His Black Wings (30 page)

“Claren is living in sin with Fredrick? Is she his mistress?”

“No, I am afraid it’s much worse. I am truly frightened for Claren. I don’t know if Etrigan knows any of what I suspect, but we need to go over there and quickly.”

Before the Great War started and before the Grand Council was formed the world lay in the power of large companies. Companies that pillaged both people and the Earth for profit on many different levels. One of these great companies,
Maidstone Industries
, dabbled in many different areas of product and profit, made an accidental discovery on a gem and mineral dig. A new compound was found deep within the Earth’s innards that when combined with other readily available chemicals, rendered sewage into a viable, renewable form of energy. The possibilities for this new energy source was both limitless and highly profitable. As it so happened, Maidstone Industries was a company that already sold energy in different forms, solar, wind, and hydroelectric. Forgetting that we only have one planet to call home, they plunged all their efforts into digging up this compound.

Obtaining and keeping people to work the mines proved difficult at first since anyone who started work in these mines quickly realized that this compound, in its raw form, was extremely toxic to humans. So toxic that it brought about actual physical changes in their cellular structure within seconds of handling it. Sometimes the changes would progress to a state where the miner was unrecognizable as a human and sometimes they would simply die.

Maidstone Industries would quietly bring these bodies back to their laboratories for scores of tests while telling the families of the workers that there had been a cave in at the mine. They knew that if they could just keep workers down in the mines, the profits would be worth all the lives that were lost, not that they cared much to begin with.

Vaccinations were made and tested on new unsuspecting workers. Most died quickly and were fortunate to do so. Others lingered, suffering for months until they passed away. A cure was finally chanced upon by combining the DNA of disease resistant bats and a rare species of eagle that was known to live upwards of 150 years.

Maidstone Industries excitedly hired a new batch of workers, giving all of them the new vaccination. They told them it was to help keep their lungs clear of poisons in gas form while working deep underground.

The company sent down 100 workers that first day and at the end of the day, 100 workers returned to the surface seemingly unharmed. It was a great success and Maidstone began to rake in the money like no single company has ever done in human history. The rashes that developed on the backs of the workers did not concern the company, at first. Not until the rashes turned into swelling and the swelling turned to growths and the growths broke free of the worker’s skin to form great black wings that grew day by day.

Operations were halted and again the veil of secrecy descended upon Maidstone Industries. The world was literally in a quandary and a state of upheaval without its magic compound to make their garbage turn into energy. The scientists quickly realized that even though each of the 100 workers had grown a pair of black wings, they seemed to be in good health both physically and emotionally.
Why not just keep them there in the mines working?
Under the pretense of further experimentation to help rid the miners of their new appendages, they transported them back into the deepest shaft where the richest compound was to be found. They then built a series of buildings atop the mine, with locks on the outside, effectively making the miners prisoners in the ground.

An offer was made to the miners. Food and water would be lowered down to them once a month in exchange for the compound. The miners would be dead to the outside world, but the company would see to it that their families, topside, would be well taken care of. The miners were naturally distraught at the thought of being shut away like monsters, but reasoned that perhaps they would be better off in the dark belly of the Earth. How could they walk the streets without people staring or worse, screaming? How would their family, their wives and children react to their appearance? The miners knew they had no real recourse since Maidstone would probably see them dead first before releasing them back in to the general public. Why else would they first send them back into the mines and lock them in to “think about it”?

The men slept poorly on cots in the quiet darkness of the tunnel. Some withdrew completely while others wanted to fight, while still others saw that there was nothing they could do. If they risked escape they knew that they would be putting their families in danger from the company, so they agreed to the dark terms. The dark tunnels of the Maidstone mines held many tears of anguish and deep despair. They toiled hard for the promise that their families top side would be taken care of by the company. By mutual agreement they rationed their food stuffs in case they chose at a later date, to affect a revolt. They were also fortunate to find and excavate further, a water source that was untainted and drinkable.

Then
The Great War
broke out and top side was in chaos for several weeks. The actual war because of modern weaponry (at the time) lasted only a few short hours. The worlds “poor people” who were unfortunate enough to make less than five million a year, died within the first hour of the war. All others of the “middle class” and above that made more than five million, had either their own private shelters or were granted access to the city’s shelters in case of a war of this magnitude.

It was only because the miners were already deep within the Earth, that they were saved from any effects of the harmful chemicals that came from the war.

In the short weeks after the war had ended, the Grand Council was formed. A group of one hundred men and women from all over the world made up the Grand Council. Esteemed scientists, spiritual leaders, and other open minded scholars that had one common goal. They declared a new era for mankind, one of benevolence, prosperity, safety and security. The world was ready for a huge shift in power and looked forward to this new peaceful government.

Maidstone Industries, like all the other great companies, had emerged unscathed from the Great War. But they knew that they needed to appeal to the worst in mankind’s nature and bring up their delicate problem, namely
slavery
to the Grand Council. They would soon be found out by them, since all corporations were being evaluated as to their impact on the Earth and its residents. Calling for a private meeting with the Grand Council, certain board members, along with Maidstone’s founder, Claren’s grandfather, met with the newly esteemed council. They presented their dilemma, the world, even though entering in to this new era, still needed their compound. They informed the Grand Council as to how it was obtained and of the miner’s condition. They also proposed a solution to the men and women in the room. Each man and woman of the Grand Council would get a ridiculous amount of money in exchange for their blessing on the project. As long as the compound was being mined and sold, they would receive kick backs.

