Down and Out: A Young Adult Dystopian Adventure (The Undercity Series Book 1) (11 page)

“Ahh, Fudge, you are an inspiration,” Pa said as he joined them. “You put us all to shame.”

The man’s mouth spread into a display of rotting teeth.  “I show you; I survive anything. Anything! No tunnel will do me in. I been down here all my life, can’t read, can’t write, but I survive. Don’t need nuttin else. Just me.”

“And us,” one of his sisters said, poking him with a cane.

An’ you lot. Don’t get all pushy now.” His voice drifted off as he went down the tunnel.

“Don’t mind him, boys, you’re doing terrific,” Pa encouraged as he slumped down beside them.

“Pa, this won’t work. We can’t do this in secret,” Teddy said as he stared at the people trying to survive in a place, in a state, no human should live in. There was little air or light, and the bodies were accumulating. He wanted to vomit.

His father tapped out a rhythm on the side of his leg. “I understand, but our choices are limited. For all we know we discovered all there is and anything else is buried.”

“It isn’t. There are ceiling windows everywhere and more space than we need to fit all Underlings and even some Upper- lords if we wanted to,” added Jolon, bursting with excitement.

“Excuse me?” Pa said with a confused expression.

Teddy glared daggers at his brother.

“Sorry, just done, so done,” he muttered, burying his head in his hands. “Ignore me. I babble.”

“Teddy?” His father’s eyes were pinpoint arrows of disapproval.

He squirmed, contemplating an elaborate story. “We, ummm, we went to Montgomery Mall last night,” he said as he realized lying wouldn’t help anyone.

“You, you...” He took a deep breath, his stern face scary. “You and you,” he pointed to each one in turn, “went exploring alone. How? Henri and I...” Pursing his crooked lips, he stared at the place where the brute grasped a broken beam and hauled it away. “He helped, didn’t he? That’s the only way you might move the door. Of all the foolish... do I need to explain to you the dangers of going on your own? I thought you were old enough to understand.”

This last part he said to Teddy; his face grew hot with shame.

“I’m sorry, okay?” he said, so weary he didn’t want to be calm. “But I can’t stand this. I can’t handle sitting here watching us all turn into living corpses because a few people control everything. Things shouldn’t be this way. Sunlight, life, water, it should all be ours. I can’t take this, and I want change. Things must evolve or what’s the point in existing?”

He held his father’s gaze. “And you know it. What is the point of scrimping for leftover air and water, killing ourselves over the whims of others? You know it, Pa. I’m worn out. We’re all exhausted, and we can’t sneak about anymore or there won’t be any of us left.”

It took a moment for his father to respond, but he nodded. “So, windows in the ceiling? Well, this is good.”

Jolon’s face brightened. “Yes, you missed this amazing sunrise.”

Their father raised his thick brow. “Sunrise? You witnessed a sunrise?”

Teddy chuckled. “Yep. The sky was gold and red before turning this soft blue colour. It was beautiful.” “We can do it, can’t we?” Pa asked, his voice quiet.

“Yes,” he replied, the word almost choking in his throat.

“Oh, how sappy can people get? I’m too tired for this mushiness,” Jolon moaned. “We’ve been up for almost a full day without so much as an hour’s sleep.” He drew a large gloop of mud out of his hair and tried to fling the glob away as it stuck to his fingers. “A lot of good my weekly bath did now. I am going to stink like this for the next week, and here you two are being all... all... yuck.”

“Ahh, Jol, let’s get you two home before you fall asleep right here,” Pa said, getting up.

“Oh, shyza,” Jolon moaned, standing, his hand on his lower back. “I think I lost twenty pounds in sweat.” He hauled up his trousers to emphasize his point.

“When we get back home, I’m eating until I can’t move. ‘Course I’m numb now, so that won’t mean much. Okay, until I regained the twenty pounds this torture took from me.”

Teddy attempted to listen to Jolon ramble as they made their way home, but his brain was too fuzzy with fatigue. He didn’t care about food; all he wanted was somewhere soft to plop on until he was no longer drooping. They stumbled in the house, and he realized Henri was not with them.

“Pa? Where’s our brute?”

His father sighed as he sat at the table. “He didn’t want to leave yet. He’s still digging. I tried to get him to stop, but, well, he needs to work things out of his system before he’ll be back.” He shifted toward Ma, and she sat beside him. She appeared so depleted so drained.

