Giver3

Here is another chapter updated for you people. I also have some good news, I'm getting new software this week end! So, there should be a new chapter to Waiting for my Sun to Rise very shortly. Thanks to everyone for their patience!


-Original Author's Note-
Sorry I took so long, but I was away from my computer. (The torture!) And unless I really work, it is doubtless I will be able to write another chapter for two weeks. (Going to be a counselor!) I'm leaving Sunday, so, after that, no more parts until two Saturdays after that. As always, please review! It is every writers dream to have many reviews, so please, take the extra moment and leave a comment.

A want to thank Liz Skywalker, Leevee, Jenn, and Meagan for their wonderful reviews! This ones for you four! Especially Liz for reminding me that my story exists by writing a nice review only a little while ago!








Chapter 3
On the road from Elsewhere
December 27, 2245




Jonas struggled at first on his horse, Trish, but with a little, um, in the saddle experience, he found he could at least stay in the saddle. He also had some very observant instructors, the things they said still often rang through his mind. Mainly because they had to remind him every couple of minutes!

Knees in Jonas!

Heels down Jonas!

Fix your fingers Jonas!

And the list went on. Jonas however, was no stranger to the hard work involved in traveling, but even his hardened muscles from riding his fathers bike, then walking towards Elsewhere were sore from having to stay for hours in the saddle the day before.

The night before he'd eaten, helped with the tents, then crashed. Jonas had slept hard, and it had taken Duke splashing water in his face to wake him up. Now they were on the road again, this time for hours longer than yesterday.

Jonas heard the clip clap of a horse coming up behind him, and he turned to see Jake pulling up beside him. You okay? You sure didn't want to get up this morning. But then, who does after their first day of riding? You mentioned Memories. Did you ride horses in memories? Jake asked.

Only once, and it really wasn't the same thing. I how to ride, and the horse knew me. I wasn't really there, though I could see, hear, and smell, I even could feel the saddle under me, but at the same time, I was still in the Annex, and I could feel that too. Do you sort of understand? Jonas explained.

I think so. I was surprised that you knew the names of everything, but never seemed to have used it before, that's why I asked. Duke was wondering the same things. Oh, and by the way, heels down. Jake smirked, and rejoined his twin.

Ha ha, very funny Jake. But Jonas knew he was right, and if he didn't learn how to ride,where would he be in a couple of weeks? Jonas tried to remember how long he was on the road. Two weeks, three maybe, maybe more. But they were moving faster now. He hoped they wouldn't take more than a couple weeks. Jonas knew that when they came to the first Community, all chaos would have broken loose. He remember what the Giver had said once.

Jonas, I'm not only responsible for this Community, but for others too. You will have to be very careful when you go to Elsewhere, I'm not sure when your Memories will fade, probably not before the last Community, I've been there myself, but be careful. Be very careful. He'd said.

He was jolted out of his own memories by the voice of Granny. You okay son? You looked a little out of it for a bit there. Thinking about the Community? Granny's thin eyebrows were arched in concern for him.

Yeah, I mean, yes I'm fine. I was thinking about the Giver. The one part of the Community that doesn't make me want to regurgitate my food, or to rush out and help. Jonas was surprised at his own language. He knew, had he still been in the Community, he would have been chastised. Or worse.

But you aren't in the Community anymore. Or at least, you aren't a part of it anymore. The way you act, it makes me wonder how you ever could have been. In a good way... Granny trailed off, letting him think about what she'd said.

She's right Jonas realized. I'm not part of the community any longer.

Ah, then why do you keep thinking about it. Comparing it.' The little voice in his head asked. Could it be, you want to go back?'

Jonas shook his head, that couldn't be it. He hated the Community. Didn't he?



*** One week later



They topped a mountain, and the plain truth was reveled. For miles ahead, there were trees, flowers, animals, then after a long ways, the land flattened out, and the trees dies off. A week. A week at most until the first Community. I remember this spot. Granny said. She sounded nervous, but when she looked at him, he could find no sign of it in her brave venerable face.

Jonas knew she was right. He remembered it too. He dreaded what he'd see in the first Community.

A little guilt, huh Jonas?'

