Ana thought about it for a while longer, hoping another option presented itself. When nothing new occurred to her, she scooted away from the cliff face and faced the waves now flowing over the rocks. Ana was going to have to watch the water and try to mark the tide. Knowing this was going to be both boring and tedious, she set about writing things down in the sand while she waited.
Ana had made a vow before leaving the island last time and then another in front of her parents when they greeted her in front of the detention center. The anger that had continued to grow on the trip back to the mainland had clouded her thinking and Ana later realized that announcing her intentions was not the best idea she had ever had. The final thing Jan had told her, the one which was an answer to the last question she had asked, had made Ana angrier the more she thought about it.
Ana had asked Jan what he knew about Premier Raven, especially as it related to the island. Jan had reluctantly responded with a wealth of information, including that the Premier was definitely aware of the island and what it was used for. He told Ana that the Premier had the final say in any and all government functions, expenses, and policies and was therefore aware of everything that occurred in Atlantica. Ana had been shocked, but not altogether surprised at this. She had met the Premier years ago on a visit to her father’s office, although she had not known the Premier’s identity at the time. Premier Raven had greeted Ana, then sat and spoke with her at length, asking questions and listening to each response carefully. Ana remembered the Premier as being extraordinarily nice, with a soft voice and gentle face. The Premier had sat with Ana for a long time, showing more interest in Ana’s life than her mother had. Ana’s father had watched quietly, a tight look on his face, but not daring to interrupt. Eventually, the Premier had told Ana good-bye, wishing Ana luck in whatever she chose to do, then disappeared into one of the offices with several other people. Ana’s father had hurried Ana down the hall and into another office, handing her a tab and telling her to stay put until he came back. Ana had been confused, not understanding why her father seemed so upset, but she obeyed his wishes and watched vids until he reclaimed her. It wasn’t until Ana had overheard her father relating the interview to her mother that she had learned the identity of the nice person who spoke with her. The idea that the person who had sat with Ana was also the same person condemning children to possible death had been a little hard for Ana to reconcile, but Ana had spent most of her teen years learning how to manipulate others and understood the motivating forces behind it. Jan’s revelation had shattered yet another one of Ana’s beliefs about how caring their government was and while she was becoming less shocked each time, it still hurt to think that the people entrusted with caring for the population were, in fact, abusing, and in some cases, killing them.
When Ana had stepped out of the building and seen her parents waiting, her anger at both her mother and father, at Premier Raven, and at the government in general had coalesced into a white-hot ball of fury and she had been unable to help herself, uttering the first thing that entered her mind. Her mother had backed away after the declaration, both hands flying to her mouth as her eyes opened wide. Her father, on the other hand, had grabbed Ana’s arm, furiously shushed her, and practically dragged her to the waiting transport. When Ana had started to speak, her father had slapped his free hand over her mouth, glaring at her with warning in his eyes. Ana had gotten the hint and nodded to show she understood. Climbing into the transport, she had settled back in the seat, placing the pack carefully on the floor. Jax had peeked her furry little head out, causing Ana’s mother to let out a bloodcurdling shriek. Her father slapped his hand over her mother’s mouth the same way he had done to Ana, shushing her mother as well.
Ana had turned away, fury still coursing through her veins, and stared at the blacked-out window. She had had a vague idea of where the dock was located, thanks to Jan, and it slowly occurred to her that even though she couldn’t see where they were going, the transport seemed to be heading away from the city center. Wondering what part of Flaga the family had been relocated to, Ana was surprised when the transport delivered them to the mono-train station. When they were ushered into a private car, with no windows in which to see the passing countryside, Ana finally realized the new home was not in Flaga, but in a different sector entirely.
Once settled, she had tried to talk, but her father held a finger to his lips. Subtly pointing to the overhead vents, he then pointed to his ears, then his mouth. Ana, who had been learning to communicate with Jax, understood what he was trying to tell her. She spent the rest of the trip answering questions her father asked but not offering anything up herself.
The journey had lasted almost a day. At some point, Ana had fallen asleep, waking several hours later with a stiff neck. When the mono-train ultimately started to slow, she had looked at her father and asked where they were. Her father, standing up, told Ana they still had a few hours to go but declined to answer the question. He led her off the train and into another waiting transport, her mother trailing behind. The transport passed through the checkpoint and entered the main thoroughfare, picking up speed as it moved away from the station. The transport windows were clear, so Ana was now able to see the countryside, gazing intently at a view that was very different from anything she had ever seen before. Her father explained that the sector their new home was in encompassed a much larger area than Flaga, allowing for future neighborhoods to be built as needed. The area they were now passing through was undeveloped but owned by the government and no trespassing was allowed. Ana watched the miles fly by, marveling at how green everything was. There were no palms to be seen, only firs and hardwoods. And flowers. Millions of flowers. She had never seen so many flowers in her life, a rainbow of colors and sizes. Ana saw dainty purple and yellow ones growing close to the ground, tall white ones that looked like lace, bright orange ones that resembled the pink lilies she had seen in Flaga, along with a host of others. There were no buildings or any other man-made structures, just the tall chain-link fencing topped with razor wire that bordered the entire roadway. The forests and meadows seemed endless, only disappearing when they met the horizon miles distant. Occasionally, they crossed a river or skirted a lake, but she saw no other signs of life, including human, for the entire trip.
