BEYOND THE PALE: ( The Outlander ) (22 page)

Anton saw the bag
first, as he stepped out of the lift on the landing adjacent their apartment.
It was a large grey holdall that was sitting outside the door of their home.
River felt overcome with a sense of foreboding. With an almost fight or flight
inspired reticence, he fell behind Anton and let him squat down to ease the
zipper open.

“What the hell?” Anton
exclaimed. “This is all your stuff,” and he dramatically swiped entry of the
front door and called out to his mum, “What is this bag of River’s stuff doing
out here?”

The response was almost
immediate. Nathan came running out the doorway and almost knocked Anton over
accidentally. He lurched at River grabbing him firmly by the neck with his
right hand, and pushed him with some force back against the landing wall. He
then pinned River there by holding his left forearm forcefully against his
neck.

“Get inside, Now!” he
shouted at Anton who initially turned to go, but then turned once again and
stood his ground. By now Valerie had come to the door. She looked venomously at
River as if she wanted him hurt, but her main concern was pulling Anton inside
by his arm. Anton did not fight his mother, which left River alone facing his
father. Nathan spoke when he saw that his son was out of ear shot.

“All this time you have
been sleeping with my daughter, in my home, as my guest. Do you know that you
may have messed up my girl’s life? You are dead to me River. Go! Take this bag.
It’s got your shit in it. Don’t ever come back here again, or try to contact
any member of my family… I’m warning you!” Nathan released his throat hold on
River who stared at him in near bewilderment. Then Nathan yelled at him “Go! Go
before I deck you.”

And with this final
message River picked up the bag and walked to the lift. He glanced back only
once to look at the man that had been his great friend, and the apartment that
to all intent and purpose had become his home. He was so confused and upset
right now. Once the lift arrived, he was soon out of the building and heading
for the nearest Metro station. He had no idea where he was going or what he was
going to do. He also had no idea what Nathan had meant, by saying that he had
messed Audrina’s life up. He wanted to speak to her badly and also to Anton,
but he decided out of respect to honour Nathan’s petition not to contact either
of them again. 

Audrina opted to go for
drinks after work. She wasn’t really in a socializing mood but staying out was
preferable to going home. She didn’t want to see River any time soon and she
didn’t want to deal with her family. She had joined a party of colleagues who
had visited the same bar close to her workplace, which she had visited with
River. For this reason it wasn’t the best choice of venue for her. That evening
when she had gone clubbing with him had turned out to be a disaster. She wished
that he had never come along to meet her that day. She was still angry with
him. He had said some unpleasant things to her. He had called her ‘
sick in
the head’,
just after he had rejected her. And who was he to reject her. He
had no employment, no profession or guild, and no prospects. She had to
continually pay for his ass. She had treated him as special. She had allowed
him to get closer than anyone, and he had repaid her trust by spurning her and
by sexually rejecting her. Okay she realised now that she had probably been a
little too intoxicated, but she was only trying to have some fun. His whole
attitude to not drinking or taking drugs was boring, and no fun. Even her
friends who had met him, implied that he was boring and had nothing to say. She
was so better off without him. And yet she missed him. He made her feel special
and loved and she missed that. However this was an example of how he made her
feel like she was losing control. The feeling of losing control was terrible.
She needed to be in control and she needed to control him because if she
didn’t, she might fall in love with him. This is why she wanted to dominate him
so badly; this guy who was no fun, who had no prospects and didn’t even belong
here. The guy who had rejected her and thought that SHE was sick in the head;
she hated him.

She acted attentive to
the conversations going on between her work friends, but those thoughts kept
running through her mind. Her Mum had called her communicator a number of times
but she had declined to pick up. Following the third call, she checked her
messages and found one from her mother telling saying that she knew all about
her relationship with River. Audrina’s first instinct was to panic. She assumed
that River had probably opened up and spilled the beans to her parents. What an
idiot; she hated him even more now. She made her excuses to leave knowing that
she had to get home and smooth things out.

When she did reach
home, everything was in turmoil. Her mum was badgering her as soon as she got
in the door and making no sense whatsoever. Her brother and her father were
arguing intently, and thankfully River was no where to be seen. She ignored her
mum’s ranting and pleas, and slammed the door shut to her bedroom, locking the
door. When her mum continued to bang on the door and demand entry, she placed
her headphones on and listened to loud music.

It was a shock to see
her door opening a short while later and both her mother and father gaining
entry.

Valerie spoke first, “You
stupid girl, why did you go along with it, he may have ruined your career and
ruined your life. We have to terminate this baby as soon as possible.”

“What are you talking
about Mum? You are not making sense. What has River been saying to you?”

“You are pregnant, you
do realise?”

