by Hannah Ross
"Hey, Nell," he said, doing his best to sound casual.
She straightened up and smiled, pushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
"Hi, Ben. You slept late today."
"Well, yes," he said, not at all ashamed. "Might as well do that while I can. Sleeping late doesn't often happen back home. There's too much to do, and the children make way too much noise right at the crack of dawn."
His expression of unmistakable fondness for his camp-mates was impossible for her to miss. "When do you have to go back?"
"One of these days, soon, I guess." He felt an inner pang of guilt knowing there were building projects Mac, Tom, and Enzo were counting on him to help with, and he already delayed his return again and again. Still, he attempted to reason with his own guilty conscience. It's not like I get away like this often. They can get along without me for a couple more days. He looked at Nell, smiled, and thrust his hands in the pockets of his well-worn jeans.
"You know, there's this place I've wanted to show you."
She threw an uncertain glance at the still-weedy patch of earth under her feet. "Is it far?"
Ben grinned. "Oh, don't worry. It's not like you're a slave here. You can take a break from work."
"I know I can. It's only that I wanted to get this out of the way."
"I'll help you later. Together, we'll finish this in no time. Come on, Nell." On impulse, Ben held out his hand and felt a delightful thrill of warmth and pleasure as she took it and they walked away together.
He led her to the river, to a spot where a large willow grew close to the water, its hanging branches forming a loose canopy under which Ben ducked, disappearing almost completely. "Come on in."
Nell followed and sat down next to him on a soft carpet of moss and fallen leaves. She looked around, pleased. "This is like a natural tent. Or maybe a tree house, except it's on the ground."
Ben nodded. "This is my favorite place around here. When I want to feel like nobody in the world can find me unless I want them to, I come here."
She nodded. "I can understand that."
She lay down and stretched out on the soft, dry, springy moss, feeling as though in a dream. "This is so different from how I grew up."
Ben shot her a curious look. "What do you mean?"
"All this freedom. The freedom to do what you want. To be what you want."
He grinned. "It doesn't really work that way. When we were kicked out here, we did what had to be done to survive, not whatever we fancied. Otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
"I can imagine. Well, no, I can't really. You know what I mean, though. But this feeling of…" She struggled to find the right words. "…of no longer having a watchful eye over everything you do… it's wonderful."
Ben nodded. "Yes, it is. It is for me, anyway. But then, I grew up in an orphanage until the age of twelve. It wasn't exactly a picnic. If we overslept, we had to go without breakfast, no excuses. And if we happened to be saucy to a teacher, we were left without supper. Things must have been different for you."
"Yes," Nell said, sitting up and hugging her knees. "I had quite a… a privileged childhood, you could say."
"Your folks are well-off?"
She nodded. "Yes." After a few second's hesitation she added, "Actually, you could say they're rich."
"But you weren't happy growing up?"
"It wasn't all bad. But so many times I felt like… like a round peg trying to fit into a square hole, and feeling guilty because it never worked. That is, until I didn't want to fit in anymore."
For a minute or so, Ben pondered this in silence. "Are you happier here?" he finally asked.
She didn't immediately answer, and Ben could tell she was thinking about it. "Yes. I've only been here a little while, that's true, but it's been like a breath of fresh air. A whole new world."
"Would you like to visit our camp?" Ben feigned nonchalance, although his heart quickened. "I mean, it's not like it's anything special, but I thought you might like to see it. The place. And the people." He realized he was rambling and blushed over his awkwardness.
A dimple appeared in Nell's cheek as she smiled. "I'd love to see your camp. Your mom told me all about it. Is it far?"
"A long days' trek. But it's a pleasant journey this time of year."
Nell frowned. "Would your parents mind very much if I get away for a while and leave them without any help around here? It seems a tad ungrateful after all they've done for me."
"I'm sure they won't mind. I'll tell you what. We can tackle the jobs that need to be done here for the next day or two and do as much as possible before we head away. What do you say?" He held his breath.
