Inside the Palisade (2 page)

Gamma makes a face as I lift the device to my lips. “On my way.”

“Is Gamma up there with you? She’s supposed to be on the line.”

Gamma sticks out her tongue as I reply, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Send her down here at once.”

Gamma makes an exaggerated salute and hurries away. As the door closes behind her, she calls to me, “Remember. Dinner
tonight.”

Once I have the dye barrel in place, I yank the lever to engage the pulley system and head for the door. The cables strain against the weight as the load descends. By the time I return to the factory floor, a crowd has gathered around one of the machines. No one’s working. Tau paces back and forth, arguing with someone on her communicator. Probably her own boss. She beckons to me when she sees me. I drag myself forward, reluctant to hear what she has in mind. Her voice echoes in the absence of the machine noise. “We have a problem. There’s a blockage in the valve.”

Wonderful.
They’re going to make me do something stupid and dangerous to fix it.

“We need you to get in there and work it loose,” she says.

“Why me?”

“You’ve got the spindliest arms.”

At least I’ll only be risking my arm. A week ago, she made me climb into one of the engines. The power was off and the safety was on, but I was terrified all the same. I follow Tau to the machine, and she indicates the source of the problem: a small valve that has been partly jimmied open with a crowbar.

“Take a look,” she says.

I press my eye to the opening. There’s definitely something there that shouldn’t be. It looks like a bolt might have worked itself loose and become jammed. I roll up my sleeve and thrust my arm inside. It’s a tight fit, but I manage to slide my fingers along the shaft of the offending item. It gives a little. If I can get my hand around it, I can probably tug it aside. A wave of conversation swells behind me. Tau is close by, but she’s talking into her communicator again.

Running my fingers down the bolt, I attempt to pry it loose. Finally I get a decent grip, and tug. It doesn’t budge. I try to wiggle it from side to side. No progress at first but eventually something gives as I twist and pull at the same time. Taking me
by surprise, the bolt jerks free. The momentum pulls me backward. I’m sure I’m going to crash to the floor, but my body halts mid-motion, my arm jammed in the valve, pinned there by the bolt I’ve been trying to move. Someone gasps. A pair of hands clamps over my arm and starts to yank. Tau is trying to free me, and not very gently.

“Stop!” I scream. I’ve never raised my voice to her before, but she’s hurting me.

“I can’t.” Her whisper chills me. I hear the beep, followed by a distant humming. She’s already given the order to restart the machine. They’re going to turn it on with my arm inside.

The thrumming becomes louder as the machine churns to life. It was stupid for Tau to have given the order to restart it, but it takes a few minutes to get it going. She must have thought we had enough time. I feel, rather than hear, vibrations rumbling through the mechanism. Tau is breathing in hard desperate gasps beside me. Several girls have joined her tugging at my arm. Others yell in the background.

“Call the manager!” My voice is lost in the commotion. All I can see is the gray metal bulk of the machine, pinning me in place as frantic hands pull at me from behind. It feels like forever before I hear a soothing voice at my ear.

“Don’t worry. We called her. She’s shutting it down.”

Gamma.

A moment later, the vibrations subside and the pressure on my arm eases as the machine stutters to a stop. The smell of steam and sweat surrounds me as the girls work to pry the valve open. I drop my head back to see the cracked plaster ceiling high above me, as the workers begin to hoist me backwards.

“Easy, easy. Don’t break it.” Tau’s voice is frantic.

“Can’t you see she’s hurt?” Gamma’s angry now. “Don’t worry,” she says to me. “It’s going to be alright.” My arm slides out of the machinery and I tumble into a pair of waiting arms. Gamma lowers me to the floor as the other workers crowd around us.

“Let me see.” She maneuvers my arm into her lap and I wince in pain. I raise my head to look. There’s a lot of blood, and I have to turn away. Girls are murmuring nearby.

“You’re such a wuss,” Gamma says, but her words are strained. She calls out to someone in the distance. “Where’s the Med-Kit?”

“Coming,” Tau’s voice belts out from somewhere near the
back of the factory.