Get out of my head! His mind screamed. And for a while, the voice backed away. For a time.





The Community
January 3, 2245



One night in the last week, Fiona's parents had disappeared. She didn't know where they were, and to be honest, she didn't really care. Fiona knew that there were way too many empty dwellings. So many people gone. Where did they all go? Surely they hadn't all... died? But, wouldn't there have been bodies. A Memory of a battlefield came to mind, and angrily, she brushed it aside. Not the time for that.

The Elders were regaining control. They had The Home For Childless Adults, the largest concentration of grown people. That WAS something to worry about, because adults, healthy young ones were important to the survival of the Community

The Giver wasn't without support though, as per Fiona's suggestion, they'd helped the Old, and now their main as the Giver called it, was the House of The Old. The oldest weren't much help in physical matters, but their many years of experience in all the places of The Community were invaluable for them.

They'd also found out, that many of the Old still were fine. Just whitened hair, and frailer bodies, some, not even yet very frail.

And to think you once killed them.' Fiona knew that, and was not proud of it, but she liked to think that that was another life, another Fiona. She sighed in remorse.

Another of their few assets, was the Citizens in training. Many, nearly all had joined them, the Memories had taught them the ways of things, and only needed to know the way things could have been. Then they helped.

They also had saved the most helpless of the Citizens. The newchildren. The ones. It wasn't a strange thing to find a young child wandering alone in the road. The Elders didn't care. They knew that the young were the future, if waiting for the grown ups to die was what it took, they would do it. They didn't know, or care to find out about how to have children. It seemed barbaric, but it was simple truth, if a harsh one.

They'd also had a stroke of luck, a former Agricultural worker had told them where the fields used to be, and in that area was grains and vegetables growing wild. Enough for a while at least. They'd also managed to get hold of the Hatchery, so they could breed fish indefinably.

Recipe books in the Annex had taught them how things used to be made, and all it took was deciphering the ingredients to what they were now. Or finding substitutes.

We still are no closer to the Generator than a week ago! A citizen in training shouted. Fiona was brought out of her thoughts, back into the meeting she'd been in for the past two hours.

A boy who had been one of Fiona's school mates, Isaac, replied, "Physically no. But soon we will have more people than them! We even have a few adults now, we should keep doing what we have been.

But Harold, a boy a few years older said, What are we doing besides growing food, and raising fish? We know now how to make things to take over using force! We have Security Guard weapons! I say we go after it!

After a bit more arguing, Asher stood up. Alright guys, both those plans might work, but they both have faults. Isaac's would take too long, while Harold's could get us all killed. Here is what we do. Here we go. I just hope I can do my part.

Group one. You will be building fireworks. These will be set off to distract all of our enemies. This group will include mechanics, laborers, and anyone with vivid memories of fireworks. The Giver has offered to transmit more memories of how to make them to certain people who he thinks he can transmit to. Also, we have several books on the process. Anyone with blueprint knowledge should be in this group. Everyone specified should see the Giver at noon tomorrow for details on this group. Especially Engineers. Please raise your hand to volunteer for this group.

Slowly, over fifty hands went up.

Group two will be setting them off. Many of you will also be in the building process, but I also want Construction Laborers, and anyone with body strength above average. I will need at least thirty of you, hopefully more. Asher explained.

About forty hands went up.

All of you, see me after this meeting in the other meeting hall. He used his pointer to indicate the door that led to the smaller conference room at the side of the Hall

Group three will go after the generator. I will need anyone who was a security guard, or was training to be one, and anyone who has worked on, or near to the Sameness Generator.

Slowly, a dozen or so hands went up.

Fiona will be your group leader. Meet her here after this meeting.

All of you who don't have a job yet will keep us going until two weeks from now when we launch our plan, that night, all of you not assigned to groups, and those who are making fireworks, should make alot of noise and well, general chaos. The Oldest should stay here and guard the fort, tools will be provided to do so. Does everyone understand? Asher finished his bearing was not asking for any stupid questions, and his manner was polite, but firm. No hands were raised.

came the united response. Fiona grinned wildly. Finally we are getting somewhere.

Finally, we will be a REAL community.

~Siti~