The Price of Life

by T. M. Nienaber

  Lucian smirked, he could read Kristopher’s face like a book and fully intended to take advantage of it. Instead of standing at the opposite side of the room he walked over to the chair closest to Kristopher and leaned back in it, swinging his feet on to the table, making sure to trap some paperwork under his heels. “I’ve made sure my contacts there know where to be when, and what I expect of them. I’ll be heading out there myself just to oversee things, make sure nothing goes wrong, make sure the network works before leaving it to function on its own.”

  “Alright.” Kristopher hadn’t expected him to comply so quickly. “And you just came here to tell me everything was set?”

  “Not hardly,” Lucian swept his feet off the desk pushing a stack of papers to the floor as he stood up, over Kristopher, eyes dark. “You’re planning to stage a murder and you’re trying to keep me uninformed. I don’t care how you intend to get your power and manipulate votes, but when my men are involved you better tell me everything.”

  “There was nothing I felt you needed to know.”

  “Really? What if something went wrong. What if someone actually did have a gun and started shooting. My men need to be prepared. What happens if they get killed. I’m not going to sacrifice my men to your production gone wrong. I need details, I need timelines, I need to be informed or my men do not get involved.”

  “Your men have to get involved, that was part of the deal.”

  “People die, Kristopher. Everyone knows that. It’s not my job to prevent death because of your stupidity. You don’t honestly expect everyone who voted for you to live forever.”

  “Of course not,” Kristopher said without thinking, realizing that was exactly what he thought.

  “Tell me, I know this shooting is supposed to take place at the grocery store once the prices officially go down. How many soldiers will you have on guard?”

  “At least five, closer to ten in most places.”

  “Cut that down to one or two, have them unarmed, and give them orders that all criminals are to be brought here to you.”

  “That’s absurd, Lucian, what if we actually do have an unplanned threat.”

  “My men are on call everywhere, nothing can be done that we can’t undo. If you have a man with a gun in a store with ten armed members of the National Guard he won’t make it out alive. I’m not sure people would respond well to us bringing criminals back to life. That would lead to a scandal that leads back to you.”

  “I, um, didn’t think of that,” Kristopher whispered. “I’ll give out the orders for those changes to be made.”

  Lucian nodded. “Then I need to leave.”

  Kristopher gave an unenthusiastic wave, glad to see the last of Lucian even for just a day. The man had the unnerving effect of always making him feel like an idiot. He was always right about everything. Kristopher had been planning to go into the whole thing without once thinking how the people not directly involved would react. He couldn’t make that mistake again.

  Lucian, on the other hand, loved making Kristopher feel like an idiot. It was one of the small joys he got out of life. Especially when Kristopher made it so easy. Lucian could tell it was only a matter of time before the politician felt invincible, and that he no longer needed Lucian’s help for good. It was starting to happen already, but not to the point Lucian couldn’t force his way back in. He’d have to start thinking of a way to keep himself protected, he needed to start building an army to rival Kristopher’s when the time came. They should all start preparing for a civil war. Lucian let out a resigned sigh. That was always how these things ended. Right now, though, he had to focus on tomorrow.

  All of Lucian’s chapter leaders had been told to stay on high alert tomorrow. It was possible nothing would go wrong, but people had been scared and desperate for so long it was naïve to think none of them would take desperate action. Lucian wanted his own men and women patrolling in force. It would be good publicity if people saw them out and doing good, giving people a chance to use their second chances. There would be more than just one shooting across the nation, Lucian knew it would be impossible for such a big change to start without people trying to use it to their advantage. Messes would need to be cleaned up everywhere.

  It was dark when Lucian finally found himself with what he thought of as his extended family. They were all happy to have him, but only because they knew he wasn’t staying long. Unlike Lucian’s home group, the outside chapters of the cult regarded him with coolness. They had a great respect for him and his father, but they were also scared of him. They all practiced the same rituals under the same rules, but it wasn’t their entire life. All the chapter members had jobs and lives outside the cult. They also did not involve the outside in what they did, keeping to themselves and only resurrecting people who were already initiated members. Lucian and his elders did not have other jobs, devoting their lives entirely to the cult and living off the money they made doing outside resurrections. The biggest difference was that Lucian’s group were generational members, while the outside chapters were usually first time members, which may have been the reason for their different attitudes. All that aside, the chapter elders were no less talented in their craft and Lucian had complete faith they could be trusted to handle anything Kristopher’s new society would ask of them.

  “Lucian, how nice to see you.” The chapter leader, an older woman named Charlotte, greeted him at the door and shook his hand. The woman had seen her share of death and life, but she was aging quickly. The last time Lucian had seen her she was in her prime and now she had slowed considerably. Her hand shook in his and she walked slightly hunched, as if she was carrying the weight of everything she had seen in her lifetime on her back.

  “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Charlie.” Lucian smiled but his eyes were sad. Charlotte had had the chance to freeze time but refused it. She said one prolonged lifetime was enough for her. Lucian wondered if she regretted the decision now that time was coming to an end.

  “It’s been a long time. You look the same.” The woman gave a wistful smile. “But I hear we have more important things to discuss now. Come, sit down.”

