Page 90 of The Artist
“I’m surprised that the buildings are still in two levels and that the street has an outdoor feel to it.” I looked up at the arched ceiling above us and saw stars blinking and clouds moving. “Are those screens?”
“Yes, level two and three have ceiling screens to show the weather outside. Problem is that many of the screens are old and malfunctioning or broken.”
She was right. For every ten that worked, at least one was blacked out, which destroyed the illusion that we were looking at the outdoor sky.
“It’s still crazy to think that people survived down here for generations.”
“In the beginning it was different. Remember the first year you came here for a summit and we showed you one of the original survival bunkers that is now a museum?”
We all nodded and smiled at two men who were passing us and calling out to us.
“What did they say?” Indiana asked.
“That you’re so tall that you need to watch your head down here.” Belle hurried on and we followed her down streets that turned and twisted until I was lost. The next neighborhood had a different feel to it, and she explained that it was the old agricultural area that had been converted into living space after the animals were moved upstairs.
“Wow, so the animals are treated better than the humans here?” Indiana looked at Freya. “I’ll bet you love that as a vegan.”
Belle continued, “Actually, of the underground areas, this is one of the most popular. It has an industrial feel to it but larger rooms than some of the apartments above ground.”
After about twenty minutes of walking underground, we arrived at Belle’s quarters on level three.
“What’s that sound?” I asked.
“It’s an underground river.”
Spotlights lit up the running water and there was a small bridge leading us over to the other side.
“Is the water polluted?” Aubri asked.
“No, this is the newest part of the underground dwellings and everything is clean. Remember I told you that there are four underground levels? I should have specified that it’s not true for the entire country. In this part, we have three levels so we are now as far down as we can get. Are you ready to see where I live?”
“Yes!” we all answered in unison.
Belle smiled and stopped in front of a red façade with a blue door. On each side of the door was a window with grids like in an old-fashioned farmhouse.
“This is where I live. Rome, S-3-12076.”
“Is S for south?’
“No, S is for subterranean and 3 indicates that my house is at the lowest level. 12076 is my house number.”
Freya took a step back to the railing that kept people safe from falling into the river and looked up and down the street. “I think it’s pretty genius how you’ve given every house a different color to give the impression of an old city. The old farmhouse windows and the artificial plants and flowers are a nice touch too.
“It was designed to imitate the original Rome.” Belle explained.
“How does it work? I mean, did you choose this apartment or was it given to you?” Indiana asked and was instantly reprimanded by Freya.
“Honestly, haven’t you paid attention during the summits here? The French system was explained to us several times.”
“Sorry, Miss Sticky Brain, but some of us don’t store every bit of information we hear. I remember that the French system is somewhere between the Motlanders’ fairness principle and our market economy, but I can’t remember every fucking detail.”
“It’s okay, Indiana, I don’t mind answering your question,” Belle said with a smile. “Where we live depends on our work situation. As children we live in dorms connected to our schools. When we graduate, we apply for jobs that fit our skill set. Everyone starts at level one and moves up from there. The higher the level you reach, the more privilege you achieve. If you lose your job, you have three months to find a new one or you lose your home.”
“Then what?” I asked.
“Maybe a friend will let you stay with them, or you go to the homeless place.”
“You have homeless people?” Freya asked with a look of surprise. “I specifically asked your delegation about this and they said everyone was taken care of.”
