Okay, okay, don't kill me quite yet! It's been a long time. AGAIN! I really thank you guys for sticking with me. Oh cripes! I was just looking at some of the author pages of my reviewers, when I saw how many Favorite Author lists I was on. To say I was stunned is a huge understatement! Thank-you guys! I'd never have thought ...
When I saw that, I realized how much I'd neglected this story, and I wrote this part, short as it is. Less than a week to the next one, I PROMISE!
Thanks to theladyoflorraine, NativeSonsation, Lily23, Anna, nameless, Emily, Ally, Christine, dani, and especially, *~Amethyst~*. Thanks so much, try not to get too frustrated with me, I'm working hard. This story is one writers block after another, but so satisfying to write!
Everyone's favorite part! Disclaimer!
The Giver belongs to Lois Lowry, it isn't mine, don't sue. However, **deep breath** Goren, Koren, Angela, Duke, Jake, Aimmee, Toomar, Yanheld, Jinkie, Eliza, Yanis, Granny, Gretele, Honey, and of course, Dawn.
Waiting for My Sun To Rise
Chapter Four
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Are you sure you're okay? Bruno asked Phillipa.
I'm fine! Now tell me exactly what THAT was. Phillipa. told him irritably.
I only got the two second version. It won't help us much. I heard that an ancient Receiver had gone mad and was taking over computers. I also heard that when you find her, you're supposed to smash the computer. Bruno told her.
You're right, that is vague. Let's go talk to Lily, she should know what's going on here. I've never heard a rumor that hasn't gotten to her. Phillipa. suggested.
That's a good idea. I just realized something. Jonas is out of town. But lets go to Lily. My sister in law sucks up all news. I suppose that's why she's a reporter. The two grinned at each other. They'd been close friends for many years. As far back as either could remember anyway. Neither could remember the Sameness, or the rebellion, they'd been too young, but they'd been raised by Asher and Fiona. They exited the run down building and walked in the direction of Lily's dwelling.
When they got there, the door was open, and flapping in the slight breeze that was blowing. They heard voices from the kitchen, so they went in that direction.
Lily was standing in the kitchen, talking to Asher. No! I'm serious! There is something really wrong here! The whole town is buzzing with gossip, and I know something isn't right!
Honey, I didn't hear anything. Not a word. Now, please, dear, I have work to do! Asher told his wife.
Hi Lily, Asher. We, um, have a problem. Phillipa.
Lily spoke up, Does it have anything to do with holograms that take over computers? Lily looked stupefied, and that wasn't a look often seen on her face.
Lily and Asher's marriage had begun as a marriage of convenience, but had slowly evolved into something more. The two were now enjoying a second childhood of sorts, and acting like total fools. But it made them happy, and if Lily wasn't happy, nobody was!
Yeah, something like that. . . Bruno explained, and slowly, Asher's mouth dropped open, and Lily's grin widened.
I have just the thing! Lily smirked, and strode from the room. Bruno wondered what she'd bring back. It would have to be something unusual, or someone would have already thought it up.
Lily walked back into the room. In her hand was a long tube, that got wider towards the end. One of my favorite Memories was of a game of some kind, and a lot of people had things like these. They are some kind of voice amplifier, like a microphone, only we won't have to plug it into the infected computer system. Lily looked proud of herself, and Bruno took a doubtful look at the oblong tube. That. . . Thing, would help them tell people about the hologram? Well, he sure didn't have any better ideas.
They walked out of the house, and as soon as they were outside, Lily brought the tube to her face. Attention! Attention please! All people must turn off all computers, repeat, all computers, and report to the Assembly hall, immediately! Repeat, immediately!
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Aimmee heard the command, and blessed the person who knew what they were doing. Her staff quickly shut down their computers, and left. Well, ten seconds had done that? She should find that person and ask their secret. Aimmee had been trying to get her staff to do just that for about ten minutes.
Pressing the OFF switch on her computer, not even bothering to shut down, she left the building as fast as possible. They could narrow down the buildings that Angela could be in, and trap her back into her tube. Hopefully. . .
The streets were almost deserted, except for four people who were still giving instructions to the stragglers, and then running to the next building, and starting over.
Aimmee recognized one of them.Asher! Asher, however did you think of that? It was brilliant! We just have to close out the areas she can get into and narrow it down! Then, the woman with what she assumed was a microphone turned. Aimmee took a step back, and scowled. She didn't like Lily, and Lily didn't like her. She wondered how a brat like her had attracted such a great person as Asher.