“I’m pregnant? No I am
not. I mean how can I be?”

“See I knew it wasn’t
intentional on her behalf.” Valerie was addressing Nathan, but then turned to
address her daughter, “Honey, we have to prove that you did not intend to get
pregnant. If there is any doubt, they will convict you for a misdemeanour at
least, or even a felony if they think you conspired. You will lose your job,
probably your career too. They might sterilize you. You may never be allowed
another pregnancy. We have to terminate his cursed child as soon as possible
and ask for leniency.”

Audrina looked dumb
struck. She was still smarting from her parents overriding her locks and her
privacy. It was a lot to be taken in. It was crazy. How could she be pregnant
and how could they be talking about losing her job and right to have a child.

“Why did you sleep with
him?” demanded Nathan. Audrina didn’t answer.

“When did you sleep
with him?” Nathan followed up his unanswered question.

“Did he force you
honey? I saw him bullying you yesterday,” Valerie surprised her daughter with
this confession. “He seemed to be hurting you. Did he rape you?”

In Audrina’s mind, she
recalled River pushing her to the floor and gripping her throat. She remembered
his menacing stare and how she had told him to rape her, “Yes Mum. He raped me.”

“When?” demanded Nathan.

“The first time was on
my custodial day when I was chaperoning him. I went into his room to collect
something and he raped me,” Audrina had thought of a real event to hide her lie
within.

“Oh my God!” declared
Nathan as he slumped onto her bed, and could only now support himself by
holding his head in his hands.

“Did it happen again,
Hun?” Valerie delicately pursued the line of questioning.

“Yes mum, he took me to
a box hotel and tried to rape me again the night we were meant to go to the all
night party.”

Audrina could not
really believe what she was saying but it was partly true; everything that was,
except the rape. She couldn’t stand the accusations and all the threats. She
had to clear herself of blame.

Nathan had got up in
utter dismay and gone to sit out on the terrace. Valerie joined him in a short
while. She put her hands on her husband’s slumped shoulders and spoke quietly
to him.

“Revoke your custodial
rights and sign that warrant for his arrest. Make sure to update it to include
the charges of sex without consent and attempted rape. That boy should get what
he deserves, but you can remove the charge for intentional conception. We do
not want Audrina’s name besmirched by that allegation,” Valerie was finding it
difficult not to lose it. Sex without consent was despicable and rare in the
sexually liberated world of the metropolis. Attempted Rape was just as
deplorable particularly where a man was using his strength to overpower a
woman. It was sick reminder of non-civilised behaviour from an outlander whom
had shown his animalistic streak when he couldn’t get what he wanted. Valerie
wanted to destroy River, or at least make sure he got everything he deserved.
She watched her husband on his CPS communicator authorising Naighal’s revised
warrants.

When River had walked
away from the only home that he had known in the metropolis, he had no real
idea as to where he should go. At first he had considered the Park in the
Central Zone purely because he had felt comfortable there. However a reality
check made him realise that this was not a realistic or affordable destination.
He needed to find a cheap hotel, maybe another box hotel or something a bit
more comfortable. He had checked his credit balance at the local Metro station
and he still had access to money; he was grateful to Nathan for that. It
occurred to him to head towards downtown, where hopefully he could find cheaper
accommodation and make his money last longer or at least until he found some
work. So he retraced the route which he had taken to Holly Bush a few days
back.

He took the same box
lift descent service down to ground zero level in District 17. There he waited
at a tramline terminal for the next available service to Holly Bush. There was
a patrolman in the terminal who was taking a statement from a citizen who was
claiming to have been robbed. That citizen didn’t appear to be hurt, but he was
still excitable and upset and was attracting a small audience. River found
himself watching the scene too, and was more than surprised when the patrolman
abruptly stopped addressing the man, left him and walked over his way.

“Citizen Eli River.
Stay where you are, and place your hands behind your head. You are under arrest
and subject to detention for an outstanding warrant on charges of attempted
rape and sex without consent.”

People were now staring
at River; the robbery victim was old news. The patrolman crossed River’s hands
behind his back and slipped a cable tie around both wrists. “This warrant here
says that you are not to be taken to a CPS Centre, you are to be processed up
at CPS Headquarters. I am to hold you here until a security officer arrives to
takes custody of you. Come with me Sir. You can wait for them in the back of my
enforcement vehicle,” The patrolman had walked River out of the terminal and
over to his vehicle parked nearby.

“I haven’t done any of
those things you accuse me of,” River remonstrated with the patrolman.

“Doesn’t matter to me
Sir, I am just enforcing an arrest warrant. You can make your argument with the
officers that detain you,” and with that the patrolman closed the door of the
vehicle leaving River alone to stew in his own juices. The back of the
enforcement vehicle was a sealed unit with strengthened darkened glass. River
could not hear see outside nor hear anything. He had no way of knowing how much
time had passed before the other door to his enclosure opened and in stepped Sergeant
Scott.