The Grand Council took less than an hour to reach its decision. They would agree to the terms offered by Maidstone, however, the men held in the mines would have to have adequate living conditions and must have their wives taken down to live in the tunnels as well. The senior Maidstone was shocked at the proposal but quickly saw that he was being short sighted.

“We wouldn’t want them to get lonely would we?” A particularly foul older man had wheezed through dentures. Of course their real concern was not the emotional comfort of the men, but of potential offspring that may be produced to further work the mines for them. Maidstone Industries, and most importantly, Claren’s grandfather, readily agreed to these terms.

The Grand Council declared the area of the mines to be a wasteland and off limits to everyone without knowledge of the dark deal that had been struck. Under the cover of night, men broke into the homes of the miners, if they had living spouses or girlfriends. They took them blindfolded, vaccinated and scared to the Maidstone mines and sent them down the dark shaft where they were met with a mixture of confusion, grief and happiness. Children remained top side and in confusion, not being told where their parents were. By orders of the Grand Council they were quickly placed in households that did not have children, but could afford their upkeep.
Orphans of the Great War
, or so they were dubbed, but more fitting would have been
Children of the Great Greed.

And so life on the surface of the earth resumed and was rebuilt on the tombs of the miners and their wives. The wives brought a sort of stability to the dark underground world that had been lacking before. Women, usually by nature being nurturers and nesters, made the mines as close to a home as they could. Requests for linen and dishes and other household items were sent top side and were always granted in abundance. Food was always good, healthy and in plenty but they were still prisoners of the company. Few children were born in the following years but their births were kept a secret from the company. The minors who had now formed such a strong bond that nothing could ever break it, had realized that the company would use their children as slaves. There were some that still harbored hope that they would escape together with their wives and once again live on the surface of the earth. These ones dug day after day for years, a tunnel leading far away from the Maidstone mines. One of these that dug day after day was Fredrick’s father. Fredrick was born without wings but with a natural immunity to the compounds cellular effects.

Fredrick’s father was an honest man who had wanted nothing more but to make a good living and spend time with his family. He loved Fredrick’s mother dearly and when she was sent down to him, he sobbed for days. He did not wish this for her or any children that she might bear. When she had come down to the mines she was scared and confused at both his appearance and the dark place where she now found herself. He explained to her once he was over his grief and supplied her with much needed hope. When they realized she was pregnant, they both tried to hide their despair from one another. That was the day that Fredrick’s father started digging. His mother refused any call for help from medical personnel when she realized she was having a difficult childbirth. Perspiration soaked her hair and pillow as she gripped her husband’s hand.

“Please, do not let our child be a slave. Promise me.” With one arm around their newly born son, named Fredrick, he kissed his wife’s forehead as she lay dying.

“I promise you, he will not be a slave to the mines.” Fredrick’s mother smiled and leaned back onto her pillow closing her eyes in death.

Fredrick’s father raised him among the rubble, dirt and darkness of the Maidstone mines. He showed him the tunnels that were too hot for men to walk in and the other tunnels that were cold and slippery with ice. He talked about the stars in the sky which were like the dark rooms with diamonds embedded in the walls. The small Fredrick learned all his father taught him with eagerness. He learned about the outside world in comparison to where they lived. When he was old enough to ask about the outside world, his father spared no detail and poured into Fredrick’s young impressionable mind the hate and bitterness he had for Maidstone Industries. Of course he had no idea about the Grand Council or their role in his captivity. News from outside was never brought down to the miners. Why make them think that this new Grand Council could do anything to benefit them? The world above changed drastically from what the miners had known but Fredrick’s father tried to prepare him for the day that Fredrick would leave the mines.

Every day without miss, Little Fredrick would go and help his father dig in the tunnel of escape. He would listen to his father and watch sadly as other children who were born in the mines died, some were born with wings and some without.

The little boy eventually grew into a young man digging in those tunnels by his Father’s side. When the tunnel to escape was finally realized, Fredrick would not take it. In fact he did not take it until his Father had died.

“You were conceived in darkness and born in darkness my son, I do not wish the sadness or anger that I carry, on you. There is a whole large Earth out there that by now has changed, but you must leave.”

“I am afraid Father. I only know the world below. The sun you tell me about frightens me.” Fourteen year old Fredrick had pleaded with his dying father.

“The sun is good, to be able to see the sky and feel the sunshine and rain again.” His father closed his eyes and sighed.

“I wish this for you Fredrick. You are strong, you will survive, you will make babies. Never forget what you know to be true. Go now, please.” Fredrick had rested his head on his father’s hand as the older man rested in his small bed.

“I don’t want to leave you. You are all I have.” His tears coursed freely now and without shame.

“I am dying my son, you know this. Soon the others here will die and I am sure more workers will be sent to replace the ones that have died. I do not want the company to get you. You are the only child of the mines, the only child of my people. You must survive for your mother, for me and for them.” He pointed in to the darkness that was the home to the other aging minors.