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I move to the front of the cabin, feeling the camera following my every move. Does it also hear my words? If I had a chance to inspect the camera, I’d be able to tell. But I don’t dare. I decide it’s safer to assume it does and stare out the window in an effort to
keep my discovery secret from whoever is watching.
The brown and cracked landscape we’ve been traveling over is transitioning to healthier, greener terrain. From several feet above, I can see the soil is also richer. Blacker. The signs of revitalization. The work of another colony. I move forward in the cabin to stand behind the driver’s compartment. Sure enough. Far on the horizon are buildings. Some of them are tall. Much taller than those at home. I wonder what colony is ahead and realize I must have asked the question aloud when Michal answers, “That’s Ames Colony. We’ll stop at the outskirts and have lunch. The Testing committee arranged for it to be delivered to an outpost for us.”
“We won’t get to see the colony?”
He shoots me a smile. “You’ll see it someday. Right now the Testing committee is keeping you contained so you aren’t influenced by outside sources. Now you’d better sit down so you don’t fall over when I stop this thing.”
I return to the passenger cabin, take a seat, and relate Michal’s words to the others—all while feeling eyes watching from somewhere behind a screen. The camera and the knowledge that my movements are being restricted makes my head throb and my shoulder muscles tense. The passing of scenery slows. After a few minutes the skimmer lowers and jolts to a stop, pitching Malachi to the floor.
“Sorry about that,” Michal says, climbing from the driver’s compartment. “I’m still getting the hang of landing this beast. They had to put new brakes on a couple of days ago, which makes it a little temperamental.” He holds out a hand to help Malachi scramble to his feet. Then he hits a button and the skimmer door opens.
Warm air and the smell of fresh greenery beckon as Michal climbs out, followed by the rest of us. A small, squat log cabin sits about fifty feet in front of us. Surrounding the building are evergreen trees, hearty bushes, and lots of tall, flowering grasses. It’s hard to believe dry, decayed earth is just over the horizon. Whoever cared for the land here did their job well.
We follow Michal down a concrete path to the wooden building. Inside is a small kitchen equipped with a table and five chairs. A small bathroom sits off the kitchen. The entire space is probably fourteen square feet and smells of roasting meat, garlic, and vegetables. There is also a large loaf of bread and a block of cheese sitting under a large glass dome on the counter. The air inside is chilly, and Michal warns us not to leave the windows or doors open or we’ll upset the controlled temperature.
One by one we use the bathroom and wash our hands and faces. I opt to go last and wander around the room, pretending to admire the curtains at the windows. I spot the first camera in the light hanging over the large wooden table. The second is in the upper right corner of the kitchen. If there are more, I can’t find them. Seeing the two is enough to take the pleasure from the meal. Still, knowing my every moment is most likely being judged, I eat the stew. I smile. I do my best to laugh. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Michal watching me with an eyebrow raised. He glances up at the camera, then back at me, and smiles.
He knows that I know.
I shove a large piece of bread into my mouth so I have to chew instead of talk, which gives me time to think. Michal’s smile was pleased. Proud. As though I had been given a difficult assignment and aced it.
He wants me to know.
I’m certain of it. That’s why he told us about stopping for lunch when Tomas grabbed the crackers. Sure, it could be chalked up to a mistake. Michal is younger than any other Tosu officials I’ve seen. Still, he wouldn’t have passed The Testing, graduated from the University, or been given this job if he made those kinds of careless errors. Is picking up on Michal’s behavior and what it implies part of the test, or is Michal offering me an edge? Michal opens a cabinet and returns with a heaping plate of cookies. They look like the cookies my mother made for my graduation celebration. Seeing the reminder of home tugs at my heart. The others grab for the unexpected treat. I push back my chair and ask if I can take a walk. “I promise I’ll stay in sight. I just want to stretch my legs for a little while before getting back inside the skimmer.”
“I don’t see why not.” He glances at his watch. “We have thirty minutes before we’re scheduled to leave. Does anyone else want to go?”
When no one hops to their feet, I snag a cookie off the table, head for the door, and step into the sunlight. The air is warm and wonderful. Better yet is the feeling of being free. No cameras. No judging. No worrying about saying or doing the wrong thing that might result in my failure. Knowing what I’m headed for, I vow to enjoy this one last moment of freedom. To store up the sweetness of it to keep me calm and steady through the weeks ahead.
I spot a grove of evergreen trees off to my right and head toward them. The tall grass brushes against my hips as I trek across the thriving ground. I enjoy the crumbly sweetness of the cookie as the trees grow closer.
“Cia, wait up.”
Turning, I squint into the bright sunlight and hold my hand above my eyes. I’m surprised to see how far I’ve come in such a short time. The building that played host to lunch is at least one hundred yards away. Much closer is Tomas, who is moving fast through the tall grass. The idea of sharing my last few minutes of unobserved freedom makes me want to yell for him to turn back. And yet—these are his last uninhibited moments, too, even if he doesn’t know it. I cannot bring myself to take them away.
I wait for him to reach me before turning to finish my trek.
“Where are we going?” His question is a bit breathless.
“Just to those trees.” We walk the next few minutes in silence and have a seat on the shaded, cool ground. “You’d better be careful or Zandri is going to get jealous. She has her eye on you.” I’m teasing, but there is truth behind my words. Every flip of her golden blond hair and bat of her eyelashes is designed to make Tomas notice her. So far, he doesn’t appear to be cooperating. I’m not sure how I’ll feel if he does.
“I’m not worried about her. I am worried about you.” His hand brushes my arm, sending a shiver up my back.
“Why?”
“The set of your mouth, the worry in your eyes. I know your face, Cia. I can tell when something is wrong.”
I shrug and try to deflect. “We just left our families and friends behind and might never see them again.”
“I’ve seen you worry about your friends and family. I’ve seen you stress over getting an answer to a question just right. This is different.” His hand settles over mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. “I know I wasn’t your best friend back home, but you can trust me.”
Can I?
My heart skips a beat and I look away from his intense gaze back at the skimmer—the cabin—where the cameras are waiting. I have known Tomas my entire life. We’ve worked on school projects together, played games, and even danced in each other’s arms for one memorable hour at last year’s graduation party. We haven’t talked as much this year. My fault. More than once Tomas has asked me to take a walk or work with him on some assignment, but I’ve always found a reason to say no. My brothers’ teasing after that party, the other girls’ angry looks, my uncertainty over what those dances meant made me take a step back. Now I have to choose whether to step back again or take a chance and reach out to him. Technically Tomas is my competition, which should make me shut him out.
Soon the others will emerge from the building. Cameras will once again be watching and capturing our every move, possibly our every word. I know that here in the shade of the trees, where I am almost positive the cameras have not followed, is the last opportunity to share my concerns without being heard. My father said to trust no one. But looking back into Tomas’s serious gray eyes, I decide to ignore that advice this one time. If it is a mistake, it is my mistake. The consequences will be mine to live with.
