“I know, I get edgy. The women I work with in the public parks are keyed-up around me, and it makes me feel like an object of suspicion. The animals in the forest were quicker to trust me.”
“They’ll get used to you. It takes time.” She twined her arms round his neck, and his frown softened.
“Leaf and I are watching the speech on the entscreen in his twoser. We’ll be cheering for you.”
“I’m only the warm-up act.”
“Are you kidding? You’ll steal the show.”
A purpose-built dais in front of Beloved’s statue had been set up for Gracious’s speech before a hand-picked audience. Goodwill took a seat beside Constance on the platform, and Constance was glad of her friendly support. She stood up to introduce Gracious.
“Prepare to experience history in real time,” Constance announced. “This moment marks the dividing line between the old Sisterland and the new.”
Gracious’s entrance music swelled, and Constance walked backwards towards her seat, lowering herself gingerly into it. Gracious appeared from behind the giant statue of Beloved. Two members of the Silenced followed, and helped Gracious to reach the front of the dais. Constance tried not to think it, but the thought came anyway. Gracious was older-looking, tired-looking, more ordinary-looking, cut off from her baby-blood supplies. The Nine aura of grace and radiance was gone. She had authority still, however.
Gracious stood without speaking, her eyes sweeping over the spectators, who waited for her to be ready. When utter stillness had settled, she reached up to her veil. With slow deliberation, she unhooked it with both hands, opened them wide, and tossed the veil away.
“Enough of veils. Enough of hiding behind symbols, sisters! Let’s try again. Let’s do better this time!” Her oration was under way.
At times, it had the ring of a public confession. She taxed the Nine with being dictatorial: “We treated dissent as disruptive. Debate as harmful. The truth as negativity. We must no longer sacrifice Sisterland on the altar of denial. Let us celebrate, sisters, because mistakes have been recognised! And now we’re correcting them. Sisterland belongs to all of us, and not to the Nine!”
When Gracious apologised on behalf of the Nine for past shortcomings, Constance wished Harper was beside her. She would have turned to him and made a joke about how well that would go down with the rest of the Nine. She knew each of them was watching Gracious speak on an entscreen – Patience believed it might prick other members of the Nine to throw in their lot with the Silent Revolution.
As the speech wound to a close, Constance was disappointed to realise there was going to be no mention of hoods. She bit her lip: Harper would be deflated. She had assured him the policy was about to be overturned.
“Why did Gracious not mention the new unhooding action plan?” she whispered to Goodwill, during the standing ovation.
“Patience pushed her too hard about it. I suspect she left it out to teach her a lesson.”
“But what about all the men who have to wear hoods? They’re caught in the crossfire.”
Goodwill shrugged. “Some of our number believe sisters need time to adjust to unhooded men. Gracious says sisters must grow accustomed to seeing men on the Buzz, and in shops and eat-easies. Then the sight of unhooded men won’t be such a shock.”
“Do you really believe our sisters are so easily shocked?”
Goodwill wrinkled her nose. “Maybe. Maybe not. Look on the bright side. At least boy-men aren’t hooding any more.”
Harper was not just dissatisfied but indignant. His resentment was waiting for her when she walked through the door. “You keep telling me to believe in the Silenced Revolution. But it’s all about women, still.”
Constance sank heavily into a chair, massaging the small of her back with the heel of one hand. “I know it’s frustrating, Harper. Everyone is arguing over the pace of reforms. But hoods will go – there’s no doubt about it.” She took off her skin, and held both hands out to him. “If our baby is a boy, he won’t have to wear one. Let’s be glad about that.”
He softened at the mention of their child, and allowed her to mollify him.
Later, she asked, “Don’t you have a babycare class?”
“It was postponed because of Gracious’s speech. I’m going tomorrow instead. We’re learning how to bath a newborn.”
“Excellent – bathtime duties are hereby delegated to you.”
“You know I’m the only man in the class? But at least I’m there,” he added. “Don’t think I’m ungrateful. I just get impatient with all the restrictions still in place. It’s not just hoods. Why can’t I go to sourcingplace with you when you have our child? Why can’t I visit my forest?”
“Harper, I’m about to have a baby. I can’t travel right now. Would you really leave me behind? Even to see your trees?”
“Of course not.” He folded her against his chest, where his heartbeat reassured her. “I know I owe it to you that my memory of trees was restored. I owe everything to you.”
“Don’t say that – I don’t want you thinking you’re in my debt. I’m sorry I couldn’t change Patience’s mind about sourcingplace. She said sources shouldn’t be troubled at such a delicate time. And I know you feel aggrieved about wearing a hood. I would, too. But you don’t have to wear one indoors with me. Or in the grounds of the unit. Or in the dine-all here. Remember, you can go in there and eat on your own – no need for me to be with you. Women take your order for food. All these steps are improvements. More will follow, Harper.”
“Women take my order in the dine-all, but they don’t like it. And it shows.”
“They do it, though.”
“OK, you win.” He gave a short laugh. “Sisterland is now a paradise.”
