Eden's Root (13 page)

“Thanks Fi,” she said as she wiped the tears away and sniffed. “That was very helpful.” She breathed, getting herself under control once again.

The Skillmans opted to bring a tablet, despite Fi’s warning that both electricity and the Internet were likely to be gone at some point very soon. At Fi’s suggestion, they printed some favorite digital photos. Fi had done the same with some of the Kelly photos to make sure that they would have physical copies.

When the soldiers rolled into town in the late afternoon, the Family was grateful that they’d taken precautions to cover their actions. They had closed up their homes, pulled the shades and pretended that no one was home. John had even moved his car to the hidden spot along the side of the house. No one would see it, but they could easily pile into it to get to their main escape point.

John stood at the window, peeking behind the curtain at the vehicles rolling through the street. Humvees and supply trucks made their way through the suburban neighborhood as if it were an everyday event. They broadcast a repetitive recorded message as they passed.

“
Do not be alarmed. We are here to provide you with food relief as a part of the national operation ‘Staff of Life’. Soldiers will be leaving pamphlets at your doorstep with the information that you need about how to obtain food resources. Please do not leave your homes until the time designated on the pamphlets to ensure the efficiency of our efforts. God Bless.
”

Everyone held their breath when two soldiers climbed the stairs of the Skillman home to leave the pamphlets. It was still work hours, and most homes in the neighborhood were empty. There was no sign that the soldiers were suspicious as they tucked the pamphlets into the door handle. Once they moved on, John reached out and snatched them. He turned to face the others and began to read. Despite Fi’s expectation that it would say something awful, the reality still frightened her when John read it there, printed in black and white.

All residents are required to report to your local food supply processing center. Your location is 112 SE 2
^nd
Ave, in the north end of the Northern Town Center mall parking lot.

This is a regional drop and we will be servicing hundreds of citizens. It’s essential that you follow all instructions so that we can ensure a fair and orderly distribution of necessary rations.

Your designated arrival time (DAT) is 4:30 PM. If you do not arrive within 20 minutes of DAT, your rations will be reassigned and you will forfeit any future rations.

“Wow,” Sean breathed as they read that. “One strike you’re out, huh?” Huddled together around John, they read on.

All residents are required to bring medical cards. If you do not have your medical card your rations will be reassigned and you will forfeit any future rations.

“Medical cards?” John whispered. “Why would they want that?” he asked and Lucy glared at him. He choked. “They’re going to starve the sick?” He turned to Fi, his eyes wide. “Is that really what our own soldiers are going to do?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “The people at the top know there isn’t enough food. They are probably safely inside the Diaspora colonies now and waiting while the rest of the world…” her voice trailed off.

“Starves to death,” John muttered, shaking his head.

Fi nodded. “If they’re lucky.” Getting up, she returned to helping Lucy with her pack. There was still time until nightfall and work to be done. And then it really begins, she thought, and her heart fluttered.

----------- Asher -----------

As Asher sat in his dorm room staring at his tablet, the old pipes above him shuddered and clanged. After a full school year of living with the noise, most times it barely registered in his brain…but it was cutting into his concentration now. Asher frowned and turned up the volume on the clip he was viewing. As it played, he took notes on the printed copy of the article in his journal.

“And so,” the translator droned, “It’s my professional conclusion that westernized foods are increasing the rates of cancer in Northern Africa, particularly in Egypt.”

The contrast between the passion in the voice of the speaker and the dullness in the voice of the translator was startling, Asher thought, pushing his speakers further into his ears. He reviewed the article, bobbing his head and scribbling notes. This guy was really direct in his opinion, for a scientist, Asher reflected. I mean, no one had really said it like this before: Western food increases cancer, period. He wasn’t dancing around it or trying to say this type of cancer is higher here and that type there, so we can’t come to any conclusion. His opinion was clear.