She smiled again. "Sure, Ben. That sounds great."
* * *
After making their way back to the farmhouse they found Rebecca absorbed in a fresh newspaper Daniel brought back from Resurrection Town. When she heard their footsteps she looked up, startled, with an odd expression on her face, as if she forgot she wasn't alone there.
"What's up, Mom?" Ben asked. Calling her Mom didn't feel right at first, but when he said it for the first time, tentatively, a few weeks after they were reunited, he saw her face light up with a tearful glow and determined to make more of an effort. Now it felt somewhat easier on his tongue, though it still didn't come naturally.
Wordlessly, Rebecca indicated the large bold-lettered headline emblazoned across the newspaper page, and Ben read the text below it.
The second anniversary of Professor Jonathan Keller's death has been marked by wide recognition of his achievements in academic circles. Professor Keller, most famous for his controversial anti-aging formula commonly known as NOAGE... "Ah, it's about the old scientist you told me about."
Rebecca nodded. "I can hardly believe it's already been two years."
"Did you actually know Professor Keller?"
Rebecca looked surprised that Nell's interest went beyond idle curiosity. "I had that privilege, yes. I only got to know him a short time before his death, though. We had a… a mutual acquaintance, and Professor Keller granted me, ah, a few interviews."
"But this NOAGE formula of his. Everything people said about it. It can't all be true, can it? I mean, it isn't used anymore."
Rebecca gave her a curious look, asked, "How do you know?", and watched a nervous expression fill the girl's face.
"I mean… it's obvious. If it were real, it would be impossible to hide, and—"
"It was real. But Professor Keller chose to destroy it."
Ben never heard his mother speak so openly on this subject. "How come, Mom?"
"Because he was afraid it would fall into the wrong hands."
"You mean the White Tower?" Nell said. "And… Alexander Dahl?"
"They're one and the same, aren't they?" Ben asked.
Nell's expression changed from nervous to obstinate. "They don't have to be, if Dahl loses the elections."
"You think about these things quite a lot for a girl your age," Rebecca said.
A blush filled Nell's cheeks. "Well, this is something that would affect us all, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose. Though here, beyond the Boundary, we don't see much of the government, even with the new would-be reforms."
"It matters even less for people like us," Ben added. "So far, no matter who sits in that chair up at the White Tower, we have no citizenship, no rights, and no privileges, but no duties either. So Mom, you didn't really know Keller that well, then?"
"I wish I could have known him better." Rebecca's head shook. "He was the most fascinating man I've ever met. He sacrificed everything – success, fame, career, his very life – for the good of humankind. And he didn't even see it that way. He simply did what had to be done."
Ben gave her a wry smile. "Don't let Dad hear you go on about this. He might get jealous."
"Don't be ridiculous, Ben," Rebecca said with an embarrassed little laugh. She closed the newspaper, though, got up and walked away from the table. "Anyway, it'
s nearly lunchtime. What do you say to a quick cheese and onion pie? I can pop it in the oven in fifteen minutes."
"That sounds great," Nell said. Ben nodded assent.
While lunch was being cooked, Ben and Nell walked out to the garden and resumed weeding the vegetable patch. After five minutes or so, Ben glanced up and saw Nell staring into space, seemingly lost in her thoughts, a muddy clump of uprooted weeds in her hand.
"Nell?"
She spun around and gave him a slightly guilty smile as she threw the weeds aside. "Yes?"
"Um… I realize we haven't known each other very long," he said, his color rising, "and I don't expect you to bare all your secrets to me at once. But I do want to know all about you. Someday. Will that ever happen?"
She met his eyes for a moment before looking down, blushing as well. "Yes. It will. I promise you, Ben."
18
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Thursday, April 10
Jordan glanced at his watch and realized he spent the past half hour hunched over a single sheet of paper, reading and rereading the words, but not really taking them in. Sitting like this is useless. His mind swirled with half-formed suggestions, ideas, and resolutions. He just decided to get up and make himself a sandwich when his wife knocked on the door.
