CHAPTER TEN
On Monday the children returned to The West Coast Academic Achievement Academy which they learned had an abbreviated version, WCAAA or as said in whispers when the teachers were not around, Wacanonymous. So far, their detection by Kevin did not happen. However, they had no idea when they could notify one of the Council of his being there.
They also didn't know who to rely on, for although the Council was quite adamant in condemning Kevin for his activities, some who worked for the Council were not as agreeable.
"Father says that we have to wait," said John as they reviewed their lessons for the next class.
"We could be hunting," said Richard.
"Yes that is acceptable and a righteous purpose, but we have to learn how the Sapien mind works by observing their learning academies, one that we could never do by entering the School. Even my father, The Supreme Chosen, was once almost destroyed by one of the Sapien females because he failed to recognize the warning signals."
They had to agree on that. "But we are more intelligent than they. However can we show the appropriate facial expressions and not be mistaken for one of their serial killers?" asked Elena.
Richard put down his book. "A pleasant smile and the appropriate expressions of grief when one of their animals, a small one, is destroyed." As part of his learning experience, he had watched Lassie and other animal related movies. It had saved him much suspicion when a neighbor's cat got run over by a car. The expression of outrage and his shouting at the driver, calling him a murderer had been a good act. It had made his father proud.
Of course, none of the Dominants would resort to the Sapien serial killer methods of torturing small beasts, which was probably why Attwood and the Sapiens had known that something was amiss. Perhaps if they had dismembered a few dogs or cats, or perhaps drowned a few infants in boiling vats of oil, they would have been undetected until now.
That however was something in the past and besides, had they done such things, the Sapiens would have risen against them before they had a chance of survival.
And in the Dominant culture, survival was more important, more important than clothing or food or shelter. .
Kevin, along with the other teachers, came forward and asked them how they were. Mary showed the correct amount of sadness. "Mother almost lost the baby. The doctor says she has to have complete bed rest."
John, seeing Kevin's look of contempt, spoke up. "He says its just for this pregnancy. Mother had appendicitis. Father plans to sue the hospital."
"So they cut too close," said Kevin.
Mary shook her head. "No she went into the hospital after a month ago. She didn't know she was pregnant and they said she was carrying twins, but one of them was close to where the appendix was. It's to heal the scar." She glared at her brother. "Dad's not going to sue the hospital you idiot!"
"He should."
"He plans to be a lawyer," said Mary, "he wants to sue everybody"
Kevin just nodded and left with the other teachers.
"That was close," said John,
Richard nodded. "Our Masking technique is working."
"Yes, but we don't know the approximate circumference in which Kevin's radar works. He is older than us."
"But we are ready for procreation and once that happens, our power increases."
"So that from now on, we will be equal to Kevin and he cannot stand against us."
They went to their lockers and examined the locks. So far, no one had tried to open them, although Elena discovered a Sapien finger odor, belonging to another female. It was a brush off, when one palmed the combination as one went along the hallway. She knew this was true, for the same finger and hand odor continued for six or seven lockers to the girl's washroom.
"We have to go to the library and examine the reading literature of the school," Mary said.
"Excellent," said John. "According to the schedule, we have a break until eleven, due to the removal of certain plant material from the botany class."
"So that's why Kevin's walking around."
"Tracking more likely."
The library was more like one in a University . Several computers of various operating systems stood along the walls, each connected to the internet and each having their own IP addresses. The shelves in the center contained books, some more appropriate for adults than children. As well there the library was divided as to style, content, and language and even though the Dewey system was used, the amount of material for each subject was increased so that each section was filled with books on a specific subject or agenda. They also had CDs, DVDs as well as VHS and regular tapes. Since WCAAA had budgeted an amount for copying fees, the students were free to copy any material after they paid the fee for the blanks. The school had once included the fee in the tuition, but since not all pupils were comfortable with copying and since the teachers often sprung a quiz on them regarding the copied material, the user fee went into effect.
They say several other students prying through the books or playing one of the various CDs, there being at least four stereo players on the shelf next to the magazine section which had the sign: 'Property of WCAA. Magazines, and Recorded material have a two week borrowing limit. Anyone failing to return them, unless they have a legitimate excuse will have to pay the purchase price. Books have a four week borrowing limit. A fine of 5 cents a day will incur until the book is paid for or returned whichever is sooner. If any material is stolen or misplaced, the borrower must report this along with reason why he or she is not suspect and the local authorities will take steps to investigate. If however the borrower has stolen or lost the item, the borrower will have to pay double the purchase price of the item, no matter what. Students who have a legitimate family emergency such as sudden illness, death, whereby they miss the borrowing time limit will be excuse from any penalties.'
It sounded scary.
Since they were pretending to be Sapiens, the children passed by the text books on philosophy, adult books of a sexual nature, and went to the books designed for those of the teenage years. It was assumed that since the students in the WCAA were more intellectually mature than those of other students, their taste would run to those of the fourteen to eighteen years old variety, but without the content that a normal teenage would desire. No stories of lusty ladies with panting breasts, nor couples groping in the darkness for them.
"No Lady Chatterly's Lover?" asked Richard with a snicker.
"The Sapien reproductive system matures later than ours," said Elena, "however the minds of our male kind and the mind of their male kind are similar in the preoccupation of mating"
Richard nodded to John and they both enjoyed a silent joke.
"What about the audio and visual moving material?" asked Mary who was looking through the video shelf.
"I would suggest The Dirty Dozen. It is a fictionalized account of what may have transpired in the Second Sapien War of the Worlds," said John.
"I am acquainted with that, but I want something more romantic," said Mary, her eyes on Richard.
"Romantic. A Sapien ideal."
"Well better than having us kill each other before procreation takes place. I want the feeling of affection that father has for mother."
This brought another snicker from the boys, but they soon went back to the serious business and finally had rented out as well as The Dirty Dozen, Legally Blonde, and Connagher. They also took out two CDS of two famous rock groups from the 1990s, to see the antiquated music their parents, or least those who had Sapien parents, enjoyed.
"No books?" asked the librarian.
"Read them all," said Mary.
"In both English and Spanish," added John.
"Okay. Two weeks tops and no copying or the RIAA will have your heads."
They should have borrowed some books, but as it was, John and Mary's excuse was appropriate.
"Oh we need more books for the library," added the librarian, "if your parents are able to donate any books, it will be a charitable donation."
"Dad'll be glad. He's got a whole slew of Spanish books."
"Why thank you, Richard."
"A whole slew?" asked Elena when they left and were heading for the next classroom.
"Yes. I used the customary Sapien vernacular."
"It is not. The term is different now."
"But it doesn't fit the profile. Remember I was tutored at home by my father who was damaged mentally during the last Sapien war."
"I apologize," she said, and winked at John.
John, however, was not taking any notice. Like Sapiens, Dominant girls were way ahead of Dominant boys in that sort of thing. He was thinking of how to notify the Counsel without the usual go betweens and had so far, had not found a successful way. .