  Lucian followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at a round, oak table. In Charlotte’s youth her tastes had been austere and minimalist, but now her curtains were trimmed with lace and her walls were covered with pictures of people he assumed were grandchildren.

  Charlotte went into the refrigerator and poured Lucian a glass of iced tea before sitting across from him with her own glass. “You weren’t very detailed over the phone. Exactly what is it Kristopher thinks he’s doing in my town?”

  “He’s staging a shooting. You need to be there to resurrect his planted victim. I’ll be there to make sure nothing beyond that goes wrong.”

  “Like a riot?”

  “Something like that. We’ll be cleaning up messes all over the place for awhile.”

  “He’s changing things too quickly. Real change, sustainable change, takes more time than this.”

  “Of course it does, but Kristopher isn’t planning on these changes sticking. He’s got a whole different kind of world planned, and bread prices aren’t high on his list of priorities.”

  “Of course. Power hungry, maniacal, and thanks to you, immortal. Not a good combination, but an interesting one.” Charlotte sighed and drained her iced tea. “I’ll be there tomorrow and I’ve already told my people they’re on call.”

  “Thank you.” Lucian smiled and finished his tea, then carried both glasses to the sink. “I’ll be gone by this time tomorrow, you won’t have to deal with me for too long.”

  “Thank you.” Charlotte returned the smile. It was almost too late for Lucian to think about sleeping, but Charlotte showed him upstairs to a guest room anyway.

  Charlotte was the one who would actually be doing the work so Lucian felt no need to rest up. He knew every member of his cult by name, but always felt out of place when he came to visit the outside chapters. Charlotte’s family had all
practiced to become members of the cult, and were all very skilled, but they lacked a real understanding for what they did. When Charlotte did eventually die, the chapter would be in trouble. No one else had the necessary qualities to lead the group. Charlotte’s grandchildren were well into their teens and not one of them had been trained to kill. Their education was decades behind their peers in Lucian’s care.

  “Lucian?” Charlotte tapped on the doorway and peeked in.

  “Yes, Charlie?” Lucian snapped out of his reverie and noticed the woman was dressed to go out and holding her purse.

  “I turned on the TV and they’re saying people have been camping out since Kristopher’s announcement. If I want to get inside I’ll have to get in line now.”

  Lucian nodded, it was still dark but the weather was perfectly temperate. Charlotte could handle herself. It would be getting light soon enough anyway. Then the stores would open and the chaos would begin. He waited until after Charlotte had left before he made a move to follow. By now the slightest hints of sunrise could be seen in the distance. The news had been right. The lines to get inside were brutal, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits and singing the praises of Kristopher. Lucian could only assume the lines to get a temporary roadwork job were just as long. Kristopher, no doubt, assumed that would be the case. Lucian took a spot across from the building, luckily the whole front was made of glass so surveillance would be easy. As the sun rose an employee came to open the door and the line cheered, but once inside it was every man for himself.

  Lucian saw Charlotte take a place in the corner by a water fountain, out of the way of any desirable products. It only took ten minutes for the store to look like it had been attacked by a herd of locusts and that was probably the case everywhere. Clever Kristopher was staging a food shortage. The food he discounted would go bad in several weeks and people were stocking up just because they could, no one was thinking. Once Kristopher got his power he’d have the perfect excuse to start a government-rationing program.

  It was only an hour into the grocery’s opening when Lucian saw Kristopher’s plant, and Charlotte did too. It was good he’d gotten there so early because Lucian knew they’d be needed somewhere else soon. The plant looked agitated but not uncomfortable. He bounced around from empty shelf to empty shelf and then started to get frustrated. He yelled at a few employees and threatened with a practiced belligerence. It wasn’t a very good performance, but it was convincing enough for the people there. The lone National Guardsman started to head over and the shoppers started to speed for the exit. The man pulled out his gun and shot the woman closest to him. The man was then quickly wrestled to the ground and taken away. It all happened in seconds. Lucian rated it as an overall poor performance.

  When the woman was pronounced dead Charlotte came out of the shadows and announced she was one of Lucian’s people. Things seemed to be going smoothly and the store would be closed soon for a lack of anything to sell. Lucian ended his watch and called for a car to take him back to his own territory.

  The news was about the same everywhere, a few isolated incidents of nutcases with guns but overall major progress. People were employed, families were fed, and the roads were filled with cars. Compared to what things were like before, Kristopher was a miracle worker. After a week there’d be no doubt of him getting his term limit taken away. Then there’d be no way to stop him. Lucian had seen it before. These people had no idea the hell they were welcoming, begging for, with open arms.

  17. Miriel and William

  “I think he’s going to do wonderful things for the world outside the gates. Just really fantastic.”

  “What makes you say that, Emily?” Miriel asked over her teacup. Of all the women Madame Perkins invited for daily tea, Emily was the only one Miriel liked. She was an intelligent and insightful young woman and it was refreshing to listen to her contributions to the conversation. Except today. Miriel’s faith in the woman was almost crushed, Emily couldn’t see through all Kristopher’s talk. She was just as easily manipulated as the rest of the stupid, simple women Miriel found herself surrounded by.

