**wince** So it's been a while, huh? Sorry people. There was something wrong with the reviews when I posted the last one, and I didn't get ant reviews until days later. I missed most of my fav reviewers! Whaaaa!
Anyway, when I don't have reviews to read, I get depressed, and I don't write. So it took a while before I could build up the ambition to write.
Any ways, thanks to all my reviewers, and those who's reviews I did get for the last one, about Koren, Liz Skywalker, anieveIII, and Daine.
Thanks to my fav reviewers, who make me laugh, smile, and think. Liz Skywalker, *~Aymethyst~*, Daine, and Luna.
Okay, the disclaimer. All themes and names belong to Lois Lowry, and I take no claim to them. However, **deep breath** Koren, Granny, Goren, Gretele, Yanis, Trinblek, Hunney, Duke, Jake, Dawn, Aimee, Jinkie, and Eliza are mine, and please ask to use them. Which you are quite welcome to! **eyes widen as she begins to count names.** Thirteen! Wow!
Waiting For My Sun To Rise
Part Three
The Price of Perfection
Aimee watched her staff run around the office, doing just about nothing. She knew the theory of ancient Receivers running mad was hard to swallow, but this!
Um, Aimee, where is bike repair? A woman Aimee did not personally recognize asked her.
Isn't it at the corner a block from the Main Hall? Aimee was puzzled.
No. Nobody knows where it is! The woman began to panic.
Some things never change. Well, find it! And then smash the console so she can't hide there again! Aides ran around her, and out the door. Presumably to go find that darn building.
**********
Koren felt out of place. Even after several attempts by Jinkie to draw him into conversation, Koren was still not feeling welcome. Memories of the Clan still haunted him, and to be honest, he didn't want them to go away just yet. He deserved it, and Koren had never been one to shrink from his fate.
A loud beep interrupted his thoughts, and with an apologetic smile, Jinkie grabbed his cell phone. As he brought the small black phone to his ear, his face grew grim.
Guys, we have a problem. They can't find Angela. She entered the bike repair computer, and nobody knows where it is! Jinkie's report was received with frowns, as those around him remembered that this wasn't a joy ride.
Speed it up a bit Jinkie, we'll have to be back sooner than expected. Jonas told him.
Jinkie pressed his foot harder on the pedal, and the van sped up.
Be careful Jinkie! Keep us on the road! Koren surprised himself by saying. Jinkie only grinned at him, and began to joke with renewed vigor. One could almost forget that they were rushing to save lives. For a while, Koren was himself. The person he hadn't been in many years.
**********
Gretele turned to her escort, a tall man who had agreed to accompany her to Community One. He had been quiet, and always had worn a hood. His name was Trimlek, and even when he was on the ground he looked imposing, but on the back of a tall horse, he looked bigger than the small trees that surrounded him, even though the small pines and oaks ended a couple feet over his head.
Trimlek, are we almost there? I didn't think it took this long to get to Community One. It's been almost two weeks! I know it didn't take Jonas this long.
You're right. It doesn't take this long to get from Community Twelve, to One. But then, that isn't where we're going. He turned and grinned benevolently at her, hood dropping to show a face of scars.
Then, men began to pour out of the shrubs nearby, and with a loud clunk, Trimblek smashed his fist into the side of her head, and she knew only darkness.
**********
Again, conscienceless came over Dawn. She began to remember the last hours. Or was it hours? How long had she been out? Hours? Or days?
The tape that had haunted her mind turned on again. It told her of all the horrible things her father had done, and about how great everything was before her parents interfered. She began to scream, if only to mute the noise in her ears. But it went on. And on!
When Jonas left the Communities, he left us to suffer! He thought of nobody but himself. He ran away, afraid of his burden! Are you Dawn going to let him do this. Join us Dawn! Join us! This Jonas is not you father! He is a demon! Join us Dawn. Dawn... It went on, and Dawn couldn't help but to listen. And began to wonder if her father had thought of the consequences of what he did. She doubted it. She began to wonder what else he hadn't told her. And she began to listen.
**********
Eliza's breath caught as they entered Community Thirteen. It was so...empty. Nobody spoke, and Eliza was in tears before the town disappeared around the bend. Community Twelve was a small dot in the distance.
We have to stop in Community Twelve. I need to talk to Gretele. Just in case. Jonas spoke up for the first time in over twenty minutes. Eliza knew he was her adopted brother, but all she had of him were childish memories of oatmeal, and that first meal. They'd left before lunch. Gabe she knew better, but he couldn't remember Jonas at all. He knew of course, that Jonas had saved him, and he'd actually spent more time in Jonas' company than she had. But he couldn't remember it. She wondered if that was what it was like for the first people of the Community, only worse. Losing all memories of a better time, a happier time. Her people had good records, but they'd left before that point. She recalled her ancestor, Dirk. He'd pulled the people together. They wouldn't have lasted without Dirk. And if they hadn't lasted, what would have happened to Jonas and Gabe? They'd have died. Too many died. Like Community Thirteen.
She pulled her head up. Many more would have died. Old people, babies, like Gabe, and every age in between. Every day, people would die. And nobody would care. At least this way they died in freedom.
Shouting awoke her from her thoughts.
Look! It's Yanis! A tall man with dark brown hair waved them to a stop.
Have you seen Gretele? She left two weeks ago for your Community, and we haven't had word. She had a guide, and she was worried about something. Yanis' eyes met Koren's.
