We pass several doors and come to a large double set propped open to reveal an enormous open area with rows of tables. The place is filled with people. Just like home.
He stops abruptly, and I run into him. “Sorry,” I mumble.
He turns to me, gently taking my elbow. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s okay if you change your mind.”
“I’m okay.” I take a deep breath and look around. “It kind of reminds me of home.”
“But it’s not.” I shake my head, recognizing that fact. “Look, before we go in, I want to warn—”
“Will?” A shapely brunette who looks about six months pregnant walks up to us. “What are you doing down here? Who is this?” She touches his arm with a familiarity that makes jealousy course through me. Then shame. Who is she to him? His wife, judging by the baby bump? His girlfriend? Maybe they don’t have strict rules here regarding abstinence and boy-girl relations the way we do at the farm.
He jerks out from under her touch and looks at me, then back at her. “Evie, this is Mira.”
The people at the nearest table stop talking and stare at us. Like a wave it spreads, until I’m sure just about everyone is watching.
“The Second?”
“Yes.”
She curls her lip a little, as if smelling a dead animal rotted and bloated in the sun. “Why’d you bring her down here?”
My face grows hot, and I feel my shoulders stiffen.
“She wants to eat with us.”
“Why? She’s not one of us. She’s one of them. She needs to stay up there with her own kind.” She looks me up and down, taking in my choppy mouse-brown hair and wrinkled clothes. I can almost imagine she sees inside my head. Why did I think this was a good idea again?
Will shrugs. “She’s different.”
“So what?” She gets close to him, jabbing her finger in his chest. “You’re just going to bring her down here? Flaunt her in front of everyone?”
What is she talking about? I’m not a prize or anything.
Will pushes her finger away. A guilty look flashes across his face. “Stop it, Evie. Don’t make a scene. You know this is my job.”
“Yes, and you’re so good at it, too,” she sneers.
I push myself in front of him. “What’s your problem? We just came down here to eat.”
“Stay out of it, dead girl,” Evie snarls, leaning toward me.
I clench my fists. “Get out of my face.”
She shoots a sharp glance from Will to me. Her face is red, and her muscles tense as if she’s going to hit me. Bring it. Then, she seems to remember where she is and tosses her thick shiny hair over her shoulder and rests one hand on her protruding belly.
“You know what? You’re not worth it.” She smirks. “You’re just a job to him. At night, he comes home to—”
“Evie, please,” Will interrupts, his face going pale. “We’ll talk about this later.”
She huffs. “Fine. But I can’t believe you brought her down here.” She stalks out of the cafeteria.
After taking a deep breath, Will turns to me and touches my arm in apology. “I’m sorry. I should have known she’d be down here.”
“Is she your wife?” He shakes his head. “Girlfriend?”
“No, just… a friend.” Like Tanner was just my friend? “Look, just ignore her. It’s nothing personal, honest. After she found out she was pregnant and left her husband, she’s been looking for someone to help raise her kid.” Will guides me toward the long line that stretches up to the people serving food.
“So she picked you?”
He lifts his shoulders and drops them, casually, as if it doesn’t bother him. “I suppose that’s one way to put it. It doesn’t matter, though. None of it affects you.”
As we reach the end of the line, talk resumes around us.
“I’m nothing like those people, the Firsts, or anyone else for that matter.”
Will holds up his hands. “Don’t get mad at me. I agree with you. It’s just that I might be the only one who sees you that way.”
I nibble on my bottom lip and look down. “Maybe you were right. I shouldn’t have come.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I think it’s amazing you wanted to eat with us. I’ve never seen anything like it. The last time someone from up there came down here was to buy a few extra servants for the vice president’s mansion. It was awful, kind of like your lineup. They checked our teeth, asked us questions, had us do jumping jacks and pushups, and even looked at our grades in school.” He grimaces.
“That’s terrible.”
“No Second has ever come down to eat with us. Of course, they’re going to be shocked.”
“Well, what should we do?”
Will smiles, a quick, bold flash of white teeth. “I say we eat.” The line starts moving, and in a few minutes, we’re at the front.
Will hands me a tray with a chipped white bowl, some silverware, a cup, and a napkin. The cook slops a brownish-gray scoop of something into the bowl without even looking at me. Little multicolored chunks slowly rise to the surface.
“Is that supposed to be soup?” I ask, sloshing the brownish liquid around its bowl. My stomach rumbles, but I don’t know if I could even take a bite. We had better food at the farms. This stuff looks just awful.
He grins. “I warned you, remember? Only the finest cuisine here at the Smith.”
We find an empty table near the back, and Will smiles at a few people as we pass. I pick through my food. Maybe this was a mistake. I should never have come down here. In my mind, I keep seeing Evie’s hand on Will’s arm, her possessiveness, her obvious familiarity. What did she mean when she said that at night he comes home… to her? If he hadn’t interrupted her, what would she have said? Should I trust him? Maybe he’s telling the truth, that they’re nothing, and she’s only trying to get him to help look after her baby when it’s born. Will’s been straight with me so far, right? I look up at him and catch him watching me.
