Inner City Page 12

  “Do you know how great it would be if you had some of the things we have inside the city?”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Why can’t it change?”

  “They’re not going to let you go back. If you try you could end up in serious trouble.”

  Callen’s mind was made up. He was sure the two worlds were victims of isolation from each other.

  “The city doesn’t understand what’s out here.”

  “And if they did they’d take everything from us.”

  “You don’t know that”

  Callen took Eve’s hand and held it firmly.

  “I’m going to go back.”

  “What if the Elders won’t let you?”

  “No-one let me leave the city, but I’m still here.” Callen stood and began walking back towards the campsite.

  “I’m going to talk about it with Lien. He’ll understand what I’m talking about”

  Eve couldn’t believe the sudden change in alliances.

  “You’re just going to leave me?!”

  Callen stopped and walked to her slowly.

  “I don’t want to, but there are people I care about in the city as well. They deserve to know the truth.”

  “How do you know they’d want to hear it?”

  “Everything that’s happened to me has happened for a reason. I have to do something with it.”

  He turned and walked back towards Lien. Eve maintained a barrage of disapproval at his side. Everything Callen had ever told her about his life and his disenchantment with it was thrown back at him. Eve couldn’t understand, after all he’d been through, why he was willing to risk his life to attempt the impossible. Callen had to try – even if those in the City refused to listen to him.

  “Do you have any idea what your people did to this world when they shut us out!” Eve screamed at him in desperation.

  Callen didn’t stop walking.

  “There was fighting for years and people starving. We had nothing and no help from the city. They only cared about themselves. Why should we share anything with them?”

  Callen stopped walking. He’d only ever heard the decision to close the city described as one taken for the good of mankind. This was the cornerstone of the city’s argument about their moral right. They shut out people who weren’t deserving, but Callen now knew this was a lie.

  He couldn’t change the past, but he could change the present and hopefully, the future. He tried to explain this to Eve, but she was determined to stop him risking his life for people who didn’t want their lives changed. The pair shouted at each other with no regard for being heard.

  Lien approached like a man seduced to an attraction by a fanfare. He watched the two argue for a moment before he spoke.

  “Is there a problem here?”

  Callen and Eve turned and stared at Lien.

  “No,” said Eve, a little too quickly. She looked to her father and forced a smile.

  “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Callen said.

  “And why would you be upset by that?” Lien asked Eve.

  Eve looked to Callen. Lien was sure Callen was about to do the honourable thing and confess their relationship. He suggested they return to the fire to speak and they walked in single file to the camp. At the fireside, Lien took a large log sitting nearby in a pile of dried wood and added it to the fire. They all made themselves comfortable.

  “What did you want to tell me?” Lien asked.

  Eve looked to Callen with concern, hoping he’d think better of telling Lien his plans.

  “I want to go back to the city and tell them what I’ve seen out here. If they knew the truth both the city and you could be better off”

  Eve hoped her father would have the same reaction she did, but when Callen finished Lien didn’t seem too concerned.

  “You need to put it to the Elders,” he said, giving no indication how he personally felt about the idea.

  Lien was disappointed Callen was still concealing his relationship with Eve. He had liked the boy and thought highly of him. Now he was beginning to have his doubts.

  Lien moved towards the area where his bedroll was laid out. He suggested Callen and Eve turn in, reminding them how far they still had to travel to meet with the Elders.

  Callen waited for a safe moment to try and catch Eve’s eye. Eve wasn’t interested in any final good-nights. With a disgruntled shake of her head, she moved away to sleep leaving Callen sitting alone by the fire. Above him stars shimmered through a clear night sky. In front of him the river flowed relentlessly. The water added a symphony to the reflections on the water. Amongst all this natural beauty Callen took note of nothing. As much as he tried to convince himself his new quest was entirely selfless, it wasn’t.

  He was from the city and he’d found a way to stand above the pack. He was excited at the prospect of making a name for himself as the instigator of a major cultural change. For all he’d learnt in the Outlocked world, he’d learnt nothing. He was a city boy and wasn’t ready to notice the simple beauty and harmony of nature. He was thinking of how to gain a life in the city he’d only ever dreamed of.

  Chapter 12.

  The morning arrived and Callen was asleep on his bedroll. The fire was a grave to the vivid colours of the night before. Lien lifted a canteen and submerged it into the water’s of the river allowing the narrow opening of his flask to burp air as it sucked in water. He brought the dripping canteen to the pit of charcoal and emptied it onto the blackened coals. Steam let out with a snap and a whistle as the wood expelled the heat hidden within. The odd shaped charcoal blocks that had once been part of the nearby forest found a deeper shade of black as the water made them glisten in the upcoming sun. Eve was also up and, having refreshed herself in the water’s of the river, was now packing her things ready for the day’s ride.

  Callen rolled over disturbed by the hiss of steam from the fire’s bed. He pulled a jacket up above his eyes, leaving only a tussled head of hair poking out to greet the world. Lien sauntered to him and held the canteen high over the protruding locks, letting the remaining water fall. Gasping for air and trying to reconcile what had just happened, Callen was on his feet. Eve was laughing. Lien was showing no emotion what-so-ever. He returned to the river’s edge to fill his water canteen one more time.

