Canvas Skies (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) (24 page)

The Prime Minister walked over to the doors
and opened them. Armed guards waited to escort the prisoner. Brody
walked up to them with his head held high.

The Prime Minister Armstrong said, “Send
guards to escort April and Keira Maddock to the Justice Center.
They can be found at Art Fantastique.” He looked around the room
with a smirk. “We've finally got them, and once they're in custody,
Sgt. Maddock, the boy and the baby won't be far behind.”

My transceiver trilled like a grey treefrog
while I waited in line at the deli. A few people turned and smiled
at the sound. Aimee had been busy talking with a customer when I'd
left the gallery. I turned on the vidscreen and winked at Guy. “You
miss me already?”

“Run, NOW!” The people who had been
snickering now stared. I ignored them and heeded Guy's advice.
Running in heels was anything but easy, yet I made it back to Art
Fantastique in record time. The shop was empty. I locked the door
behind me, flipped the sign to read SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED and turned
off the lights just as Aimee entered from the back room.

“What are you...”

I held my index finger to my mouth and shook
my head. She froze. I grabbed her purse and coat and practically
threw them at her before moving to the back door. I cracked it open
and saw no one. I waved my hand, and Aimee followed me. The door
locked shut behind us.

“Keira, what's going on?”

“I don't know.”

“Then why are we running?”

“I don't know!” I snapped. “Keep
moving.”

We stayed off the street, keeping to back
alleys. A few blocks later, I pulled Aimee into a crouch beside a
large red trash bin and reached into my purse for my transceiver. I
turned on the vidscreen so Aimee could participate in the
conversation too.

“Keira? You okay?” Guy said.

“For now. What's going on?”

“Give us a minute.” He sounded out of
breath. Legs, cars, arms and purses sped past.

“This way,” Eberhardt said.

“Why aren't they using his car?” Aimee
asked.

We watched as Guy and Eberhardt crouched in
a shadowy back alley of their own. Then Guy's face filled the tiny
screen.

“Brody's been charged. He's being held at
the Justice Center. Sentencing is scheduled for 4:00, the day after
tomorrow.”

Aimee gasped.

“The ministry has sent guards to escort both
of you back for trial. It won't be long until they're after me too.
Aimee?”

“What?” Her voice shook.

I reached for her hand as Guy continued.
“The gallery was bugged.”

All color drained from her face.

“How much do they know?”

“Everything,” she whispered. “They know
everything.”

Guy was talking to me now. “Go where you'll
be safe. I'll meet you there, and lose your transceiver.”

I nodded and severed the connection. Then I
removed the memory chip and snapped it into tiny pieces. These, I
scattered as we ran.

About a mile later, I simply had to stop. I
pulled Aimee into a used clothing shop and bent over to rub my
ankles. Aimee did the same.

“May I help you?” The clerk smiled at us,
and his eyes shifted to the front of my blouse.

I stood up. “Believe it or not, we would
really like to change into more comfortable clothing for the
afternoon. How about a trade?” I presented him with my most
alluring smile. I only had about 20 gats in my purse, not enough
for what we'd need.

He raised his eyebrows. “What did you have
in mind?”

“These are designer dresses.” I turned
around slowly and motioned for Aimee to do the same. “I think I'm
ready to relax in a pair of comfortable jeans. How about you?” I
looked at her.

She smiled and nodded. Her brown hair
bobbed.

The clerk narrowed his eyes. “Two dresses in
exchange for two pairs of jeans and two shirts?”

“Yes, and two pairs of quality high heels in
exchange for two pairs of fitness shoes.”

“Fitness shoes are in high demand.” He
countered. “Two sets of heels and both of your spring jackets for
the shoes.”

I tilted my head slightly and winked at him.
“If I let you watch, can we take those coats and caps too?” I
pointed to a nearby display.

“Don't,” Aimee pleaded, but I shushed her
with a look.

He thought about it for a minute, then said,
“If you change slowly, it's a deal.”

When we left, I sent Aimee ahead but kept a
close eye on her. The Gov was looking for two Elite women on the
run, not two Working Class girls walking alone. We arrived safely
at Tony's in under an hour.