He takes my trembling hand in his across the table. “It’s okay, Mira. It’s all right.”
I chew on my bottom lip.
At the table next to us, conversation picks up as a plump man with sweat-slicked black hair sits down. “Finally finished the expansion to the President’s library,” he says as he spoons a bite of soup into his mouth. “Though I don’t see why they didn’t just add another level to the top. He didn’t have to take away our quarters.”
An older, thin white-haired man pats him on the back. “You know how it is. Why add to the top when they can take room away from us? Not like we need it, right?”
The other three men at the table grumble in agreement, then start gossiping about who’s working hard and what they’re doing, who’s pulled one over on his supervisor, and who’s getting a little extra on the side. Honestly, they’re worse than the older women at the farm, complaining like a bunch of chickens.
As we finish eating, a burly man, clearly agitated, stomps over to us. “Evie told me you brought her down here.” He growls at Will, pointing at me.
A hush falls over the cafeteria.
Will leans back and looks up at the man. “Nice to see you, too, Gregory.”
“I didn’t believe her. I said even you wouldn’t be that stupid.” His feet are spread wide apart, and his hands are in rock-hard fists at his sides.
“It’s not against the law. She can go wherever she wants.”
“I don’t care. She don’t belong here. What if he sent her? Ever think of that?” He points at the ceiling.
“Who?”
“The Firsts, the President. I don’t know. Does it matter?”
“Stop being an idiot. No one sent her. She wanted to come down here herself.” Once again, the voices around us quiet.
“Don’t we have any place that’s free of them?” He leans menacingly forward.
Will jumps to his feet. “Back off. Mira’s not one of them. She was ripped out of her home, away from her family and everything she knows, just to be some old windbag’s next attempt at immortality.” What’s he talking about? “Cut her some slack.”
“Just how close are you two?” Gregory’s beady eyes scrutinize me, taking me apart inch by inch. “She’s kind of scrawny, but some guys like them like that.” My eyes widen, and I take a sharp breath. Did he really just say that?
“Leave her alone,” Will growls, his eyes narrowing.
“So that’s how it is.” He looks around at the audience the conversation has drawn. “Providing for her every need, eh?” He wiggles his bushy eyebrows.
Anger smolders to life, but I squash it down. This is no place to get into an argument. I jump to my feet. If Will and the others think I’m just going to sit back for this, they’re the idiots.
“Mira,” Will says in a warning tone as I step forward. “He’s not worth it.”
Thanks, Will. Thanks for your help. You’re a champ.
He touches my arm, stopping me. He’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. I can’t do this here. For some reason I think my punishment for misbehaving here would be far worse than a metal box with only three holes in the bottom for air and weak shafts of light. I take a deep breath and look Gregory up and down. “No, you’re right.” I shake my head. “He’s not worth it.”
“Not worth it? You spoiled brat! I’ll show you…” Gregory reaches out to grab my shoulder, but Will whirls between us, blocks Gregory’s arm, snakes out his leg, and hooks Gregory’s, kicking his foot out from under him. The larger man crashes to the floor.
“Don’t touch her,” he snarls. Then Will piles his tray on top of mine, picks up both of them, takes me firmly by the elbow, and leads me to a large window where people collect them. “We should go back to your room.” Will flashes me a sardonic smile after depositing our trays.
I nod, feeling kind of numb. In my mind, I keep seeing Will drop Gregory to the ground. That’s not how a part-time gardener should act. Who would he need to use those moves on, the plants?
At the elevator, Will turns to me. “Mira, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know any of that would happen. Gregory, he’s just… he’s got a short fuse, that’s all.” He runs his hand over his short-cropped hair.
“It’s not your fault. Why do they hate me? I didn’t do anything to them.” My anger rapidly fades away to sadness and exhaustion.
“They don’t hate you, as a person. It’s because you’re Absolved. You’re above us all, and they’re afraid that they might slip up, say something, and get reported. You’re about as close to free as any of us could ever get.” His gaze flits away, and I get the feeling there’s something he’s not telling me.
“It doesn’t feel like freedom. I’m just as much a prisoner now as I’ve always been, maybe more.” I clench my fists at my sides.
“All it is,” Will explains as he takes me back to my room, “is a way to say you’re not like us anymore. But then again, you’re not like them either.” He shakes his head.
“That’s stupid. It’s not like I’m doing anything important. I’m not Socrates.”
He frowns and glances away from me. Is there something more he’s not telling me? The elevator slows to a stop, and the doors glide open. We walk out and down the long hall by my room. Will is wearing a pensive look, as if he’s trying to figure out something that doesn’t make sense.
“Unfortunately,” he says, finally breaking the silence, “that’s the way it is, and nothing you or I do will change how other people think and act.”
We pause at my door.
Bullfrog leans against the wall and glares at us over the top of his handheld screen. “Have a good dinner, princess?”
