The centered text tells you who's POV (point of view if you didn't know) it is from. It switches about midway between Cale and Arabella


Chapter 10

Cale

Cale wasn't sure why he had asked Stella to stop taking the pills. Maybe because they suppressed true emotions…and everyone deserved to have these marvelous, deep emotions; even the bad ones. He couldn't have one without the other. How would he knew what a gift it was to have love and faith and compassion without having the extremities: hate, loneliness and cruelty.

Even the pain and the devastation and corruption from the old world gave him deep gratitude. Katharine withheld no more memories from him. He had a bit of everything. He had the colors, the music, the war, the pain and the love. The choices. All of the choices they had. It was unfair.

Secretly, he had given a tiny bit of everything to Arabella. After all, Katharine hadn't said he couldn't, just that he was to tell no one of what had happened not that he couldn't do it again. Not that he wanted to relive the wars and the pain. That was the one thing he hadn't given to Arabella: the war. She was familiar with pain, but war was a concept he refused to put down upon her.

"Katharine," Cale asked his mentor one morning. "I was just thinking back to Thomas..."

"Don't let the dismal flaws of human kind spoil you're life. I often find misery a most uncomfortable place to dwell. Immaturity and oblivion are much more…joyous," Katharine told him.

"Yes, yes I understand…but I was wondering about where they made the drugs," Cale explained. Katharine fell silent and suddenly refused to meet his eye. Cale guessed she knew about it.

"There are manufacturing plants for almost all of the things we have: the paper, the pencils, the Rehabilitation Center's equipment. They're all made at three manufacturing plants outside of the community," Katharine told him. That wasn't so bad, Cale thought. Why would she be ashamed to tell him that?

"Do they make the syringes at one of them?" Cale persisted.

"No. There is a fourth. Average Laborers don't work there. It's top-secret. Only with those of the highest credentials are aware of it," Katharine said faintly, looking away with that distant, spaced-out look.

"Do we fall into that category?" Cale asked. Katharine gave a curt nod then stood up and began to pace the room. It was unusual behavior. "Where is the manufacturing plant?"

"I don't know. There has never been a need for me to know," Katharine replied unsteadily. A moment passed, and she said, "Oh Cale, there is something I would like to show you. It's about a…"

Katharine never came back to the subject. It wasn't as if he had asked her about it and she had denied all knowledge, but she always just hedged the questions he asked. So very carefully, he had arranged a little field trip without Katharine's knowledge. He had considered taking Arabella and Stella…but then they would ask questions about why they came. He knew that Arabella would be less suspicious, but Stella would be odd as she was just the Speaker-in-training. Arabella was the Assistant Director of the Department of Justice so it was unlikely they'd pry.

It had almost been a year since his Ceremony of Twelve, and he wanted to be there when Tanya became an Eight…but Eight wasn't a particularly important year. Nine would be important. She would get her bike…but Eight. Not that important. So he planned is field trip about a week after the Ceremonies.

Arabella

The Ceremonies in December were not as interesting as they used to be. As the younger child in their family unit, she had none to watch. Evan had moved out of their house to the Childless Adults building and was planning to apply for a spouse. Arabella hadn't seen him since he left. She knew that in the past, family kept in contact…but not she and Evan. It would be weird for him if she came to visit.

"How old is Tanya now?" Arabella inquired during the midday meal break during the first day of ceremonies.

"She's becoming an Eight," Cale replied. "Started community hours last year…nothing new this year. Next year she gets her bike though."

Arabella nodded. "Evan just moved to the Childless Adults building. I wish the Committee would let Mother and Father receive another child…but it's against the rules…"

Cale nodded. "It would be fun to have a newchild in the house. I should mention it to Katharine. Maybe we could get it changed."

Arabella was about to laugh, but considered it for a moment. Maybe Katharine and Cale could get it changed. They were both held in high regard…maybe it would be changed. Cale had repeated told her that they had honor but no power.

"I'd like that," Arabella replied.

Cale nodded, suddenly appearing to be deep in thought. After a few moments, he said, "Have you ever thought about where they made the syringes used in Release?"

Arabella shrugged, trying to ignore the sudden change of topic.

"Katharine told me there was a manufacturing plant outside of the community. I'm going to tour there tomorrow…I was wondering if you'd like to come…since you know about the past and all…" Cale asked.

"Sure. Will it interrupt my training?" Arabella replied, smiling.

Hope you liked it and will review...even if you didn't like it!!! Thanks for reading, and the next few chapters will hopefully become more interesting!!!!

Sincerely,
Marionettes