  Callen stumbled over the river rocks to the water and ran a hand over his weary eyes.

  “Morning,” Lien said.

  Callen didn’t respond. He scooped two handfuls of water to his face.

  “How long before we reach the Elders?” he asked, as Lien moved away.

  “Two maybe, three hours.”

  Callen nodded. His resolve to put his plan to the Elders had only grown stronger over night. He was sure he was doing the right thing and as much as he’d like to have Eve’s support, he felt the task was important enough to endure without it.

  The three mounted their horses. Callen looked every bit the accomplished rider until his rump hit the saddle. He let out an audible yelp. Yesterday’s riding had left a painful reminder of his inexperience on a horse. Both Eve and Lien looked around on hearing his pitiful cry. They saw him gently settle back into the saddle, before turning away with broad smiles on their faces.

  They continued their journey in silence. Everywhere Callen looked, nature dictated the landscape. Rocks and earth mixed easily with discarded leaves, building a blanket of decay that would give birth to the next generation of nature’s landscape. Occasionally a rock would reveal itself as an old form in cement, through a sharp angle or a corner stone, but the presence of what had once been, only impressed upon Callen that his was a transient world once ruled by people who tried to conquer nature instead of living alongside it.

  Lien rode far enough ahead that Callen and Eve were able to speak in private. “Are you still mad at me?” Callen asked.

  Eve was.

  “Have you changed your mind?”

  “No.”

  Eve dug he
r heels into her mount and her horse booted into a canter, leaving Callen on his own well behind. She had talked all she cared and knew their ride was almost over. Callen wasn’t listening to reason and she knew she’d run out of time to change his mind. She joined her father up ahead.

  “We’re almost there,” she said.

  “Almost,” said Lien, intrigued that Eve had left Callen behind.

  “Getting tired of our guest?” he asked, with some degree of satisfaction.

  “I think he’s crazy.”

  “He’s brave, or stupid,” Lien said, looking to Eve for a response. Eve didn’t dare look at him. She simply took his words on board and looked to the road ahead.

  As they rode on, people began to appear in greater numbers. There were signs of life everywhere and except for the absence of buildings, Callen could have sworn they’d come across a community. Children appeared from all points playing with rudimentary toys. A number of people walked with purpose, either alone or in couples, some carrying baskets heavy with food. Callen marvelled at what he saw and delighted in the laughter of the children playing their games. In the city people were too busy for such simple pleasures. But here, they stood watching him, chatting with smiles on their faces and waving. There was an ease around these people Callen had never found in his own world.

  Soon the surrounding countryside came alive with people his age. They looked harmless, but were clearly on guard and had been aware of his approach long before he’d become aware of their presence. The countryside was well treed and steep in all directions. They had reached a plateau, half way up a long inclined trail. All three travellers were led towards the mouth of a cave. They dismounted, giving their horses to those greeting them and were then led down a long corridor. Callen couldn’t believe what he was seeing; lights that burnt brightly and clean concrete walls. The floor was of slate, expertly laid and reeking of a modern world.

  On reaching two large wooden doors along the corridor, the three were asked to sit on a long wooden bench. A moment later a woman approached from the far end of the corridor. Her shoes clicked against the slate floor with every step.

  “They’re ready for you now,” she said.

  The door opened and Callen and Lien were ushered towards the chamber. Eve stood to join them. The women became awkward as she explained to Eve that the viewing areas had long been filled for this session. Only Callen and Lien would be required to put Callen’s case to the Elders and there wasn’t even one spare seat to accommodate Eve. She and Callen shared a last look as the doors closed, locking her out of what felt like the most important moment of her life.

  Callen hesitated upon reaching the doorway. Inside, wooden benches circled the room like an amphitheatre and seated far below, at the base of steep steps, twelve Elders sat as a large semi circular table. Every eye in the room was staring straight past Lien and directly at Callen. He followed Lien who was in turn following the young woman. On reaching the level of the seated Elders, Lien and Callen were shown to seats.

  The moment they took their places a murmur began from the interested onlookers and the Chief Elder, Gerda, began shuffling through papers in front of her. With a crack from a small gavel she brought the chamber once more to silence and quickly ran down the history of Callen’s case. She began with the first judgement made on the boy when he was only seven years old, continuing through to his arrival, capture and appearance on this day. As she read, not one person in the room moved. Callen was visibly nervous, not knowing the process or procedure that was to be followed and suddenly, very much aware that he was being judged, possibly for his life.

  Some of the Elders scribbled notes to themselves on paper, others simply turned and looked towards Gerda who had asked to meet Callen face to face. She was quick to take the lead and introduced herself, explaining that it was she who had asked for him to be brought before them. Callen nodded his head in understanding and thanked her for the opportunity, trying his best to give a good impression of himself. Gerda then asked a number of questions, ranging from requests for information on his upbringing, family and friends, to his spiritual beliefs. Callen answered each question carefully. Lien listened to each reply and wavered between feeling pity and relief towards the answers Callen gave. It was obvious that most of their discussions on their trip to the Elders, Callen had either disregarded or not properly understood.

