Aquifer (3 page)

F
ather Massa, I’m home! What do you need me to do?” I bang through the screen door, and slow. Father’s hammock sways gently in the main room. There is no breeze.

I feel cold, though the day is warm.

Of course. Today he will recite the path of descent in the sitting area, repeating it backward and forward. He says the route must be known both ways, for there is always the return journey to the surface.

I pull the sheet that shields Father’s sitting chair from the rest of the shanty.

He slowly lifts his head.

“Father Massa, I was worried.” I glance around. “Is everything well? Have you checked the boat —”

He raises his finger to his lips and stands. His eyes are fiery and clear, and I warm in that terrible, wonderful gaze.

“Come, son.” He tousles my hair and takes hold of both shoulders. “Let me look at you. There is so much of your mother
in your face. The child of hope, that’s what she called you, and you turned out well.”

“Uh, thank you, Father Massa.” Words falter. He is changed. “What happened to you? Where’s Wal —” Father slaps his hand over my mouth.

“What happened to me? Well, the brain is not meant to be tinkered with. As we’ve known for far too long, debriefings can steal memories, but” — he smiles broadly — “occasionally after too much tinkering, those memories find their way home.” He sighs. “There’s so much I need to tell you, but not now.” I feel the strength in his arms, the certainty in his voice. It is Father, but not one I’ve known. He slowly releases me.

I rub my mouth. “You’re so —”

“Late. Massa is late to depart.”

I swing around. The sheet rips from its clasp and an Amongus approaches, while two more block the doorway.

“Ignore them, Luca. I’m not late,” Father says, his voice soft and tender. “I can’t stop looking at you. How long have I been gone?”

“Get up, Massa,” the Amongus hisses.

“My mind, how long has it been absent?”

“Years,” I whisper, and peek toward the door. And in the corner of my eye, there is a tickle I can’t explain.

“Up, Man!”

The Watchers push my small frame aside, and I land with a thud. They stride toward Father.

He stands and points at each of them in turn. “Leave my home. You will not touch my son again.”

They stare at each other, and Father steps forward. “Out. Get out.” He bends and gently lifts me to my feet. “I wish to speak with Luca.”

Father shoves the lead Amongus, who raises his fist.

“Hold it, Mape.” His companion leaps from the door and grabs Mape’s arm. “Only he knows. He can’t be hurt. Not today.”

Mape slowly lowers his hand. “Not today.” He turns, and along with the others steps out of the shanty.

Father kneels. I kneel as well. “Luca, I have a job to do, and then we will talk. In the meantime, you have taken on quite a task. Your bravery yesterday means you must now care for the package you rescued. You will need to find a place for it.”

“Not here?”

Father slowly shakes his head. “Here is safe and good, but only for you, son.”

Inside, I warm. He said Walery couldn’t stay, but I warm. Because I can. I matter. I’m his son.

Father looks at me, deep and full. The stare reaches places the dials never find. Does he see my fear? My sadness, and the emotions that have no names?

He rises and hoists his backpack over his shoulders. A beam pierces from inside the pack. Even though the light rods are in their inactive state, there is no way to fully contain the glow. “How was school today?”

“It was … uh, fine. I moved into the Sixteens.”

“Sixteen! Three more months of school, and you are done. Finally a young man. No more a boy.”

“Ow!” Lendi stumbles into the shanty and crashes into Father, who doesn’t flinch.

“Why is this boy prowling about?” Mape follows him through doorway.

Father raises his eyebrows. “A good question.”

I step forward. “When you’re gone, he sometimes comes over to keep me company.”

Lendi turns a slow circle. “I swear that’s all. I didn’t know there were any Among — I mean Watchers here.”

“Seems I should leave so you can enjoy each other’s company.” Father kisses my forehead. I turn toward Mape. From his pocket, I hear the whirring of his dial. “I’ll see you early in the morning, my son, after the celebration begins.”

Dad leaves, and Lendi and I walk to the door. Outside, Father is escorted to the end of the dock, where he climbs into his boat.