"Can I come in?" she asked, but as the door was ajar, the knock and question were pretty much perfunctory. Allie opened the door a little wider and edged inside – no trivial feat, as she was now around the middle of her pregnancy.
Jordan used the room as a home office, but this was only temporary. It was the second of two bedrooms in their little apartment, and would soon be converted to the baby's room.
"Are you very busy, honey? I made some chicken noodle soup for dinner. Maybe you should take a break. You've been sitting here an awfully long time."
Grateful for the interruption, he said, "Sounds good" as he stretched and yawned. "I've been meaning to have a sandwich, but soup is much better."
"What have you been up to, anyway?" Always curious, Allie nodded at the page he was studying. "There hasn't been any bad news, I hope?"
"No, no. On the contrary. I have a job offer."
"A job offer!" Surprised, Allie sat down on the chair next to him. The space was so cramped their knees touched. "I had no idea you were looking for a job."
"I wasn't. My college roommate, Glenn Marshall… Remember him from our wedding? He's been put in charge of a new department in Environmental Improvement. It's called Environmental Restoration. He's recruiting people, and he thought of me."
"That's very nice of him."
Jordan slid the paper he was reading toward her. She picked it up and read, nodding, until she reached the terms and salary clause and her eyes widened.
"Jordan, that's incredible! Wow! Glenn must have done really well, to be put in charge of such a department at his age. He's what? Twenty-nine, like you?"
"Yes. Glenn's always been ambitious. And clever."
"How nice of him to think of you," Allie said again in a completely different tone that betrayed how impressed and awed she was at the offer. "So when do you start?"
"I haven't given an answer yet."
"What are you waiting for? Go ahead and call Glenn." She glanced at her watch. "It's only eight-thirty."
Jordan shook his head. "It isn't that. It's that I don't really know what to say."
"What do you mean, you don't know? You say thank you very much, Glenn, and see you on Monday morning."
"But I like it at the Forest Dale Reconstruction program. And we've only just started. Forest Dale is a tiny area of natural woods and animals, probably the only one left within the Boundary. By some miracle, it's been overlooked by the construction industry. Probably because it's extremely steep and rocky and is out of the way of the major Islands. You know how much public pressure it took to get the government grant to make the whole area a nature reserve. And I'm in charge of the project."
Allie wrinkled her nose. "But they're paying you a pittance! And that forest manager cabin where you're supposed to spend a month in the summer? Don't expect me to join you there, not with this baby on the way."
"It isn't just that, sweetheart. Environmental Improvement is supposed to be a government organization, but everyone knows it's actually funded by private donations from the Van Wullens. You must realize that means they're pulling the strings and it can potentially lead to unethical—"
"You're placing such petty considerations above our family?" Allie's eyes filled with tears. "Look at this apartment, Jordan. It's like the one you grew up in, cramped and stuffy. The way things are, we're going to slave away for the next twenty years to pay it off!" She gestured at the letter again. "With this salary we can easily upgrade to an airy three-bedroom place in a more expensive district. I'll bet you anything Glenn Marshall doesn't live in a crummy two-bedroom apartment. You have to think about the family." She placed a hand over her belly for emphasis.
"Alright, alright," Jordan said, beaten into nonresistance. "I'll call Glenn and tell him I'm taking the job."
19
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Friday, April 11
"Don't you kind of feel sorry our vacation is coming to an end?" Tony asked.
Kate gave him a dreamy smile. "You know I do. I always feel sorry to leave this place. Moving out here was the best thing Mom and Dad could have done. In fact, I've been thinking we should quit postponing this and just jump in head first and do the same."
His forehead furrowed. "Well… I don't know. Not yet, I think. Maybe once our city jobs loosen their hold on us a bit."
Kate laughed. "There's no need to look all worried. It's not like I'm forcing you into anything, you know. There's plenty of time to decide."
