Inner City Page 10

  They stood toe to toe, staring at each other. Eve had never been with a boy who didn’t have very clear ideas about what he wanted to do from this point, but with Callen, the activity came to a halt. The quaintness of the room about them, with the small fireplace of stone and the mantle above, the dresser with a crocheted cover that almost spread to each of its four corners and a candle lamp that sat atop a small bedside table, all went unnoticed in the silence that followed. Eve moved closer to Callen and placed a caring hand to his chest. She felt his heart easily. It was beating hard. Callen’s brow had broken out in a sweat.

  “I really want to kiss you again,” she said quietly, suddenly quite nervous about Callen’s fears. A timid voice came from the top of Callen’s throat.

  “Okay.”

  Slowly the two moved together until they felt the light flutter of lips. With small waves of motion they began to explore each other’s kisses with their own. Before long, Eve moved to kiss Callen’s neck and even found the lobe of his ear. She then broke away.

  “Wait,” she said to Callen, who clearly didn’t want to. “I can hardly see you without the light going.”

  She opened a small drawer in the bedside table and took out a large box of matches. She struck one alight with a crackle and a perfume of strong sulphur. Lighting the lamp, the room came alive with shadows and movement created by the dancing flame.

  Eve moved back to Callen, who had not moved an inch from where he’d been standing. Again she kissed him with her hands directing his face to hers. She broke away with a smile. Her hand again wandered to gauge the beat of his heart. It was still pounding. She liked its intensity and moved her hand around the contours of Callen’s chest. Her fingers became a team of five explorers, charting unknown territory and taking great note of every landmark along the way. She hooked them in between the buttons on Callen’s shirt and slowly worked the button through the hole that locked it in place. She ran her hand to feel his smooth chest, then to his stomach, as more buttons came loose. Finally the shirt came away and dropped to the ground.

  Gaining confidence, Callen dropped the top of Eve’s blouse off her shoulders. His hands were shaking as he ran them over Eve’s bare skin. The touch raised goose bumps that spread like a ripple across a pond. The two took turns helping each other with the rest of their clothing, until they stood naked.

  While Callen had experienced simulated sex, this was a brand new experience for him. The one advantage of his simulator was to allow him to experiment on his computer generated partners in total privacy. While he’d made many dreadful mistakes during his youthful explorations, he’d also discovered a great many things that brought favourable reactions. As he caressed Eve and began to calm down, she began to benefit from this knowledge. The two finally made it to Eve’s bed. Sweat began to form on them both and the air filled with the sounds of exertion. Together they found the perfect expression of the intense feelings they were both feeling for one another.

  Almost an hour passed as they took full advantage of their privacy together. When they finally came to rest, both were covered with the sheen of sweat.

  Callen and Eve lay together for a long time. Callen couldn’t believe the intensity of having a partner to hold and respond to. While the simulations he was used to were advertised as being better than the real thing, they weren’t. The real thing wasn’t simulated and that was the one element that could never be matched. The danger, the nerves, the physical revelations made to each other through such an intimate act was without comparison.

  Eve lay quietly in Callen’s arms, her head spinning with a thousand different thoughts. Callen hadn’t been as rough as others she’d been with, not that there had been many, only two before him, but Callen made the act as enjoyable for her as it had been for him. This wasn’t usual with the others she’d known. They lay in silence until their skin cooled with the passing of a very faint breeze across them. Their breath was calm and quiet and Callen’s heart could no longer be felt to the touch of his chest.

  “Why did you ignore me at dinner last night?” he asked, breaking the silence.

  Eve explained she’d been asked to avoid him by Ky and she admitted that until Callen showed, she and Ky seemed to be heading towards some sort of relationship. She wasn’t sure if it was this, or Ky’s sense of duty, which made him so adamant. But she was told Callen may not be welcomed into their world and it would make things complicated if she’d become too close to him. Callen wanted to know what would happen if he wasn’t welcomed, the possibility sounding ominous. Eve didn’t answer and Callen realised that his wait in the camp may only be a momentary calm in what had already been a turbulent journey. Callen pushed the question. He had to know the worst that could happen. Eve tried to avoid answering, but Callen wouldn’t let her.

  “People get taken away. They call it being exiled, but no-one really knows what happens to them.”

  Callen went quiet and the two lay still. Finally Callen got up without a sound or a word of explanation. He dressed quietly as Eve watched.

  “I wouldn’t let them do anything to you,” Eve said. “I’d help you get away if I had to.”

  “And how far would I get?”

  “All the way home, if I came with you,”

  Callen could tell she meant every word and he couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to know the feelings he was having were shared. Her willingness to put herself at risk made him like her even more. He dropped to his knees and kissed her as she lay on the bed, covered only by a soft cloth blanket lying across her hips. They didn’t say anything. Callen moved towards the door. He glanced back and then left, heading towards his own sleeping quarters. Every passing day, seemed to be another he would remember for the rest of his life.

  Chapter 10.