“We should all get some rest. I think we’ve done all we can for now,” she told them with a heavy sigh.

“What?” Jolon exclaimed, his eyes wide. “Wait, wha... what, where’s the food? Hungry... nothing but two potatocakes all day.”

Their mother got up and embraced him. “I’m sorry, dear, we shared what we had for now to feed the survivors.” Her voice broke as she held him tighter. “We are out at the moment. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t dismay, my boy. We’ll get more tomorrow,” Pa assured them with hugs. “There’s always a way to find more. Let’s go to bed.”

Numb and foggy, Teddy stumbled toward his bedroom.

“No food,” Jolon muttered as they shuffled to bed. “Rations gone, extras gone, and no credits to buy more.” “It was a worthy cause,” he said though the old terror of starvation threatened to resurface.

“Yeah, but what now?”

He went to his airbed and left his brother to his nightmares. 

––––––––

``````````

––––––––

M
orning came with a start when he dislodged himself from his hammock and slammed to the floor. Everything ached as he got up and stumbled into the kitchen, his throat sore and dry. All the lights were out except one little dot, which kept flicking on and off at the table. A disgruntled Henri sat playing with the handlight Pa had given him. The brute’s face was bent with sorrow.

“Hey, Hen, you’re back,” he said, uncertain of how to approach the brute. He sat at the table and tapped an awkward rhythm on its surface. “Henri? You okay?”

Henri nodded then shook his head. “You own me; family owns me. Wot do I do?”

“We don’t own you, buddy. You’re your own person. We just hired you.”

He shook his head again. “I not bright.”

The brute spoke as though his words were difficult to say.

“I no schooling; I don’t; I no understand much and I clumsy because I don’t think. And I not good brute.” He gave a bitter laugh. “I not mean. Wish I was. If I was mean, I... I... I go up to bullies, those...”

“Scumbags,” he offered.

“Scumbags and rip heads off each until none left.”

“That is a noble sentiment despite how bad it might sound.”

Teddy jumped and turned to see his father resting his bent frame against the nearby wall. “Pa.”

His father chuckled. “Didn’t mean to intrude and startle you, but I couldn’t rest either. Your mother went to sleep and I hope will stay in bed until she has rested.”

He put a hand on Henri’s shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t worry, Henri. We understand. It hurts to witness this world go on this way, but what can a person do? Those people in Uppercity don’t seem to possess compassion or empathy, or any awareness of the suffering they cause. Well, most of them don’t. A few like Georges understand, but are too fearful and comfortable to do anything.”

“They worse than others,” Henri said.

“No, they just feel as powerless as we do. Who’s to say who is to blame for our situation? Do we live as puppets of Upperlord bullies? Or do we give them power over us?”

“I always thought you wanted to be an Upper,” Teddy admitted.

Pa’s expression turned sour. “At one time I thought that was the solution. If I joined them, I might influence them, but now I don’t think so.”

“Then we defeat them,” Henri said, his voice cold.

“And become them? Not an option I like. No, I think the boys are right. We have no alternative, but to alter our living arrangements.”

“So, we’re going back and see if we dreamed everything?” This time, it was Jolon who stumbled in. He shuffled over to Pa and hugged him.

“Yes, my sleepy one. I’m sure you didn’t dream it. Might be our best option. If we can establish our own colony, we will have the leverage to coexist as neighbours with Uppercity. We are taking a chance, but I cannot picture any other choice.”

He flipped open his well-supplied stash and rummaged around until he located a few cookies. “It’s not much, but it will be a start,” he said as he handed them each one. “Caden is too weak to come with us, and Deb is too young, but we can’t leave them here by themselves, unprotected.”

“I stay,” offered Henri, his face solemn. “I keep safe.”

Pa shook the man’s hand. “I appreciate your help.” He turned toward the others. “However, that does not solve the current problem of no food in this home. That must be our priority. Therefore, we will first make a visit to a friend or two. Jolon, please make certain all the stashes are prepared for a few days’ journey,” he said, handing him his sack.

“Fill the water containers and make sure the oxygen cylinders are at maximum. Plus, if you can find a few extra, throw them in, and make sure we take whatever batteries you can find. Dig into the new supply we brought back last time. We don’t want to risk running out of light.”

“Can’t Teddy help me?” he asked with a groan.