After several hours, they entered another checkpoint, and Ana could see the developed area of the sector stretching into the distance. Her father told her their new home was located in Penncony, far north of Flaga. He warned Ana that the climate was quite different, so most of her clothing would no longer be suitable. Her mother chimed in that Ana was probably thrilled to be able to shop to her hearts content, buying herself an entire new wardrobe with no restrictions. Ana plastered a fake smile on her face and nodded non-committedly.
Ana was pleasantly surprised when the transport finally pulled in front of her new home, almost two hours away from the checkpoint. Her last home had been in the south-west sector of the city and the neighborhood, while wealthy, was densely populated. All the homes were similar, and each had had a small back yard with a pool that bordered on one of the many canals. The houses were so close she could touch one of them from her bedroom window, offering no privacy for anyone. This house, while still in the developed area, offered a larger plot of land with trees, flowers, and even a lawn. It faced a large bay, although a seawall with a tall fence separated the pavement from the water. The house was fenced on all sides, with a gate that slid open as the transport approached.
Ana was most pleased with the large yard the property offered. During the long ride from the Flaga, Ana had begun planning how to accomplish the two goals she had set for herself. She needed a place to start an exercise regimen that taught her new skills, isolated and away from prying eyes. The government did not allow its citizens to carry weapons of any sort, and sports such as boxing and karate had been outlawed. Ana knew that there was a large underground scene where fights were held and she assumed weapons could also be bought at these place
s, but she didn’t feel secure enough to test the hypothesis, especially in a brand-new sector.
Instead, Ana had thought about what the government allowed. Track and field, tennis, and other pursuits were popular, but any contact sports were strictly forbidden. She knew that the government allowed Tai Chi and yoga, feeling that the meditative quality of those two disciplines helped the citizens stay focused and calm. Some moves had been outlawed, but overall, classes were still allowed and even encouraged. Ana had decided to take up gymnastics again, as well as enroll in a Tai Chi class. The yard would allow the room to practice without having a teacher watch every move and the extensive fencing gave the house privacy, allowing her to practice and modify a routine at her leisure.
She came out of her thoughts and checked the water line. It seemed to have receded a bit, raising her hopes that they had arrived at mid-tide. Ana decided to wait a little longer. If the water level rose, she would rest here until tomorrow, then leave when it was at its lowest. But if it continued to recede, she would leave today, trusting the rocks would be dry enough for her to be able to balance and move safely. Returning to the notes in the sand, Ana contemplated what had been written so far, crossing out several lines and smoothing them over.
Ana had done her best to settle into her new home, spending time learning her way around while shopping for clothing more suitable for the region. She started attending school a week after arriving but was unable to find any satisfaction in the activities she had once participated in. The constant gossiping and the emphasis on material items with no clear purpose other than to obtain status now left her wanting to scream and she often bit her cheek hard enough to draw blood to keep from saying something that would mark her as an outsider. Ana had to watch everything she said, afraid of either slipping and revealing what had happened to her or of insulting the very people she sought out. When asked where about her prior home, Ana had replied with the truth but hedged on the reasons for moving, only saying her father had gotten a promotion but going no further. She made friends, only because they might be useful in the future, and did her best to appear the spoiled, rich, and self-absorbed girl she had been in Flaga.. But overall, Ana was unhappy most of the time, only finding solace when she was with Jax or while planning her revenge.
There were things she was grateful for. The move allowed her to take more interest in school without being questioned about it, much to her professors’ delight. She developed a sudden interest in history, especially the Great War, as well as geography, often studying maps for long periods of time. She learned about the fracturing of the country, not realizing that prior to the Great War, Atlantica had been joined with Centra. Her prior education had taught her that Centra was where the war had been fought, although the reason for the war had only been hinted at. Ana had looked for the full reason, wondering why such a terrible war had been fought but then not mentioned in detail, but all she discovered was that the government claimed enemies had attempted to invade and take over the combined areas of Centra and Atlantica, leading to huge battles that killed millions and destroyed the land the battles had been fought on. Centra was now a wasteland, having been abandoned by Atlantica when the government had decided it was no longer worth fighting over. Ana now knew where the border between Centra and Atlantica was, surprised at how small Atlantica was when compared with Centra. Her professor, thrilled with her interest, had supplied Ana with digi-files and often spent time after class expanding on the day’s lessons. Ana had not really been too interested in Centra once she read about what happened during the war, especially as it seemed to be uninhabitable, but she listened attentively, hoping to find out something about the island and its history. Her mother had asked about the change and Ana had replied that the time away had forced her to realize an education was necessary if she was ever going to have a job that she enjoyed. Her mother had smiled at that, but her father had just gazed at Ana with what could only be interpreted as a knowing look.
