Prologue
The Chief Elder sighed. It was absolutely unthinkable. How could it possibly have happened? Someone had escaped from the community.
She looked around the empty room. All was painted pale yellow, the same shade of the tunics of everyone in the community. The Speaker sat in the chair in front of her.
"Speaker…" said the Chief Elder, after a long moment of silence between the two.
"Yes?" said the Speaker, a trim gentleman with short hair and dark brown eyes.
"A Murmuring of Loss is to take place tomorrow. I want you to announce it over the intercom speakers today."
"At what time?"
"Sunset."
"What should I say the cause of his loss was?"
The Chief Elder frowned. She could not have anyone know that the boy had run away.
"Tell them that he fell in the river and drowned."
"He was a twelve."
"So?"
"With all due respect, most twelves swim quite well."
She turned away from the Speaker for a moment, thinking. She said, "Cancel that."
"Why?"
"We will make the announcement tomorrow."
"But the boy's Family Unit will be concerned."
"That will not be a problem" said the Chief Elder, "We will conduct an investigation into his whereabouts."
"Will we find him?" asked the Speaker.
"We won't find anything. Do you follow me?"
The Speaker nodded.
"Good. We will then tell the Community and his Family Unit that he has been lost. Then there will be a Murmuring of Loss."
"That's it?"
"No. Then we will send out some of our security guards."
"Where?"
"To Elsewhere."
The Speaker was stunned. No one had ever been to elsewhere, except for the Chief Elder, and the founding members of the community, most of whom had been released long ago.
"But…"
"No. We've got to find him…" she leaned closer, and then she whispered, "…And release him."
"Will the Community know he's been found, if we find him, that is?"
"When we find him." Snapped the Chief Elder. She detested uncertainty. "And no. The Community will know nothing."
There was a long pause.
"I will make the announcement tomorrow."
"I will come and tell you when." Replied the Chief Elder, "you are dismissed."
The Speaker went out.