by Chaim, Moran
“People join them?”
“You don't believe what people do for guaranteed food and water.”
“But how do they live like that?”
“To keep themselves cool during the day they hide in underground holes. Sound familiar? They’re mainly active at night, digging to find underground water reservoirs. And as for food, they grow what they can and steal what they can’t. And of course share everything with their group.”
“There is still water underground?”
“Imagine this ruthless heat to the other extreme during a short monstrous winter. The rain eventually accumulates underground.”
Again I was silent.
“They would love to camp outside our city and use our water and food resources. But they need to get rid of us first.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I used to learn everything I could about them because I knew they would come for us one day. You have to be stupid to think they won't. Then I started watching them on the outside, counting the number of attacks and their open threats.”
I was still confused. Bahomi sensed that.
“We can't beat them unless we wake everyone up before they attack us.”
“They don’t look like a real army, like a real threat.”
“We have an informant on the security team. He keeps us up-to-date with reports of more invasion attempts and shots fired at the sentinels. We might be able stop the first wave of attacks, but after that they'll destroy our defense systems, and then there will be no one to protect us.”
“But what if we offered to help them?”
“The northern city offered them help long time ago. It didn't end well.”
“So we are just going to kill them all?”
“Just the ones that come for us. Then the rest will run away. For good.”
“And if they come back?”
“If they come back for a second try, there won't be a third.”
“It doesn't make sense. Why would Padma be so blind to this?
“She isn't. She thinks she's protecting everyone by acting natural. She thinks we can withstand the risk.”
“And you are willing to risk it all?”
“We’ve fought them year after year. But they’re small fights, like a mosquito that comes back every night and sucks more blood out of you. I’ve had enough of it.”
He paused for a moment, appearing to wonder if he should continue. I wasn’t convinced it was genuine. To me he sounded dangerous. Just because he had enough didn’t mean he should get others involved.
“Do you know what frightened me the most?” He asked, pausing again, “It's not the slaughter, the bloodshed, or the cruelty. Those things are no surprise to me because we’re animals and we fight to kill, sometimes winning and sometimes losing. What frightens me is the indifference. People just don't care. They don't believe that evil exists anymore because they don't see it in their little virtual fantasies. Just like you.”
Then I saw a twinkle on the other side of the slope, a tiny white flash. I tried to listen if there was anyone there because nothing twinkles in the desert for no reason. I started to sweat down my back. Maybe they had seen our binoculars flashing. We climbed back up the hill and headed back. The gravel made cracking sounds. If there was indeed someone close enough, they’d know where we were, so we began to walk faster to reach the top. Once we got over the ridge we’d be safe because no one without a cactus could escape the guns and the sentinels.
A moment before we reached the top I heard footsteps behind me. I didn't see anything at first, but after a moment I saw a metal body coming right at Bahomi. It was another man in a cactus suit. My stomach shrank, my knees bent, and my eyes opened wide. We ran like hell. It was a sprint to get to the safe zone and into the city. But if that man had a bona fide suit we were doomed.
Everything happened in less than a second. I continued running until I heard Bahomi scream. I looked back and saw the intruder knocking Bahomi's head on the ground ignoring me completely. I took advantage of this and ran back to him, knocking him off an unconscious Bahomi as he looked around for something. The man recovered and then lunged toward me, pushing me. I rolled downhill until I got stuck on a rock. I was a couple of feet from Bahomi. I think I heard a cracking sound in my ribs. Then came the man in the cactus and started to pull the cactus off me. He pulled hard but a beam of light started to light our surroundings. It was a sentinel approaching. He stopped and leaned close to me, holding me so I couldn’t move. I could hear him gasping; his breath stunk. The sentinel shut its light and continued the patrol. I used that split second to knee him and then throw him away from me. I kicked him again and he lost his balance and rolled down the hill. I stood up and ran after him until he stopped. The sentinel came back and scanned the hill. It started to approach us and I crouched and breathed through my nose to make the least possible noise I could make. Then I picked a stone and threw it away from us to divert the sentinel’s attention. The intruder managed to catch his breath and regain focus but he didn't move. I approached the man slowly while gripping the binoculars’ lash. I started swinging it like a slingshot. I got closer. He was lying on his belly with his head toward me. He was looking at me the whole time, and I could see the glare in his eyes through the cactus fibers. Then he leaned on his side and sent his hand to his belt beneath the cactus suit. I sprung and swung my binoculars directly to his hand. A metal clunk echoed through the desert. The pistol that he was drawing fell to the ground. I immediately jumped over and took it. I cocked it and pointed it at his head.
“Stop,” I said quietly.
My mouth was dry from heaving. If I shot him the sentinel would’ve detected the sound and hunted me down. The intruder looked around him. I guessed he was trying to figure out what to do. I hoped the gun wasn't locked but I couldn't tell without diverting my eyes.
