“Stay here with your apple - I have some things to do, I’ll be back in a while. Try to eat all of it, but you can throw the core away.”
He smiled at her encouragingly.
“And don’t worry should you feel a little sick, it’s normal.”
Julia stared at the apple for a few seconds, weighing it with caution; at last she sunk her teeth in the thin and light pulp of the fruit.
She closes her eyes, frowns as the sour juice strikes the unsuspecting taste gums. The structure of the apple gives in and the morsel is ripped off, trapped in the grasp of her teeth. Chewing is slow, clumsy; rich in grimacing, while completely new impressions flow on her concentrated face.
Her gums were already aching as she found herself swallowing, and soon after the first bite, she felt an unusual quiver in her abdomen. She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, finding the semi-rigid surface of her armor; however her belly didn’t signal new turmoil.
Once again, she focused on the apple and attacked it with another bite, which left on the greenish pulp the reddish marks of fresh blood. Julia kept on chewing, ignoring the stinging and the pain, obeying her orders and exploring the possibilities of an entirely new sense. A simple apple revealed itself salty in the peel, sour in the juice and sweet in aftertaste - and crisp and tough in the core, which she found quite easy to discover.
She was about to finish the apple when she was taken by a feeling of stifling pressure on her ribcage - she realized her forehead was beaded with sweat, when she stopped to breathe. A shiver ran under her skin, then she had to bend in two on the axis of her lower belly, as if struck by an invisible crowbar. She recognized in the cramp the symptom of the pain to come.
She looked at the last morsel of apple she still held in her hand, then gulped it down with a challenging stare.
The afternoon sun was starting its descent when Julia began mandatory training.
“Let’s start running three loops.”
Instructor Skintilla was a young girl on the short side, but muscular and authoritative, tanned on her arms and face. She wore no conventional armor or uniform and sported her instructor rank pinned on the chest of her tank top.
Together with the other Advanced Corps recruits (she counted more or less 15), Julia obeyed, sprinting down the path which led to the dirt route encompassing the inside perimeter of the walls of the base. She started off armed with good will and enthusiasm, and by the time she arrived where the three loops were supposed to begin, she was already tired and aware of her mistake.
Considerably slowing down in an attempt to correct her effort, she let the others pass her hoping that a more measured pace would bring her accelerated heartbeat to a sustainable rhythm; to no avail. She found herself lagging last and far behind the others even before the end of the first loop.
Her armor was heavy, her legs were starting to ache and the air itself seemed to scorch her lungs, expanded by the effort.
“You can remain at the Ministry, with a Supervisor you hate and which fears and hates you in return, until (casually, of course) a duel to the first blood will go too far thus ending your career and your life. Or you can decide to come with me, and risk new dangers and prizes.”
She gritted her teeth at the memory of Marcus’ words, and found herself half-way in the intended route, with a small cloud of dust ahead of her indicating the position of her classmates. Even if late, she joined with them after completing the three required loops, sweating and breathless.
Ignoring the jeering smirks which were lighting up the faces of her colleagues, she limited her actions to a gesture of salute to the Instructor, carefully listening to what she had to say. Skintilla had observed the group while they were running and was now sharing her observations, while renewing the knot that kept her long red hair in place.
“You tire too early because you burn energies when you don’t need to, and you don’t have any sense of time. This time you’re going to run five loops, but with an element in your favor.”
Julia had forced herself to remain impassible and regain breath, but raised an eyebrow in surprise when at a sign by Skintilla the entire base echoed with a modulated sound, different yet similar to what she had heard for the first time in Marcus’ studio: music.
It filled the ears and the vibrations echoed in her chest, reminding Julia of the relentlessness of the Escalators of the City, of the strength and beauty of the sea she had seen from the aerovehicle, of the solemn welcoming parade in honor of the Emperor.
She found herself running close to the group of her classmates, her breathing regulated by the powerful and rhythmical timing of the music, and after three loops she hadn’t lost them yet, despite her fatigue. At the fourth loop she decided she wasn’t going to quit. Even though by now she was literally dragging her feet, she let her focus follow the musical guide, and arrived at the end of the fifth loop without a substantial delay.
She didn’t see Skintilla’s curious glance because she was doubled up, trying to catch her breath, and barely noticed the Instructor’s voice announcing the end of the warm up, ordering the group to move to the gym.
“That’s enough, Mayne!”
Skintilla’s powerful voice, nervous and amazed.
With a wild flick of her head, Julia moves out of the way a lock of hair that had fallen on her face, lingers for in a moment in the stance that sees her hands intent on flattening down her opponent, a knee well planted on his breastbone. Only a moment, then she lets go of the grip on his neck, leaving visible red finger marks on his wrist as well, where the other hand had caught him.
She gets up without a word, placing herself respectfully in line.
“We could say you have drastically underestimated your opponent, Kob.”
