I move out of the way as the others walk up to the counter. I hear them greet Mrs. Baird as Miss Meghan. I smile. Mrs. Baird seems to know and care about everyone around here. Cam and I head toward the tamale truck. I’m not worried about missing out on the tamales because Mrs. Conpaz always saves us a dozen or two behind the counter. She knows we’re pretty much on our own, so she always makes sure we have tamales and fresh tortillas. That way we don’t get in the middle of whatever brawl that always seems to take place when the trucks come up here. She’s yet another friend amidst this bleak life we’ve carved out here.
6
Show of Force
My mind keeps replaying Mrs. Baird’s words over and over. I’m not sure what she means by me making a difference with what I know. I know through Kai that the Chinese aren’t our enemy, and I know that our government purposefully doesn’t fund the border prep schools as well as the other states.
But how is knowing that going to help anyone?
I shake my head. I don’t know what she means, but right now I have something else more important to think about. The test. Mrs. Baird confirmed I don’t have three months. I’m going to have to study even harder if I’m going to have any chance of passing. I wonder if Kai knows it’s coming up this soon. Probably not. I need to let him know as soon as I can. Although he has all the books and tutors during school breaks, Kai tends to freeze up during the actual tests. I’ve been helping him with relaxation techniques that Mom taught me.
We buy the tamales from Angel with the measly government creds we’re given and thank her for saving them for us. She slips Cam a package of Mexican hard candies and gives me another reading book in Spanish. I smile up at her. Angel is determined to make me fluent in Spanish. I’m excited to see this new book is a Spanish translation of a well-known science fiction novel. The other books she’s given me were romances. I’m glad Mom can’t read Spanish, or she might’ve forbidden me from reading them. They’re a bit racy, but a great way to learn Spanish. I smile to myself as I think of the stash of books hidden among our supplies in the lean-to. They camouflage the real commodities we’ve hidden underneath.
I hug Angel goodbye, and Cam and I make our way through the crowd. We head back down the road past the corn and potato fields, and my least favorite, the long stretches of pungent basil fields. I read the book out loud while Cam laughs at my awful pronunciation. I ignore him and keep trying. Being fluent in several languages will improve my chances of getting into the Academy. Another reason I’m grateful for Angel’s books.
We’re halfway home when the storm rolls in. It starts with thunder and a few flashes of lightning, but then actually pours rain mixed with hail. Cam and I start running toward the canyon path, the wind pushing against us. The path is now a muddy mess. Once we’re at the bottom of the canyon we’re somewhat protected from the wind and rain, but we’re beyond drenched.
Cam and I peel off our wet jackets and shoes before we crawl into the tent with Mom. This past year I was able to barter for some heavy-duty canvas, which Mom actually helped me install over our tent. We secured it with climbing ropes anchored into the rock floor. We should be safe from the storm.
I take my books to the back of the tent and leave Cam and Mom to play a game of cards. Mom looks tired, but she enjoys spending time with Cam when she can stay awake. I think I look too much like my dad because every time she looks at me, I see sorrow flit across her face. I don’t hate her for it; I know he hurt her badly when he left her alone with two kids.
I burrow down into my sleeping bag and review each book that Kai has given me. The wind whips our tent, and the rain falls loudly on the plastic. It’s the perfect background for reading. I study all the rest of the day, and well after Cam and Mom are asleep, only taking a break for a light dinner. I’m determined to pass this test.
I wake the next morning exhausted from staying up so late. Especially since it’s been two nights in a row. Four more days and nights to study, then Saturday night Cam and I can go meet up with Kai again. I’ll try to take the weekend off from the fields to study and recover so I’m rested.
Mom has a worse cough this morning, so I give her some of the new medicine. The moist air always seems to make her lungs worse. I make a mental note to ask Mrs. Mitchell if she’s heard when Dr. Tuttle is coming to our side of the river.
