My Name Is Saved

by Jameka Brown 2012

  “This is the end,” he says. “No food, no nothing.”

  “We need something to break through this material,” I say looking around. By the looks of it, we’re going to need a power drill the size of the wilds of Garden Home.

  Dr. Nu looks around and then a light pops in his eyes. “There is one more level that is not covered in metal.” He pauses. “No one goes down there because of the poison.”

  I shake my head. “It is amazing you all have survived this long. There are leaves that grow in the dirt that filter the air making it breathable,” I say. “It’s underground no one will be harmed.”

  Dr. Nu walks around the side of the final step until we are completely under the stairs. He turns a barely noticeable nob and a hissing sounds before the door is opened completely. Dr. Nu jumps away. I look at his wide eyes and grab a hold of his hand. Together we descend the final two stairs.

  Inside the room along two sides of the wall imbedded in dirt are large gold dials and gauges. Some of them are similar to Garden Home’s electrical water system, but bigger in size. A wall with nothing but large chest size leaves stretch as far as the eye can see. I’m guessing this is how they keep the air circulating.

  I use my fingers and begin tearing at the dirt, one hand full at a time until my fingers hit a bulb. Slowly, for added affect I pull out the long circular green root that we call cani. I hand it to Dr. Nu; his eyes grow wide in surprise. Then I begin again and pull out a circular purple onion. Dr. Nu nearly falls to the floor with the vegetables in his hand. He opens his mouth and then closes it without uttering any sound. His face is so astonished that I can’t do anything but laugh.

  “Saved. Perfect name.” I smile and watch him greedily devour the food. “We must tell the Seers.” He looks at the wall like this is the last time we will see it and we hurry back up the stairs. Dr. Nu’s glow heightens a feeling of glee within me. The instructions of feed me, cannot be this easy, but this feeling, which is alien, is so delicious I want more of it. Is this happiness?

  * * *

  The Seer and an older man in similar robe like silk, wave us into the small room. Dr. Nu can barely contain his excitement as he closes the sliding door. He falls to their feet and explains to them what he has just eaten. He places the untouched onion in her hand.

  The woman looks up at me from her position on the floor. “This is from you child?” She asks.

  “No mam, it is from the Earth, in my home this is what we eat,” I say to her. “We also have animals that sacrifice their lives so we may survive.”

  “Meat? Real meat?” They all say in unison.

  “Yes.”

  Dr. Nu stands ups. “We must harvest the food from the walls, immediately.”

  “We’ll need tools, preferably power tools,” I say.

  “You have electricity?” Dr. Nu asks, practically drooling.

  His astonishment makes me laugh. “Yes, the waterfalls power us. I can show you how to build one if you want.” All of Garden Home was scientifically generated by the European nations a long time ago. Aside from the food in the walls and leaves at the mouth of the cave, everything else is man-made.

  The old man jumps up from the floor. “NO!” He shouts. “This is how it begins; this is how we eventually fall. New innovations, new discoveries, and then we can never stop. We become accustomed to easy without realizing what it is truly harming.” He drags closer and points a long finger in my face. “When you want more than you need, you will not succeed.” The man turns to Dr. Nu. “Our vessels are healthy, they want for nothing. This vegetation that you bring to us is an unnecessary distraction.” Now I am lost. Why would the Universe place itself in a body that requires these specific foods if it didn’t attend for the being to consume?

  “But Seer,” Dr. Nu begs. “The Universe has spoken. If it didn’t want us to consume this gift, it wouldn’t have been revealed it.” Exactly.

  “You have not reached the realm of the Universe yet,” the female seer says. “Therefore you are unable to decipher the true meaning of its actions. What will happen when it begins to run out? Fights will ensue and lives will be lost.” The woman raises her hand to the ceiling. “That is not the will of the Universe.”

  I walk to Dr. Nu and help him up. “Once we harvest the food, we close the holes, and it grows again,” I say. “The food never runs out.”

  “We appreciate the knowledge you have given us dear child. The Universe wishes us to wait.” The Seer turns her head to Dr. Nu. “That will be all.”