“Remove your cactus,” I said.
He did nothing.
“Your camouflage suit.”
He continued to look at me silently.
“Undress or I'll blow your head off.”
I tried to be as serious as I could without shouting or using large movements, but I didn't really know what to do. The intruder started removing all the cactus parts. First the head, then the sleeves, and finally the shirt and pants. He looked thin and pale. His clothes were dirty with yellow desert dust and I guessed he was only a couple of years older than me by the thin beard he had.
“Sit on the ground,” I commanded.
He sat, and I stood in front of him to block the sentinel’s camera and scanners.
“Where did you get this suit from?”
“We make our own.”
I thought he would’ve had an Arabic accent, but he had a normal Israeli accent. My perception of the Purists was wrong already.
“Did you spy on us?”
“Did you spy on us?”
“Are you planning an attack?”
He started laughing a dry, flat laugh that sounded degrading. I got angrier. This is not the way to play when someone is pointing a gun to your head.
“Are you planning an attack?” He replied with a smirk.
“Don't play with me,” I said.
“Or what? You are going to shoot me?”
“I’ll let the sentinel chase you around first. That’ll be less pleasant.”
He stopped smiling.
“When is the attack?” I asked.
“Why do you think I will tell you, stupid boy?”
“Because if you want to return home, you will tell me.”
“You kill me and they change the day. I return and they change the day anyway.”
“But you can prevent other people's deaths.”
“It's not on me, or you. The decision has been made a long time ago. With me or without me, it doesn't make any difference.”
“You can never breach this place. Your leaders are sending people to their deaths.”
“Oh boy, they didn’t teach you a
nything inside. We’ve already won.”
“We can kill you all and stop it.”
“Yeah? So why haven’t you? You are stuck in your bunker, passive, and numb. We grow in numbers, train, build weapons. We will terminate you like stepping on an ant nest.”
A sound of a roaming sentinel approached. I got up and pointed the gun to the ground.
“Tell them they shouldn't try to do it.”
“Are you releasing me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Like you said. It won't change anything.”
He laughed again. I wanted to put a bullet in his head just to make him stop laughing at me all the time, but I couldn't let myself.
“Go!”
“You could've killed me but the inside made you weak.”
“Go!”
“Remember this boy, as long as people are addicted to technology and power, they will continue to destroy the world. Look around, we’ve already won.”
I aimed the gun at him and pointed at the hill. I could have killed him, but I don’t shoot prisoners. That's what I’d been taught, and it was still in me. Shanta would think I agreed to help them, but I couldn't take sides or bring him in alive for questioning.
I had to go back unnoticed, so I followed him with the pistol while he ran up the hill. He walked slowly and then stopped, and then turned around and shot me. He had another gun all along. I fired at his direction instinctively. The sentinel heard that for sure. I dropped to the ground. A moment after, I saw a flash of light behind me and then his body rolling down the hill until he laid still on the ground. The sentinel would be back for me. I couldn't do anything, and laid there for I don't know how long. I tried to stay conscious, letting the pain rush through me. I couldn't fight it, anyway.
The stars were looking at me; just a grain of dust. Shadows passed before my eyes, although I wasn't blacking out. It was Bahomi reaching to get me. I allowed myself to pass out.
Chapter 11
I woke up in a jail cell. I had bandages on my stomach, and it felt like somebody had put broken glass in there and sewn me back up. Other than that everything was intact. I finally remembered what had happened when the anesthetic wore off. How could I let the intruder go? Why didn't I frisk him? How did I let him shoot me? Have I forgotten everything they taught me in the army? I felt so stupid.
Regarding the cell situation, first I was scared but then I realized it at least meant I was alive and not assimilated. At least not yet. I didn’t know what was coming to me. After all, I did disobey Padma.
After calming down I had a more relevant thought: the invasion was real. The Purists would eventually come for us. The resistance was right and I blew them off.
I analyzed my every mistake, every miscalculation. I didn't take a gun, and I didn't cover the lens to avoid reflections. I got too far down the hill. I passed the gun circle. And how come no one is doing anything but the resistance? And why did I let Bahomi take me there in the first place?
Dr. Ashish came to examine me and the cell door buzzed open. He lifted the blanket and the bandage.
“The laser stitching looks good. No infection, just swelling.”
Then he pulled out a little sonogram device that looked like an old telephone—but way cooler—and pointed it at my wound.
“Tissues are already reconnecting. I think you'll survive this one.”
“Thanks. For everything”
“Just doing my job.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen with me?”
“You will live.”
“No, I mean this.” I pointed at the cell bars, yet he remained silent.
“It’s not good, Roy.”
He seemed worried and I wanted to change the subject.
“Have you found anything about my parents?”
“I have good news and bad news.”
“Give me the bad first.”