Cam grumps about having to get up so early as he rolls back over in his sleeping bag. I grin. He’s definitely not a morning person. I unzip our tent and step out from under the canvas roof. The sun is barely up, creating happy layers of colors at the eastern mouth of the canyon. People around us are slowly getting up and ready for the day. All the dark clouds from last night are gone with only patches of gray left behind.
Cam joins me and we start making our way through the tents to the trail. We eat cold tamales as we hike.
The rest of the week is just drizzly, so I make it through school, and we’re still able to work in the fields, although we get cold and muddy. I study best when it’s evening and I can spread out in the tent. Cam knows I need this study time, so he entertains Mom and leaves me to my reading and mumbling to myself.
Saturday night finally gets here and I’m so tired I almost can’t make the trip through the tunnels. Cam insists and nearly has to drag me along. I yawn and stumble, the darkness only making it worse. Cam hands me a stick of gum he’s been hoarding. Chewing helps me to stay awake. I need to be alert once we exit the tunnel.
We climb the ladder, again my stomach threatening to heave as I peek out at the Wall. The moon is waning, so it creates less light. Movement on the wall draws my attention to the right. North of us there’s a whole line of Chinese soldiers marching along the top of the Wall, flashlights shining. Crap. They don’t even care to hide themselves anymore.
I duck my head down, and motion to Cam to climb back down. Once we’re down, I quietly tell Cam what I saw.
“What’re they doing up there?”
I hate that he’s so much more awake and alert than I am right now. I shake my head, trying to clear out the fuzziness. “I don’t know. Maybe someone was caught near the Wall?” I rub my temples, willing my brain to work. “I just hope Kai is all right and that this doesn’t have anything to do with him or us.”
“Kai’s smart like me.” He gives me a big grin and pretends to push glasses up his nose. “But what’ll happen if they did discover our tunnel under the Wall?”
“Yeah, yeah. We all know you’re so stinking smart.” I ruffle his hair, just the way he hates me doing. “I don’t know what they’ll do. Maybe destroy the tunnel, or guard it to catch whoever comes out? Even if they haven’t discovered it, we can’t even make it to the Wall with all those guards watching.”
Cam steps away from me and climbs the ladder before I can do anything.
“Cam!” I grit my teeth and follow him, trying to be quiet.
Cam gets to the top and peeks out. I reach him and pull on his pant leg. He ignores me. After what feels like forever, he finally starts climbing down.
Once we’re back on the ground, I punch him on the shoulder. “You’re supposed to listen to me.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but I just had to see it for myself. Those soldiers aren’t normal soldiers, Anja. Those are the Chinese Unit 29824 soldiers. They only get sent out for major problems.”
I frown. Unit 29824 forces? As if their huge, scary, regular army wasn’t enough? “How do you know all that?”
“Kai told me stories about them and showed me pictures of their uniforms. He said the treaty forbids them to come to New China. They aren’t supposed to even be here. So, I really think we need to get out of here.”
We turn and run back down the tunnel. I’m wide awake now. We head home, my empty backpack reminding me that we didn’t get to see Kai. Now we don’t have any fresh supplies to bring back. Every step away from the tunnel also reminds me of the danger we witnessed on the Wall. What is the Unit doing here?
I know I won’t sleep well again
tonight. I’m worried for Kai. Was he discovered? Is he in trouble? I’m already stressed about the upcoming tests, now I’m a nervous wreck about what we witnessed tonight. I wonder if our government knows the Unit is so close to American soil. Or would our government even care?
I toss and turn most of the night, but finally drift off to sleep in the early morning hours.
The next day Cam works the fields for half a day, and I spend all day and night studying. I take a few breaks to run along the river, the exercise energizing me. I’m worried about Kai, but I know I can’t do anything for him right now. I check to make sure our supplies are still safe and dry in the lean-to, and then fall into my sleeping bag exhausted.