“There’s far too much water in this vessel for one man.” The gentle swells carry Mape’s words to the shanty.

Father pays him little mind, and unties the rope. “You’ve never descended. You don’t know what’s needed.”

“Hmm. Go now,” Mape says. “The world waits.”

“Not until you leave my gates. I would not abandon Luca and Lendi to you.”

“He’s right. They’ll come back,” Lendi whispers. “They’ll go and come right back and we’ll be debriefed and I won’t remember my parents and —”

“Shh!”

The Amongus back away from the dock. Father starts the engine and calls, “Your dials. Toss them to me.”

The dials. During the New Sydney uprising, several Amongus had been attacked, their dials removed, and with them, their authority. They had quickly been undone. An Amongus without a dial was nothing, and even unfeeling citizens found relief in their embarrassment.

Mape shakes his head.

“Fine.” Father reclines in the boat. “You came to see me off. Let’s wait until others come, and you can explain to the waiting world why I’m still at the dock.”

“We have to do it, Mape,” his companion says. “There is no option.”

Mape reaches into his vest pocket and removes the dial. “You feel you have control. Because of your position, I will do this. But …” He glances toward us. “A penalty will be paid.”

“No, it won’t.” Father reaches out his hands and catches three dials. “Accursed things. You’ll get them back when I return. Now it’s your time to go. You’re late.”

The Amongus quickly disappear. Father waves to us. “Luca, the path in your mind — give it to no one else. If you are asked, you’ll know what to do.” He speeds out toward the reef. “Oh!” he yells back. “Please clean my closet.”

“He took their dials.” Lendi backhands my chest. “Luca, did you see that? How can he do that?”

I breathe deep. I don’t know the answer. But I’ve never been so proud.

C
lean the closet?

I run to the back of the house and throw open the door. Walery steps out, wide-eyed. “Are they gone?”

“Luca?” Lendi calls. “Where are you?”

My mind races, and I shove Walery back inside, slamming the door. “In Father’s area, Lendi. Come on in.” He appears, and I lean back against the closet. “So, where do your parents think you are this time?”

“Caesar’s, as always. His place in Scarboro makes for a long trek, and the idea of staying overnight makes sense to my parents.” Lendi grabs my arm — another rare physical touch. “I need to show you something.”

I wait, and my friend chews his lip. Fortunately for him, the Amongus don’t patrol New Pert when Father drops below the surface; his anxiety will go unnoticed. Even the Watcher’s lives are on the line.

I peek at Lendi’s fingers tightening around my forearm.

“We can’t talk here, but I found something. You’ll want to see it, Luca. This is the only day we could go unnoticed.”

“Where —”

“No questions, all right? Just follow. I’m already a walking wrinkle, and thinking about it only makes it worse.”

It’s a day for secrets, and my body tingles. Lendi’s mouth is a risk, but that increases my urge to confide about the boy in my closet. “I’ve got something to show you too.”

Lendi puffs out air. “You know I blab. You know … Oh, fine, what is it?” I step away from the door, and Lendi slowly pulls it open.

“Why is Walery in your father’s closet?”

“It’s somewhat of a story.”

Lendi lowers his voice. “Wait. I saw him in the march. Wasn’t he undone?”

“Does he look it?”

Lendi peeks. “No. But he’s supposed to be undone, isn’t he?”

I say nothing.

“He came through your gate, and somehow you hid him.”

More silence.

“And nobody knows about it but you, and now me. Blime! I can’t keep this kind of confidence. You know that.” Lendi drops to the floor and squeezes his dreadlocks.

I sit beside him. “It’s okay, mate. Now, what was your news?”

“My news?” His breathing quickens. “Yeah, my news! Maybe my news will help me forget your news.”

I gesture to Walery, and he steps out while flattening his shirt. “You’re not going to slam me back inside again …”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” I grab a fish from the cold box and drop it into Walery’s hands. “The place is yours tonight.” I offer
him a quick slap on the back. “Lendi and I are going on a little trip.”