  Early next morning Lien faced the Elders with Callen’s case. Twelve sat in judgement. They seemed fairly clear on how they viewed the problem. Here was a young man who had entered their world. They felt he would surely have family and friends he’d soon grow to miss and because of this he should be kept at the camp until he decided to return to his world of his own free will. He should not be given the opportunity to see the Outlocked land for what it was - rich in resources and space and full of thriving communities.

  It had always been felt that once the city’s population discovered the world beyond their walls, they would invade, stripping the benefits away.

  The Chief Elder, Gerda, was in her seventies and spoke up after remaining silent through all the preceding arguments.

  “I remember this boy. I remember arguing that he was no threat to us, because he’d never regained consciousness,” she spoke directly to Lien, who nodded at the accuracy of the old woman’s memory.

  “Did you argue to let him return then, young man?” she said to Lien, who was now in his late thirties and not considered to be young at all by Outlocked standards.

  “I thought he should stay.”

  “And now?”

  “I still believe he should stay.”

  “You are a City born, aren’t you?” she asked amongst the silence of the other Elders.

  “Yes, I am.”

  He gave a brief account of his arrival in his early twenties and the contribution to the community he’d made since. Gerda acknowledged his work and effort, before continuing with her questions.

  “What do you think would happen to us, if the population inside the city were told of the freedoms we have?”

  Lien thought the question over for a moment before answering.

  “I don’t think they’d believe it. Not unless they saw it for themselves. And they never would, because they’re terrified of everything outside the city walls.”

  The answer sent a murmur around the table of Elders and through the gathered onlookers.

  “What is this boy like?” Gerda asked.

  Lien told her he seemed decent. Certainly he had character and given the trials he’d been through he’d proven himself brave as well. The Elders began to talk
amongst themselves before Gerda put forward a suggestion that broke all the rules.

  “I want to meet him. We have to decide if he stays or goes and it’s not fair to do that without speaking to him. I don’t think sending him back at that point would cause any more of a threat than we already face.”

  Gerda’s great respect brought concurrence. The fairness of allowing Callen a chance to speak for himself seemed the least they could do.

  The ride back to the camp should have been relaxing, but Lien had so much to think over, the day and half’s ride went quickly. How would he explain what lay ahead to Callen and how would the young man react to the Outlocked world? The boy would get to see more of the surrounding country side and its communities, than any free City dweller had ever seen before.

  Back in camp Callen and Eve were managing their clandestine relationship to perfection. Both hated being apart, but both knew they had to endure in order to let their relationship go unnoticed. Callen couldn’t think, eat or sleep, without having images of Eve entering his head. Eve was suffering the same feelings towards him. She’d thought she’d been in love once before, but in comparison, it had fallen a long way short.

  Late at night the couple met again at the well. They sat talking about Callen’s fears concerning the future and the problems he may be forced to face. Eve was adamant that the harshest of all sentences, exile, wouldn’t be considered in his case. Having only his girlfriend’s opinion to assure against such a fate was not altogether comforting. As they had done every night since the first time they lay together, Callen followed Eve to her room. She took his hand and the two moved inside. They were quickly naked and on the bed enjoying each other.

  The initial giggling and play disappeared quickly tonight, as the urgency and intensity of the act took hold of them. Then they heard a noise from the room next door. Eve stopped short.

  “Dad’s back,” she said.

  “What?” said Callen, a look of pure terror on his face.

  “Dad’s back from seeing the Elders.”

  “Lien’s your dad?!”

  “Didn’t you know?”

  “How could I know?!”

  “That’s why I’ve got the room next to his. Didn’t you wonder where that door led?”

  Callen almost threw Eve off the bed as he raced to retrieve his clothes. There was a knock on the adjoining door and Callen, still naked, momentarily froze as he looked at Eve. He jumped behind the door that began to open. He held his clothes against him and held his breath.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Lien said, as he poked his head into the room. “I saw the light, I just wanted to say goodnight.”

  Eve had covered herself over with a sheet and asked how his trip to the Elders went, before pressing for the decision they’d made concerning Callen. Lien explained no decision was made and he’d be going back with Callen, who’d have to plead his own case with the Elders. Eve was quick to volunteer to accompany them. A surprised and delighted Lien agreed. Having his daughter with them would make the trip a great deal more pleasurable. The two bid their good-nights, before Lien closed the door. Callen almost buckled at the knees in relief.

  “How could you not tell me he was your dad?!” he whispered, as he hopped around the room putting his pants on. Eve thought he looked cute as he tried to dress. She couldn’t help laughing moments later as he slipped on one of his pants legs and crashed into her dresser.

  “Are you alright?” Lien called from the other room.

  “Just getting another top,” Eve lied.

  Lien seemed satisfied with this, called out ‘Night’ and headed for his own bed. Callen shook his head and began mumbling to himself about already being in enough trouble without getting into more. Eve wrapped herself in the sheet and began dancing around the room enjoying the fun of impeding Callen as he dressed and tried to leave. She kissed him as he continued to protest about Lien. As angry as he was, he was too much in love to miss another opportunity to kiss her properly. It was a hard, forceful, angry kiss and Eve loved it.

  “Goodnight,” he said harshly on breaking, and walked out of her door still shaking his head in disbelief. Eve went back to her bed. Moved the sheets up to her shoulders and blew out the nearby lamp. She never once lost the grin from her face.

