Fall: Cross of the past, key of the future (Numbered Book 4)

by Magus Tor

  Jonathon looked down at Aurelia's dress. “Still no good at climbing into pods wearing one of those, huh?” he asked, smiling at her.

  “Not really. I'm always afraid I'm going to show off things that I don't want to show off,” she admitted.

  He laughed. Putting his hands on her hips, he gently picked her up and lifted her into the pod, clambering in after her. “That solved the problem,” he said.

  She was glad to see him smiling, but she could see his nerves, tendons tight under his skin, his jaw set hard when he wasn't grinning at her. She wanted to tell him that everything was going to be all right, but she couldn't, because she didn't know if it would be. Locking her safety belt into place, she sat back and let the pod glide up, over the grass and towards the security gate, before grasping Jonathon's hand in her own. At least he could know that she was here for him.

  As Aurelia understood things, the election was a relatively simple process. The only ones who could vote were those on the Lunar High Council. In every City, including those on Earth, each block of residential buildings voted for a representative. These representatives were nearly always Workers on Earth, but in Lunar City they were only Elites. Workers in Lunar usually didn't hold residency and would be shipped back to Earth once their work contracts were finished, meaning they couldn't be representatives, though they were allowed to vote in these block elections. The representatives were then narrowed down, with each ten-block area holding another by-election to elect one of their final ten representatives onto the City council. On Lunar that meant a seat on the Lunar High Council if you were the lucky winner.

  The Lunar High Council was a gathering of around a hundred and fifty or so counsellors, all Elite and each one representing a ten-block area of Lunar City. With fifteen exceptions. Each of the five Earth Cities had its own council, ruled by three Elite counsellors, and these Elites were also given seats on the Lunar High Council. It was all very logical, Aurelia was sure, but she wondered how well the system worked in actuality.

  The interesting thing, which Nicholas had explained to her, was that—whilst most Lunar politics were conducted in a state of secrecy, manipulation, blackmail, and subterfuge—the Presidential election was the one time there was no hiding whom you supported. Each of the Presidential candidates would have his own table in the election hall, and when the time came, the council members cast their vote by the simple expedient of sitting down at the table of their chosen candidate. That way everyone could see who voted for whom. Theoretically, Nicholas had said, this was to avoid any kind of manipulation of the voting process, since obviously no one could vote twice or forge votes, and it also allowed the incumbent President to see which of the council members had supported him. What this generally meant was an appointment to the President's cabinet for those counsellors powerful and important enough who had supported the right candidate.

  Given that her pairing ceremony had taken all of about two minutes, Aurelia had been hoping that the election might be equally efficient. Her hopes had been dashed by Elza, though, who'd informed her that the election could take all day. Candidates were allowed to make speeches, and there were no time limits on these. The only limit was that the President had to be elected by one minute to midnight, so that the new day dawned with a new leader.

  Aurelia sighed. She just wanted this part over with, as she was sure everyone else did. If Jonathon lost the election, then, well, she didn't know what was going to happen. Watching Lunar City slide by her window, she wondered if Jonathon had thought about what he would do if he lost. Would that mean that everything was lost? She wanted to ask but was superstitious enough not to want to mention losing.

  “Almost there,” Nicholas said, and Aurelia had the feeling that he was trying to pierce the heavy blanket of silence that had descended over the pod.

  “Almost there,” echoed Jonathon, his face pale but set hard and determined.

  The election hall was in the very centre of Lunar, a white building standing alone. Unusually for the Empire, the hall had only one storey, and there were no windows, just a large arched doorway. Aurelia had seen the building before, but only in pictures. When it came into view, she was surprised at how small it seemed. Residential buildings towered up for a hundred or more floors, dwarfing the election hall. But whilst most buildings had smooth, unadorned facades, the hall had a line of columns across its front, supporting a portico. Aurelia swallowed, her throat dry from nerves, and felt the transport pod begin to sink.