  Dr. Nu bows his head. I stare at them wondering what crazy world I walked into, but this is their home and I am the guest. I won’t change what they believe in, even if electricity is amazing, and food makes me warm and fuzzy. Hopefully they will begin to see that it is okay, and not an evil desire.

  “As you wish,” I say.

  Dr. Nu and I leave their company in companionable silence. The spread of hope from earlier has diminished a little. Maybe I put too much into Dr. Nu’s talk to really take notice of what is going on. They too have an interrupter made of flesh. Who’s to say their words are right? I certainly don’t see how, but I said I will learn. Then and only then will I decide if this is to be my home or not. There is something to be said about remaining docile. No good will come from it, and I truly believe that.

  Chapter 7

  Two hours later I sit down with Dr. Nu and his family to a meal of nature’s food. Dr. Nu and his wife Naveen dig right into the shredded carrots, onions, and sliced Cani. His daughter Kintin who is my age, and son Purity who is a year older than us, stare at the food. Kintin’s black hair looks like the tip of it has been dipped in some form of red dye. It swings over her face and masks the confusion I glimpsed. Purity looks at his sister and together they pick up a piece of Cani, a naturally spicy green that sends a wave of flavors in my mouth. They bite a small part, chew, and before I know it they’re shoveling the food down their mouths.

  I enjoy my carrots and onions and listen to their moans of pleasure. My stomach flutters with joy as I gauge the levels of excited chatter. I did this, for the first time, I put laughter in their voices and it isn’t at my expense. The feeling is so overwhelming that I put my food down and just smile.

  A hand lands on my shoulder, I look up into Kintin’s deep soft brown eyes. She smiles so wide I wonder if it’ll ever end. “You’re amazing, Saved. Thank you,” she says.

  My face pricks with heat. “I’m glad to help. But, seriously, it was all Dr. Nu,” I say pulling myself together, but what I can’t really grasp is the fact that she is still touching me.

  She removes her hand, the space feels so bare, and continues eating her food. “I’m sure it was. Dad’s a little crazy.”

  “Hey.” Dr. Nu smiles. “I can’t help it if I think the Seers are blind.”

  They all laugh. “Don’t speak ill of our spiritual leaders, Nu,” his wife Naveen says. “They have saved many lives with their guidance.”

  Dr. Nu winks at me. “You’re right, I’m sorry,” he says. “But I won’t apologize for having the opportunity to sit at the table with my family over a nice chewable, delicious meal. The Seers can put me in the ground for disobeying them if they want to, but they can’t change the fact that I’m the happiest man alive.”

  “You should have been a writer, Dad,” Purity says. “Then someone other than us can endure you’re sappiness.” Dr. Nu smirks and tangles his son’s hair. They laugh and remain eating, I can’t help but join in, and listen as Dr. Nu, and Naveen tell of stories of extravagant meals. They speak of savory pieces of animals of the sea. Sugar, that sweetens, made delectable deserts. Dr. Nu loves noodles. And Naveen loves chicken in a sauce called bourbon.

  Dr. Nu rubs his belly and pushes away from the table. “Alright friend and family, I have to at least get two hours of work in, before they report me.” Dr. Nu bends down and kisses Naveen. They stare into each other’s eyes for a moment. Then he heads to the door. “Love you guys, please stay out of trouble.”

/>   “Bye Dad,” they both say as he walks out. As soon as the door is closed, Naveen removes our plates and flips the table over until a board appears. Half of the board is brown and the other half shows a very beautiful picture of part of a woman’s face.

  Purity rushes to the cabinets and disappears inside. After a few seconds he pops out with a can the height of half of his arm, and sits down at the table.

  “What’s this?” I ask as they look at it intensely.

  “It’s a puzzle,” Naveen says. “I design them, and then we spend our days rebuilding it.”

  “The seers don’t allow us to do anything but meditate, sing, or air dance. Sometimes we don’t want to do that, so we stay in and hang out,” Purity says.

