The Phoenix Project Series: Books 1-3: The Phoenix Project, The Reformation, and Revelation

by Pritchard, M. R.

  The train car has been outfitted with seven seats and a single table, just enough for those of us who are leaving. A bathroom has been added and private sleeping quarters. It looks like the only improvements the engine car has had in a long time, no attempts were made to clean the dark stains off the floor, though.

  I watch Adam as he starts the engine, remembering how last time I was aboard this train, Lina and I were stashed in the back car hiding in the dark, trying to escape. It seems strange now, actually leaving the District with permission. The worst part is leaving my child behind. I know Crane knows this. I knew it before I looked out the engine car window to see him smiling at me. What I didn’t expect to see, was Ian standing behind Crane, winking at me.

  Now sometimes a wink can mean nothing. But for us, when Ian let loose a wink, it meant a great deal. I’ve always thought it was a creepy gesture and Ian knew this well. So well that anytime I was stressed or upset, or trying to get out of a conversation at a company picnic or a family reunion, he’d always shoot me a wink. It’s how I knew he was on my side and the worst would be over, soon enough.

  I can see my reflection in the glass window of the train car, it’s a look of surprise. Because now I’m sure that Ian may not be as confused as he’s letting everyone else think. And perhaps he might actually have it in him to be creating an agenda of his own. I’ve never bothered to ask all this time, I’ve just assumed he was as unapproachable as I’ve been told. But the wink, the wink tells me otherwise.

  --

  “What’s with the dogs?” Alexander asks from behind me.

  I turn to see him watching the large Guardians who have each taken to a corner of the engine car.

  “They protect us,” I tell him as I turn back around in my seat, staring out the window, trying to get a glimpse at what’s left of civilization. But all I see is a green blur on each side of the car as we speed through the forests. Adam said I shouldn’t expect to see much since the tracks are hidden and the train moves at an alarming speed. Still, there’s the hope that I might see something, that I might have closure, that I might be able to finally accept our new lives.

  The Volker and Adam review the course for the tour. The first stop is the Florida District, known as the Crystal River District. Adam expects to be there by evening, running the train at full throttle, as long as we don’t hit any detours. I have nothing left to do but sit in uncomfortable silence and think. Morris sent me with an itinerary and the transcript from my speech since I was so nervous I barely remember any of it. He also sent the blue dress and Blithe instructed me on how to do my makeup. But I doubt whatever I do will look as good as her work.

  “If you want to see what happened,” Adam tells us. “You’ll be able to see the city in just a few minutes.”

  I stand, moving to the front of the car to stand next to Adam. I can see nothing, just green as the train starts to pull up a steep incline. Adam points out the side window. I watch as what’s left of the city appears before us. The view is dreadful. The University Hospital, where I used to work, is a half crumbled mess. Entire sections of the city are pockmarked with black holes from where the bombs landed. The highway has crumpled. From this high up we can see a few fires burning and a small cluster of people roaming one of the streets.

  “I suspect that’s how the remainder of the U.S. looks,” Alexander says from behind us.

  None of us answer, we just stare in awe. Adam pushes the train back into high gear. Seeing the devastation of the city where I once worked is daunting. Since there’s no way to escape the sullen feeling of the engine car cabin, and without anyone to talk to or anyone I’m interested in talking to, I leave the cabin to find one of the private sleeping bunks and attempt to rest. Two of the Guardians follow me into the narrow car, waiting as I choose the farthest bunk from the door, the only one with a window. One Guardian jumps up on the narrow bed, as I get comfortable, curling up at my feet. I look to the remaining Guardian sitting on the floor.

  “Only one of you, there’s not enough room for two,” I tell it.

  It looks at me with what I can only assume is disappointment as it settles on the floor beside me. That is how the day continues. I’m too upset from leaving Lina. I’m too nervous to sleep. And paired with the anticipation of seeing something out the window, I can’t close my eyes. So I just lay here, wishing I were home.