Walery presses his toe into the wooden floor. “I could … I could come with you. It’s, uh, really dark here, and really …”

Lonely. The word you’re looking for is lonely. You haven’t been allowed to talk of it, but there it is. I know it well
.

“I think it’s far too soon for you to be outside this house. Even Lendi knew about your scheduled undoing.” I wince. “Sorry, Lendi. Anyway, I need to find a place where you can stay. Forever. Perhaps the Northern Territories. A different district. Father knows people. Stay here until he gets back, okay?”

Walery raises his palms and lets them flop back down. “Yeah, you’re right. This is just a strange place.” He glances around. “So quiet. So full of something.”

It’s called emotion. That takes some getting used to as well
.

I touch Lendi on the shoulder, and then together we push out the door and into the heat of afternoon. The streets of New Pert are nearly deserted. We wander along the Swan River and toward its lagoon, around which citizens’ homes huddle. Dotted among the dwellings, remnants of massive buildings stand in decay. The Swan is the heart of New Pert, both a magnet for those who remain and an image of what’s been undone.

Millions used to fill the city, but no longer. Thirst has seen to that.

Today, the shoreline is deserted — no bikes, no scooters. Not on the eve of Water Day.

Lendi leads me across the river and then veers toward Freemanl Wharf, close to the sea, where only a few tardy fishermen are frantic at work tying down their boats and hauling in their catch. In another hour, even the most secret alleys of the wharf will be uninhabited.

Only the water mission will remain open. All day, every day, it collects extra from donors and gives water to the destitute for free. Father sends me daily to contribute.

Lendi’s face is tense and his gait quick; odd for my friend. There are no jokes. There are no words.

There have always been words between us.

Lendi first approached me when we were Sixes. He grabbed my swing at the play yard and twisted it, and I swirled and fell on my back while he laughed. His reprimand had been severe, but I felt an immediate kinship with the wild, jittery boy.

“You know, Lendi, Tamari’s home rests near the wharf.”

At the sound of her name, his legs slow, and he flashes me his most-controlled look. “Yes. Why do you mention —”

“Because you never do.” I raise my palms. “You just stare and stare. She could be your match. You could ask your father to make the request.”

Lendi freezes. “And just when have you ever heard of any request being granted? No, I have a better chance saying nothing.”

I glance down. “She’s pretty.” I sweep my hand before my eyes. “I can see it now. The Joiners are pleased to announce the selection of Lendi, son of Beldi the Tanner, and Tamari, daughter of Jokthan the … What does her father do?”

“Veterinarian.” Lendi covers his face with his hands and peeks at me between the cracks. “Have you ever heard of a tanner joining a vet? It will never be! She would save critters and I would skin them!”

I frown. “That does seem to be an inherent contradiction …”

Lendi circles me. “I will likely be joined to Lorna, the plump future baker.”

“You will eat well —”

“But who can eat when the girl they … When another man
joins the girl, they …” Lendi cannot finish his sentence. He can’t name what he feels. He only knows the heart whisper is real, and that it makes him miserable.

“Perhaps we should pay Tamari a visit,” I say quietly.

“Oy, mate. Would you have me undone? Come!” He mutters and grabs my arm, and we hurry past Tamari’s home.

A breeze, stiff and swirling, flutters flags and carries a few muffled voices. Seadogs, grunting on the wharf.

“Luca?”

I turn toward Freemanl Pier. Seward bends over empty nets. He’s the biggest scammer in New Pert, yet I always hope to see him. Seward never seems anxious, which always puts me at ease.

“Why out today?” He squints from Lendi to me. “Is Massa all right?”

“He’s fine. In fact, he just left. Good fishing?”

Seward straightens and hints his crooked smile. “Always on the seventh of the seventh. I own the seas. I have the Freemanl to meself. Think I be wasting that chance?” He pauses. “You two be heading the wrong way.”

“We are,” I say. “Happy Water Day.”

“Why do you speak to him?” Lendi hisses as we leave. “My father says he’s a pirate.”

