Read Online Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gregg Rosenblum
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Kevin and 23. “Now go.”
CHAPTER 13
THE ROOM WAS WHITE, LIKE A CLOUD. THAT’S EXACTLY HOW IT FELT , Cass thought—like she was floating inside a cloud. She was calm. Content. Peaceful. She had no questions, no fears, no doubts. All was well with the world, and her place in it.
Today she would be graduating and joining the City as a productive Citizen. She felt a strong, quiet pride—not arrogance, but joy in knowing that the Lecturers had deemed her worthy of their trust. She waited patiently on the edge of the metal bed, hands on her knees, wearing the white dress they had given her.
Time passed. How much, Cass didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. She waited.
The door opened, and a Lecturer entered, and Cass stood, smiling. “Greetings, Lecturer.”
“Greetings, Citizen.”
Cass felt a rush of pleasure at being called “Citizen.” She had earned that title. It had been hard work. She felt a moment of confusion, murky half-memories of pain and resistance, and she frowned but quickly pushed the dark thoughts away. This was her day of celebration. Nothing would ruin it.
“Citizen,” continued the Lecturer bot, “As you know, today you will be joining the community as a productive member of our society. We have further good news.”
Cass was more confused than excited. She honestly couldn’t imagine what else could possibly make this day any better. Still, she nodded, and waited patiently for her teacher to continue.
“As a matter of protocol,” said the bot, “when a rebellious human such as yourself is brought in for re-education from outside the City, we sample DNA to properly maintain our Citizen records. Generally, familial connections from outside the City are irrelevant; however, occasionally a new Citizen such as yourself is found to be genetically linked to preexisting Citizens. In your case, it has been determined that, given your success in re-education, and given the longtime good standing of your relatives, a reunion would be acceptable and efficient.” The bot turned to the hallway. “Enter now,” it said.
A middle-aged man and woman and a girl a few years younger than Cass entered the room. The man and woman were smiling broadly and seemed close to tears. The girl staredat Cass with a neutral expression, as if she weren’t sure what to make of her.
“Your biological mother and father,” said the Lecturer. “And your sister.”
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
..................................................................
CHAPTER 14
NICK AND ERICA WALKED FOR AN HOUR IN SILENCE, UNTIL NICK finally couldn’t hold back his anger anymore and threw his pack down and kicked it, then squatted, holding his head in his hands. It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming. He had nothing. Nowhere to go. No plan.
“Come on,” said Erica. “We should keep moving.”
“Just go,” said Nick. “I’m done.”
“Quite the pity party you’re throwing,” said Erica.
Nick surged to his feet. “What the hell do you know?” he yelled. “Who the hell are you, anyway? You don’t care about what happened back there?” He pointed angrily in the direction they had come from. “They’re all dead!” He felt a tearrunning down his cheek from his real eye, and he twisted away from Erica, not wanting her to see.
“I’m tired too,” she said quietly. “But I’m not done.”
Nick turned back to look at her but said nothing.
“I am done moving from Freepost to Freepost, though,” Erica said. “They’re just going to blow them all up eventually.”
“So what, then?” said Nick.
“I’m going to join the rebels. Kill some bots.” She stepped closer to Nick. “You do whatever you want. Be done if you’re done. Sit here and wait to die. It’s not my problem. But I can find the rebels—I know a few of their hideouts.” She shrugged. “They might even know something about your brother. I’ll let you tag along, if you’ve got
CHAPTER 13
THE ROOM WAS WHITE, LIKE A CLOUD. THAT’S EXACTLY HOW IT FELT , Cass thought—like she was floating inside a cloud. She was calm. Content. Peaceful. She had no questions, no fears, no doubts. All was well with the world, and her place in it.
Today she would be graduating and joining the City as a productive Citizen. She felt a strong, quiet pride—not arrogance, but joy in knowing that the Lecturers had deemed her worthy of their trust. She waited patiently on the edge of the metal bed, hands on her knees, wearing the white dress they had given her.
Time passed. How much, Cass didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. She waited.
The door opened, and a Lecturer entered, and Cass stood, smiling. “Greetings, Lecturer.”
“Greetings, Citizen.”
Cass felt a rush of pleasure at being called “Citizen.” She had earned that title. It had been hard work. She felt a moment of confusion, murky half-memories of pain and resistance, and she frowned but quickly pushed the dark thoughts away. This was her day of celebration. Nothing would ruin it.
“Citizen,” continued the Lecturer bot, “As you know, today you will be joining the community as a productive member of our society. We have further good news.”
Cass was more confused than excited. She honestly couldn’t imagine what else could possibly make this day any better. Still, she nodded, and waited patiently for her teacher to continue.
“As a matter of protocol,” said the bot, “when a rebellious human such as yourself is brought in for re-education from outside the City, we sample DNA to properly maintain our Citizen records. Generally, familial connections from outside the City are irrelevant; however, occasionally a new Citizen such as yourself is found to be genetically linked to preexisting Citizens. In your case, it has been determined that, given your success in re-education, and given the longtime good standing of your relatives, a reunion would be acceptable and efficient.” The bot turned to the hallway. “Enter now,” it said.
A middle-aged man and woman and a girl a few years younger than Cass entered the room. The man and woman were smiling broadly and seemed close to tears. The girl staredat Cass with a neutral expression, as if she weren’t sure what to make of her.
“Your biological mother and father,” said the Lecturer. “And your sister.”
UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
HarperCollins Publishers
..................................................................
CHAPTER 14
NICK AND ERICA WALKED FOR AN HOUR IN SILENCE, UNTIL NICK finally couldn’t hold back his anger anymore and threw his pack down and kicked it, then squatted, holding his head in his hands. It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming. He had nothing. Nowhere to go. No plan.
“Come on,” said Erica. “We should keep moving.”
“Just go,” said Nick. “I’m done.”
“Quite the pity party you’re throwing,” said Erica.
Nick surged to his feet. “What the hell do you know?” he yelled. “Who the hell are you, anyway? You don’t care about what happened back there?” He pointed angrily in the direction they had come from. “They’re all dead!” He felt a tearrunning down his cheek from his real eye, and he twisted away from Erica, not wanting her to see.
“I’m tired too,” she said quietly. “But I’m not done.”
Nick turned back to look at her but said nothing.
“I am done moving from Freepost to Freepost, though,” Erica said. “They’re just going to blow them all up eventually.”
“So what, then?” said Nick.
“I’m going to join the rebels. Kill some bots.” She stepped closer to Nick. “You do whatever you want. Be done if you’re done. Sit here and wait to die. It’s not my problem. But I can find the rebels—I know a few of their hideouts.” She shrugged. “They might even know something about your brother. I’ll let you tag along, if you’ve got
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