  By mid-afternoon there’s a knock on the bunk door. I lean back to see Adam walk in carrying a plate of food and a bottle of water.

  “You should eat something,” he says, walking towards me and setting the plate down on the bed.

  “How far have we gotten?” I ask.

  “We’re going through the Carolinas now, should be out of the mountains soon.”

  I look down to the plate he brought me. It contains dry bread and an apple. “I see Crane really went all out for the provisions,” I tell him. I take a bite of the bread, waiting for Adam to say something.

  “I’m hoping to pick a few things up while we are out. We might be able to locate some more appetizing provisions.”

  “You’re picking up supplies?” I ask him around the piece of bread I’m chewing on.

  “I have a list, some things we need.”

  “I thought this tour was strictly to unite the Districts, not search for supplies?”

  “Not everyone knows about it,” he responds, watching the large dogs as they sleep. “What was that before we left, with Ian?” He asks, looking at me, staring into my eyes, his face calm.

  I figured it wouldn’t look good.

  “Nothing.” I shove more of the bread in my mouth, hoping he’ll stop asking questions and resume his post driving the train. But he doesn’t, he crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for a better answer. I swallow and take a sip of the water. “I told him goodbye. I didn’t think I’d have another chance. We might not make it back, you know.”

  I turn to look back out the window hoping he can’t tell I’m lying, because usually he can, and I don’t want him to know what I think, that Ian may be planning something. Adam must give up because he doesn’t say anything before leaving.

  --

  It’s not long before the air on the train becomes heavy and humid. Being late summer I suspected the southern weather would be hot, but this seems much worse. It’s almost unbearable. Just as the train starts to slow I can see a heavy rain falling outside. I get up and head to the engine car to sit with the others. I watch out the windows to see palm trees blown over and a torrential downpour.

  “What’s with the weather?” I ask.

  “Hurricane season,” Alexander responds.

  “You have got to be kidding me.”

  He shakes his head.

  I look around the cabin. Our four Volker escorts are seated, or standing in the corners. If they were speaking before I came back out here, they aren’t now. I settle in a seat and watch as Adam brings the train to a stop in front of a fence that’s very similar to our own. The gate opens without Adam needing to punch in a code, and we pull up at a true train station with a platform and enclosed area.

  As we exit the train we are greeted on the platform by a man in heavy rain gear. “Welcome, I am Emanuel Torres, Crystal River District Sovereign,” his voice has a thick Spanish sounding accent. “Come, the others are at Headquarters.”

  He hands us each a heavy rain parka, stopping to shake hands with Alexander. I’m wondering if Emanuel is one of the Crystal River Entities. Just before he leads us outside I notice his sleeve is pulled up just far enough for us to see the image of a dark blazing crystal across his wrist.

  I have never been to Florida. I have never experienced a hurricane. From what I can tell this isn’t the strongest hurricane they’ve seen, but it’s strong enough to almost blow my feet out from under me. I’m thankful for Adam’s grip on my elbow as we walk swiftly across an open parking lot.

  The Crystal River District Headquarters is small and looks to be the original town hall of the area. The building is j
ust one level, with a low pitched roof and wide porch. Two deeply tanned Volker guard the front door, their uniforms the same as our Volker. We are led down a sparsely decorated hallway to a large office, laid out much like our own Committee meeting room. There are three other men waiting for us, the other Sovereign.

  Emanuel introduces us. There is Richard Ruiz, who looks like a young banker in his business suit. He’s overdressed for this heat, his hair slicked back off his face. When he shakes my hand, I see he wears an expensive looking diamond studded watch. Next is Mateo Pena and Javier Vega, who look like they could be brothers, or closely related with their tan skin and dark features. The only difference is their clothes, and Javier wears glasses. They seem nice enough, smiling and shaking our hands. Then there is Colonel Ramirez, the local Volker Sovereign, and he’s wearing plain clothes, not the usual uniform that Adam wears while he’s on duty. For a moment I remember that Crane told me, the Sovereign are some of society’s greatest intellectuals. I wonder what they did before this? Before they were subjected to rule over these people. The thought doesn’t last long. Because I also remember that amongst these people are the other Funding Entities. I’m sure they’ll be watching us closely and reporting back to Crane.