  “We can’t tell Dad, because he has a hard time keeping things to himself,” Kintin says.

  “I love him to death, but he’s too much of a sharer,” Naveen says smiling.

  “How does it work?” I ask them.

  No one looks at me like I’m mad, or out of touch. They all begin to try and explain it to me at the same time. After everyone laughs, Naveen tells me all I have to do is match the pieces with their edges until the picture is finished.

  Kintin takes ahold of my hand just as I begin to connect two pieces that might match. “Come on, we can do this later,” she says pulling me out of my chair. “I want to show you something.” Purity and Naveen never look up from the table as Kintin drags me out into the newly familiar world.

  “Where are we going?” I ask her. We race out of the sliding doors, and head up the main spiral stairs.

  “You’ll see. How long are you going to stay with us?” Kintin asks.

  “I’m not sure yet,” I say, not telling her that I don’t really have a place to go.

  “Are you a boy or a girl? Dad told me not to ask, but I want to know.”

  Again I avert my gaze from her probing eyes. Is she mocking me? No, I turn my head and see softness and wonder. “I’m both.”

  Kintin beams, takes my hand, and drags me through another sliding door. We enter and she crawls into a tunnel to reach the fire light on the other side. I look around while apprehension grips my chest. “Saved?” Kintin calls. I uncover my courage and crawl into the black hole. When I reach the end I stumble out.

  We are in a room with glass windows on the ceiling placed in circles. All along the walls are drawings of islands, boats, clothing, and more. The array of curved lines suggests each drawing was created by a different hand. Kintin laughs in the corner as I walk around in wonder.

  Blue skies, tall grass, water falls, animals swinging from trees, and more are depicted on the walls. “What is this?”

  “Some are visions people see while meditating or dreaming,” she says. “Many of the air testers return from the surface swearing they saw an island with the clearest sky.” Kintin walks in a circle, her eyes stay on me. “The seers say they are hallucinating from the poison, but I think they’re telling the truth.” Kintin takes my hands. “Will you take me there?”

  I nod my head without thinking. “If I come across an island, I’ll come back for you.” She squeals, jumps up and down, and then wraps her arms around my neck hugging me tight. She’s so soft and beautifully designed that my arms automatically enfold her. This I can get used to. Kintin draws her head back and our eyes lock. Her lips part. What I could do next I’ve only seen by spying.

  “Kintin?” A deep voice pulls us out of our thrall and saves me from showcasing my amateur skills. Kintin jerks away from me and smooth’s her clothes down.

  “Roark?” She says to the massive boy with sandy brown hair. He peddles over to her side. “Saved wanted to see the drawings of the island.” She laces her fingers into his. “He’s going to find it Roark, and he promised to take us there.” My stomach sinks. No, I promised to take her there. I move away from the boy’s glare, and from her masculine wishes. For a moment I thought she accepted me, but of course in the end I have to be either or.

  Roark glares at me. “Are you trying to take my fiancé from me?”

  I hold my hands up to the sides of my face in a show of innocence. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” My foot hits the opening to the wall. “I should be getting back now.” Something pushes me hard in the joint behind my knee, it buckles, and I fall onto my face.

  “Roark, leave him alone,” Kintin cries out just as oversized hands pull me to my feet by my shoulders.

  “It’s your first day so I’ll go easy on you,” Roark says. Another boy around his size comes into view laughing and egging his friend on. “I’m the leader around here. This is my turf.” He points to Kintin. “She’s my turf.” Roark turns around to smile at his friend and then throws a sloppy punch that I easily block. I knock his hand down and sock him in the kidney. He yelps and falls to the floor clutching his back. His friend runs towards me throwing his arms in a wild cycle, I push them out and execute a double open handed punch into his chest. He flies off his feet and lands on his back.

  Kintin is standing there ogling. I nod at her and then duck out of the opening. Mama made it mandatory for every living being in Garden Home to learn how to protect God’s world. Mama says the flesh wishes superiority and devious tendencies. She says we do not walk that path, but we must defend our home. According to Dr. Nu, my body is my home, so I must defend it. Too bad Roark and his friend didn’t take the time to get to know me.