  Once on the ground, Nicholas and Elza immediately exited; but as Jonathon was about to get out, Aurelia clung to his hand, wanting just one more moment alone with him. He turned and looked at her before breaking into a smile.

  “I love you,” she said, simply. It was the only thing that she could say, the only truth that she could tell him that might make him feel a little better.

  A small flush started on his cheekbones, and his smile widened into a grin. “I know,” he said. “And it helps more than you could ever imagine.”

  “Kiss me,” she said.

  Jonathon raised an eyebrow. “Is now really the time for that?”

  Aurelia laughed. “It's just that the next time you kiss me, you might be President, so I thought I'd like one more normal kiss, so I can compare the two. Who knows? Presidential kisses might be different.”

  He laughed at this, and she noted a little of the strain flow from his face. Then he leant in and kissed her softly, just for a moment, before helping her out of the transport pod.

  “All right,” he said authoritatively. “Remember, you're all with me. It's not uncommon for candidates to bring in those who have helped with their campaigns, and as far as anyone knows, that's exactly what Elza and Nicholas are. It is unusual for those helpers not to be Elite. But then, I've always been known to prize ability over class, so I think we're going to get away with it. Do try not to draw too much attention to yourselves, though.”

  Elza nodded at this, and Nicholas gave a cheeky grin. “Not too much attention?” he asked.

  Jonathon pushed out his lips as if in thought. “Well, not until I tell you that the time is right,” he said. “You have everything arranged?”

  Nicholas nodded. “All ready to go whenever we get the word.”

  Aurelia wondered what they were talking about. The two men had had plenty of time to plot the day before, and she was sure they were up to something. What, though, she didn't know. What she did know was that she was about to walk into the election hall as Jonathon's pair-mate, in public for the first time. Her stomach fluttered a little.

  Jonathon rubbed his hands together, almost as if he were cold, although the artificial climate under the Lunar dome didn't allow for cold. “Okay, we're all ready. Let's go.”

  Without saying anything more, without even waiting to see if they were following, he strode towards the election hall. Aurelia skipped a step to keep up with him, and as they neared the building, she was surprised at how she'd underestimated its size. It loomed over her, the columns so large that she wouldn't be able to stretch her arms even halfway around them. Large stone steps led up to the arched door, which was standing open. Aurelia noticed Elites drifting in and out as they walked up the stairs.

  “The doors will be closed at eleven sharp,” Jonathon said, noticing her interest in her surroundings. “And then technically no one is allowed in or out until a President has been elected.”

  “So we're to be held prisoner unless you can be persuasive enough to get elected and get us out,” said Aurelia. “Great.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Jonathon laughed.

  They were at the top of the stairs, under the shade of the portico, and the gaping door loomed over them. Jonathon paused, only for a millisecond, then marched in. Aurelia followed. Inside, there was a simple but large chamber. An elevated stage contained four long tables, which Aurelia assumed meant that there were four main candidates. She wondered why she'd never taken the chance to ask Jonathon about the competitio
n. Already there were a hundred or so people milling around the central area, and from what she could tell from their dress, all were Elite. A large man with a belly that stuck out over his belt approached Jonathon, clapping him on the back. Aurelia took a step backwards.

  “Look interested, but not like you're about to interfere,” hissed Elza in her ear.

  Aurelia rolled her eyes, but she stepped forward again, assuming what she hoped was an expression of polite interest. As far as she could tell, the man only wanted to assure Jonathon of his support—as long, of course, as there was still a chance of a cabinet seat. Jonathon told the man that all his cabinet seats were open and that he wasn't going to make hasty decisions until the election was over. This seemed to appease Big-belly, who once more clapped Jonathon on the back, then went off to mingle.

