli replied, “It was part of my last school project, when we still had school.”
“That’s it!” exclaimed Big Ed, who slapped the fender of his truck for emphasis. “That’s what we’ve got—a meritocracy. Why Disciples like the two of you would ever be unhappy is beyond me.” Big Ed leaned in and lowered his voice to what he thought was a whisper but was in reality still full volume. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Boys. There are plenty of people around here who know more about farming than the two of you, but you’ve got this whole Disciple thing going on, which is the best gig you can get.”
Eli raised his gaze to meet his father’s. “I think the difference is that in a meritocracy the people subject to the rules are the ones who elect their leaders. No one elected Peter or me, or you.”
Big Ed snorted. “And people electing leaders has done so well? Look at the clowns we had running our county, our state, our whole country!”
Eli looked over to Peter, who shook his head. “Dad,” Peter said, “from what I’ve seen the constables are the only ones, besides Disciples, who receive extra power, extra perks. Everyone else in a district just does their best to grow crops or tend to their herd.”
“You mean when they’re not sending complaints to Orb about how badly they’re being treated? And now it’s a problem that I’m a constable?” Big Ed lifted his vest and pointed to the glowing yellow orb badge pinned to his chest. “And what’s wrong with farming, or ranching?”
This is pointless. Dad likes the changes. He’s the happiest he’s been in years. He stopped believing in God when Mom died. Now he believes in Orb—not just believes in him, worships him. You’re not going to change his mind.
Peter stared at Eli for a moment, then looked back to his father. “Nothing, Dad. You’re right,” Peter said to change the subject.
Big Ed looked over to Eli. “What about you, Eli? Do you think I’m right?” Eli gritted his teeth and nodded, which Big Ed interpreted as complete agreement. Big Ed sighed, rubbed his face, then threw his long arms around Eli and again pulled him close as he smiled at Peter. “You’ve always been wound a little tight, Eli. You’ve got to relax a little or you’ll have a heart attack before you’re thirty.
Eli, grimacing from the squeezing, not thrilled to be back in against Big Ed’s sweaty chest, and still mad about the teasing, gave a muffled reply. “I understand that you like what Orb has done, but you should know that Orb also did something to protect all of the Disciples. Whenever anyone tries to hurt us, they disappear.”
A frown came over Big Ed’s face, and he slowly released Eli from his grip. “I’m not hurting you, son, I’m just giving you a hug.”
Eli looked up. “I know that, and you know that, but you’re running the risk that Orb thinks you’re hurting me.”
The frown disappeared from Big Ed’s face and turned into a chuckle. “Now you’re really being silly. Orb knows everything. That’s why he’s in charge.”
Leave it, Eli. Peter warned.
Big Ed turned to Peter and asked, “I keep forgetting to ask, is Orb a he or a she?”
Peter looked over to Eli, who shrugged. “We don’t think that applies to Orb. It just is what it is,” Peter replied.
“Well, I’m just going to keep calling Orb ‘he’ as that’s how I think of him,” said Big Ed. “Seems like with all the time you’ve spent with Orb you boys would have a better idea of what he is.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know about Orb, Dad,” said Eli, “and I think he likes it that way.”
Eli turned and walked towards the house, leaving Peter and Big Ed standing by the truck. They watched as Eli opened the screen door and then let it slam behind him.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Big Ed used his elbow to—gently—push Peter’s shoulder. “Looks like I really struck a chord this time. You’re not really messing around with Jenny, are you?”
Peter opened his mouth, then thought better of it and followed Eli into the house, leaving Big Ed and his equally large truck by themselves.
CHAPTER SIX
Jenny & Peter
Weeks passed, and the group known as the Disciples continued their travels around the world. Jenny, Irene, Matt, and Eli worked in a sequence dictated by their powers, and rarely saw each other as they moved from place to place. Their use of Orb’s power, and in particular the effort needed for teleportation, left them too exhausted to do more than eat and sleep when they returned home.
Home… Peter thought as he stood in the middle of what once had been the main street of their town. He had teleported back to this spot but was not entirely sure why. Dusty cars that would never move again lined the curbs. He looked at the abandoned businesses on either side of him. What Walmart and Amazon had started in terms of driving local businesses into the ground had ended once and for all courtesy of Orb. Peter walked slowly past the local bank, also closed as there was no need for money, and found that this gloomy shell of a town made him feel even more alone than before.
He kicked at a small, round rock in the road and it rolled until it hit the curb, and stopped in front of Manny’s restaurant, which, like every other restaurant, had closed the day after Orb took control of Earth. He stared through the empty, dusty window at the booth where he, Eli and Big Ed had gone to celebrate what they thought was a victory for the little guys, the good guys, over crooked politicians in the pocket of a multi-national agricultural company who wanted the water from their river.
“We didn’t know anything, about anything,” Peter mumbled to the empty street as he continued walking.
A stray dog appeared at the entrance to the alley ahead. Peter bent down to make himself look as harmless as he felt, and called to it. The dog, some sort of mix of a German Shepherd and at least four other breeds, sniffed the air and fled back into the alley.
“Great,” Peter said as he stood up.
I could force the dog to come back. I’ve got the same power Jenny has over animals.
He thought about
it, then decided to let the dog be. But Orb hasn’t taught me how to do it, and I don’t want to force anyone to be my friend.
Peter kept walking, leaving the small town behind, and was a little surprised to eventually find himself in front of Jenny’s house. He stretched his right leg to relieve a small cramp while he tried to decide what to do. His body was tired from the walk and from his earlier teleportation, but it felt good to use his muscles.
Big Ed had said a few days before that the pains in Peter’s legs were growing pains. He was not, as feared, going to stay five foot three inches tall forever. Peter was not convinced he was actually growing, and thought that what Big Ed took as “shooting up” might instead just be the fact that he was just thinner. Peter, and all the Disciples, were all significantly thinner than they had been a few months before—and none of them had been big to begin with.
He ran his hand across his flat belly. There was no more junk food or candy in the world. When he did have an appetite, which was not often, he ate large amounts of the rice they grew locally and vegetables from their garden.
Peter flexed his fist and stared at the muscles and ligaments sliding under the skin of his forearm. He was not yet skin and bones, but he was well on the way.
It might be my food. It could also be the teleportation. We all can’t feel as tired as we do after these trips without it having some effect on our bodies. Maybe the energy required for each trip is like a ten-mile run—that’s about what it feels like.
Peter shuddered, then shook his head to clear it. With his enhanced ability his trips took, at most, a few seconds of actual time, but that brief period of ‘traveling’ held him in a grip of cold darkness. The best comparison—not that he had done it—would be bathing in a tub full of ice cubes with all the lights out. The novelty of teleportation was slowly being replaced by a feeling of dread.
Peter realized he had been standing in front of Jenny’s house for a while. He walked up the set of wooden stairs that led to the front porch and knocked lightly on the door. He took a step back from the door in a self-conscious way of creating more space for whoever answered it. He could feel Jenny’s presence, but he could also feel the presence of her mother—and it was her mother who answered the door.
The Disciples of the Orb Page 4