I don’t sleep well even as tired as my mind and body are. I’m up and out of the tent in the morning, dressed and breakfast made, before anyone else nearby is even stirring. I deal with my anxiety best with action. Nervous energy is coursing through me like static electricity right now. Even my aching joints don’t bother me at this moment.
I know in my head they won’t give us the test today, but I’m still nervous. They’ve got to give us some warning, right? I’ve prepared for so long and hard; I just want to get it over with. I wish I could do the physical portion today since I’m so hyped up.
7
Rand
After making Cam irritated at me with my nervous energy, I give him a hug and walk him over to the Mitchells. Cam will work alongside them in the fields while I’m in school. I feel better about leaving during the day since they keep an eye out for him.
“Good luck today, Anja. You know, if the test happens to be today.” Cam sticks his tongue out at me, knowing he’s just spiked my heart rate. “And make sure to say hi to Kai for me and find out what happened this weekend.” This last bit he says low, so only I can hear him.
“Thanks shorty. Now get to work.” He dodges away from me before I can ruffle his hair. I shake my head and turn to hike out of the canyon.
The other school age kids follow me up the western trail. With my nervous energy, I’m the first up the hill. Just as I start for the high bridge, I get bumped from behind. I catch my balance, my arms windmilling. I turn to cuss out the offender and find myself inches away from the clearest blue eyes and most amazing eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a guy. I step backwards to find those incredible eyes belong to a tanned, handsome, not-from-around-here cute guy. This must be the new guy Cam told me about.
For once I’m speechless.
“I heard you were pretty tough, but I’m not convinced. I could’ve been a bad guy attacking you for your lunch…or whatever you have in that ratty backpack.” He stares at me with those eyes. I can’t move. “Can you speak?”
Why do all the cute ones have to be such jerks?
Heat washed into my face. “I’m a bit distracted today.” I turn to leave but he grabs my arm.
“Wait a minute. I know I’m new here, but you should’ve at least heard of me. I’m Rand, and I’m going to be the next space station commander someday. Everyone in this stupid immigrant camp knows that.”
I yank my arm back. “Well, I don’t care who you are. Now leave me alone.” I head toward the makeshift bridge before he can stop me again, his edgy words echoing in my head.
Footsteps come from behind me as he tries to catch up. I sprint forward, passing most of the smaller kids. I reach the bridge and scoot over then head toward the far edge, on the broken side. This bridge is nothing more than a few rusty metal girders and plywood spanning across the width of the canal. Several yards of metal stretch across the span without any of its former platform intact. On the side I’m on, I have to walk along a metal piece six inches wide, without anything to hold onto, as the rail on this side has been gone for years. The other side at least has most of its handrail intact. That’s where the other kids cross. But I don’t want Mr. Eyelashes to follow me, so I pick my way across the narrow beam.
I look to my left to make sure the other kids are making it safely across. We haven’t had any accidents yet, but since I’m one of the oldest kids in camp, I feel responsible for them. They’re all scooting along, one hand firmly on their backpacks for balance, the other holding onto the railing just like I taught them. Good.
I’m almost to the other end of the bridge when I realize I didn’t see Rand with the other kids. I carefully peek over my shoulder and find him right behind me. Grinning like a psycho, walking along the beam without even using his arms out for balance. I roll my eyes and concentrate on making it to the other side without acting on my desire to push him and his attitude over the side.
I reach the end and storm off to the other side to help the smaller kids make it to safety. I ignore Rand. Once all the kids are safe, I turn and jog up the incline. The kids know where to go from here.
I tighten my backpack so it doesn’t flop around and put on speed and run as hard as I can. I love the burning in my muscles and lungs. From here it’s about three miles until we reach the round-about for our school truck.
Just as I have the gravel area in sight, I hear someone running behind me. Rand strides alongside me, grinning.
“I was an all-star in track.” He winks and pulls ahead of me.