“Mine says the same thing. Which is precisely why he’s a good man to know. Father says to keep close eyes on your enemies — especially ones with large stashes of water on hand.” I pause and lean into his shoulder. “Had we stopped at Tamari’s, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

We turn inland from the shore and head through Kwinza sector and toward the old mine pits. We are far enough from home that we will walk back in darkness. Lendi hates darkness.

He turns down the wide road that leads to Glaugood.

“Why are we heading toward the mine?” I ask, and slow my pace.

Shadows dart on my left from inside old miners’ quarters.

“Wishers,” I whisper.

Lendi freezes. “Where?”

I gesture for him to follow and light-foot it toward the building. The window in the door is cracked, but what remains is smeared with mud. I carefully swipe the grime from it, peer in, and point.

Thirty, maybe more, kneel in a circle. Wishers often do that. Some say they practice an old magic, others claim that they fall into a trance. Father says they pray, though he doesn’t know much beyond that.

It is rare to see so many in one place, given their status as enemies of the PM. They are a constant target of the Amongus; Barker has marched hundreds through our gate. Their crime? The frequency each was given at birth has somehow been silenced, overwritten. Amongus dials can’t detect Wishers.

They wander the streets as free men and women.

I squint through the dark glass. The sight of them always thrills me, quickens me.

“What do you think they say?” I whisper.

“Leave them to their mumbling.” Lendi tugs at my sleeve. “Come on, Luca!”

I pull free and press my ear against the crack.

“Has anyone heard the Voice today? Has anyone heard from God?”

They’ve lost their minds
.

“I … I think the Voice spoke,” a young girl pipes up. “I know I’m only an Eight, and the Voice has no business speaking to me, but —”

“Tell us, what did you hear?”

The girl’s tone strengthens. “‘The prophecy’s fulfillment is in motion, even now.’ That’s what it said.”

“Come on, Luca! Time is against us,” hollers Lendi.

I raise my finger to my lips and peek back through the window. I see no one. I peer to the right and left, but the room is empty.

I sigh. Prophecies and voices. What’s possessed them?

Lendi starts to jog, and I break free from the door with questions about a prophecy dancing through my mind. We climb over three fences and squeeze through rusted blockades. Lendi sprints ahead, stopping at the lip of the mine. I catch up, catch my breath, and stare down into the largest open-pit gold mine ever dug in Australya. Now it’s a hole, a saltwater-filled hole three times wider and deeper than the Boddington excavation and stripped of all metals. Immense and abandoned, there’s a heaviness about this place.

Lendi’s eyes widen. “When Teacher One offered me the special assignment, the Dangerous Animal Pursuit, I thought, where could I go to look for an undiscovered species?”

“Dangerous Animal? He asked you to gather insects.”

“Yes, but there was a bit of mystery in the request.” Lendi nods large and slow. “Couldn’t you feel the tension? My dial wiggled.”

“Didn’t see it. Go on.”

“So I wondered where I might find even a strange insect, and it hit. Glaugood, a pit vacant for a hundred years. In all this time, there must be a new beetle or something crawling around near the bottom.”

“It’s filled with seawater.”

“That’s what I thought too. And it’s a long way from home.
Still, I figured it would be worth a look, and the seventh of the seventh provides the only opportunity to safely take a peek. So last year, after Massa left and I left you, well, I did.” Lendi jogs onto the dirt road that rings the perimeter, spiraling endlessly down into the basin. “Follow me!” He takes off in a sprint.

I test the firmness of the road with my foot. “You failed that assignment. You reported that you found no new insect species. And your dial didn’t wiggle, so I know you weren’t lying!”

Lendi doesn’t slow. “That’s right. I didn’t find bugs. I found something else!” He waves to me. “Oh, Luca, I’ve been waiting a
whole year
to show this to you. Do you know how hard it is for me to keep a secret for a
day?
”

I do, and I stare down into the pit. Even half filled with water, Glaugood is massive and deep. Whatever gives my fidgety mate courage to descend must be worth the effort.