  The next morning, as Callen lined up to get his breakfast, a young man came to tell him Lien wanted to see him immediately. Callen was sure he knew what it was about. He’d had the benefit of being a fly on the wall the night before. Nonetheless, there was a slight fear his presence in Eve’s room may have been discovered and Lien was having him summoned to discuss more than an upcoming journey.

  A nervous Callen entered Lien’s office.

  “The Elder’s have asked to see you, so they can decide what to do with you.” Lien said.

  Callen visibly relaxed.

  “Eve asked if she could accompany us. I’ve told her she could, but if you’d rather I said no ...?”

  “No,” Callen blurted out, slightly too quickly. “It’s fine. I don’t mind who comes with us.”

  Lien was pleased to hear it and Callen, gaining confidence, continued with the subject of Eve.

  “I never knew she was your daughter,” he said.

  “She doesn’t like me treating her like she is. Not officially, anyway. I’m very proud of her, but she’s an independent young woman - likes to be treated just like everyone else. Truth is she has my measure - but don’t you ever tell her that.”

  Callen smiled. He didn’t need to be told this. Lien continued.

  “She’s also been great support to me, since her mother died. That’s why I thought it’d be nice to have her along. I hope she behaved herself while I was away?”

  Callen looked concerned by Lien’s question.

  “Last time I went away she had everyone on the base in trouble.”

  “Everyone?” Callen looked disturbed.

  Lien laughed as he recalled the incident.

  “She organised some sort of competition with the horses. Jumping, racing, you name it. When I got back there wasn’t one horse fit enough to work. They all needed rest for the best part of a week.”

  Callen gave a shallow laugh out of relief more than anything else.

  Lien explained about the journey to the Elders. It would take them over a day and would introduce Callen to a great deal more of the Outlocked land than any free city dweller had seen before. They would leave after breakfast and Callen would be under Lien’s charge. He was to obey everything he was told and would not be allowed to fraternise with others along the way. He would be travelling to see the Elders and no one-else.

  Callen assured Lien understood and thanked him for what he was doing for him.

  Breakfast came and went and as Callen walked to his dorm, he saw Eve saddling three horses in the yard. He wanted desperately to go and speak with her, but standing in the middle of the camp for all to see wouldn’t have been the place, so he continued on.

  When Callen was called to join Lien and Eve, they were already gathered around the horses. Lien was packing the last of his gear, a fishing rod, in case he had the opportunity to indulge in one of his great passions. He and Eve mounted their horses with an ease that comes from years of riding, but Callen was left looking at this incredibly large animal with a mixture of fear and confusion. Having watched Lien and Eve mount, Callen tried to copy what he’d seen. With his foot in the stirrup and a squeaking from the leather saddle, he managed to gain enough leverage to pull himself up. He sat high and looked uncomfortable as the three passed through the gates of the camp. Lien and Eve rocked in motion from the horse, while Callen bumped and bounced with every step his mount took. For him, riding in this manner, for the next few days, would become one of the most painful experiences of his life.

  Eve and Callen kept their distance for most of the trip. They stole glances and joined heartily in conversations initiated by Lien, but rarely found themselves talking alone. As a result their conversations were forced and trivial. Lien re
ad this as a sign the two were not becoming any closer. Something he wasn’t displeased by.

  Within two hours of starting out, Callen was too sore to continue. He’d been bounced upon the hard leather saddle hundreds of times and his rear could take no more punishment. He stopped his horse in a clumsy manner and dismounted. It took Lien and Eve a few moments to notice. When they did they quickly went to him, relieved to find his problems more embarrassing than serious. Callen was happy with Lien’s suggestion to walk until he felt recovered enough to give riding the horse another try. Eve could only smirk and enjoy the situation, something Callen wasn’t impressed by. Lien noticed the exchange and felt his daughter was being a little insensitive. He took it upon himself to keep Callen from feeling alone and dismounted his horse to walk with him.

  “How’s the city?” he asked.

  Callen found it a strange question. The city was nothing like the Outlocked world. It had no freedoms, nothing of the spontaneity and yet he marvelled at how the Outlocked took what they had for granted. None of this, he could properly convey to Lien. How could any of the Outlocked understand what the City was like? Callen answered Lien’s question poorly.

  “The City’s very different to this,” he said, hoping the comment would suffice.

  “I know. I don’t miss the rules, or the plastic.”

  Callen looked to Lien with surprise.

  “I was eighteen when I escaped my workgroup. I’ve lived here eighteen years. In fact next month it’ll be nineteen,” Lien said.

  “What were you incarcerated for?”

  “I was a university student. We were trying to change the world. Then my girlfriend fell pregnant. She begged me to find someone who’d help us. She bled to death. In court, the man who performed the procedure identified me and here I am.” The two men walked for some distance in silence.

  “Which world do you like better?” Callen finally asked.

  “Look at her,” said Lien, indicating his daughter riding slowly ahead of them.

  ”Get to know my daughter a little better and you wouldn’t have to ask that question.” Callen blushed deep red and turned his face away from Lien, who read nothing in the reaction. The two continued walking.