I opened the door and ran right into
Aimee.

“What is it? Why did you stop?”

“Isn't that Cole?” She looked at me, her
eyes round.

I peered around her. Guy was in the far
corner booth surrounded by a crowd that included Jenna, Tony and
Cole. Eberhardt had pulled up a chair from a nearby table, and
they'd started without us. I gave Aimee a little shove. “Well, go
on!”

I grabbed a chair as I neared the booth.
Aimee did the same. Everyone looked up in surprise.

“So that's what took so long,” Guy said,
eyeing our “new” clothes.

Our meeting lasted nearly an hour. Tomorrow,
at sunrise, the end would begin. “Reliance on Citizens Makes Us
Great!” The motto was repeated from one establishment to the next,
from one neighborhood to another. We even contacted Viktor in New
London. By nightfall, hundreds were ready to move. By morning, we
would have thousands.

***

We were just finishing dinner when a small
group of armed guards arrived. Fortunately, someone from a tavern
down the street had alerted us to their presence, and we were ready
for them.

When I suggested hiding in plain view,
Eberhardt immediately moved to the bar. Tony smiled and handed him
a beer and a rugged coat to cover his chauffeur's uniform. A
waitress hurried over and cleared away the dinner dishes but left a
few drinks scattered around.

Cole reached for my hand and tugged, helping
me out of the booth. I, in turn, did the same for Aimee. Then I put
her hand in his.

“Keep her safe!” I said.

Cole nodded and led her to a table where a
poker game was in full swing. In an instant, Cole and Aimee had
become one with the group.

The waitress returned with a dirty coat and
bowler's hat for Guy. Jenna intercepted and winked at me. “Don't
worry, I'll keep him safe.”

Guy looked at me in surprise, but I shrugged
and hurried away. Jenna was right, Guy and I were more likely to be
recognized if we were together.

As for me. Well, they were looking for me
and Guy, or me and Aimee, not me and...I looked around for just the
right person.

Sadie and I were on the small dance floor
with a dozen other people when guards entered the room. They walked
around holding out photos from the recent Everyday Elite episode of
the benefit. When they drew near, Sadie pushed me up against the
wall, pressed her lips against mine and ran her fingers through my
hair. Even though I closed my eyes, I heard the guards' comments
when they paused to watch.

After they left, we regrouped. Tony
approached the back booth and listened to our discussion. We
couldn't go home, and a hotel was out of the question.

“You could stay in the back room,” Tony
said. “The cots aren't exactly comfortable, but you'll be
safe.”

We followed him. I'd never been in back
before. It was a room usually reserved for high stakes gambling
sessions, but sometimes Tony let customers crash when they were too
drunk to walk home. A poker table surrounded by eight chairs sat in
the center of the room. Two thin metal framed cots with stained
mattresses lined one wall. The scent of bleach couldn't quite mask
an underlying sour odor.

Tony pointed to a tall metal cabinet in the
far corner. “Clean sheets, blankets, pillows. Use whatever you
need.”

Guy reached out to clasp Tony's hand. “Thank
you.”

Someone shook my shoulder. A candle flame
flickered in the darkness.

“Thanks, Tony,” Keira said.

I shook off the last remnants of sleep and
untangled my limbs from Keira's.

“Where are the lights?” I asked in
confusion.

“Lights aren't reliable in this part of the
city,” Keira reminded me. I let her pull me to my feet, then
wrapped my arms around her and squeezed. What will the world be
like after today?

“Just let me wake Aimee,” she said.

“It's alright. I'm already awake. I'll meet
you out there in a minute.”

It was 7:00 A.M. Even though the bar wasn't
open this early, Tony was busy preparing oatmeal for five. He
placed the food on one of the larger tables. Eberhardt was already
seated. I wondered how much sleep he'd been able to get in the
corner booth.

I reached into my pocket, retrieved my
wallet and pulled out 150 gats. I handed the money to Tony, only he
wouldn't accept it.

I didn't wish to insult him. “For breakfast
and for the room last night,” I said, “and for keeping us safe. You
can share it with everyone else who helped if you'd like.”

