AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 6
THE CRY OF the siren drills my eardrums as I climb out of bed. I pull on my hand-me-down boots and my warmest jacket before slinging my bag over my shoulder. The watch on my bag reads four in the morning as I lock the door and hurry down the stairs to whatever awaits.
Doors slam. Feet pound the halls above me as I step onto the first floor. Ian and the other guides are standing at the base of the stairs. Two of my fellow first years, Griffin and a boy named Lars, stand beside them. I was quick. They were faster.
Standing beside Ian, I watch other first years race down the stairway. The siren goes silent as the last student arrives. Only five of them have brought their bags, but all have enough wits to have worn coats.
“Good morning,” Ian announces. He climbs three steps, turns, and faces us. “There are two skimmers waiting across the bridge. They will transport you to your next challenge. Once we arrive at our destination, I will explain what is expected of you.”
Ian turns on a flashlight and leads the way out the door. The hazy moon and Ian’s circle of light help us navigate our way down the wet path. I am careful to keep to the center of the bridge as I cross. While there are rails on either side, I do not want to risk a misstep.
As promised, two skimmers like the one that brought me and my fellow Five Lakes Testing candidates to Tosu City are waiting on the other side. They are long and sleek and designed to skim above the earth, making them perfect for traveling across terrain broken and scarred by the Seven Stages of War.
Since most of the first years pile into the front skimmer, I climb into the one in back. Soft lights along the ceiling illuminate the interior, which is tall enough for me to stand upright. Plush gray cushions line both sides of the passenger cabin. Near the back is a cabinet that in the skimmer Michal piloted over a half year ago was filled with snacks. To the left of the cabinet is a door that past experience tells me leads to a small bathroom. The one surprise is the windows. They are fitted with a black, opaque material that prevents anyone in the cabin from seeing out. Wherever the skimmer takes us will be a complete surprise.
With that mystery in mind, I take the opportunity to slip into the small bathroom and close the door. On the other side I hear murmurs as students climb inside. Pulling open my bag, I take out the Transit Communicator and flick on the compass and positioning locator. The small machine hums and two green numbers light
up the screen, giving me the precise longitude and latitude of my current location. I hit the Save button, turn off the device, and slip it back into my bag. The note warned me to be prepared. I am doing my best to comply.
Hoisting the bag’s strap onto my shoulder again, I slip back into the passenger compartment and take a seat in the rear next to Will. Across the aisle is Rawson. While his hair looks as though it hasn’t seen a comb in the last twenty-four hours, his eyes are alert. Enzo sits next to him, looking down at the University bag balanced on his lap. He makes eye contact with no one as the skimmer begins to move.
I can almost imagine the outlines of trees and the shapes of the buildings as the skimmer crosses from the University campus into the city. The door to the pilot’s compartment is closed, but the smooth movements of the skimmer tell me the pilot is seasoned at his job. The changes in direction are almost imperceptible. Some speculate on our destination, but despite the bravado, the cabin vibrates with nerves.
I check my solar watch frequently. Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty. I open the cupboard and find a box of crackers, which we pass around. Forty-five. Just past the hour mark, the skimmer gives a slight bump and the hum of the engine stops. The skimmer door slides open. We have reached our destination.
Wind whips my hair as I step out of the skimmer onto crumbling asphalt. The sky is streaked with gray, announcing the approaching dawn. I step in several puddles, but am grateful no rain is falling from the sky. If nothing else, we will not be forced to battle a downpour as we begin this task.
When we are all out of the vehicles, the skimmers’ engines once again begin to hum. Several first years shout their surprise when the skimmers disappear into the mist of morning.
Once they are gone, Ian yells, “Everyone, please follow me.”
The sky continues to lighten as we pick our way across the broken stone that must once have been a smooth surface intended for automobile travel. Before coming to Tosu City, I’d only seen automobiles pictured in books. Because Five Lakes’ resources are mainly devoted to the earth’s revitalization, little time has been spent working on roadways that would accommodate motorized cars. Walking, bicycling, and riding the occasional tractor or skimmer get us from place to place just fine. However, the main roads in Tosu are repaired enough to allow automobile travel for those important enough to have extra power allotments for a working vehicle.
The condition of the road and the discoloration of the plants and trees growing up through the cracks speak of neglect. If this is still Tosu City, it is not a section that has been touched by the government’s construction and revitalization crews.
Ian stops in front of two wooden bridges. “Since your Government Studies classes don’t begin until next week, my fellow guides and I think this is a wonderful time for you to blow off some steam and get to know your fellow first years better. It’s also a great time for us upper years to have some fun.” His amused expression gives his face a boyish quality.
“You’ll be working in teams of four. Each team will get one of these.” He holds up a large green bag. “In this is food, water, and a list of locations your team needs to find. At each destination is a task you and your fellow team members must finish. Upon completion of the task, your team will receive a marker as proof of your success. Each team must have all four markers in its possession when it returns to the Government Studies residence. Any team that returns without one or more of the markers will be penalized.”
In my head, I hear a voice whisper, “Wrong answers will be penalized.”
Not Ian’s cheerful voice. Dr. Barnes’s. I can see him dressed in purple, wearing a stern expression. If I close my eyes, I can picture Tomas seated on one side of me, looking strong and sure. Will on the other, looking frail and sad. The memory feels real. My heart pounded then the same as it does now. I taste the anxiety I felt and swallow it down as I shake free of the image. The past is important, but if I want to succeed, I have to focus on what is happening now.
“The first team to return with all its markers will win this Induction challenge and impress the rest of us. Those who return to the residence after their team has already arrived will automatically be asked to pack their bags and leave. So try to stay together. Okay?”
I look around and see several of my fellow students grin. Do they think Ian is joking or view this as an opportunity to eliminate the competition?
“To make things fair, I am going to pull four names out of this bag.” Ian takes a small brown sack out of his pocket. “These four will act as captains and select the other members of their teams. Please come forward when your name is called.” Ian reaches into the bag and pulls out a piece of paper. “Griffin Grey.”
Griffin pushes forward with a confident smile. He receives a green bag from Ian and then steps to the left. Though Griffin has already proven to be smart enough to excel at one Induction test, I find myself hoping I do not end up on his team.
“Olive Andreson.”
The dark-haired girl giggles as she walks to the front of the group. Once she has her green bag, the next name is announced.
“Malencia Vale.”
The sound of my name makes me jolt. Straightening my shoulders, I avoid a puddle and walk up to Ian. As he hands me the bag, I feel his hand give mine a quick squeeze of encouragement. I take my place next to the still-giggling Olive, and Ian reaches into the bag and comes out with the name of the final team captain.