  Jonathon sighed, and Aurelia tried to wipe the polite smile off her aching face. But too soon, they were rapidly approached by someone else—a woman this time, tall, thin and angular, wearing a black shift that flowed to her ankles. Same drill, thought Aurelia. Once more, Jonathon was assured of support, and would there by any chance be an equal distribution of men and women in his cabinet?

  The next hour or so was a constant stream of people, all saying more or less the same thing: “I'll vote for you, but I'll need a cabinet seat.” Given that Jonathon's cabinet was limited to ten people, Aurelia wondered how these people thought he could give them all seats. Her interest waned, though she kept the polite smile. By this point, she feared it was going to become permanent, since her facial muscles seemed to be locked.

  What interested her more was the brief snatches of conversation that she overheard from others. The word “Earth” seemed to crop up an awful lot, along with Jonathon's name. It was obvious that rumours of his trip had already penetrated Lunar City, though whether they were believed or not was another matter. She couldn't tell from what she heard whether anyone had any substantial proof that Jonathon had even been on Earth, let alone tried to incite rebellion.

  At long last the pandering and politeness were brought to an end by the sound of a large, deep bell ringing. Aurelia turned just in time to see the huge entrance doors being slammed shut.

  “And so it begins,” whispered Nicholas, coming to stand next to her.

  As one, the crowd turned towards the stage, where an elderly man was standing behind a podium. He cleared his throat, and the chatter in the room gradually softened until he could make himself heard. With some ceremony, the man opened the election, expressed his appreciation for the last President, as well as grief at his passing. Aurelia started to zone out, more interested in looking at the reactions of other people than watching the speech itself.

  Everyone looked so...docile. Harmless. All had small smiles painted on, all were listening like well-behaved children, all looked like they were taking their responsibilities seriously. None of them seemed like the backstabbing snakes Aurelia knew they were. This was Lunar, after all. The vast majority of these people were out to grab what they could for themselves, and if they couldn't hold power, they were determined to be as close as possible to the one who could. She sighed. Her feet were already aching from standing. Looking around the room, she considered a world where these people didn't exist. Where there was no Elite. Where elections took place everywhere, and everyone had a voice in choosing their leader. She slipped her hand into Jonathon's. If anyone could do it, he could.

  The man on the stage seemed to be wrapping things up.

  “And so, you bear the heavy responsibility of choosing the next leader of our immense Empire. I urge you to make your decisions wisely,” he was saying.

  Then he mentioned a name Aurelia had never heard before, and was joined on stage by another man, who if anything was even older. As he began to speak, she realised that he was the first of the four candidates. He looked ancient, and Aurelia wondered if he stood any chance at all. Why on Earth would the Elite want to choose a President who looked like he'd barely make it a year into his term? Then they'd just have to go through this whole process again. But maybe that’s the point, she thought. She decided that if Jonathon didn't win, she hoped the old man would. That way at least they'd have another shot at the Presidency in the near future. She was trying to tune out the old man's droning voice, promising yet more advantages to the Elite should he become their leader, when she felt Elza tug on her sleeve.

  “Jonathon's next,” the woman said. “He told me to tell you to be ready to go on stage.”

  “What?!” Aurelia said, loudly enough that the man standing next to her turned and frowned.

  “I assume he wants to introduce you,” Elza whispered. “Just be ready, that's all.”

  Crap. That was all she needed. At least, with the rate the old man was going, she wouldn't need to worry about her own appearance for another couple of hours. His speech seemed endless. By the time he brought it to a close, even the polite Elite were shuffling their aching feet. But the applause was loud and vigorous, though Aurelia put that down to the fact that they were all so glad he'd finally shut up.

  And then it was Jonathon’s turn. He took the stage gracefully, and again Aurelia was amazed at the persona he projected. He drew every eye in the room to him. Although he spoke quietly, every word was audible. He held the crowd in his hand, and she knew that if he had been the last to speak, every voter in the room would have sat at his table—but the next two candidates might be enough to make the voters forget Jonathon's hold over them.

