report for my draft.”
When they turned eighteen, every citizen had to serve in some capacity in the armed forces for two years.
“I volunteered for defense force duty, up in the North.”
This news caused Joan to pause on the step, and Duncan stopped a step above her.
He leaned over her and asked, “Are you concerned for me?”
She watched the news. Barbarians attacked the Alliance. The Alliance established forts outside its borders trying to spread the “peace” to the wild inhabitants of the rest of the continent. It could be dangerous for Duncan. His choice surprised her. The children of wealthy or powerful families usually served their duties in the cities, in safe positions. Oftentimes they served their two years as body snatchers. It was a safe job because donors never fought back.
“Well, it can be dangerous,” she said, trying not to sound concerned, as she started up the steps again.
“We all have to do it. How old are you? You’re almost eighteen, right? You’ll be subject to the draft soon, too? Somehow I don’t think you’ll take the easy assignment.”
As a donor, Joan wasn’t subject to the draft. There had been a time when benefactors substituted their donors for themselves, but the Alliance believed this would make for a weak citizenry and changed the rule.
To deflect the subject, Joan said, “Race again?” And she started to go, but he reached out and barred her way, extending his arm in front of her and touching her ever so lightly. Her heart quickened.
“I’ll only race if you tell me your name,” he wagered playfully.
“OK, but you have to win.”
She pushed his arm and bolted up the stairs. He was ready for her this time, and he ran up beside her. A few inches taller than she, he easily took three stairs at a time, reaching the next landing just ahead of her.
“I won!” he gloated, with a sparkle in his light brown eyes.
Almost golden,
Joan thought as she gazed into them,
with a thin yellow ring around the iris
. Joan had noticed he always had a mischievous glint in his eye before he said something witty, andnow was no different as he exclaimed, “And the gold medal goes to the incredibly handsome and talented Duncan Starr! Listen to the roar of the crowd, the applause, the accolades.”
“Yes, and he’s incredibly modest, too, I see,” Joan laughed.
The glint in his eyes again, “Oh, sour grapes? Let’s see, who between us did not win? Who came in second place, in a race of two? Oh, yes, it’s—” he stopped. “Now, Miss Second Place, tell me your name.”
“Another flight,” she said.
“Nope, this is my floor.” He stood in front of her. “Fair and square.”
She didn’t know what to do. He pulled a single flower out of the bouquet. A yellow rose twirled in his hand, and he handed it to her.
“You open to bribery?” he said, smiling.
She took the rose.
“Well?” he persisted.
She looked up at his face and gazed into his eyes. A lock of hair fell on his forehead. Impulsively, she reached up and gently, slowly, brushed it away. As she withdrew her hand, he took it and held it lightly in his own, his eyes locked on hers. His breath quickened. He dropped the flowers, and his hand tenderly reached to her face, caressing her cheek and enticing her. He leaned in.
No
, she thought,
I can’t do this—the rules, the rules of the System
. She quickly pulled her hand back and brushed by him, rushing up the stairs.
He called after her, “Geez, I’m going off to the army! Hey, you still didn’t tell me your name.”
She stopped at the top of the next landing and peered over the banister at him.
It would mean a hefty fine or worse if anyone found out…but to heck with the System this one time.
“Joan,” she said quietly and tentatively, as if exposing her most intimate secret.
It’s a law of physics that sound waves travel up not down, but even if Duncan had not heard, her soft voice would have defied science and reached his heart. Then she
When they turned eighteen, every citizen had to serve in some capacity in the armed forces for two years.
“I volunteered for defense force duty, up in the North.”
This news caused Joan to pause on the step, and Duncan stopped a step above her.
He leaned over her and asked, “Are you concerned for me?”
She watched the news. Barbarians attacked the Alliance. The Alliance established forts outside its borders trying to spread the “peace” to the wild inhabitants of the rest of the continent. It could be dangerous for Duncan. His choice surprised her. The children of wealthy or powerful families usually served their duties in the cities, in safe positions. Oftentimes they served their two years as body snatchers. It was a safe job because donors never fought back.
“Well, it can be dangerous,” she said, trying not to sound concerned, as she started up the steps again.
“We all have to do it. How old are you? You’re almost eighteen, right? You’ll be subject to the draft soon, too? Somehow I don’t think you’ll take the easy assignment.”
As a donor, Joan wasn’t subject to the draft. There had been a time when benefactors substituted their donors for themselves, but the Alliance believed this would make for a weak citizenry and changed the rule.
To deflect the subject, Joan said, “Race again?” And she started to go, but he reached out and barred her way, extending his arm in front of her and touching her ever so lightly. Her heart quickened.
“I’ll only race if you tell me your name,” he wagered playfully.
“OK, but you have to win.”
She pushed his arm and bolted up the stairs. He was ready for her this time, and he ran up beside her. A few inches taller than she, he easily took three stairs at a time, reaching the next landing just ahead of her.
“I won!” he gloated, with a sparkle in his light brown eyes.
Almost golden,
Joan thought as she gazed into them,
with a thin yellow ring around the iris
. Joan had noticed he always had a mischievous glint in his eye before he said something witty, andnow was no different as he exclaimed, “And the gold medal goes to the incredibly handsome and talented Duncan Starr! Listen to the roar of the crowd, the applause, the accolades.”
“Yes, and he’s incredibly modest, too, I see,” Joan laughed.
The glint in his eyes again, “Oh, sour grapes? Let’s see, who between us did not win? Who came in second place, in a race of two? Oh, yes, it’s—” he stopped. “Now, Miss Second Place, tell me your name.”
“Another flight,” she said.
“Nope, this is my floor.” He stood in front of her. “Fair and square.”
She didn’t know what to do. He pulled a single flower out of the bouquet. A yellow rose twirled in his hand, and he handed it to her.
“You open to bribery?” he said, smiling.
She took the rose.
“Well?” he persisted.
She looked up at his face and gazed into his eyes. A lock of hair fell on his forehead. Impulsively, she reached up and gently, slowly, brushed it away. As she withdrew her hand, he took it and held it lightly in his own, his eyes locked on hers. His breath quickened. He dropped the flowers, and his hand tenderly reached to her face, caressing her cheek and enticing her. He leaned in.
No
, she thought,
I can’t do this—the rules, the rules of the System
. She quickly pulled her hand back and brushed by him, rushing up the stairs.
He called after her, “Geez, I’m going off to the army! Hey, you still didn’t tell me your name.”
She stopped at the top of the next landing and peered over the banister at him.
It would mean a hefty fine or worse if anyone found out…but to heck with the System this one time.
“Joan,” she said quietly and tentatively, as if exposing her most intimate secret.
It’s a law of physics that sound waves travel up not down, but even if Duncan had not heard, her soft voice would have defied science and reached his heart. Then she
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