It was also going to be perceived as biased, Asher thought, sifting through more articles on his tablet. This guy was very controversial after all. Egyptian born and U.S.-educated, he’d returned to Egypt before the regime fell. He was right in the middle of it all, yelling things that would definitely scare some ‘Western’ people.

Asher ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair. It had darkened over the winter in New York. He pulled it in front of his eyes. It had also gotten too long, he thought, as he pushed it behind his ear. He tucked the article back into his journal, in order, in 2022. Just another piece of the puzzle, he thought.

The door flew open and his roommate Jeff burst into the room, startling him. In a frantic whirl, Jeff started rushed around the room grabbing things and throwing them into his backpack. An unbroken stream of babble accompanied his actions.

“It’s crazy man, you have to come get this,” he said, gesticulating wildly. “There are people freaking out and soldiers everywhere,” he continued, grabbing his giant digital camera and peering at it, then changing attachments and throwing it around his neck.

“What the hell are you talking about Jeff?” Asher asked, confused. “What soldiers?” Jeff slid into his jacket and shook his head. Smiling, he spread his arms.

“It’s the story of our lives man,” Jeff said and headed for the door. “You’re gonna wanna be there,” he added as he turned back to close the door behind him.

“Wait Jeff!” Asher called and began running around his room and grabbing things. The door stopped and Jeff poked his head through. “Where are we going?”

Jeff grinned with excitement. “Anywhere man, the whole City is in uproar. Look outside!” He pointed toward their tiny window and Asher peered down to the street below.

“Holy Shit!” Asher yelled and Jeff nodded. There was what looked like thousands of people milling around in the streets. Some appeared to be walking in groups, shouting and waving. And around the corner marched a group…squadron…platoon…whatever, he saw soldiers! He dashed out the door with Jeff and rushed down the stairs, metal doors slamming behind them as they ran. It could be the story of a lifetime, Asher thought as he followed.

Twelve hours later, Asher sat gathered with a large huddle of students and administrators, staring at the television in disbelief. President Winters was live, giving what was supposed to be a reassuring press conference to the people of the U.S. In this room, Asher noted, it was not having the intended effect. With every few words a new comment rose up mixed in with boos and jeering.

“Bullshit!”

“Don’t lie to us anymore!”

“
And so I would like to reiterate my pride and gratitude to the people of America
,” the President said, nodding her perfectly coiffed head. “
For their cooperation and cool heads in this crisis situation.
” She paused to shift her papers and Asher noted that her hands were shaking. She cleared her throat. “
By now it has become apparent to many Americans that we are in the midst of a global food crisis, but let me assure you that the ingenuity and perseverance of the American people will see us through. We will need to work together, to remain peaceable, to help our neighbors.
” Her gestures grew expansive as she warmed up.

“
It will require the untiring efforts of our military, all branches
,” she added firmly. “
To make sure that the fair, safe, and timely delivery of rations takes place. Though I’m here to reassure that all will be well
,” she intoned. “
That will also be up to you, the people
.” She shifted papers again. “
The fact is that food will be tight for a time, very tight in fact
,” she said, a grim smile on her face. “
I didn’t get to this position by feeding people a bunch of lies that they wanted to hear. No, it’s time for us to be truthful that we are facing a serious crisis
.”

Asher noticed that the voices in the room had quieted down. Everyone was listening. Murmurs followed the President’s statement that the world was in trouble. It was the first time that she had admitted as much. The crowd went from angry to nervous, the energy shifting in a more frantic direction. What does a fear of the unknown really look like, Asher wondered as he scribbled his observations in his journal.

President Winter continued in the background.

“
And so in some metropolitan areas in particular, we have had to instill temporary martial law. We will all do our best to go about our daily business but there will be an adjustment while you all get used to restricted hours and restricted travel
.
I know that this situation will be devastating to everyday life, to businesses and families all over this country
,” she added. “
But the simple truth is that we are now focused on survival. The right to the pursuit of happiness can’t be held above the right to life
.”