  She tried to listen carefully, but as soon as he began speaking, she knew that this was an artfully designed political speech. He was telling the room what they wanted to hear, but as far as she could tell he never lied, not once. It was cleverly done, and she saw what a powerful politician he could be. He spoke for ten minutes, and yet not once did he say anything of substance. But his words sounded important, sounded like promises, sounded like he was the perfect candidate for the job. She smiled a little to herself. Thank the Gods that he was on their side. If he hadn't been, then he would have been an unbeatable opponent.

  The crowd loved him. Unlike the previous candidate, Jonathon was constantly interrupted by storms of applause and cheers. He waited quietly and patiently for the room to quieten down before he continued. And then came the loudest cheer of them all.

  “Get up there!” Elza hissed to Aurelia.

  Huh? She'd been so busy watching everyone else that she'd totally missed her introduction. She hurried towards the stage, praying she wouldn’t trip in her heeled shoes. A kindly looking man escorted her to the stairs, and she was standing by Jonathon's side before she'd even had a chance to think about what she was doing. Thankfully, the only thing she was expected to do was to smile as the audience cheered her, or more accurately cheered Jonathon for being the proud new pair-mate who just had to introduce his bride. For a face-aching minute she stood, aware of the eyes on her, aware that the next time she was seen in public, there was more of a chance of things being thrown at her than cheers. And then it was over.

  “Went well,” Nicholas said calmly as she and Jonathon descended from the stage.

  Already the old man was introducing the next candidate. A woman this time, and one who apparently liked the sound of her own voice, since she went on and on and on.

  “Come on,” said Jonathon. “Let's get out of here.”

  “I thought we couldn't leave,” said Aurelia.

  “We can't,” he explained, leading her through the crowd with Nicholas. He caught Elza's eye and nodded towards a door on the far wall. “But there are rooms set aside for the candidates. We can't vote, so there's little need to listen to all the speeches. At least we'll be able to sit down.”

  Behind the door was a corridor, and Jonathon opened a door to reveal a room complete with couches and chairs. He flung himself down on a couch and rubbed his eyes.

  “So far, so good,” he said. “At least, I think so.”

  Elza settled herself on a chair. “There are rumours flying,” she
said. “I don't want to worry you, but I've had a fair few people ask me if you were on Earth and, if so, what you were doing there.”

  “And?” asked Jonathon, sharply.

  “And I told them that you had gone to meet Aurelia's family,” Elza said. “It's an unusual thing to do, but some people seemed to buy it.”

  “Good thinking,” Jonathon said, closing his eyes again.

  Nicholas sat on the couch opposite Jonathon. “I want to ask you something,” he said.

  “Mmm?” Jonathon didn't open his eyes.

  “We're assuming, have always assumed, that you were going to win this election. I mean, the amount of support you had before we left Lunar indicated that there was little to worry about. But if these rumours going around are being believed, then, well...”

  “There's a chance I might not be elected,” Jonathon finished the sentence for him. “That has always been a possibility, and one that I've thought of.”

  “And what then?” Nicholas asked him.

  “Then we wait,” said Elza. “The second strongest candidate has always been the old man. He's a good choice, since the Elite hate committing themselves to making decisions. And given his age, there's a good chance that we'll have another election in a short time.”

  Just as Aurelia had suspected. Maybe she was getting better at this political game.

  “I have another proposal,” Nicholas said slowly.

  This time, Jonathon opened his eyes and sat up a little straighter. “What's that?”

  “That we do what we have to do anyway.”

  “You mean start a rebellion without becoming President first?” Elza said, incredulous.

  “Why not?” Nicholas shrugged. “You have the support of not only the Workers now but also the Military Class, so there seems little reason to wait. I understand that becoming President would appeal to your idea of legitimacy, but if worst comes to worst, then we have the power of the people.”

  Jonathon nodded, his face looking pained. “Yes,” he said. Then: “I hope it doesn't come to that.”