Chapter 7
"I don't know what to say…astonishing," she murmured in response. "But I can understand why Katharine was always so secretive."
Cale breathed a sigh of relief. She understood! The burden of the past may be just a little bit more light.
"What about the colors? What did you think of them?" he asked curiously, now hungry for what she had experienced as it was no longer his.
"Colors?" Arabella asked, raising her eyebrow.
"I apologize for being vague," Cale said, but continued, "Colors was a quality of all shapes and things in the past...didn't the sun look different from the ocean, which was a different shade from the sky?"
Arabella cocked her head fondly, "…yes…I suppose. The…ocean's…color was peaceful…tranquil…"
Cale smiled. Maybe his secrets of the past may not have to between Katharine and himself! There was a third person who understood which could potentially be very dangerous. What if she showed the memory to someone else?
"Arabella, I hope you know that you can't share that memory with anyone," Cale added quietly.
"Of course not! I would never. They wouldn't understand," Arabella reassured him.
"I apologize for doubting you," he grinned.
"I accept you apology," she smiled back and stood up. "I'd better find Cynthia. She said an important case was being heard today and that I should go."
Cale nodded, wishing she could stay so they could talk more. On the other hand, keeping Cynthia waiting was a bad idea. He watched the younger community members play their petty mock warfare battles and it saddened him. He could do nothing as they pretended to kill their friends. He remembered the days when he too had taken part in them. It was a fun game, he had to admit. Regardless, it imitated the most dangerous, immoral feat of the past. How could he continue in the game?
Restless, he decided to walk to the south Plaza. Katharine had often told him of previous Recievers, namely Jonas, the most radical of them. When she had been born, there had only been one river. The community had since expanded to cross two rivers with four plazas. Two were located between the two rivers and one on either side. Housing units were included in all three plans and the community was still growing. They were thinking of draining the surrounding marshland to expand. Cale expected it to go to Katharine for deciding.
"Hey Cale," Stella said, surprised. "Didn't expect to see you here. Katharine said you were busy, with Arabella."
"She had to go listen to some hearing with Cynthia," Cale explained. "How's your training? I've never met the Speaker before."
"Oh, he's very nice. Its fairly easy. Training isn't that demanding," Stella told him. "How's training with Mother?"
"Fine," Cale said briefly. "We get along really well. The Committee made a good choice."
"That's good," Stella said softly. Cale smiled at her and told her he had to go. As citizens-in-training, they could still volunteer. Katharine often dismissed him from training so he had lots of time to spend. He often went to the Department of Justice to help Arabella. Did the Speaker take volunteer hours?
"Looking for Arabella?" the attendant asked cheerfully. He had come often enough that she recognized his face. He nodded, and she pointed in the direction of the hearing. As the Reciever-in-training, he was allowed to go everywhere, except for private dwellings. Even then, he still could enter if he had a just reason and permission from Katharine or the Chief Elder.
He had been careful not to abuse his privileges. However, he had watched a private ceremony, not Thomas'. It was saddening, how they used a simple injection to kill helpless children and the Old. It was almost disgraceful. He had also gone to other communities and listened to lectures about community improvement. It was a big world, but it used to be ever larger, when the memories had taken place.
He reached the hearing. Cynthia wasn't present, but Arabella was as was his mother. A judge, male, was listening to the case. He didn't know what the transgression was, but it appeared to be a major transgression as everyone seemed to be ill at ease and rigid.
"Cale," his mother had said and gestured for him to sit next to her. "There is a seat over here."
He nodded and sat down, glancing at Arabella who was seated in the opposite row of chairs. The hearing was almost over, and it was just a few minutes before the punishment was agreed to. It wasn't quite as severe as release, but he was being removed from his family unit and being re-assigned as a Laborer with the Childless Adults.
"What do you think?" Arabella asked as they were departing the courtroom. "Do you think they came to the right punishment?"
"I don't the re-assignment was necessary," he told her, and she nodded gravely. "So what was his transgression?"
"I think he hadn't been going back to his dwelling at night, sleeping at the House of Old or something. I can't image how one could get away with staying over night at the House of Old," Arabella confessed. They left the building, and Arabella stiffened when she saw Stella coming up towards them. "Hi Stella, its great to see you again."
"You too," she smiled. "Hey Cale."
"Hi Stella," Cale greeted, smiling back. He was well aware at Arabella's obvious unease. Stella was slightly overbearing, and a bit talktative. Which was probably why they had chosen her for Speaker. She had just started to ramble on about her day and about being polite over the speaker and not showing too much emotion and all this other information. It was a bit boring.
"That's great Stella," Cale said when she seemed about done.
"I wasn't done," she laughed.
"I apologize for inturupting you then," Cale replied.
"I accept. Anyways, after…" and she began to drone on about going to the House of Old for some volunteer hours. That had been one of the rules that had been changed in the past few years. Volunteer hours didn't stop at Twelve. They continued on until one entered Childless Adults and were not required, just optional if one had the time.
"Oh, by the way Cale," Stella said, as if it was her conclusion, "Mother said to tell you that they changed Thomas' release date to today. I think its happening now…she said late afternoon…"
Cale froze. The release! Giving a quick glance to Arabella, he said, "Thanks so much, Stella. It was great talking to you. I'll see you later, but I have to go!"
"Bye," Stella called, then glared at Arabella, "Are you going too?"
"Yes," she said quickly and ran off.
"You cannot watch the release," the attendant repeated for the fouth time. Cale was at his wits end. "The rules say that no one except the doctor can be present at the release of a convicted citizen. It is not allowed."
Cale could sense Arabella's tenseness. They could potentially get in a lot of trouble if Cale talked back to the attendant. Even though he was allowed to be rude and such, he avoided abusing it. He did not want to be an obnoxious Reciever.
"Cale!" someone said sharply. It was Katharine. "Excuse me, I need to talk to him for a few seconds."
"Go ahead," the attendant said suddenly cheerful.
"As the Reciever-in-training, you will have access to the record later on. Let it go this time and you may watch it later," Katharine said softly so that Arabella wouldn't hear. She wasn't aware that Cale had given her the memory of the sunset.
"Ok," he replied, then to Arabella, "We're not getting anywhere and we're just taking up her time. We'd best go."
"We apologize for taking your time," she told the attendant and quietly followed Cale out of the building wordlessly.
Tell me what you think. I'm pretty close to dying for feedback!!!! (ALMOST literally).
Happy reading,
Marionettes