“Someone call the Clinic.” Gamma says. “Tell them we have an injury. We’ll need a transport.”

“No,” I manage to stammer. I don’t want to be carted off by emergency services and have everyone stare at me and tease me about my clumsiness. And have my mother find out how much attention I managed to bring down on myself while she’s away.

“Omega, you’re hurt. We need to get you to the Clinic.” The injury must be bad. Gamma sounds worried and the other girls are crushing in to get a closer look. I hear a few gasps and then a loud grunt as Tau pushes Gamma aside and takes her place beside me. Her brow is drawn and she’s brandishing a Med-Kit. She kneels down and grasps my arm none too gently. I stifle a cry.

“Damn. This looks bad,” she says. I have a feeling she’s more worried about her job than about me. The supervisors lose points when girls are injured on their watch. “Move back, ladies. Give me room to work.”

The press of the crowd diminishes as the girls split off into groups around the factory giving me a chance to view Gamma standing directly behind Tau watching her work on me. My arm starts to sting as Tau disinfects the wound. I’m not watching what she’s doing, but the smell of antiseptic burns my nose. Gamma walks around behind me and her arm snakes over my shoulders as she cradles me against her. Her honeysuckle fragrance combats the medicinal smell. I can’t help burying my nose into her tunic for comfort. A wave of dizziness engulfs me, and I focus on breathing until it passes. Moments later, Gamma braces my cheek with her hand and tilts my head so I’m facing her. A girl I don’t know passes her a white capsule and a glass of water.

“A painkiller. To take the edge off,” she says.

I reach out for the pill and slip it in my mouth. Gamma presses the glass to my lips so I can chase it down with a swig of cool, clear water. After I swallow, she removes the glass and smoothes my hair back. She’s calmer than she was. “It’s not as bad as it
looks, Omega. The cut is long. That’s why there’s so much blood. But it’s not very deep.”

It doesn’t hurt as much anymore. Maybe Tau is being more careful, or maybe the painkiller is kicking in. Within a few minutes, I can feel her wrapping the injury. She’s tying the bandage so tight my arm tingles. I inhale sharply and turn to watch her. Her knuckles are as white as the bandage. Gamma continues smoothing my hair, like my mother did when I was little. She turns to someone behind her and asks, “Is the transport on the way?”

“No.” This time I manage to make my voice stronger and I force myself to sit up as Tau ties off the bandage. I can see that the groups of girls have now dispersed further around the factory. Some seem to be missing, probably outside taking a smoke break while they have the unexpected opportunity.

“It’s not so bad, Omega, but we do have to get you to the Clinic,” Gamma says.

“I’ll walk.” Maybe I can slip back home without anyone noticing.

“I’ll go with you.” Gamma helps me to my feet. I’m a little shaky, so I lean into her as she wraps an arm around my waist. Tau is kneeling beside us, repacking the Med-Kit.

Tau rises to her feet and rounds on the few girls who are still hanging around the action. “Get back to work. All of you.” She turns to us and addresses Gamma who is urging me toward the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Taking her to the Clinic, ma’am.” Gamma stresses the last word, her grip tightening around my waist.

Tau strides toward us, Med-Kit in hand. “Are you deaf? I said get back to work.”

“Ma’am, she won’t go if I don’t take her.” Gamma stands her ground, locking eyes with Tau.

“She’ll go.” Tau drops the Med-Kit with a clang. “She’ll go because I’m going to call ahead and tell them to expect her.” She
raises her communicator and starts pushing buttons.

“Ma’am, she’s hurt.” Gamma releases me and plants her hands on her hips. “She won’t be able to get there without help.”

“She looks steady enough to me.” Tau indicates me standing without Gamma’s assistance. “You’re alright to walk to the Clinic yourself, aren’t you, girl?” It isn’t really a question.

“So you get back to work.” Tau points a stubby finger at Gamma before nodding at the Med-Kit by her feet. “And put that away while you’re at it.”