He smiled then and took the money. “That I
can do.”

In the middle of breakfast, Raquelle showed
up with a friend, a short-haired blond woman. She also brought
along her mobile data processor and a bag of techno supplies. She
introduced the young woman as Jo. I smiled and shook her hand.
"Ricardo" never ceased to amaze me.

About an hour later, Alexis Palamara and her
crew arrived. She sat down and said, “This had better be good, Guy
Bensen! We were editing a story about the only animal reserve left
in Afrik when you called yesterday.”

“A worthy cause, I'm sure. Don't worry, this
story will be just as captivating. The revolution starts today.” I
winked. “I didn't think you'd want to miss the ride.”

She grinned. “It's about time.”

“You remember Raquelle?”

Alexis nodded, and they shook hands.

“I want us live, on all frequencies, both
what's happening outside and inside the Justice Center. Can you two
manage that?”

“Is there a public transceiver around here?”
Raquelle asked.

Keira pointed to a nook in the back
wall.

“If Alexis will let me near her equipment, I
can rig something up.”

“Do whatever she says,” Alexis said to her
crew.

“I'll need more space,” Raquelle said.

We all looked at Tony.

He nodded. “Of course. For what it's worth,
you can use the back room.”

I looked at Raquelle. “Did you bring
them?”

“I did.” She reached over and dropped some
tiny transmitters into my hand.

“Only five?”

“It's all I've got.”

I gave one back to her and handed one to
Alexis, one to Eberhardt and placed one in my own ear. I pocketed
the final transmitter.

***

When the ministers and lawmen arrived at
work that morning, they were greeted by hundreds of protestors,
which grew to over a thousand as the morning wore on. Shortly
before 10:00, one man exited the building and bravely approached a
vid'recorder on the front steps of the Justice Center.

“My name is Hisoka Watanabe, and I am a
lawman.”

A few people hurled insults, but Hisoka
waited patiently for their full attention.

“The ministry called an emergency session
this morning. The vote was whether or not to gas you into
submission. Some recommended gunning you down instead. You should
know that the military has refused to comply with the ministry's
orders. I am not alone when I say that I most certainly do not
agree with recent executive decisions. Atrocities are happening
right here.” He turned to look at the building behind him. When he
again faced the vid'recorder, we could see tears running down his
face. Aimee held out her hand toward the screen. “I wish I'd never
been any part of it.”

He shook his head and sadly walked into the
crowd. Someone handed him a sign. It read, “Down with the Gov!” A
few other lawmen exited the building. They also took up signs and
began chanting for change.

***

I held up my hand and listened to the
transmitter in my ear. The small group in Tony's back room quieted.
Eberhardt's voice came through loud and clear. I looked around at
the others. “They're going in.”

Raquelle switched views on her data
processor. We watched the vidscreen. Eberhardt, wired with a small
vidcam, followed a group of soldiers up the front steps of the
Justice Center. As soon as they entered the building, she switched
to Eberhardt's view.

Ricky had pirated every frequency in Terene,
and she'd sent Jo along with Alexis's crew, armed with a small but
powerful projector unit.

Raquelle reached for her personal
transceiver. “Jo, you in position? They've just gone in. Start it
up as soon as you can.”

Alexis's voice was in my ear. “My people are
still setting up speakers, but we've got visual. It's being
projected onto the outer wall of the Justice Center.”

I put my hand on Raquelle's shoulder. “Good
work. They're receiving.” The buzz in my ear quieted as the
protestors stopped chanting and turned to watch.

Eberhardt spoke next. “We're just outside
the main conference chambers.”

An ashen faced young woman was on screen,
her hand poised above the call button on her desk.

“Go ahead,” Eberhardt said. “Announce us.
That's what you're supposed to do, isn't it?”

She nodded, and then pushed the button.
“Sirs? Some people from the military are here to see you.” Her
voice shook. “Shall I send them in?”

We watched Raquelle's vidscreen as
Eberhardt's hand reached for the gold plated door handles. The
doors swung open. Prime Minister Armstrong stood and held up a
small silver device with a red button.