Dr. Cameron’s eyes held no condemnation like Eric’s, only sorrow. “How old were you at Termination, Nicole?”
“Six.”
“And your parents? Did they find life before so terrible?”
She lifted her head, her green eyes flashing fire. “My father, a Seattle policeman, was killed by six hoodlums when he tried to help an old woman they were beating up. My mother was eight months pregnant at the time. The shock caused her to go into labor. She died giving birth to me.”
Dr. Cameron’s face was suddenly very old and very tired. “I see.”
“Do you, Dr. Cameron?” the Major broke in. “Do you really see what we have accomplished here?”
“Yes, I see very clearly. I lived in Los Angeles for thirty years. I’ve walked the streets at night and feared for my life. I’ve read in the papers and watched on television the incredible evil of man’s dealings with his fellowman. And I watched as the world took the ultimate plunge and destroyed the work of a thousand years.”
His head came up, and he stared directly into the Major’s eyes. “But I don’t think I have ever felt deeper horror, that I have ever been more thoroughly terrified, than I am at this moment.”
The Major flinched as though he had been struck, and Nicole noted the almost instant flush of anger, but when he spoke, his voice betrayed nothing. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Dr. Cameron. I’m confident that as time goes on, your feelings will change. You expect some kind of chamber of horrors out there, but you’ll quickly see that just the opposite is true.”
He took a deep breath and turned to Eric. “But enough of this. I didn’t come to try and convert you. Shalev will convert you soon enough. We’ve come to make Eric a special offer.”
Only Eric’s eyes betrayed the fact that he had heard the Major.
“It’s obvious,” the Major went on smoothly, “that you detest the idea of implantation. I’m offering you an opportunity to avoid it.”
That broke through the mask momentarily, and Nicole smiled inwardly at the sudden start of surprise that flashed across Eric’s face. The Major was a master at this, using the bait and the prod simultaneously.
“Why?” Eric finally asked.
“We have an organization called the Guardians. Within the cities, they function only to help and protect people. They serve as our firemen, traffic officers, paramedics, and so on. They have no crime to fight, no riots to suppress, no disorders to worry about. So they’re not police, merely guardians. But that’s not our real challenge. We have an outer perimeter of over a thousand miles, much of it forest wilderness. Eighty percent of the total Guardian forces patrol that perimeter and keep out intruders—roving bands of savages who prey on the labor of others. I believe Travis said you called them the Marauders.”
Cliff nodded.
“An appropriate name. But anyway, we need someone of Eric’s experience in the mountains in that perimeter watch force.”
“You still haven’t answered the real why,” Cliff spoke up. “I can see why you’d have use for a man like Eric. But why not implant him too?”
“Good point,” the Major conceded. “The answer is that the nature of the work may sometimes require him to do things, such as engage in combat with the Marauders. The implantation would never allow him to do that. He must be free to act quickly and without fear of pain in such cases.”
“You are still begging the question, Dr. Denison. Why not simply take someone who has grown up in Shalev and make him a Guardian by removing his implantation?”
“A very perceptive question,” the Major responded with grudging approval. “I must admit that once someone has grown up under implantation, he becomes thoroughly conditioned to it. Simply removing it makes little difference. He continues to act as though implanted.”
“Yes, I understand that perfectly,” Cliff answered with disgust edging his voice again. “It says mountains about the effectiveness of your system.”
Eric broke in before the Major could respond. “Why should I be interested in joining you?”
The Major half turned. “Nicole, would you like to answer that for Eric?”
She nodded. “Obviously the most important and immediate benefit to you would be to avoid implantation yourself. But there are other benefits. The salary is very attractive. You’d be furnished with both a car and an apartment or a small home. But probably the second most important advantage is that your family would be brought up to a Stage One implantation as soon as you’d convince us you’re sincere about becoming a Guardian.”
“What does that mean—Stage One?”
“Implantations are not all the same. There are three levels of intensity. Stage Three is the most tightly controlled. This is rarely used. The majority of people in Shalev are at Stage Two. This is what Dr. Cameron and your family are under now. Dr. Cameron has described quite accurately how that works. Stage One implantation is minimal, protecting only against the grosser kinds of behavior. The assumption is that people will be motivated to control themselves if they know they may lose their Stage One status.”
“I’m sorry if I keep shaking my head,” Eric said, “but I’m still trying to adjust to this. You talk about it as if you were sticking a fork in a piece of meat to see if it’s done or not. These are people you’re talking about. People! Not halves of beef!”
Nicole flushed but went on firmly. “Once you have fully proven yourself as a Guardian, your immediate family members will have their implantations completely removed. I suggest that if you’re so horrified by it all, you seriously consider the Major’s offer.”
When Eric gave no response, the Major spoke up. “So you see, Eric, if you agree to join us, we benefit, you benefit, and your family benefits. It’s an opportunity that not many young men are offered.”
“I’m deeply touched.”
The Major ignored the sarcasm in Eric’s voice. “We’ll let you think about it for twenty-four hours. Nicole will be your controlling officer should you choose to accept. You may call her anytime before then. She’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. If she isn’t in the observation room when you need her, they’ll get her.”