  We sit as Emanuel hands out bound copies of the Crystal River District Manifesto. He starts talking, updating us on the District’s improvements, the weather problems, their progresses and difficulties, their unruly Residents.

  That’s where I interrupt him.

  “You only have two-hundred Residents?” I ask Emanuel. “And you can’t control them? There was no point in us traveling all this way for two hundred people. We might as well consider this District a failure and close it, relocate the people, or release them.”

  I close the Manifesto, trying not to slam the cover of it. Crane said this District was small, but this is tiny. I can’t see how Crane would let this District flounder for so long without a guiding hand to help it prosper.

  “We had many more Residents and Sovereign, but they didn’t survive. We’ve lost too many to the heat, the hurricanes, diseases, and then there’s the alligators.” Emanuel turns to the other men who nod their heads in agreement.

  I turn to Adam in disbelief. Alligators, he wants us to believe that he lost over half his population to alligators? That’s like saying he lost half the population to zombies. I’m not getting what has happened here. What went wrong?

  “Who is your Volker Sovereign, again?” Adam asks.

  “Colonel Ramirez.” Emanuel motions to the man standing at the corner of the room.

  At least they have a Volker Sovereign assigned. I wonder if he has anywhere near as much training as Adam does.

  “Does your train work?” Alexander asks.

  Emanuel shakes his head. “Hasn’t worked since early last year, but we were given orders not to use it until Crane gave the okay.”

  “I’ll take a look at it. I designed them,” Alexander tells him.

  Now I see why Alexander was sent with us, at least Crane was gracious enough to provide us with our own engineer.

  “Where are your Residents?” I ask.

  “They’re all in the auditorium, waiting out the storm.”

  “Are they medicated? Or have your titrations begun?”

  “They are undergoing the titrations and everyone has been assigned to a faction.”

  “And how are they unruly?” I ask him.

  “A lot of people have died. A lot. Family members, entire families. Once we started the titrations, and people continued to die, it affected the Residents. Hard. People are sad, morale is down.”

  “How long until the weather turns?” I ask.

  “This storm should be gone by morning,” Emanuel tells me.

  I turn to Alexander. “I think we should stop the titrations and get everyone back up to full doses. I make the speech tonight and then we help turn this place around in the morning. What do you think?” I ask him.

  “Sounds good to me,” Alexander replies.

  “Oh, Emanuel,” I stop him as he’s walking toward the computer at the head of the table. “There’s one last thing. I need someone from your population, a local, someone that everyone knows.”

  “That’s easy,” Javier replies. “Colonel Ramirez grew up here. He was their Sheriff, before the changes.” Emanuel nods, agreeing with Javier.

  “Suit up, Ramirez.” I take in his jeans and t-shirt. “This outfit will not do. You’re going on stage with me.”

  --

  I change into the blue dress, hiding most of it under the large raincoat. I forget the makeup and the hair tips Blithe showed me. In this heat and humidity my hair is already curling into an unruly mess, and the makeup would probably just melt off my face. This will have to do.

  Crane has sent the video he showed in the Phoenix District. The auditorium is small here, and it’s easy to see the Resident’s watch in awe as they see what happened to the United States. Emanuel reads from their Manifesto, which is almost word for word the same as the Phoenix one. Then it’s my turn to talk. I introduce myself and explain where we have come from, what our District went through. Somewhere in the middle I force out the words from my Phoenix speech, ending with the Sovereign promise to protect them and lead them towards a better life.