“So you thought you
could run to ground in District 17. Well we have you now. Come on get out; you
coming back to CPS HQ with me.” The tone of Ray Scott’s voice was harsh and
exhibited no friendship or past allegiance. River struggled to climb out and
Sgt. Scott roughly pulled him forward on to his feet and walked him over to his
vehicle. Before he pushed him into a back seat, he snipped the cable tie and
slipped a custodial bracelet onto River’s right wrist encasing his thinner
identity bracelet. Then he lent in to the compartment to confirm the charges
upon which River was being detained. As was usual practice, he handed River one
of the small printed cards which confirmed a detainees rights after arrest. He
then started reading the statement of rights out loud instructing River to read
the card for confirmation. River looked at it but quickly realised that the
card did not mirror what Ray Scott was reading out loud. His printed card said
-

‘
Don’t read this out
loud or leave it behind. I have not properly activated your custodial bracelet.
It will not restrain you and it will not identify you, but it has deactivated
your own identity bracelet. I will drive in the direction of CPS HQ, but when I
mention District 18, you must pretend to have a fit of some kind. I will stop
the vehicle and enter the back. When I lean over, you must take my taser weapon
which has been set to stun. You must zap me but not in the face or heart. Then
drop the weapon as it is traceable and run away. Then you are on your own.
Avoid any CPC officers or you will be in danger. Ask around for Shondran. He
can help. Good Luck.
’

Sgt. Scott thanked the
patrolman and drove away in the direction of CPS HQ taking a route through
District 18. He left the security grill down so that he could keep an eye on
his prisoner in the back. After 15 minutes, he started to talk indirectly to
River; just throwaway comments about traffic and such, and then made a
complaint about a driver that had cut in front. – “I hate these head-bangers in
District 18”. River picked up on this codeword straight away and started
coughing repeatedly, and then started convulsing as if having a seizure. Ray
Scott pulled over quickly and got out to open the back door. As he leaned over
River to check his airway was open, River slipped the sergeant’s hip mounted
taser out of its holster and squeezed the trigger. Ray Scott slumped across him
and dropped into the foot-well of the rear seats. River dropped the taser and
ran from the car not stopping till he had disappeared into a bustling crowd
near a street performer.

River no longer had the
holdall carry bag which Valerie had stuffed all his possessions into. That was
locked in the trunk of the enforcement vehicle; probably an oversight by Sgt.
Scott. Neither did he have his communicator glasses; they too were in that bag.
He was not familiar with this part of District 18. Apparently he was in East
Filton which was a fair distance from Holly Bush of which he was fairly
acquainted. This town was less hard sell than Holly Bush. It was still catering
to the lowest common denominator like the rest of downtown, however on a lower
key. There were fewer bars and more diners. There were fewer brothels and
exotic clubs and more sex shops. In fact there were a lot more shops ranging
from small independents to small supermarkets. He went into one to buy a few
groceries and a drink. He hadn’t eaten since lunch time and it was late evening
now. A checkout assistant ran his goods through the checkout scanner and then
asked him to swipe. After five attempts, three things were clear. He could not
access his credits anymore. His identity bracelet would not even register, and
lastly he was not going to be allowed to buy this basket of provisions. River
left the stuff and left the shop. He was hungry and thirsty and had no idea
where he was going to sleep. He realised that he couldn’t use a hotel or
anything that required an identity registration. Any such sign in would
probably bring more patrolmen looking to re-arrest him. He also pulled his cuff
right down to hide the custodial bracelet that would not come off.

He Remembered the Ray
Scott’s direction to ask for Shondran saying that he could help, but this was
so unspecific that River had no idea about how to go about finding him. He also
wondered in what form this help might come. Despite this he had nothing better
to do, so River walked from shop to shop asking the proprietors if they knew of
this man. None of them knew him. When he had exhausted available shop-keepers,
he tried some gambling arcades and even asked some doormen if they knew the
name. River widened his search to include some Diners and take-away
restaurants. He called into one Chinese food take-away and asked in there. As
usual no one knew a person by that name. The search in this part of District 18
seemed futile; River decided to leave it for today and head in the direction of
Holly Bush tomorrow. As he headed for the door, he couldn’t help noticing some
customer’s meal and drink sitting on a lean-to counter facing the window near
to the exit. River quickly grabbed the food and drink and walked out before
anybody had noticed. He saw a dimly lit side alley across the road and took his
prize across there and sat down leaning against a wall to consume it. It was a
rice dish only partially eaten, and the drink was almost full. River enjoyed it
all and gave thanks for this divine providence.