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying it’s better than before. Small children aren’t segregated any more. Girls and boys will grow up knowing each other. Think of the dividends reaped there in future years.” He rested his cheek on the crown of her head, and she felt him relax. “You will be patient, won’t you, Harper?” He made no reply. “Harper?” she tried again.
He cleared his throat. “What makes you so certain, Constance, we’ll be allowed to keep our baby?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do anything they want me to, so we can.”
“Propaganda work.”
“How can it be propaganda if I believe what I’m saying? Besides, you benefit as much as me.”
He raised his head. Sorrow lodged in his eyes.
She looked away.
Chapter 36
Devotion arrived on Constance’s doorstep unannounced.
“I know I should have comtelled you. But I was too impatient to see this shiny bauble of a unit where you live. Goodwill told me about it. She talks about the man you share it with, too. But I’m not ready to meet him yet. Changes are happening too fast for my liking.”
“He’s at work.”
“I know. I had Goodwill check his assignments today. That’s why I’m here now.”
“Then you’ll know he’s planting flower boxes along Courtesy Avenue.”
“Autumn-flowering snowdrops. They’ll never be noticed among the crowds that shop there. Still, they have charm.” She stretched her neck to inspect the view. “A private garden – you’ve landed on your feet.”
“You have one, too. Goodwill arranged it.”
“Not like this – a pleasure garden, to walk in. Mine is a working garden. It earns its keep. It’s a block away from our unit. I brought you some herbs, ladybird. And a blanket for the baby.”
At the sight of the downy lilac strip of fleece, Constance capitulated. “I recognise that – it’s mine, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it was yours when you were a baby. I kept it safe for you. You chewed a corner, see? But it’s in good condition overall.”
Constance accepted the gifts, and gave her source a tour of the threeser. Afterwards, they sat over beakers of ocean tea, and talk turned to the Silent Revolution.
“Goodwill keeps me up-to-date, whether I’m willing to hear or not,” said Devotion. “One by one, the Nine is retreating before the incoming Silenced tide.”
Constance counted them off. “One has asked to retire to private life: she no longer believes herself competent to have a public role. Another stepped down on health grounds. A third asked for permission to work with small children.”
“I heard about her. Goodwill says she’s being kept under supervision, but appears to have no ulterior motive. She’s interacting well with the little boys. Which still leaves five.”
“Yes, there are five who won’t cooperate. Innocence and Temperance – no surprises there. Also Perseverance, Dedication and Tranquillity. I know Goodwill has been making the case for them to Patience. She says they can’t be kept under house arrest indefinitely.”
Devotion picked up a hood belonging to Harper, lying on the arm of a chair. She dangled it from a fingertip. “Doesn’t he need this?”
“He has more than one.”
“How prudent. Goodwill told me there’s been discussion about committing the five to Safe Space. Some say it’s necessary. Others think it’s repressive and smacks of the old order. What’s your view, Constance?”
“I think they should be granted safe passage out of Harmony in return for a promise to live quietly in one of the remote belts.”
“Would you trust them to keep their word?”
Constance considered. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Speaking of second chances, Goodwill’s told me about the Shaper Mother.” Constance winced, but Devotion continued. “Confined to her unit, isn’t she? So much for a new Sisterland.”
Constance reddened. “I’m doing my best to speak up for her. I’ve begged for leniency. We might be able to hammer out a compromise.” It distressed her to consider the Shaper Mother’s plight. After all, this was a woman she had admired. Perhaps loved.
“Goodwill says the Shaper Mother provoked the new leadership, pretending to work with the new order but undermining it at every opportunity.”
“She doesn’t buy into the Silenced Revolution.”
“And you do?”
“I have to: for the baby, and for Harper.”
Devotion made an impatient noise. “This man has dazzled you, Constance.” She was about to say more, but was arrested by a pinched look on Constance’s face. Constance was holding her stomach. “Are you all right, ladybird?”
“Just something I ate. I’ll be fine in a minute.”
“Is the baby coming?”
Constance shook her head. “It’s not time. Two more days, that’s what I’ve been told. The date’s fixed.”
“You need to lie down. Sometimes babies make their own time.” Devotion guided her into the next room, and helped her onto the pop-up.
Constance couldn’t settle. “I want Harper,” she moaned.
Devotion pretended not to hear. “I’ll send for a medico. Just to be on the safe side.”
“No! Harper!”
Devotion kept a close eye on her as she tapped out a comtel alert for a medico. Constance continued to whimper his name. Devotion relented. “All right, I’ll send for this Harper of yours.”
Constance tried to lift her hand with the comtel on the thumb, but it flopped back beside her. “His chip signal’s stored on my comtel.”
“I’ll find it. You rest, ladybird. He’ll be with you soon, I promise.”
Constance’s twinges were a false alarm, but Modesty was delegated to sit with her the next day. Constance had tried to protest that Harper would look after her, but had been told it was too weighty a duty for a man, and that she was too precious to Sisterland for chances to be taken. Either she let a responsible sister sit with her, or she’d be sent at once to sourcingplace.
Constance lay like a beached starfish on the couch, only half-listening to Modesty talking about a job she was due to start.
“I know you recommended me – I’m grateful,” said Modesty. “Someone called Unity, from the Tower matingplace, is assigned to work with me. I hope she understands I’m the boss.”