  “Do you understand nature?” Gerda asked abruptly.

  Callen didn’t quite understand what was meant and his quizzical look provoked a further explanation.

  “Tell me what you think of nature. It’s not a trick question. I’d just like to hear what you think,” She said.

  “Nature is the world we live in,” Callen began. “It’s the air and the ground and the animals.”

  “Where does the human race fit into nature?”

  “We live with nature to a degree. We use what we can and change what we can’t to make life easier.”

  Callen was pleased with his answer. It was everything he’d been taught in school, except for the part about living with nature. Callen had thrown this in of his own accord, thinking it’s what they wanted to hear. It was certainly not a view supported by those in the city, but Callen genuinely felt it true given what he’d seen.

  Gerda thanked Callen, then went to work in quiet tones with her colleagues discussing his fate.

  Callen turned to Lien with alarm.

  “Is that it?”

  “You could have said more if you wanted.”

  “What about my idea about the two worlds?”

  “Are you still sure you want to ask?”

  “I wouldn’t have told you about it if I wasn’t.”

  Lien tentatively got to his feet. It gained the attention of the Elders. He apologised for interrupting.

  “It’s just the boy has something else he wants to say,”

  The Elders looked to Callen, still sitting and looking more afraid with each passing moment. Some of the Elders looked annoyed, some intrigued, and others simply showed their attention out of politeness to a stranger who had entered their world uninvited.

  Callen rose and began to explain his vision of the two worlds entwined and the benefits that each could reap from the other. The Outlocked would gain technology that would take them many hundreds of years to obtain on their own, while the city would gain space and additional resources that were badly needed. Callen spoke for almost ten minutes, talking of commitment to a society and the need for both worlds to come together to sow seeds for a better life for each of their populations. It was an eloquent and passionate speech and proved to everyone that Callen was young and naive.

  Callen finished his impromptu speech and stood quietly as silence reigned. Once again it was Gerda who spoke.

  “Who was your grandmother?” she asked.

  Callen was confused and his face showed it.

  “Your grandmother, who was she? What did she do? How did she live her life?”

  “I didn’t know my grandmother.”

  “And your mother?”

  “I’ve have two mothers,” Callen answered.

  Gerda milked the moment like a seasoned vaudeville performer. She did a double take towards her audience.

  “At what age were you reborn?” she asked.

  Laughter broke out and Gerda enjoyed every moment of it. As the laughter died down Callen explained how he was reassigned when he was seven years old. He explained that his first appearance in the Outlocked world was as a result of running away to find his original parents. Gerda sympathised with him, she knew such a thing could not be easy, but it didn’t speak well of a society that Callen felt fit to integrate into their own.

  “You are a young man, yet you are also a son, a grandson and a great grandson. You are from those before you and your existence is because of them. The fact that you don’t remember is a tragedy and an insult to their memory. You are part of your heritage, as you are part of your future. You are also part of nature in the same way. You ca
nnot exist alone, nor can you think of yourself alone. However, in your city, you are an individual. The key to your success is in predetermined goals, measured against others. You must achieve a standard to be given certain rights. This is not nature. You live and breathe as does the world around you, but alone you are nothing. Alone you have no heritage. You cease to be part of nature and therefore nature ceases to be. Life is to be lived, with all its grand uncertainty and hardships. It is not a thing to be regulated and controlled - nor is nature. Begin to control one and you’ll end up controlling the other and both will ultimately cease to be what they should be. Uncontrolled, unregulated, unexpected explosions of energy, that can harm, cause despair, as well as giving great warmth and joy. It is exactly this which makes life worthwhile. Life is the great adventure, because it is unexpected. You may feel that the city has a great deal to offer us, but we feel the city is not yet ready to receive, what we have managed to rediscover about life. And having made that rediscovery, we are not about to give it up and change our lives voluntarily for a people who selfishly forced change upon us.”

  The other Elders nodded furiously in agreement. Applause broke out across the audience. Callen knew he wouldn’t be able to change anyone’s minds. His grand idea had come to nothing. He sat quietly trying to think of what he could do next to argue his case, but he thought of nothing.

  The Elders went back to considering Callen’s fate. Callen sat in silence and Lien looked to the defeated young man. Once more he got to his feet. He felt he had something to add to the discussion before it came to an end. Again the Elders gave their attention to Lien. He apologised a second time for his interruption.

  “Almost Twenty years ago, I came to this land and like Callen here, I was sure the city had more to offer this world than the other way around. I’m now a father and a member of a community. I’m proud and thankful for that. However, when I arrived, the fear was that I’d return and take what I’d learnt of this world back with me. Great lengths were taken to prevent this even though my return would have meant risking my freedom. Over the years I’ve gained your trust. I now command many of your children as they serve with me. Our sole objective is to prevent those from the city from discovering the truth of our lands. I understand the fear that motivates this policy. But is it justified? As much as Callen doesn’t understand our world, I don’t believe you fully understand his.”