I scowl, and he grunts out a laugh. “Not such hot stuff as you thought you were, eh? I knew it. I just knew it. Gonna hide back in your room now? Well, you better hope your bodyguard is good enough to protect you now. I’m outta here.” He gets to his feet and stretches, as if enjoying this.
A momentary twinge of panic hits me, but I don’t let it show, rolling my eyes at him instead, as if I don’t care. “Yeah, right. You’re leaving?”
“You don’t have to sound so happy about it. Yeah, I got the orders an hour ago. I been promoted to the President’s own detail.” His chest puffs up.
I imagine he’ll let out a croak any minute. “That’s… wow. Congratulations.”
“Big pay raise, that’s for sure. No more grunt work for this soldier. I’ll be living the high life in the President’s ritzy mansions, babysitting his annoying little rug rats, drinking champagne. No more of this sitting outside doorways waiting for cowards to try something. Gotta go where the action is, that’s for sure.”
“Why are you still here, then?”
“Hadta wait ’til you got back.” He tucks his handheld in his pocket, gives us a mock salute, and says, “I’d like to say I’ll see ya later…” He sneers at me. “But we all know that ain’t gonna happen.”
After watching Bullfrog swagger down the hall, chuckling to himself, I look at Will. “What’s he talking about? That’s the second time he’s mentioned something like that.”
He grimaces. “I have no idea what he’s talking about. He’s an idiot. Just ignore him.”
Something cold roots itself in my stomach. “Will…”
Will tries to laugh it off. “Well, he’s not going to be drinking any champagne, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Will…”
“I’m sorry, Mira, but I really can’t stay to talk about this right now. We’ve had enough unpleasantness.” What does he mean unpleasantness? Is there something else? Something he’s not telling me? What is he hiding?
After checking my room, he holds the door open for me, but at the last second puts his hand on my arm to stop me as I pass him. “Oh, I almost forgot, Socrates wishes to meet with you.”
Looking up at him, I realize we’re standing very close, and the hairs on my arms stand up. Too close. Electricity buzzes along my nerves, and I can almost hear his heartbeat. “Is he mad at me?”
“I don’t think so, but this is pretty unusual. Firsts generally try not to get too attached to their Absolved, given the circumstances. Usually they don’t see them until the Release banquet.”
“What circumstances?” A chill races down my spine. “Why wouldn’t Socrates want to get attached to me?”
Will looks at me peculiarly, but says nothing.
“You’re scaring me. Is it really that bad?”
He grimaces. “I wish I could tell you, but I’m afraid I can’t. It’s one of the topics I’m not allowed to discuss without permission.”
“Why not?”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Mira.” He looks as though he’s fighting with himself, wanting to say more. He frowns. “Let me… let me think about this. I’ll talk to your First. He’ll be able to get it approved.”
“Is it really that much of a secret? I thought being Absolved is a good thing.”
“It is. It’s great for our country, our history, and the world. It’s just… complicated, that’s all.”
Something’s not right here. I grab his arm. “Will, please. Tell me.” Panic rises in my voice, but I can’t help it.
He shakes his head, shadows chasing the light from his eyes. “I can’t.” He takes my hands in his and gently squeezes. “I have to talk to Socrates anyway, so I’ll ask him about it.”
“What if he says no?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’ll think of something. I’ll let you know what he says, okay? I just… I can’t break the law like this. If I told you without permission, well,
that’s worse than your little jaunt outside today. I could be executed for treason.”
“No one will know, Will. I won’t tell anyone.”
His lips press into a firm line, and he squeezes my hands again, leans down, and whispers, “I’m sorry, Mira, but I can’t.”
A Bit of a Mess
Socrates
The com unit beeps, and a large pale man with thick white hair and a red, bulbous nose fills the screen.
“Socrates?” His voice comes across more nasally on screen than it usually does in person.
“Yes, Kendal.” Damn, why couldn’t I be sleeping or something? “What can I do for you?”
“About a month after the Release, the President would like to hold a luncheon at a local elementary school. Good PR, you know. He would appreciate it if you would give a short speech to the kids about what life was like back when you were a child the first time and then do a short question and answer session. Do you think you’ll have recovered adequately by then?”
Do I have much choice? Kendal speaks for the President, after all, and I would do well not to get on his bad side. But what will I talk about? The advent of the Internet? Learning to ride a bike? Getting married and having kids? I don’t remember much more than a snippet or two at best, and I’m sure elementary-aged children would love to hear about that boring nonsense. I’ll have them all down for a nap in five minutes. “I’ll be ready. It’s not a problem.”
“Great. President Davidson will be pleased. It’s always positive publicity to show the recently Released healthy and contributing to society. It’s good for morale. It’s also easier for the next generation to relate to Firsts when they’ve known them as children like themselves.” Could that smug bastard be any more self-satisfied? Jesus, I hate people like him.
“Of course, which is why I’m sure he has me speak at important events such as this.”
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