Not wanting to lose to some stupid surfer kid from down south, I dig in and put all my power and speed into passing him. “I was all-star in track and captain of the rowing team,” I say as I sprint forward.
Even though I know I should save my energy in case we get tested today, I put my all into beating Rand. I can still hear him behind me, but I know this terrain better than he does, so I weave around the scrub brush and lava rocks while maintaining my lead.
I reach the gravel lot first and take a victory lap, cooling down from the run. Rand strides over to me. I keep walking around the circle, hoping the other kids will show up soon so I don’t have to talk to him again.
No such luck.
“Well I’ve got to admit, you’re pretty good. But I’ll still pulverize you in all the other tests they’re throwing at us this week.” He stops and stretches his well-muscled body. I try to look away, but his tight shirt leaves nothing to the imagination.
I stretch and touch my toes, feeling the burn in my legs. I look up at him. “Wait. How do you know they’re testing us this week?”
He smiles. “I have sources.”
“Yeah, well what else do your sources say?” It comes out grumpier than I meant, so I stand up and shake the cramps out of my muscles.
“I can’t reveal any more than I already have. Need to keep my competitive edge, you know.” He flexes his bicep, grinning at me.
I shrug, looking away. “It’ll be good to have some competition. There are very few students around here that can come close to my scores. In physical, written, or simulations.” I face him. “Why did you move up here from the southern camps, anyway? Seems there would be less competition down there since that smallpox outbreak wiped out so many people last year.”
A look of sadness flits across his face but quickly disappears. “I just figured I’d have a better chance of getting into the Academy up here, since this is closer to the new launch center. I’ve also heard the Earthlight Space Academy will have the best leadership classes.” He walks away and finishes stretching on the far side of the lot.
That sure didn’t answer my question. I think about pushing him further, but then I remind myself that I don’t care.
Soon the other kids start trickling into the lot. They’re all in pretty good shape from working in the fields. I go over to stand with the older Mitchell kids. Both girls. Their younger brother is back in the fields with Cam. Neither girl has the desire to go to the Academy, so they’re just doing the minimum to get through. I guess they’re content with working the fields. Since Mr. Mitchell has been in the area since before the Migration, they won’t have to work the mines when they turn eighteen. They can apprentice with him when that time comes.
We hear the truck long before we see the dust ball as it approaches us. I know sem
i-trucks are normally loud, but this one sounds like a train wreck. Looks like one too. I think it has had too many run-ins with cows on the road. Only the best for us border school kids.
After it stops and the dust settles, we all climb on and brace ourselves for the long ride to school. Since they didn’t send the newer truck for us, I know we aren’t going to the airport for flight lessons.
I watch as Rand is the last one to climb aboard. His previous self-satisfied grin has been replaced by shock. I smirk.
He steps over the other kids to come sit next to me. Great. Now I’m not smiling.
“You look a little confused.” I probably shouldn’t tease him yet, since I don’t know him that well, but I can’t help it. He is just so arrogant.
He grabs the rope in both hands as the truck lurches forward. “This is our ‘school bus’?”
I laugh, sitting cross-legged. “Yep. Sure is. Are you afraid of big trucks?”
“Not exactly, it’s just not what I was expecting. Don’t they have real school buses up here?”
The truck turns left and heads toward the prep school.
“No, they save those for the city kids. We border kids get whatever’s left over. Wish you were still down south?” I reach behind me and pull my water bottle from the side of my pack and take a drink, rinsing down some of the dust.
Rand’s face has gone white, blending in with his sun-bleached hair. I smile and lean over toward him. “Just hang on, you’ll be fine. Bob’s been our driver for years and hasn’t lost any kids. Yet.”
The rest of the trip is blissfully quiet. Just the sound of the truck rumbling down the road, and the wind whipping around us. Rand is apparently concentrating too hard on holding on and not losing his balance to come up with any sarcastic remarks for me.
Earthlight Space Academy Boxset Page 5