Cadence

by China Dennington

Her heart beat faster the closer she got. Her feelings were a mix of horror at what would be happening in a few weeks unless someone listened to her, and curiosity about how this new society would treat her.

  With growing apprehension she swam into the city. Which tribe is this? Do they still speak my language? What should I do? Astrid felt almost overwhelmed. Here she was, getting bumped every which way. She turned, the crowd was much thicker than it ever was in Akayta. She wasn’t used to this, and few even glanced at her. Those that did, didn’t show surprise or disdain at her mark.

  I’d better begin with the basics and find out where I am and try to figure out how their government works. Then I can get the information about the core to the necessary officials.

  Astrid noticed that there were a lot of tiny fish with sharp teeth darting around. Pest fish. In Akayta, they were exterminated. It was rare to catch sight of one in the city, but here they were abundant. Masses of people swarmed on the wide path. People scattered as large transports barreled through, and vehicles zipped between them. It was hectic. The whole city was wild and chaotic.

  At the side of the path, portable stands were set up, and each held something different. Grotesque figures, personal gods, rough fabrics, wild luna berries, and so much more. The colors and smells were utterly overwhelming in a way she’d never experienced before.

  Merchants selling their wares in the middle of the city? That would never be allowed in Akayta. I might as well use it to my advantage. She swam up to the nearest stand, where a stocky, middle-aged merwoman sat busily peddling her creations.

  “Excuse me, but could you tell me what city this is?” asked Astrid quietly.

  The woman gave her a strange look. “You’re in Velee, where else would you be?” Her language was very similar to Astrid’s, but it had some quirks that were different from her own.

  How do I find out about this city without seeming like I’m crazy? Astrid didn’t know much about Velee besides its name and a little background.

  She studied the woman’s work-hardened face. Her eyes were intelligent. I need someone I can trust. Astrid looked around and felt alone. The street teemed with people, but in it all she felt hopelessly lost.

  How was she supposed to warn them? Who should she warn? Were they ruled by a royal family also? Some of the people had marks, but the marks were all different kinds of things. Everything from twisting flowers all across an arm to words on a neck. And though the majority had these types of marks, not all of them did. Each person wore a cacophony of colors and scarves tied on their arms and heads rather randomly, from what Astrid could tell. They were so different from the neat, simple outfits of the Akaytans. Hopefully their attitudes would be different as well.

  She looked back to the patiently waiting, gray-haired woman and held out her hand, deciding to take a leap. “I’m Astrid.”

  The woman shook her hand with a puzzled brow and said, “And my name is Delta.”

  Astrid squirmed uncomfortably, “May I have a word with you in private?”

  “Yes…” Delta slowly got up and ushered her into a bright red house behind the stand. When they were inside, the confusion on Delta’s face was evident. How should I begin? I’m about to tell a perfect stranger why I’m here. But then again, it’s all to save everyone.

  “I know that I don’t know you or anything but there is something really important that everyone in this city needs to know. And I need some help.” She paused for a moment trying to decipher the look on the woman’s face. Delta stayed quiet.

  Astrid continued, “I am from Akayta and…”

  The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, stopping Astrid. “Akayta?”

  “Yes, and basically I discovered that in six weeks the core is going to explode.”

  Delta looked skeptical. “I’m sorry, but that’s completely outlandish.”

  “It’s true! Here, do you know about the melions? These are the results of an experiment I did,” Astrid desperately thrust her notetablet with the results into the woman’s hands. Delta nodded her head as she looked down at it. Every second that passed her eyes grew wider.

  “You’re right,” she whispered, “our world is coming crashing down in six weeks.” She looked up sharply. “I have a feeling that there is more to your story. Sit down and tell me.”

  Astrid did, telling her about the refusal to listen in Akayta and being completely clueless about Velee.