  When I finish there is nothing but silence, two-hundred sets of eyes stare at me. I can see the closer ones looking between me and Ramirez, who is finally dressed in a Volker uniform. They’re trying to make the connection between someone they know and someone they can trust.

  I turn to Adam and Emanuel, preparing for a retreat. It didn’t work. Then it starts with one person, a clapping, a chanting, “Cabecilla, cabecilla, cabecilla,” soon they are all repeating it.

  I lean towards Ramirez. “What does that mean?”

  “Leader, they say you are a leader, like a ringleader, for the rebels…”

  Oh no. I am not their leader and I definitely don’t want them thinking this is a group of rebels taking over. This is something I have to fix, now.

  “How do you say it different, a political leader?” I ask Ramirez.

  “That would be líder,” he tells me.

  I raise my hand and lean into the microphone, motioning to Ramirez. “Líder,” I repeat to them as best I can. Eventually the chanting and clapping stops and I’m not sure if they’ve picked up on my attempt to name Colonel Ramirez as their leader or not.

  “You need to say something, something inspiring,” I tell Ramirez under my breath. I move to the side so he can have the microphone.

  “I don’t know what to say,” he tells me under his breath, his eyes revealing how hesitant he really is to stand up and take this oath in front of these people. Perhaps I should have said something to him before. I should have warned him. But there is no time now. He can’t show them he’s weak or timid, if Colonel Ramirez is going to be the true Volker Sovereign he needs to get his shit together. Because I want to go home. I am not coming back to this place to fix their problems again.

  “Just repeat what I said,” I encourage him. “This is where you get your shit together Ramirez.”

  “Many of you may remember me as your local Sheriff, Goyo Ramirez. But now, in this new time, we are your Sovereign, we will protect you, we…” he holds his arm out, gesturing to the other Crystal River Sovereign, “will lead you to a better tomorrow.”

  I reach to his side, pulling up his sleeve and thrusting his arm into the air, repeating my gesture from my Phoenix District speech. If anything, it shows the Residents that we are marked, we are easily identifiable, we are the ones they can easily seek out.

  I step back, leaving Ramirez at the podium while the crowd murmurs to each other. Then it starts, just as it did when I was done speaking, the clapping, the chanting. “Líder," they say, this time at Ramirez and the other Crystal River Sovereign.

  To me, that seemed a little too easy. But the medication must be acting quickly. And these people have been suffering long enough, with the st
orms, the loss of the population. It’s easy to see in their eyes, even from the stage, that they are desperate, and with desperation comes easy manipulation.

  --

  Alexander and our Volker have decided to bunk at Headquarters for the night. I tell Adam that I can’t sleep knowing all those people are in the building and I beg him to take me out to the train. He caves when I bring up that there are four Guardians to safeguard the train.

  Once outside, I’m glad to see the rain has digressed to a light sprinkle, the wind has died down to a soft breeze. Emanuel must’ve been correct in his prediction that the morning will free us from the hurricane.

  “You did well,” Adam tells me as I change into dry sleeping clothes.

  “I did exactly what I didn’t want to do. I just ruined someone else’s life. Now Ramirez is the one they trust and he will forever have to help the other Sovereign keep control over this District.”

  “You don’t know Ramirez, he might enjoy the position you just put him in.”

  “If he enjoys it, then we have a problem. He can’t be allowed to skew control of the Residents. Maybe Crane got lucky with me. I have no problem hiding out at the Pasture and only making myself seen when he needs me or when he pisses me off.”

  “I’d say Crane didn’t get what he expected when he chose you,” Adam tells me as he pulls his t-shirt off.

  “I think that might be the understatement of the century.”

  I let Adam pull me down next to him so my head resting on his bent arm. Instead of him tucking his hand under my hip, like he usually does, he lets it rest on my bulging abdomen, feeling the baby roll around under my shirt. I know I should be happy that we’ve made it through our first day alive, but all I can think about is what’s happening at home and if Lina and Sam are safe.