Voices in the room murmured and then were hushed. “
I ask that every American listen to the soldiers who are handing out food or controlling crowds. I ask that every American understand that the consequences for violence and unrest will be extremely severe. Until this food crisis comes to an end, and we are not certain exactly when that will be, we must all stay calm and work together.
”

Once again the room erupted into angry cries.

“Is she fucking kidding?”

“What the hell do they mean martial law? Can they do that? Does this mean we won’t be allowed off the island?”

The noise was raucous and Asher recorded as much of it as he could with his tablet. Some people dashed off to call or find relatives while others sat down on the spot and talked with each other. After a time, Asher slipped out the side door to the street and into the City night. He had no idea where Jeff had gone. They had spilt up hours prior when they were still following the crowds to find the source of the outrage.

Now the streets were deserted except for small groups of soldiers. As a sudden wave of anger washed over him, Asher realized that these were patrols. They were not actually forcing people to go back inside at this point, but they were urging people to get home. His neighborhood was completely transformed. Most of the shops and all of the restaurants and markets were closed. Many were actually bolted shut, he noted with an involuntary shudder.

When they first joined the crowds earlier that day, Asher and Jeff had come across a storeowner with a large family who was being dragged away by soldiers. A large crowd had gathered around to protest.

“What are you doing?” a woman in the crowd demanded. “Where are you taking him? You can’t do this, he didn’t do anything wrong!” She yelled and the others joined her. Asher and Jeff exchanged a glance and both began filming. Asher tried to approach a soldier who occupied with containing the irate storeowner’s wife.

“Excuse me,” he said, trying to push his way near the soldier. “Excuse me! What did this man do?” The soldier frowned at him and ignored the question. He continued dragging the woman away to the side of the crowd while her husband was being handcuffed and placed in the back of a supply truck. The crowd remained separated, held behind a wall of silent soldiers protecting the scene.

“Ma’am! He will not be hurt, I promise you!” The soldier reassured the frightened wife while she shouted and wriggled. “We can’t let people panic and your husband is panicking people! Our orders are to keep the peace and close all locations with food
until further notice
!” he said, turning his head and finishing his sentence by shouting over the entire crowd.

“What is happening?” she sobbed. “What is going on?” She collapsed onto the curb, the soldier’s grip now helping to steady her as she sat. One soldier stepped up with a loudspeaker. His demeanor suggested that he was the person in charge, Asher noticed. He addressed the crowd.

“Folks, please go back to your homes and families. All work is suspended and you need to proceed as calmly and quickly as you can back to your homes! Anyone disturbing the peace or caught looting will be taken into custody immediately. Please move on now,” the soldier continued to urge. The crowd jeered and shouted. Asher was still trying to engage the soldier who had corralled the wife, when he heard a gunshot ring out, followed by screams. Some people hit the ground and some ran.

Asher stared back at the soldiers in shock, crouching with his hands above him. Had someone been shot? He didn’t see any bodies, just traumatized people. Those who had not run stood sobbing and rooted to the spot.

“Enough!” the leader shouted to the cowering group. “That was a warning. We will follow our orders to keep the peace by whatever means necessary.” He took a breath. “There are millions of people in this town and no one person has the right to threaten the safety of everyone else. Now please…disperse!” he ordered and the remaining people scattered. Only Asher remained.

When the leader turned around, Asher approached the soldiers from the side, his open hands in the air. He tucked his camera away.

“Please,” he said quietly, “I just want to know what is going on here.”

The soldier who had taken away the storeowner turned to him. “Are you stupid or something?”

The other soldier who had grappled with the wife chided his fellow soldier. “C’mon Allen,” he said. “We have to remember that we are here to help.” The other soldier sighed.

“Fine, you explain things to each and every one of them if you want to,” he said, sounding tired. He glared at Asher and tilted his head, “It’s been a long day,” he spat and walked back to join the group bolting steel over the door to the store. Asher stared in silence until the other soldier finally spoke.