The word ‘matingplace’ snagged Constance’s attention. “What exactly is your new job, Modesty?”
“I’m on the team overseeing the closure of matingplace.”
“It’s really happening?”
“No more babyfusion permits,” said Modesty.
Harper emerged from the bedroom, where he had been making preparations to leave for work. Head tilted to the side, Modesty made a leisurely examination of him from tip to toe. He ignored her as he hunkered down beside Constance.
“I’m off now, Constance. Make sure you rest today. There’s food in the cupboard if you don’t feel like going to the dine-all.” He lifted one of her hands, and kissed it.
“Introduce us, Constance,” said Modesty.
“Modesty, meet Harper. Harper, this is Modesty. My friend.” Constance liked having someone she could call a friend. She felt blessed.
Her friend and her lover exchanged glances – cautious on Harper’s part, curious on Modesty’s. He stood up and moved about the room, putting items in a bag.
“There are no men in my unit yet,” said Modesty.
“Really?” Constance adjusted her position, and rubbed at the small of her back. “I thought integration was beginning.”
“Unlicensed mating isn’t happening yet, either. It’s allowed in theory. In practice, it’s difficult to arrange.”
“Difficult, how?”
“How are sisters supposed to find meets? At least everyone knew what was expected of them at matingplace.”
Harper’s expression puckered during this exchange. “If you need me, Constance, I’m working in a park near the planetarium. I can be home quickly.”
“Harper’s been assigned to a project to make parks more hospitable to wild birds,” said Constance.
“He used to work in matingplace, didn’t he?” said Modesty.
“Ask him yourself.”
Modesty raised her eyes to Harper’s face. “Didn’t you work in matingplace?”
He took his time about answering. “Yes. In the Tower.”
“Did you enjoy your work?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Harper was thrown out of matingplace for refusing Himtime on demand,” said Constance.
“I’m all for unlicensed mating. But how does a woman find suitable meets?” said Modesty. “Harper, are you in touch with any of the matingplace men? Could you act as a go-between?”
Harper bridled, and Constance said quickly, “Modesty, leave him alone. He doesn’t like being reminded of his time there. I’m sorry, Harper. She doesn’t mean any harm.”
Modesty was mystified. “Being a meet was a plum job. What’s not to like?”
“You really want to know? Everything about Himtime chipped away at us.” Harper used his fingers to tap off a list. “Being expected to do it night after night. Being given drugs to make sure we did. Drugs which shortened our lives. Doing it with strangers. Not having the right to say no. Or to choose who we mated with.”
Modesty held up her hands. “OK, I surrender. No offence, Harper. Sometimes, I speak first and think afterwards. I have some good points, too, all right?”
“I’m used to women’s ignorance about what life’s like for men.”
“So, if you happen to know any former meets who miss their old life . . .”
“She’s incorrigible, Harper,” said Constance. “Take no notice. She also has a weird sense of humour.”
“I’ll be late for work. There’s a spare cushion for your back in the bedroom, if you need it. Are you sure babyfusion won’t happen today? I worry about you when I’m out at work.”
“No need to fret. Honestly. The medico Devotion sent for yesterday tested me. The date selected for birth activation hasn’t been overridden. She gave me a shot, just to make sure.”
He kissed her on the lips, while Modesty stared open-mouthed.
“Don’t forget your hood,” Constance reminded him.
“In my pocket.”
He nodded at Modesty, and turned towards the door.
As it opened for him, Modesty said to Constance, “You know, he’s the first man I’ve had a conversation with. A real conversation, I mean. I suspect it’s because he wasn’t wearing a hood. Hoods create distance.”
Harper stopped. “They do more than that. They create suspicion.”
Modesty shrugged. “I prefer no hoods.”
“Why?”
“I like to see men’s faces. Some are handsome. It’s a pleasure to admire beauty. I appreciate flowers. Why not men?”
Against his will, he laughed, and the door closed behind him.
Thoughtful, Modesty said, “He thinks for himself. How does Patience get on with him?”
“Hasn’t met him yet. Too busy being the instigator of the Silent Revolution.”
“Does she have an other?”
“No, she’s a workaholic.”
“We all have to make time for relaxation, Constance. It’s time I found an other.”
“Female or male?”
“Can men be others? Surely that’s a step too far.”
“I think of Harper as my other. I’m not the only one. I know of several sisters, well-connected, with male others, too.”
“Even if I wanted one, I can’t get to know any men. Not properly. And definitely not improperly. How did women and men meet in PS days?”
“Social activities.”
“Ah, that’s where we’re going wrong. There’s no inter-gender socialising.”
“Well then, Modesty, you could always nominate yourself to start some. In the meantime, look around you. You’ll see plenty of men. They travel on the Buzz now: that’s one place to get to know them. They walk in parks. That’s another. And they receive payment for their work, so they can afford to go into eat-easies. You can sit at their table and talk to them. Sooner rather than later, women and men will become better acquainted. It’s inevitable.”
“I suppose. But women will have to do all the running – men are nervous of us. You’ve no idea how cagey they look when I approach them.”
About Sisterland Page 31