The instructor’s voice was flat and final.
“The lesson is over for today. You may go.”
A flash of her golden eyes.
“Mayne, stay for a moment.”
Her face courteously blank, her breath barely accelerated, Julia waited for the reprimand to come. Skintilla paused for a moment in considering her new student, head tilted backwards, hands on her hips.
“Do you know why you made a mistake?”
“I guess I exaggerated.”
The Instructor relaxed her stance and nodded, hearing a note of regret in the girl’s otherwise blank voice.
“Yes, but not for the reasons you think.”
Something clicked in Julia’s eyes, which became more present, as if the situation had encountered a shift in its nature, from abstract to tangible.
“Kob deserved this lesson, he’ll be fine with some bruises and next time he’ll think twice before seeking to humiliate a classmate.”
Julia looked at Skintilla with amazement, surprised by these words, while the Instructor went on with her explanation.
“You made a mistake because you exaggerated in your passion, you didn’t study, you didn’t calculate, you performed your action with enthusiasm, certainly, but against any Terrorist you would have lost, surely.”
The girl bowed her head.
“I thought I had my determination in check.”
“Not enough. I could read your anger between the lines… and not only the present one.”
Skintilla’s voice was kind, but her student twitched. The Instructor softened her voice.
“You must always remember that our enemies are considerably stronger and quicker than us… an impulsive approach like yours with Kob would be suicidal.”
Julia remained in silence, but her unsettled face showed she had understood. Skintilla nodded, at least partially satisfied by the girl’s tacit approval, and smiled at her.
“I believe we have understood each other. Remember my words! You may go now.”
Free from the weight of the armor, Julia let herself collapse on the camp bed in her room. The sun had set and she now was appreciating her resting time before a new day of training
. She relaxed her tired muscles for some minutes, before rolling on one side in the direction of the videophone, where she dialed her home number.
“Hello?”
Cleo’s tired and suspicious voice echoed in the room, bringing Julia to a smile.
“Hello Cleo, it’s me!”
The video opened up almost immediately, showing the happy and relieved expression on the blonde girl’s face.
“Julia, how are you? Where are you?”
“I’m fine. Somewhere in province R, I’ve been told.”
Julia paused for a moment, remembering her trip in the aerovehicle. That was about 14 hours ago, expanded in her perception of time.
“I saw the sea coming here! It’s really hard to describe…”
Cleo widened her eyes, curious.
“I can imagine! For the rest, how is the place?”
“Full of trees, but not too different from the Forest we see from the City. Actually, I wanted to ask you something. What do you know of the Terrorists?”
There was a small pause before Cleo’s thoughtful image answered her question.
“Not much, history isn’t my field, but I can do some research if you want.”
Julia shook her head.
“No, don’t worry about it. What can you tell me, for now?”
Cleo answered slowly, while extracting information from the depths of her memory.
“I know they are a result of the Cataclysm. The Empire has always fought them to defend its borders. We take no prisoners. They live in the Forest, throughout the whole Empire.”
“In what sense, they are a result of the Cataclysm?”
Cleo shrugged.
“I wouldn’t know how to say more. I only know that the very first City Walls and other fortifications in the Empire were made at the time of the Cataclysm, and that the Walls exist to defend the citizens from the Terrorists.”
“So there must be some kind of link between them and the Cataclysm, you suggest? It makes sense.”
The girl on the other side of the videophone smiled, somewhat sadly. A veil of worry shadowed her eyes.
“I don’t want to know why you’re asking me.”
The following morning, the scheduled lesson was Theory of Ministerial Communication - however, Julia found Marcus waiting for her outside her room. He was distractedly playing with an apple, tossing it in the air and picking it up again, and at the sight of the fruit she found herself subconsciously passing her tongue on her gums, still scratched and aching from the day before.
The Secretary beckoned her to follow him.
“Come, you don’t need the theory. We have other gaps to fill.”
Julia noticed that instead of his usual city uniform, Marcus was wearing a black plastiresin armor very similar to hers, and that a couple of objects very much like grenades dangled from his waist.
“We’re going in the Forest for our lesson. I don’t think we’ll have to fight, since we’ll stay close to the walls, but it’s best to take the necessary precautions.”
The girl widened her eyes, but made no further concession to her anxiety.
“And should we meet something, will stunning grenades work?”
“Ha, you recognized them! You were well instructed in the Ministry. They’re going to be enough since we’re not going far, they should create the commotion we’ll eventually need to retreat.”
As he spoke, Marcus had started heading towards the northern side of the base, where the walls sported a thick metal gate. From one of the guarding towers at its side, a soldier saluted the Secretary and initiated the procedure required to open the doors. The two metallic shutters opened with the whirr of EM engines, just enough to let two figures through, before closing again with a loud clang.