  “Well first off, he’s offering the country a phenomenal gift. I wouldn’t mind having that Lucian here.” Miriel scoffed but Emily didn’t notice. “And second, he’s already doing so much. I mean, the roads are up and running, people are getting jobs. He’s actually doing the things he’s promised. What politician can say they’ve managed that so quickly.”

  “But doesn’t it all seem too good to be true? There’s no proof Kristopher can sustain any of this, for all we know the whole thing could fall apart in a few months.”

  “I agree with Elle,” Madame Perkins said solemnly. “Something isn’t right with either of these men. There’s no way they’re looking out for the greater good like they claim to be. Something else is going on and they’re looking out for themselves. I would even bet the two of them aren’t as close as they seem.”

  “I would agree with that as well.” Miriel added quickly.

  “We’re much better off behind the walls.” Madame Perkins stated with a note of finality in her voice.

  “Not anymore though!” Emily was naively trusting and optimistic, Miriel was finding this new side of her personality annoying. “Really! Things are getting so much better I bet in a few years there won’t even be a need for societies like ours. We won’t have to live like this anymore.”

  “We’ve chosen to live like this,” Madame Perkins said coldly, getting up and carrying the tea service to the kitchen.

  “Well, I guess that’s all there is to say about that.” Emily mocked with her hands on her hip.

  “Come on, let’s go for a walk. Maybe there’ll be more news about your new perfect society,” Miriel joked.

  “Be serious, Elle! This could be the beginning of a whole new world. If only I hadn’t been so eager to leave and come here.” Emily sighed. “But you’re right, we should keep ourselves informed.”

  Miriel and Emily headed outside without a word to Madame Perkins, who was passive aggressively cleaning dishes. Miriel enjoyed being able to go out with Emily and still be considered acting properly. William was becoming less of an annoyance and working with him more tolerable, but everything still had to be done more on his schedule than hers. Emily was different; she was always willing to go out and had no superiority complex, not to mention her overall personality was much more to Miriel’s taste. The girl was tough, except when it came to Kristopher’s lies. Miriel could train her, teach her the game. She would be a more convenient partner, and with a little explanation and a lot of coaching Miriel was positive she would take to that way of life. Emily would be a wonderful asset.

  “Elle?”

  “Yes, dear?”

  “Could I ask you something?” Emily stopped walking and faced Miriel, biting her lip, anxious.

  “Of course. What is it?” Miriel tried to keep her voice light.

  “Why did you decide to come here? Everyone has a reason and most people are easy to figure out. Like Erin, God rest her soul, a perverse sense of morality and a husband who couldn’t stand her. Perfect fit. You seem different. You follow our rules because you’re here, but you don’t really believe in them.”

  “You’re one to talk, always the dissenting voice at conversations over tea, never quite fitting the mold. I could make the same argument for you, and yet here we both are.”

  “No.” Emily suddenly looked skeptical. “It’s not the same. I might voice my opinions a little too loudly but I’m not trying to hide anything. You are. And I’d like to know what it is.”

  “The reason most people come here is to hide the people they were on the other side.”

  “No, they come here to become different people. Why aren’t you answering the question?”

  “I don’t want to.” Miriel had underestimated the girl’s intelligence. “I never chose to come here.”

  “Oh, you’re telling me you were abducted then, Elle? I find that impossible to believe. Willia
m and the other founders would never allow that kind of criminal activity.”

  “True.” Miriel decided it wasn’t a good time to bring up the kind of criminal activity they were allowing. “I came here because outside the gates someone was trying to kill me. William offered me a type of sanctuary and medical attention.”

  “Oh.” Emily nodded. “I guess you aren’t really one of us then are you?” Her tone was back to joking and Miriel knew she believed it. No follow up information necessary. “You could say in some ways we’re sisters of circumstance then. The guy I was living with out there beat me, would have killed me if I’d stuck around. So, I ran away here. Figured it’d be the one place he wouldn’t try to follow me. I thought it was romantic, going back to a time when men were gentlemen.”

  An optimistic idiot, Miriel knew the girl had been too good to be true. She’d never be able to confide in Emily, let alone train her. It was a disappointment.

  “Did you still want to check on the news?” Miriel asked just to steer the conversation away from the personal.

  Emily nodded and they went into the gatehouse. It was always more crowded now, news of Kristopher and his changes on every channel. It was the second week of his big changes and people were unanimously happy. Miriel wondered if he and Lucian had put something in all that cheap milk. Apparently there was a petition going around to have Kristopher’s term limit removed and give him his position for life. Miriel thought it was a foolhardy move, but no one seemed to agree with her, although she had a feeling all the dissenters would show up dead in a month or two.

  “Oh, Elle, don’t you wish you were back!”

  “Not really.”

  “Honestly! We could help start the new world. Don’t you want to do that? Come with me, Elle!” Emily pulled her aside and looked earnestly into her eyes. “Let’s go back. We can keep each other safe from the past and build a new future. Things are really going to change this time.”