  As I walk down the stairs back to the village. Purity leans on the wall thumping his hands to some form of beat.

  “Roark, bothering you?” He asks when I get near. His muscular shoulders and slim waist are tantalizing in his black see through nit top, and black fitted pants. “I saw him and his sidekick head up there.”

  “It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I say.

  Purity grins. “Dad sent me to give you a quick tour before we call it a night,” he turns around. Brown eyes consume me. “That’s if you’re not too tired.”

  “No.” I pause to look deeper. “After you.”

  He descends the stairs. “Thanks for showing us where to find the food. That was cool of you.” We walk out into the opening. “No one will probably tell you this, but those pills suck.” He touches my hand and we stop. “When I say thanks, I really mean it. Thank you.”

  “Sure.” I tremble. “I’m sorry you can’t use it.”

  Purity shrugs. “Old people eventually die. Besides, Dad’s so sly that we’ll be eating real food every day.” We walk out of the stairway and back into the metal hallways that are lit with fire on sticks. I eagerly follow him hoping I finally found a friend.

  * * *

  We acknowledge the people walking down the hallways. There are sliding doors every twenty feet. Purity explains that families receive housing based on their number size; the bigger families live in the agriculture zone. The one’s throughout the complex are for newlyweds, or singles.

  When we reach the end of the hall, Purity goes up a level. He holds the door open for me. “Thank you,” I say and walk into blackness. Not even my auditory senses can derive a vibration. Nothing seems to live on this level.

  Purity comes in behind me with a torch. He nudges my lower back. “Don’t worry, it only looks scary.” He snickers and walks down the hall. “We’re actually not supposed to be up here.” He pauses and looks at me. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “Not a word,” I say and move closer to him.

  “Cool,” he says and begins walking again. I can’t help but feel we’re on an adventure. I laugh a little, and then squash its manic capabilities. “When they were building this place they had every intention of developing it with all the technologies of the times, but when the purge hit they only had enough time to finalize the air system and the door locks.” Purity opens a door and flips a switch. A large room stretches further than I can see. “They built a work room with electrical power so that they could continue their science.” Purity points into a corner where half of a large black boat rests. “Before the Seers took over, the scienti
st began building a boat that would take all of us to an envisioned island.”

  We walk down the stairs. “Why did they stop?”

  “There was some kind of explosion that ended the life of the scientists.” Purity walks over to the contraption that rises to the sky, at its base are drawings on white paper. “But we have all of the schematics and blueprints to go ahead with the project.”

  “But the Seers don’t think it’s necessary?”

  Purity leans against the boat. His black hair falls over one of his eyes. “They’re eyes are too fearful to see the island.”

  I walk around the room and gaze at all of the half contraptions lying about on tables and the floor. There are power tools lying about, and plans to develop better medical facilities. There are things for something known as a car, clothing, and ideas to force the ground to grow food for them. Gadgets to clean the atmosphere were also in the works. Why would they halt all of this progress? Better yet, why do they listen to the ones that stop them? “What do the two of them possess that the lot of you need?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “All of this is outstanding, yet no one’s touched it because they ordered you not to. Why do you listen to them?”

  Purity ambles over. “Fifty five people died in that explosion. Zero have died from unnatural causes since then.” Purity places his hand on my arm. “I may not agree with them all the time, but they have seen the will of the Universe, they know what it wishes of us.” Purity steps away. “So we wait for the Universe to direct our next step, and when the instructions come we will need as many live bodies as possible.”

  Stones instead of feathers pollute my stomach. Somehow I am unable to wrap my head around this way of thinking. They believe in the Universe and that they are servants. Yet they follow the sight of two seers that tell them to sit still. No, no I don’t agree with this method. They should continue with their developments. I know in my gut it will save them.

  The walk back to the light is silent. There is so much going on inside of me that I don’t realize Purity has stopped until I run into him. His muscled fingers lace around my arms and steady me. I stare into his brown eyes, and I see kindness. “You okay?” He asks.