The move also allowed Ana the freedom to start looking for the answers to her many questions, although she had to be very careful in how she went about finding them. She spent hours at the local research center, telling the assistants she was seeking information for a history project. They were helpful, but Ana was unable to find much more information than what was already being taught in school, leading her to believe the information being fed the population was either incomplete or misleading. She downloaded what she thought might be important and studied it often, hoping to find something that would help, but had so far been unable to locate anything useful.
Ana had also taken to making almost daily trips to the local street markets, questioning the older vendors once she had both befriended them and gained their trust. She had discovered that the older generation loved to discuss their personal history, especially with a young and receptive girl for an audience. Ana often arrived with fresh pastries and would sit with the vendors for hours, drinking coffee and asking questions. Before leaving, she would look to purchase something from them as a token of appreciation, earning smiles, hugs, and small gifts being included in the packages. Ana had been surprised to find she actually enjoyed the time spent in the market stalls and found she would miss all her newfound friends.
It was on one of these forays that she had been given the first of the two items now secreted inside the mattress back home. Ana wasn’t sure what it held but had been told it contained some of the information she was seeking. The person who had given Ana the item had sworn her to secrecy, and Ana had had to come up with a massive lie to justify the amount of credits she had spent in obtaining the item. She trusted the source, having had several conversations with them, but couldn’t help but worry that the credits had been spent in vain.
The second item had been discovered before the first, shortly after arriving in Penncony. Ana had been home for several weeks before she finally finished unpacking. All her belongings had been packed, labeled, and were waiting in her new bedroom when she arrived. She had not felt the need to hurry as she was too busy settling in and trying to figure out her next steps. It had been a rainy, cold day when Ana finally reached the last box, a medium sized one containing the last of her clothing. She had opened it and started lifting out the items it contained, sorting it as she went. Ana had done so with every other box, deciding that it was probably a good time to get rid of things she no longer wanted or needed. She had emptied most of the box when her hands grabbed something she didn’t recognize.
Carefully removing the item, Ana had turned it over in her hands, realizing it was a book. Brown leather with no markings on either the front or back, it had been tied closed with a faded red ribbon. She had no idea how it came to be in one of the boxes and was afraid to ask. Books were unheard of in Atlantica and owning one without the government’s knowledge or permission was a crime Looking around as if she was being watched, she shoved it under the mattress, knowing that even possession of the book was punishable by either a long stay at a labor camp or, depending on the contents, death. Pushing the book as far under the mattress as possible, Ana vowed to read it when she had more time, curiosity overcoming her fear of being found out.
Once again returning to the present, Ana checked the water line once more, noting the level was lower than before. Giving one last thought to the book and what it contained, she hoped both it and the other item were still hidden where they had been stashed. Standing up, Ana gazed at the notes once more, committed a few things to memory, then scuffed it all out with one foot.
“Jax!” she called, motioning to her companion who was busy sunning on a nearby rock. “Time to head out. Come and get some food!”
Ana cracked a few more coconuts, urging Jax to eat and drink until full. When they were done, she sent Jax over the cliff and told her companion to wait on the other side.
Taking off her shoes and socks, Ana placed them to the side, then removed the rolled bandages stored in the pack. She placed the shoes and socks inside it and set about binding t
he injured ankle, winding tight enough to be mildly uncomfortable while still allowing movement. It hadn’t been giving her too much trouble, but it often ached at the end of the day and Ana did not want to risk having it go out once she was on the rocks. She watched Jax climb the cliff, then waved when the little animal reached the top, again telling her companion to wait on the other side. Using both loops, Ana made sure the pack was secure, tightening them until it was almost painful. Approaching the cliff, she carefully placed her right foot on the first rock. Reaching out with her right hand, Ana did her best to grip the smooth surface.
Ana slowly slid sideways. The rocks were dry and warm, but the waves had washed them smooth, increasing the possibility of slipping. Sliding her left foot until she was standing straight, Ana took a deep breath and tried to relax her muscles, worried that if they were too tense, they might lock up or cramp. Leaning her forehead against the rocks, Ana spit into both hands, hoping the moisture would make it easier to hold onto the cliff’s face. She then repeated her actions, sliding the right foot over, reaching around with the right hand and gripping the cliff as hard as she could, then moving the left leg followed by the left arm.
Ana took her time, moving slowly and carefully. She resisted the urge to look up or down, concentrating only on the next step. Her muscles ached from the stress and both the shoulder and ankle were throbbing again, but she pushed that to the back of her mind. Her progress was excruciatingly slow, and Ana had no idea how long it would take to get around the cliff, even as she was slowly becoming more confident she would make it.
It took Ana several hours to round the cliff’s base. Her right foot slipped several times and her left one twice. She clung to the cliff until the panic had ebbed away, knowing there was no other choice but to go on. When she finally rounded the corner, Ana’s spirits lifted, allowing her to breathe a little easier as her muscles relaxed slightly. When she reached the sand, Ana jumped off and gave a little dance, wincing slightly at the pain it caused her ankle. Jax was waiting and jumped into Ana’s arms as soon as Ana leapt off the final rock.
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