  ​When she was done, Delta leaned back on the puffy chair thoughtfully, “Well, here in Velee we are a democracy, we are led by a leader called the high commander who proposes laws that the people vote on. You need to have a meeting with the high commander. General meetings are public, so others will be watching you as well.”

  ​“How do I get one of these meetings?” Astrid asked intently.

  ​“It’s simple,” Delta answered. She got up and swam to a shelf where she pulled out a device that looked like a notetablet.

  Her fingers tapped away for a few seconds then she looked up and said, “I’ve scheduled you to have a meeting with the high commander in three days. I’m sorry I couldn’t get one sooner, but that was the first spot available.”

  Astrid’s head spun as though she were in the middle of a storm. Her brain tried to go five different directions at once and was getting all muddled in the process.

  “But I don’t know…”

  The woman put her fingers to Astrid’s lips. “No buts. You can and will do it. This is important. It’s not about you.”

  ​“Then why don’t you do it?” Astrid asked in desperation.

  “Because it is your testimony to give, not mine.” She continued, “Come back in three days and I will take you there.”

  Astrid got up. “Thank you.” Then she began to leave.

  Delta sighed and asked gently, “Wait. Do you have a place to stay?”

  Astrid hesitated.

  Delta ushered her back in. “Come on. You can stay with me until it’s time for your meeting.

  Astrid smiled and almost cried. Here was a perfect stranger being kind to her.

  Chapter four

  “Make yourself comfortable. I need to go close up my stand. I’ll be back in half an hour.” With that, Delta was out the door. Astrid sat awkwardly on the couch, not quite knowing what to do with herself. She felt like she should be doing something, but what was there to do? She wanted to look around a little bit, but that felt like a strange thing to do in Delta’s house, even though she’d told Astrid to make herself comfortable. I wonder if she lives alone. Astrid got up and turned in a circle, making observations from where she hovered. The spacious living room opened straight into the dining room and kitchen. She sat down again. Before she knew it, her tiredness took over and she fell asleep.

  She hadn’t realized how tired she was until she finally stopped. A journey, a new culture, and a new acquaintance. Her mind swam as she went to sleep, telling her it wasn’t polite to go to sleep on a stranger’s couch, but she ignored that and drifted into a dream where words from an old book floated through her mind.

  For four long, painful years the darkness was full and unsubtle. Truth was forgotten in almost everything, and hope was so scarce the freeday couldn’t sing. I was fearful of so much, just like everyone else. I stole for food, and huddled up in terror during the blackouts, just like everyone else. But then I was called. I was meant to be someone new. I was meant to be different. A frightening thought to say the least. I was already barely surviving, why would I want to slim that chance even more?

  But I had to. When the moment came and I was given the choice, there were only two options. To jump or to be pulled into the abyss. I chose to jump.

  A sound entered Astrid’s consciousness and began to pull her from her favorite passage of a book called Freed. She didn’t want to leave her sleepy state and wake, so she tried to fall back into the dream. She had always loved that passage because she wished it was how she could be, but how?

  If anyone in Akayta heard that wish, the
y would laugh at her. A lowly sixteen doing something worth praise? Unthinkable.

  She felt a hand on her forehead and then on her fin. She moaned, turning her head the other direction. Delta’s voice came through her fog. “Poor thing. She has a fever. Go get me a cold compress please, Alluvial.”

  Within minutes, Astrid felt a cold spot on her stomach.

  The soothing voice continued, “That’s the best place to bring the fever down because the tail holds most of the heat, but if you apply coldness on the tail itself, it causes clash sickness. She’s been through a lot, Alluvial. I’m afraid that the worst might be yet to come. The least we can do is let her stay here for a few…”

  Astrid didn’t catch any more as she drifted off to sleep, but she was left with a feeling of gratefulness blanketing her mind.

  She woke up groggily a few hours later, feeling much cooler and less tired. Sitting up, she remembered what had happened and where she was. Astrid heard a noise behind her as she sat up. She turned. It was Delta, who was in the kitchen making dinner. Getting up, she awkwardly faced her.