“’Fraid not. He and Henri are going to accompany me to the Uppercity. We should be back in an hour or so, and, with luck, with some food for everyone. Now mind you, don’t tell your mother where we’ve gone if she happens to get up. She’s had enough upsets for quite a while and I don’t want her to worry,” he added as they left.

“So, are we going to visit Georges again?” Teddy asked, doing his best to keep up with his father. They had set such a pace to reach Uppercity he felt stitches in his side muscles.

“That’s where we’ll start,” Pa said, passing the giant entrance. He paused and showed his travel permit to the sentry on duty before they went through as the guard opened the gate.

It was early morning now, and a gloomy glow touched Uppercity. No one was about. It was unsettling to realize this was the same sort of sunrise he witnessed the day before. The sunroom dawn had been so dramatic and bright. This one seemed dusty and dirty as though it was a leftover that slept under the mat all night.

“Where is everyone?” he whispered.

“They don’t rise until near midmorning,” Pa answered in a similar tone.

He wasn’t sure what to think. It seemed such a waste of time.

“Besides, the day is still new, and I don’t think even you are up this early on a regular basis.” He had a smattering of amusement in his voice, and Teddy chuckled.

“Guess so.”

They wandered through the market where the shops were all shut up with curtains and boards covering their goods. The only other people around were a few brutes who stood guard and stared with suspicion as they passed. Teddy thought they were going to find Georges in the same place they had before, but instead of going to the auction pavilion they turned off a side street that ended at a simple door. Pa knocked, and they waited and waited. His father knocked again. Henri seemed to run out of patience, and he pounded on the wood, rattling the door on its hinges.

“Calm, Henri.  Remember, she’s our friend,” Pa cautioned. “Remember, she was good to you.”

The brute agreed with a reluctant grunt.

“I understand. You want the world to improve, but you need enough patience to let it evolve over at least a day. Otherwise, it won’t be for the better, and the shock will cause havoc.”

A small door to their left opened, and a face appeared: ugly and cross. “Yeha? Who are yeh and what de yeh want?”

“It’s Peterson, Duras, I need to see your Lord.”

“Eh, she’s going te bed. Yeh too early.”

“Come now, Duras,” his father continued, holding out a necklace with a green bauble on it. Teddy recognized it as something they picked from the first store they inspected at the mall. “I brought you a present.”

Her red, blue eyes went wide, and she reached for it through the tiny door with a wrinkled hand.

“Ah, ah, you must let us enter if you want it,” he said, and she cast curse eyes at him, her mouth working over ugly, distorted teeth.

She shut the little door with a bang. They heard her clicking lock after lock before the door opened wide and she held out her hand. Pa dropped the necklace on her palm as they invaded Georges’ home. She grasped her treasure and scurried away while he secured the door, turning the row of locks.

The room was grey except for a sliver of light filtering in through a half-covered window. Teddy peered through the glass, but all he discovered was a wall of dirt a few feet away, which went up and up.

He turned away.

Pa sat on an old armchair across from a couch. The lone figure of Georges lay on the dilapidated sofa, her hair askew and a bottle clutched in her hand. A dreadful noise similar to a dying motor emanated from her.

Henri hoisted one end of the chesterfield and dropped it. He shrugged and blushed as his father shook his head at him. “That’s how she always had me wake her up,” he explained and did it again.

This time, Georges snuffed and snorted before she half sat up. “Wha? Who, Duras, why are you letting riffraff in my home?” she bellowed as she glared at them. She rummaged under a cushion and wrenched out a lengthy blade, brandishing it. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“Georges, it’s me, Truman. Stop with the knife. We’re harmless.”

“Eh? Duras, get me a damn light.” She made an attempt at standing and fell back on the sofa.

Teddy lit a candle with a match from a pack sitting on the end table by his father’s chair.

She held her hands over her eyes. “Ahg. Damn people don’t realize it’s too early to be visiting no matter who the hell you are.”

Pa dropped a bottle in her lap. “Here, take a spot of what troubles ya. I’m in need of your assistance, and I need your head clear.”

The woman glared, her nose scrunching as her lips squished together, but she snatched up the bottle and took a dramatic drink. She belched, dragging her shirt across her chin. “I don’t take refunds on brutes,” she said, eyeing Henri. “I told you he was a horrible brute when ya hired him.”