Gamma frowns, apparently not planning to push her luck. She snatches up the Med-Kit almost ramming it into Tau’s shin in the process. Tau jumps back but it only takes a moment for her to regain her composure. She turns her attention to me. “Get on your way, girl. I’m putting the call in now.” As she raises the communicator to her lips, I meet Gamma’s dark eyes over her shoulders. Then I turn and head for the exit, the factory’s oversized steel doors looming in front of me.

A wrought iron gate marks the entryway to the Clinic. The three-story building is surrounded by a fence that stretches out around a lush garden. Its centerpiece is a reflection pool set into the ground in a perfect circle. The gate is never closed. It’s intended as a signal that those in need are always welcome. The area is tranquil between shifts. The sinking sun’s rays dance across the water’s surface. At the far end of the pool, there’s a woodland comprised of firs and oaks, arranged to provide shade and relaxation for those lucky enough to come out and enjoy it. If only I had time to soak it all in.

A pair of squirrels darts around me, racing each other for the base of an oak tree. One follows the other up its trunk, chittering excitedly until they disappear amidst the leaves. My contact lenses scratch my eyes. I shouldn’t take them out in public. If
anyone knew, it would lead to questions that I can’t answer. My mother says it’s only a genetic abnormality, but those aren’t supposed to exist inside the palisade. It’s better no one knows about my eyes.

With a furtive glance to check that I’m truly alone, I slip beneath the oak tree the squirrels climbed. Its foliage shields me from view of the building down the path. I lean into its rough bark, unable to resist running my palms along its ridges and valleys, immersing myself in its sweet summery scent. If I were a squirrel, I guess this is the tree I’d pick for my home too. After a moment, I crawl to the edge of the reflection pool and lean over the water. My face gazes back at me, a little paler than usual, my mop of chestnut hair escaping from its braids.

The lenses are still in place, their fake blue beaming up at me. I pinch out the plastic discs and clip them into the case I always keep in my pocket. Placing it on a rock beside me, I cup my hands under the water and splash my face, blinking my eyes to lubricate them. The water is cool and refreshing, reminding me of Gamma holding the glass to my lips. I press my fingertips to my mouth. She’s my very best friend. She has no problem finding girlfriends. Why don’t I feel that way about her? About anyone here? Life would be so easy if I did. My future could be all mapped out.

I could commit to a life partner, have a family and hopefully retrain for a better Calling. Of course, the one Calling I’d like doesn’t exist anymore. Adventurer, explorer. Like in the old history books we study at school. If we still had explorers we could find out what’s really outside the walls. It can’t be empty nothingness forever, can it?

My thoughts are interrupted by a movement in the trees, followed by a flurry of falling leaves. A pair of eyes stares at me from a high perch. Someone is hidden there, masked by the leafy canopy, haloed by the sun.

Is it a girl playing around up there? Or maybe an animal,
although it seems pretty bulky. Too big to be a squirrel. Could be a raccoon, but do they actually climb trees?

I take a breath and call out, “Who are you?”

No response.

“What are you doing up there? Are you stuck?”

The figure shakes its head. It understands me. So, not an animal.

“Why don’t you come down? I won’t hurt you.”

The head shake is vigorous, causing the tree to shed more leaves. I move forward until I’m directly beneath her, but she shimmies to a higher branch.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m going to call for help.” I raise my communicator to make the call.

“No!”

I don’t know if I only imagine the hissed word combined with the whoosh of air when the girl leaps from her perch. She drops like a huge black bat, arms outstretched, draped in something thick and dark. She catches me off guard, pushing me backward. My knee twists painfully, and I feel something tear as I go down, but I can’t cry out. The fall knocks the wind out of me.

Then she’s on me, clawing for the communicator at my wrist as she straddles my hips and pins me. I try to fight back, but my injured arm screams in pain. With a last violent jerk, the girl succeeds in snapping the communicator strap and pulling the device away. I draw in a breath to cry for help, but her hand is over my mouth, her body pressed to mine. She’s unbelievably strong. I thrash against her but she presses down harder making it difficult to breathe. My vision blurs. I’m worried I’ll pass out. I try to get a look at her face, but I can’t see past the hood of the dark cloak. Focusing on breathing through my nose, I try to steady myself. The girl begins to relax her grip.