  “Look, I’m so sorry I went to sleep and…”

  “Why are you apologizing? No reason for that sort of thing. I hope you’re feeling better.”

  Delta smiled slightly as she interrupted. She mixed some gostu spice into a bowl filled with a doughy, light blue substance.

  “Take a seat,” she said, motioning with her head to a stool at the dining table.

  Astrid quietly swam over and sat down.

  After a few minutes Delta spoke as she continued to prepare a meal. “Family? Friends? Hobbies? Tell me about yourself.”

  Astrid looked up from her hands in surprise. It was a rare occasion for someone to ask her about herself. “Well...I have one older sister who is living. That’s all as far as family goes. And friends for that matter. She’s the only person in Akayta who cares about me at all. Her name is Effie.”

  Delta paused and raised an eyebrow. “In all of Akayta? You have no other friends?”

  Astrid blushed and looked down at the mark on her arm. “I used to have another one but he...disappeared. You see...in Akayta we have a caste system that ranks us by birth order. I am a sixteenth born. That’s what this mark on my arm means. I’m pretty much at the bottom. People don’t want to be friends with someone like me. It would damage their reputation. Besides, they think they’re too good for me.”

  “Do you think they are too good for you?” asked Delta.

  Astrid stuttered, “W-when I think about it, no, but that thought doesn’t help the feeling in my heart that I’m stupid and forever shamed because of who I am.”

  “There is nothing that makes you less valuable than any one of them.”

  “But that’s so hard to believe when everything and everyone around you is telling you that you’re worthless!” replied Astrid desperately.

  Delta continued mixing something in a bowl and turned the conversation in a new direction.

  “What career are you planning to go into?”

  “I’m not supposed to be going into anything— besides cleaning up their messes,” Astrid said, exasperated with her situation. She sighed. “But I’m a scientist. I’ve been doing science experiments secretly. Actually, that’s how I found out about the melions.”

  “I see. Your sister...what does she do?”

  “Scientist. She’s a firstborn.”

  “Yet you don’t hate her?” Delta asked.

  “Of course not. She’s great,” said Astrid, expressing more surprise at the suggestion than she truly felt. That was an uncomfortable undercurrent that she’d often quashed down. She refused to let jealousy have a permanent foothold in her heart, but sometimes she couldn’t keep it from surfacing.

  Delta smiled. “Well, that right there tells me you don’t have the same prejudice against those people as they do against you.”

  Astrid looked down. She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but in a way she did. She was angry with them for treating her and others like her so badly. They were wrong. They were oppressive. Yet she didn’t stand up to them to tell them that it was wrong. She was afraid. And she was ashamed of that.

  “What about you? Do you have any family?” Astrid asked.

  “Yes. Actually, here comes my daughter right now.”

  From a hallway on the other side of the large area came a girl of about fifteen. She had a thin face and thoughtful light brown eyes to go along with her curly brown hair. The girl approached and smiled at Astrid.

  “This is Alluvial,” said Delta.

  The girl waved.

  “Hi,” replied Astrid with a sincere smile.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” she replied quietly.

  Astrid grinned.

  Three days passed and the dreaded day arrived. Astrid had to address the Veleens and tell them about the melions. She worked all morning uselessly trying to come up with ideas on how to start the speech.

  Astrid looked up as she heard a small creaking noise. Delta was coming in. That meant it was time to leave.

  “Are you ready?” she asked.

  “Not really…” Astrid replied unsurely.

  “You’ll do fine,” Delta said in a way that sounded like a command. There was no room for argument. “Astrid, I have to warn you that Veleens generally don’t have a long attention span,” she hesitated, “and they can be very cruel.”

  She swallowed and replied, “What choice do I have? And...thank you for being so kind to me.”

  Delta nodded and smiled.

  Astrid stood awkwardly waiting for Delta to tell her what to do.