He nodded. "Alright, then. But come on. Let's go for a stroll. We better enjoy this while we can."
It was a lovely afternoon. Tony picked up his camera and, hand in hand, they made their way to the small orchard where the apple and cherry trees were already in full bloom. The slanted golden rays of the sun shone through the pinkish-white treetops.
"Have you seen Ben and Nell?"
"Not since breakfast," Tony said with a smirk. "I imagine they've been keeping busy."
"It's so sweet, isn't it? It's obvious Ben is falling head over heels for her."
"Poor Ben. I know you're going to tease him to death at dinner. Come on, Kate. Let me take a snapshot of you near that apple tree, the light is so good."
"This one?"
"Yes, only turn a little to the left… A bit more."
"Like this, Mr. Photographer?"
"Yes. Now, tilt your head upward a little."
Rolling her eyes, Kate complied, and froze in surprise. Her gaze was arrested by a glint of metal among the branches and leaves. There, at the end of one of the thinnest branches, a diamond ring sparkled in the rays of the setting sun.
Astonished, Kate looked at Tony. Her question remained unuttered as she saw him go down awkwardly on one knee.
"I… For the past few weeks… months, really, I've wanted to… I mean to say, Kate…" He got up rather clumsily, took hold of the ring, dropped it, and picked it up again, looking more and more self-conscious with every passing moment.
Kate laughed and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Tony," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes. Yes! Of course I'll marry you!"
The two soon made their way back inside. Kate couldn't wait to tell her parents the exciting news, upon hearing which Rebecca squealed with delight like a schoolgirl.
"Oh, Kate, darling! This is perfectly wonderful! Such a surprise for us all! Not that we hadn't been thinking… that is to say, hoping, as we really like Tony very much."
Rebecca stopped the verbal overflow to hug first her daughter, then Tony. While Tony, red-faced and smiling, was shaking hands with Daniel, Ben and Nell walked in.
"There you are! You're missing out on all the action. Guess what? Kate and Tony are going to be married. Nell, d
ear, come and see Kate's ring."
"Congratulations!" Ben grinned, clapped Tony on the shoulder, and kissed his sister's cheek.
Kate, smiling, held up her hand for everyone to see the square, perfectly cut diamond.
"Isn't it lovely?" Rebecca asked, all raptures.
The diamond, indeed, was exquisite. It wasn't only bigger than any diamond Kate had seen on the ring fingers of her married and engaged friends, it was remarkably clear and of the most expensive cut. She had been a bridesmaid enough times to be a reasonable judge of that. The ring must have been very expensive. Tony splurged. Most likely took a loan or an advance at work to buy it. As flattering as the thought was, it was also a little disconcerting, as she knew his salary wasn't large.
"It's gorgeous, Kate," Nell said, admiring the ring.
Dinner that night had all the air of a grand celebration. Daniel uncorked several bottles of wine, and they all drank toasts to Kate and Tony and their future together.
"Now we're going to have the best fun in the world planning the wedding," Rebecca said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "We'll make a trip into the city and choose the dress, the banquet hall, the cake—"
"Hold your horses, Mom. Tony and I haven't fixed on a date yet. And besides, what I have in mind isn't anything grand. Weddings are expensive, and there's really no need—"
Rebecca's raised hand stopped her. "Now you listen here, young lady. I only have one daughter, and she isn't going to have a shabby wedding if I can help it. I'm sure your father will agree."
"As a matter of fact, I'm thinking more about where you and Tony are going to live," Daniel said. "With all due respect, that tiny apartment of yours is no fit place to raise a family."
"Dad! Nobody's starting a family just yet! It's just the two of us for now and—"
"You never know how soon things might happen, dear."
"Stop that, Daniel," his wife said. "You'll be giving them cold feet."
"Who, me? I'm not the one who's pushing for an extravagant wedding. Sure, we can afford it if we dig really deep into our pockets, but come on. Aren't there some better uses for that money? Improving their housing situation, for example."