Page 45 of Beyond The Maples
I respond without hesitation, "Oh, we were just wondering what kind of weird foreplay you and Chef have gotten yourselves into. I know some people like a little pain with their pleasure, but throwing kitchen utensils is weird."
This causes an absolute uproar as Leo keels over Farra on the bench, trying to hide his face. I almost regret my comment as Berkley comes charging at me, causing me to scramble over my two friends, hurrying to get away.
I catch Tarius quietly laughing and use him as a human shield while Berkley tries to grab me. This goes on for several minutes. No one intervening as Berkley threatens to teach me a lesson until we hear a throat clear. Instantly, we all snap to a sloppy attention and face towards the noise.
"As much fun as this was to watch, you all better get back to training before the lieutenant comes over here and practices on all of you." Lachlan has his arms crossed, but he looks amused before turning away. I look back towards Berkley with a grin on my face, and mutter a sarcastic apology. Then we go through various combinations for the next two hours, until we're all begging for a break.
Farra, Leo and I lazily wander through the city, relishing our time off. This time, there is less trepidation in our steps. We wander with ease, thankful for the day to rest our muscles after another grueling week of training.
We end up on the outskirts of the city, walking along the uneven streets, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The concrete wall casts a shadow over the short buildings along the streets.
An intoxicating smell catches my attention––is thatbread? I look around, but I don't see any vendors or street markets near. I shake my head a little at the thought that it might be a resident simply baking it. It seems outrageous, but the more I see, the more confused I get.
I fall a little behind the others as my brain thinks about what's ahead for me. I've yet to figure out how to get my siblings here. I asked a few more people in the compound but other than the forms I've already filled out, they all gave me similar answers as Wesley: it's a waiting game. The residents here have all been grandfathered in for generations. Maybe I'm looking at this wrong, maybe instead of hoping to find a way to get them in, I should focus on getting myself into a better position. Making friends with the higher ups.
I chew my lip as I realize Captain Kethler is probably out on that list; he seems to dislike me, or more accurately, dislike everyone. There are others, though. The tower would have been a good option, but after that fall last week, there's just no way.
I realized too that I need to better understand the structure of what's going on the compound. Cadets and soldiers are only permitted in the training facilities, but what is happening in the rest of the building? We're allowed to roam in a small portion of the upper floor, the classrooms, auditoriums, training rooms andfacilities. But I've never even seen the med building. I heard cadets talking about the science and engineering labs on the bottom floors, about all the work down there being strictly confidential. Something about it doesn't sit right with me. If they were just working on agriculture, why wouldn't that be public knowledge?
And if they aren't working on that, what would that mean for their entire mission statement?
"Hey what's going over there, you think?" Leo asks, mindlessly leading us down the road towards where we can see people funneling into larger crowds through the narrow streets.
I tense when I see the church. We're still at a distance, but I can tell by the pillars of the building, the old well-kept brick standing taller than the rest of the buildings on this side of town. Our feet carry us closer, as we wonder what's drawn all these people to worship at the same time. My chest tightens the closer we get. I suspect it's nothing good. It's been a long time since people protested openly. I'm doubtful it's that.
Recognition shudders through me as we get close enough to see the white pillars lining the wall beside the building. They look rusted from years of use.
Farra sucks in a breath between her teeth.
"Fuck," Leo says openly.
I wince, watching the bodies hanging from the pillars sway in the gentle breeze. People are openly gawking, and I can't really blame them. This is quite the display. I count six bodies. People are laying offerings on the steps at the front of the building. They kneel, briefly uttering words of prayer, and then put their hands on their chests in a show of respect, for the dead or for the Gods, I'm not sure which.
I eye my friends, wanting desperately to turn around, but the crowd surrounds us now, herding us through the street. I keep moving with them instead of trying to go against them. As we get closer, Leo tugs on my sleeve and nods to the last two bodies. My body freezes. I recognize the red hair blowing in the wind, the girl from our arrival day––and her partner, hanging next to her.
Farra catches our glances and whispers, "Did you guys know them?"
I shake my head and keep moving as someone bumps into us.
"Not really. They were the ones who got into it with our escorting officer when we came."
All the colour drains from Leo's face as he stares blankly. The girl looks so young up there like that; her face, partially pushed up by rope, still holds some of the pudge of adolescence. Bruises circle her wrists and neck, and my stomach roils as I see various marks left on her porcelain skin peeking out of her tattered clothing. Turning, I see a member of the clergy standing proudly by the church doors, thick, dark brown robes billowing to the ground and his head tilted up haughtily.
I swallow my disgust.
I don't suspect these people were overly innocent, but I don't think there's anything to be proud of here. Seeing the bodies hanging so crudely for everyone to gawk at makes my skin crawl. I didn't truly know that young girl hanging there, but I saw she took no pleasure in what they were doing on the road.
All I see is how our society keeps failing our most vulnerable.
I steer our group away from the crowd as quickly as I can, not wanting to linger. It shouldn't shock me to see the two from our arrival up there. Logically, I knew their actions would sentence them to death, but it still leaves me feeling uneasy.
The thought that keeps picking at me is how long she'd been here. Executions in our town happen swiftly, and they were up and gone, usually within a few hours. This feels a bit like a warning, and I can't help but wonder what they had been doing with them these last few weeks.
Ambushing a government vehicle and employee is suicide, but a part of me can't help but feel sympathy for them. What kind of desperation had led them to believe that was their only option? Had the young girl even been given a chance, or had people forced her hand? Can humans who are experiencing such despair really be held to the same standards as those who aren't? Leo's voice interrupts my somber, run-away thoughts.
"I feel a little sick." He shivers and shakes his hands like he can vanquish all the uneasiness.
"Yeah, that was... awful. How long do you think they've been up there?" Farra murmurs.