Did you save Dawn? He asked urgently.
We had word too late, and in the wrong spot. Koren got word to Jinkie, who told us. We already had discovered Dawn missing. We went the rest of the way to pick up friends, and now we are going back after alarming news from home. Did Koren show you the holo tube? Well, it had a program in it that used the first Receiver as a form. It has infested our system, and they only have it in hiding. It took refuge in Bike Repair. Jonas told him. From the look on Yanis' face, he'd been hoping for better news.
Koren spoke up, Did the guide have scars on his face, like I do?
Yanis shook his head, I don't know, he had a hood over his head and face. Koren and Jinkie exchanged looks.
I think your leader has been kidnapped by the Clan. Jinkie said grimly.
**********
Phillipa stared at the computer in front of her. The stupid thing was going haywire. I never should have let Harold talk me into this, she moaned. Her friend had always been a trouble maker, which was one reason why he worked in bicycle repair, and she was a teacher. But today, Harold had to be somewhere else, and Phillipa was watching this forgotton place.
The computer began to make funny sounds, and in her frustration, Phillipa kicked it, hard.
A dent was where her foot had been only seconds ago. Oops, she thought, what if I broke it? Then, a mist of sorts began to flow from it, and materialized into a human woman.
What the...
**********
Yanis was frantic. Gretele had helped them all after the Memories, and now there wasn't a thing he could think of to do for her. He felt so helpless!
I can't go with you to Community One. I have to stay here and manage the town. Please, find them. Yanis told them.
A young woman that Yanis didn't recognize walked up to him, put her hand on his shoulder, and said. Sir, we'll do our best. That is the most anyone can do.
Thank you. Yanis whispered, and turned to walk back into the Administrative Building.
**********
Gretele opened her eyes. She was in a closed room of sorts, with no window, and no door that she could see. Shakily, she stood up and turned in a circle. Such a bare room.
An intercom squeaked, and then a female voice came over.
Hello Gretele! I hope you have enjoyed your sleep. I'll be bringing food shortly, and then we can really talk. Ta ta!
Before Gretele could say anything, the intercom was off, and one of the wall began to move outward. A girl, who looked to be twelve or thirteen walked in. Her face wasn't scared like that of the men who had ambushed her, but that didn't mean much. Her eyes narrowed until they were slits.
Who are you? And why did you kidnap me? She demanded.
Why Gretele! Such unoriginal questions. Very well, I am called Dawn, and the Clan kidnapped you because you have inside information about Communities, that we, the Clan, need.
Dawn? But, this girl wasn't a sweet little girl she remembered! What had happened to her?
**********
Bruno heard screams from across the street. What was going on in the Admin building? He jumped up from his seat in the Engineering section of the complex he was in, and ran to the window.
People were flowing out of the Admin building, and separating into teams that ran down the street and into alleys. He walked over to the door, and hailed one of them.
What are you doing? He asked the man who ran over to him.
There is a crazy receiver who can take over computers, and she is a hologram, and the only way to stop her is to smash the computer console she is in, but she went to bike repair, and nobody knows where that is... The man ran out of breath, and trailed off, then ran away.
Bike repair? That's where Phillipa is today! He broke into a run, and ignoring the shouts of his co-workers sprinted to the corner, and ran down aside street for several blocks. He knew where it was because he'd walked Phillipa to the repair office that morning.
He skidded to a halt in front the building, and stared in horror through the window of the unmarked building, Phillipa was standing in the middle of the room, staring at a hologram of a woman. He didn't know why, but he'd expected it to be a man.
Before he could think about it too much, he ran yelling into the building screaming and yelling, remembering what the man had said, he grabbed a board from where it was leaning against the side of the rundown building. He smashed it into the console, watched it smoke, and hit it again.
The hologram muttered before it faded out.
**********
The small trail that led to the Community was almost too small for the large van, and Jinkie was holding the wheel with both hands and grinning like a fool, while leaning over the wheel like a madman set on suicide.
Duke suddenly realized something. Where's Jake?
I left Jake in charge of the school when we left. He's probably reading to the first through third grades in the commons right now. I didn't want to get the kids in a panic. Jonas answered.
Jake became a teacher? Duke asked, stunned.
"Actually, he's a doctor, but I left him at the school because he could do more to help then. Jonas answered, as the swerved near a tree, missing it by inches.
A doctor huh? Figures. Duke muttered.
What did you become? Asher asked him.
I'm a farmer, like my father. I got pushed into it when Dad fell sick. Duke told him bluntly.
I'm sorry. How's Granny? Jonas asked.
She's great. Same as ever, but I didn't want her to exhaust herself by coming with us. She's too old, and we need her in the village. At least until Haretta gets a little older.
Duke answered.
What does she do? Asher asked curiously.
She's our healer. It's becoming harder and harder to fight the sicknesses that have been hitting our home. Haretta is her apprentice. There is an old sickness that has come about, and we can't figure out why it came back. Duke said.
What is it caused by?
Polluted water.
**********
A bubbling creek ran by a large building. The creatures around knew it hadn't always been there. Not like the creek. Big creatures lived there. These big creature were dangerous. Danger to little creatures, and big ones like the deer and bear. Many little and big creatures were dying. Bad water. Bad water... Bad creatures killing water, kill little and big creatures.
~Siti~