The barren ring without trees stretched in front of them, with a path heading directly into the lush green. Julia paused for a second to observe intensely the deep shadow of the Forest, her nose slightly turned upwards to catch the unusual scent of the surroundings.
Marcus pointed with his hand to a spot ahead of them, bordering the woods.
“See that clearing? It looks like a good place for breakfast.”
He slapped the apple in her hand and headed towards the forest with quick strides, leaving Julia no other option than to follow him.
From up close the trees no longer looked all the same, actually revealing all their diversity and splendor - some had thick foliage and branches so thin, that they cancelled every fear of hidden dangers. Others were strong enough to harbor a tree-house, while yet another different kind tempted swarms of insects with wide and pulpy flowers.
The passage from the sunny base to the shadow of the thick vegetation marked a considerable difference in temperature - the girl shivered, well aware of her own fear. She could feel the tension rising in her shoulders, and had the unnerving impression of being observed by invisible and inquisitive eyes.
When they arrived to the clearing the Secretary had indicated, Julia found that some rocks had been placed in circle, forming rudimentary seats.
“After you!”
Smiling, Marcus gestured her to sit down and she gingerly placed herself with her back to the base, keeping the Forest in check. In order to hide her apprehension, she sank her teeth in the apple, concentrating on the sting caused by the acid juice of the fruit on the cuts in her mouth.
“I know, it feels awkward the first time. But sooner or later you’ll leave on an expedition, and it’s fair you see some of the Forest, first.”
Julia concluded her slow chewing of the piece of apple.
“Marcus… may I ask a question?”
The Secretary nodded.
“Who, or what, are the Terrorists, exactly?”
Marcus sighed.
“They are people, like us. Only wild after centuries of radiation and decline. If we exclude their extraordinary strength and the fact that they have the yellow eyes of a nocturnal hunter, they are very similar to us.”
Julia frowned.
“Did the mutation occur as a consequence of the Cataclysm?”
The Secretary nodded, observing his nails in silence for a couple of moments before speaking again.
“Yes. The disaster was devastating, but not completely unforeseen. The main cities had anti-radiation shielding. Not so for the rest of the territory.”
“And the Terrorists are at war with us because they hate us, because we descend from those who left their ancestors to the radiation?”
Marcus shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips.
“Of course not. You think they know history? We clash with them because they are nomadic, and they could often trespass our borders.”
Julia shook her head, perplexed.
“Couldn’t we re-introduce them to the cities?”
“Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. There have been attempts, but they can’t stand closed spaces and let themselves die out of sadness. Their heart is too big.”
“In what sense?”
“It’s a metaphor. When you feel a strong emotion, you can sometimes feel it in your chest - this is why feelings are often associated with the heart.”
Her eyes were veiled by a shadow, as if her thoughts had somehow detached from the conversation.
“I know.”
Marcus went on, dragging her back to her present lesson.
“During missions, you’ll always have to remember that we don’t want to destroy the Terrorists, but to keep them away from our borders. We don’t know what lies in the deeper Forest.”
Julia raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Are you saying we actually need them?”
“In a certain sense. They are an interposed force between us and the unknown.”
“I have another question.”
Marcus opened his arms and smiled.
“Tell me.”
“Why do we call them Terrorists? They don’t seem so terrifying, and yet even the name the Ministry gives them seems
to suggest they are a considerable menace.”
The Secretary giggled slightly.
“You’re right. But the reason for the name has an historical origin. At the time of the Cataclysm, people feared not open war but the surprise attack of groups named “terrorist” because of their strategy of terror, involving attacks on civilian population. In time, “terrorist” became just another word for “enemy”. That’s why we still speak of Terrorists and Counter-Terrorism.”
“Oh.”
Julia remained in silence for minutes, pondering the received information and cautiously nibbling at her apple; at last she turned to Marcus once again.
“Are all nobles so educated on pre-Cataclysm history?”
He smiled, winking at her, proving that making her feel ignorant was not his intention.
“Not all of them. Some are more interested in the past than others.”
“Good. I would have liked to study more.”
She stared at the ground to hide her regret, yet Marcus easily interpreted her voice.
“You already know more than most, and we can follow up on this conversation any time.”
After these words, the Secretary looked up at the sky, where dark clouds were rolling in.
“I’d say we have learned enough on the denizens of the Forest, for today. It’s time for us to return to the base.”
Julia stood up, examining the ancient trees with attention and respect. Marcus smiled at her, while rising up from his seat.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back.”
III
“So the Secretary’s pet deigns to sit with us? And why is this?”
Three months had passed since her arrival in the training base. Without flinching, Julia slowly placed the bowl she was holding on the long table where her classmates where sitting. She leveled her gaze to meet Kob’s eyes, since he had expressed out loud the question written on the face of everyone present. She issued her answer with ministerial tranquility.
“Up to today, I wasn’t ready for a regular biological nutrition. I was filling in my gaps in private.”
Julia Dream Page 4