  Delta motioned with her head toward the door, “Well…”

  “Oh…” she whispered and then swam through the door back out into the sunshine.

  Delta followed.

  Alluvial stood in the doorway as they exited, flashing her bright smile. “Good day, Astrid. Good luck!”

  Astrid smiled. “Hope to see you soon.’

  With that Delta took the lead and Astrid followed. She attempted to steel herself. Truth be told, she had no idea what the day would bring. Her entire future was in a state of flux. Not even knowing what the evening would hold for her brought with it a kind of exhilaration and trepidation she had never known.

  The city was incredibly bustling. People pushed past her every time she tried to make an inch of headway. But somehow, Astrid kept up with Delta and finally made it to where the meeting would take place. She struggled, trying to look over all the moving heads and see the podium better.

  Delta grabbed her hand and pulled her through the swarming mass. When they got to the front Astrid took it all in. There was a wooden podium that stood about five feet above the crowd. On either side of it large screens glowed, comically mismatched with the worn wooden stand. She smirked. Hodge-podge, just like the rest of this city. They read, “The Commander Meeting will begin in one minute.”

  ​“Come on. You have to get up there.” Delta said, giving Astrid a small push.

  ​She turned back to the worn woman with a pleading gaze, “Please do this for me. I can’t.” Her stomach churned in dread. “You have to understand, I’m not a public speaker.”

  ​“This is not about being good speaker. It’s about the message. Now go.”

  ​Astrid grew pale as she swam up and took one of the two black chairs facing the crowd. The countdown was now at five seconds. Then a tinny piece of music played over a sound system as a merman came out onto the stage. His demeanor was self-righteous as he waved to the crowd dotingly. Surprisingly, he didn’t have the presence or authoritative posture she would have expected. The middle-aged man had white hair, and pomp etched into the lines of his face. I can’t believe this is the high commander.

  ​He sat down and, after grinning for a few minutes and waving to the adoring people, he finally turned to Astrid and handed her a mic patch. She took the small orange square and attached it to her arm with trembling fingers.

  ​The merman then turned to
the crowd and his voice pounded through the speakers.

  “Today our good Astrid has scheduled a meeting. Let us hear what she has to say, as is the custom in our ancient and orderly democracy!” Then he turned and motioned for her to begin.

  Astrid faced the crowd. She felt dizzy as silence surrounded her. How do I even start?

  She took a deep breath. “I...I have some information that is...very important to you all.” As she looked at the sea of faces, they started to blend together in an endless muddle.

  Then one face stood out to her. A young man. His cutting green eyes pierced hers, and his jaw was set intensely. Unruly black hair waved in the water. His expression was the epitome of defiance, and he looked maybe eighteen or nineteen. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his face. There was something about him that kept her staring. He felt powerful...magnetic.

  And he kept staring at her. His face unflinching. His gaze iron. She couldn’t read his expression.

  Rune? My Rune. But that was impossible.

  “Miss Astrid?” came the comatose voice of the high commander.

  She looked up and remembered where she was. She took a deep breath as she tried to recover her train of thought.

  “Umm...I have data...that,” she took a deep breath to calm herself, “that shows that the cadence of the melions are off and in less than six weeks the core will explode.”

  A silence hung in the air for several seconds. Astrid felt uncomfortable. It was a silence of disbelief, not panic.

  Finally a woman near the front shouted, “You’re crazy!”

  Agreement ran through the crowd.

  “But wait, I have the data right here!” she shouted with desperation.

  “I bet it’s falsified!” yelled someone else.

  “But…” She felt weak, losing any words she might’ve had left.

  Jeering began.

  Cries of, “Get her off the stage!” and, “Throw her in a mental cell!” rose into the water.

  No one believes me here. It’s just as bad as Akayta. Panic consumed her.

  She was used to being quiet— not because she couldn’t speak, but because that was what people expected of her. Now she was trying to speak up, but it felt like her voice was hitting a brick wall.