“You shouldn’t steal
from them,” said a voice from the shadows beside him. It came from a shabby
vagrant who had already settled down for the night.

“I know. I realise that
it is wrong but I was hungry and thirsty,” justified River.

“No I mean that you
shouldn’t steal from their customers over there. The Korean woman who owns that
place; her name is Wendy. She is a good person. She will feed you for free in
the morning. That is why we sleep here.”

“We?” enquired River
and the man pointed down the alley. River squinted in the poor light and found
he could make out maybe another four persons.

“So is this a good
place to sleep if you have no where to stay?”

“Shit No son! You
should try the homeless shelter on Rise Avenue.”

“Is it free? I have no
credits,” asked River hopefully.

“You only need to swipe
for identity purposes,” came the reply which squashed his seed of hope into the
cold pavement beneath him.

“So why aren’t you
there?”

“Me, I am banned for 30
days,” -The man could see River’s inquisitive look- “Don’t ask! and you cant
sleep there. That’s another fella’s spot. You can sleep over there opposite me.”

River followed the
man’s suggestion and moved to the other side of the narrow alley. No one else
slept on this side, and River was careful to choose a spot that was not too
close to a wet patch that smelt like urine. The man he had been talking to
threw him a couple of empty boxes over, “Break the large one up and use it as a
mattress. Use the others to keep warm.”

“Thanks,” replied River
who added as an after-thought, “Does anyone here know a person called Shondran?”
No one replied.

Sleeping rough on the
streets was about the art of keeping warm. River had taken a while to adjust
his core temperature and once he had, he had slept quite soundly. He was awoken
in the morning by the same man he had talked with, who advised him to come with
him for breakfast. He introduced himself as Sparks which was likely a street
name. Breakfast was served by Wendy a lovely Korean woman in her forties. Her
restaurant was not officially open yet but she treated her homeless patrons to
a hot pork ball and noodle soup which seemed watery but home cooked. Everyone
got a goody bag too which had a spring roll and some crackers. Wendy was a
saint who dished out charity in a respectful way as if it was the natural order
of things.

After breakfast, River
took his leave of Wendy’s place and of Sparks and his compatriots. He set off
in the direction of Holly Bush. On foot, the journey should have taken an hour,
but River stretched it to nearly four. There was nowhere that he needed to be fast
and he took the opportunity now and again to stop at shops and small
independent premises to enquire if anyone knew of the person Shondran. After
countless negative responses, River decided to also start asking proprietors if
they had any jobs that needed to be done. He offered to work for board and
lodging. He actually received a few provisional and temporary offers from shop
keepers telling him to call back in a week or so. A couple of offers were
unfair and unreasonable though. In some instances people took advantage of
River’s lack of an implanted identity and inability to receive payment in
credits. The work requirement would be adjusted up and the payment in kind
would be adjusted down. An older Asian woman called Madam Kashnoggi who was a
restaurateur’s wife wanted River to work a full seven consecutive days as a
dishwasher and cleaner before they would consider allowing him to spend the
nights on the floor of the kitchen. In the meantime, she offered at least one
meal a day if he worked over 10 hours. She told River that he could start
straight away and he considered her offer but asked her if he could perhaps
start tomorrow or the day after. He wanted to spend at least a day searching
for this Shondran. She told him that she would permit him to start no later
than tomorrow but he now would have to work 12 hours a day to make up for her
inconvenience. He agreed to 12 hours work for his daily meals and the promise
of the kitchen floor to sleep on, but negotiated a meal and a drink now to
cement the offer. The woman thought long and hard about this. Her expression
looked like she was being robbed but then she conceded if River would consent
to clean the restaurant toilets and mop the floors first. River agreed and the
woman provided him with access to the cleaning implements. He figured he would
be done in half an hour. What he did not envision was the lady following him
about directing his tasks and inspecting his work. All told he spent 90 minutes
scrubbing, mopping and waxing whilst working diligently at a fast pace and with
much effort. When he had completed his duties to her satisfaction, she went to
a large fridge and filled a plate with cold leftovers from yesterday and poured
him a glass of milk. She handed these to him as he stood beside the large sinks
in the kitchen and did not offer him a seat. He thanked her politely and
consumed everything standing up whilst she watched him impatiently telling him
to wash up afterwards. As he washed up his crockery, she pointed to his custody
bracelet and told him how she could protect him from the patrolmen if he worked
very hard for her. River nodded and thanked her again but she kept reiterating
how he would be in her debt and would need to work much harder than he did
today. River left her premises thinking that he was not keen to come back. He
didn’t like her bullying nature or insinuation of blackmail. However this was
so far the only actual offer of work he had received. He would try some other
venues today.