“I'm afraid they go together.”
“Ok.” I was ready for impact.
“I asked the guys over at the northern city. They reported that your parents did get defrosted but they vanished twenty years ago.”
“Twenty years ago?”
“Your parents were alive after defrosting. But no one has seen them since the Purist attack twenty years ago.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm afraid so. I don’t know what happened to them, but I do know they didn't come here.”
“Someone must have more details. Didn't they have security cameras?”
“They did.”
“So how can I see the video from that day?”
“It’s probably classified, and I don't have clearance.”
President Padma buzzed herself into my cell. I tried to sit straight for her but it hurt. She noticed.
“Stay as you are.”
“President Padma,” said Dr. Ashish.
I could see how removed she was. She wasn’t pleased to see me. She signaled Dr. Ashish to leave us, which he did with a little head tilt. She waited until he left.
“Do you know why I invited you on stage in front of everybody?”
“So I would feel part of this city,” I said with remorse.
“Yes, that’s also the reason I gave you that job. So you had everything you wanted but still endangered us.”
I think I was beyond the point of pulling the innocent defrosty card.
“The Purist, he said something about an invasion.”
“The invasion has been happening for fifty years now. Nothing has changed. We have always been attacked. It doesn't matter. Our systems have always kept us safe.”
“What happens if our systems fail?”
“It won't happen.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I have people who fix the systems, people who care about this place, and whom I can trust.”
Ouch.
“He said they already won.”
She giggled as if she had heard this before.
“Humans caused the crisis and the Purists just made it worse. They are human, after all. If we can’t learn anything about ourselves here, we will never change. The simulation is the only guarantee of change because it helps us identify the causes and effects of our ill nature.”
They blame us, we blame them. It's a never ending cycle.
“How long do I stay here?”
“Until the council decides what your punishment will be.”
She was about to leave when I stopped her.
“I need to know what happened to my parents.”
“I can’t help you anymore.”
“I need access to the videos of the Purist attack on the northern city twenty years ago.”
“Those are classified.”
“I need to know what happened, I might see something.”
“You just breached our security and almost got kidnapped. What makes you think I'm going to let you have access to classified information?”
“Because you just said you care about your children. And so did my parents.”
“Nice try, but you’re up for assimilation or exile. There’s no use searching for your parents anymore.”
She left, and I was more angry and confused than before. If she was aware of the threat, how could she be so certain about the city’s safety? How could she do nothing? I didn't expect her to reveal all the secret plans, but I’d been taught long ago that when someone tells you not to worry, and that everything is fine, that means everything is not just fine and you should start worrying. It wasn’t even a week ago for me when prime ministers, government members and generals used me to try to calm the nation with such messages. They told us how strong and united we were, and how much we're a highly sophisticated and highly trained nation with the best soldiers and the most advanced army technology. Guess what? I died on that assumption. And I didn’t want to die on it again.
Chapter 12
That night I awoke because I heard a loud click coming from the cell door.
The cell was pitch black, and no emergency lights were on.
“Hello?”
No one answered.
I stayed in bed for a moment. I was woozy and I didn’t know if I was allowed to stand up. Not that I could see where I was walking.
“Come with us,” a familiar voice whispered. It was Shanta.
The cell door hinges squeaked. I sat on my bed and reached out with my legs. A warm hand grabbed mine. My bare feet felt the stingy metal rod of the Cactus suit. I followed the silent swoosh of the Cactus in pitch black, knowing I was being lead to freedom outside. The only directions I got were in whispers: “Left, right, faster, watch the door.” I was totally blind yet fully aware at the same time. Only when we got to the service tunnel did Bahomi turn on a dimmed red flashlight so I could put on the Cactus. We climbed outside. The moon was thin and a layer of dust shrouded the stars.
“How did you do it?” I whispered.
“We have a man on the inside,” Bahomi said.
“We’re not just a bunch of teenagers playing resistance,” Shanta added.
We walked in silence, getting far from the city. After a few minutes we heard gunfire and saw the city’s laser guns fire. It almost felt normal. We kept going south for about thirty minutes until we reached a large cave opening. The air was hot and humid, and I briefly imagined a cold shower that would never happen. We went inside the cave, holding bright flashlights. The cave was as big as four buses standing next to each other. In some corners you could've seen boulders that had fallen from the cave’s ceiling. Bahomi pulled out two cushions and two dusty mattresses that were hidden behind one of the boulders. The air was cool and nice. We took off our Cactus suits and laid them on the ground.
“Wow,” I sighed. “This is awesome.”
“Better get used to it, you’re going to be here for awhile,” said Shanta.
“You two live out here?” I asked.
“Sometimes.” They looked at each other briefly.
“And the Purists haven’t found this place?”
“Not yet,” she said, sitting on one of the cushions. “We don’t start a fire or leave any remains when we come here.”