Um, honey? Why don't you go calm everyone down at the Assembly Hall? Then give them something to do. Games or singing or something. Good luck! Aimmee knew he was trying to forestall a disagreement between them, and she guessed she didn't blame him. Lily merely nodded, glared at Aimmee, and ran after the last group of people.
How did you guys find out about Angela? I'm pretty sure it isn't public knowledge yet. She saw Bruno and Phillipa. glance at each other.
We had some first hand experience. I volunteered to work in bike repair today, and well, I think you can figure it out from there. She's out of that system now. Phillipa. told her. She nodded.
Alright. Now, my plan is to close her out of the network, and trick her back into the tube. Aimmee told them.
That really could work! Bruno said excitedly. But we had better cut the other systems too. We aren't sure what she can get into, for all we know she can get into lighting, or heating systems too.
Good point. why don't you too go to the main power plant and shut that down. It won't be dark for hours, so we should have some time. Aimmee agreed, and the two ran off.
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Curses. I'll have to get out of this system before I'm forced out. Ha! They thought they could force a genius like her back into the tube? As if. Not happening! She was too smart for something like that. Angela forced her electrons into a stream, and flowed into the next adjacent system. Records catalog.
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The trees faded into large fields and orchards. Eliza knew they were getting close. She tried to think what it must have been like for the people who lived here during the Sameness. As always, it was beyond her. Duke had tried to explain it to her once, but he'd only confused her even more. Would they rescue Dawn? What about Granny and the water? Would they help that too? Her head spun with unanswerable questions.
As Eliza watched out the window, houses appeared, just over a small river. They went over a bridge, and she looked down. Clear, blue water stared back at her. Not like their own river was now. All those people. . . She'd have to do something.
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Dawn peered around the corner. She snuck down the hall, looking right, left, then right again. At the end of the hall, she pulled a key from her pocket, and turned it in the lock. Slowly, she pushed the door open. She entered, then ran to the bed.
As Gretele opened her mouth, Dawn presses her hand over it, and shook her head. Gretele nodded. Dawn let her hand drop to her side. She pointed to the door, and mimed that Gretele was to follow her. Again, Gretele nodded.
They were soon out the door. They crept down the hall, and then to a back doorway. Dawn clicked a code into it, and it slide open. It opened to a wasteland.
Tears came to her eyes, but she brushed them away, lingering over the cuts on her face. Maybe with some care, she wouldn't look like the other Clan members.
Dawn mouthed, Can you drive?
Gretele nodded. Dawn led the way to a van, and pulled a card from her pocket. She slid it into the check, and the door opened. She climbed over the drivers seat, and Gretele got in after her.
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Gretele looked for a key of some kind, but didn't find one. Finally, she just pushed a red button where the key hole would be. the engine started, and Gretele pushed down onto the pedal. Soon, they were out of sight of the complex, and it's pollution.
What happened to you? Gretele asked Dawn.
It was the only way I could think of to get door keys, codes, and trust to walk around. Dawn told her simply. Gretele's heart went out to her. She seemed so hard, so unemotional. She chanced a look at Dawn's face under the hood of the typical Clan tunic. She was stunned to see it crisscrossed with cuts. She hadn't thought. . . She'd been wrong.
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Randall pushed the last cylinder into the river, and watched it float away. He thought he saw one break open. Oh well, wasn't his fault! He began to move back into the building, pushing his cart in front of him.
He tuned his face to the sky, and bright sunlight caressed his scarred face, just before he entered the door.
He thought he heard whispering coming from behind him, but it was probably just the wind.
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What is that place Yanheld? They just dumped something into the water. A small voice asked a tall man next to him.
I don't know Toomar. But I'm going to find out. You go to Goren's farm and tell him something is up. I don't like the looks of this. A smaller man slung his hatchet over his shoulder and ran into the forest, automatically blending in and becoming one with the plants that formed his life. Now the man ran for that life. It was his turn to do the protecting.
Yanheld dropped to the ground as dozens of carts came out of the largest building. He narrowed his slanted eyes, and hissed. He watched.
The men came to the shore and began to throw large cylinders into the water. As Yanheld watched, several broke open and leaked brown liquid into the already soiled river. There was something very, very wrong here.
Yanheld began to slither like a snake back the way he came. Soon, he was only a brown streak in the ground. It was his talent to blend in. And his right. Nothing was going to take that away from him.
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The river screamed in pain, and the forest felt it's pain. The winds drew closer, and the ground began to tremble. All felt the rivers anguish. This had to stop. but the river didn't know how. Nobody did. The only humans they knew cherished their water, and nourished their trees, and blessed their wind. None were like this.
The winds blew harder, and a storm began to form. The elements were scared, and chaos came to knock.
~Siti~