Nicole stood up, sensing the meeting had ended.
“Consider it carefully, Eric,” the Major said earnestly. “I know you’re full of hate and bitterness now. But be realistic. And think of your family as well as yourself.” He turned. “Dr. Cameron, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave with us now.”
Without answering, Eric turned to Cliff and gripped his hand. “At least you’re alive. That’s something.”
The older man nodded, his eyes probing deeply into Eric’s. “Eric,” he finally said, “Dr. Denison is right. Don’t let your emotions take the reins now. Think very carefully about his offer. I see no other options. If your father were here, he’d say the same thing. There are no other options. Do you understand that?”
Eric finally nodded, his mouth a hard line. “Yes, I think I do.”
Chapter 10
“Miss Lambert?”
His voice startled her, for he hadn’t stirred at all from the cot.
“Are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“When is the Major coming for my decision?”
She glanced at her wrist. “At nine o’clock, about an hour from now.”
“I have a request.”
“Okay.”
“I’d like to ask you some questions before he comes.”
“All right, ask them. If I can answer them, I will.”
“No, not this way. I want you to come in here.”
Her eyebrows arched upward, and, as though he sensed her reaction, he sat up and turned to stare into the mirror. “Well?” he demanded.
“Why? I can hear you very well from here.”
“Yes, and you can see me too. Which gives you the definite advantage. I want to be able to see you. Then I’ll have a better idea if you try to lie to me.”
She sighed, then leaned over the mike, a
s though her nearness would more accurately convey her earnestness. “Mr. Lloyd, I told you that I’d always be totally honest with you. I know you have no reason to believe that, but—”
“Well, ironically enough I do believe it.” He smiled at her through the glass, the first time she’d seen a real smile from him. “At least I want to. But I need to be sure, and I can’t do that through a microphone.”
“I—I’m not sure I can.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“No,” she answered quickly, a little surprised that that hadn’t occurred to her.
“I’ll sit clear across the cell, if you’d like.”
“I’m not afraid that you’ll hurt me, Mr. Lloyd. It’s just that I’ll have to get permission from the Major.”
“I don’t have any other engagements pending at the moment,” he said dryly. “Get it. I’ll wait right here.”
“All right, I’ll ask. Just a minute.”
As she stepped through the sliding door into his cell, Eric got quickly to his feet and made a tiny bow. “Well,” he said, “I’d about decided I’d scared you off.”
“No,” she said, giving him a cool smile, “you didn’t.”
“Sit down.” He motioned to the cot, waited until she sat down, then pulled the wooden stool up for himself.
“Who’s minding the store?” He motioned toward the mirror.
“Travis and the Major.”
“Figured so. Well, shall we begin?”
“Yes.” She put her hands in her lap and tried to appear completely relaxed.
“Mother said you’re moving my family out of Shalev. Is that true?”
“Yes, they’ll be leaving in the morning.”
“Why?”
“All of your village are being transferred to Serenity—near where Great Falls, Montana, used to be. We have a great need for skilled farmers.”
“If I agree to cooperate, can they stay?”
“No. I’m sorry, but their transfer has nothing to do with you and your status. Serenity is our newest city. It received a direct nuclear strike during the war. The region was not fit for habitation until just a few years ago. It’s become a major source of food for the Alliance, but we don’t have sufficient people to run the farms.”
As she watched the hardness of his jaw, she continued quietly. “After your preliminary training, you’ll be allowed to visit Serenity and see them often.”
Without so much as a nod, he changed directions. “Why does the Alliance want to capture new populations? We were obviously no threat to you. We didn’t even know you existed. Why go to such great effort to seek us out?”
“Actually we have two reasons. First, we survived Termination as well as any group we know of. We still have civilization, technology, medical facilities, schools. We hope to share that with as many others as possible.”
Eric nodded. “You just don’t find that kind of generosity any more.”
She ignored his sarcasm and continued. “Secondly, the Alliance needs people—farmers, laborers, skilled professionals like Dr. Cameron.”
“That’s a little surprising. You talk about having limited food resources. You’d think natural growth would tax your abilities to keep up. Why such a vigorous program to bring in new people?”
Nicole hesitated, suddenly aware that the Major and Travis were waiting for her answer too. Then she remembered the Major’s counsel to be straight with him. “Because the growth rate is negative,” she said.
Eric’s gray eyes widened a little. “Negative?”
“Yes. The birthrate is not keeping up with the death rate. No one is exactly sure why, but the infusion of outside people is necessary to balance the population.”
“Well, well. Everyone in this little paradise just loves it to pieces—they just don’t want to bring children into it.”
“That’s a simplistic conclusion not justified by the data we have.”
The sudden sharpness in her tone only made him smile. “And you’re not married. Is that typical for twenty-four-year-olds in Shalev?”
Nicole felt her cheeks go instantly hot and was furious that her face betrayed her reaction. “It’s not unusual,” she said evenly, though it cost her a great deal of effort.
“Well, that’s clearly part of your population problem. Hardly a girl in the village is still single past eighteen. By twenty-four they have three or four children.”
“And how old are you, Mr. Lloyd?”
He gave one short bark of laughter and then shook his head. “Point well taken. I apologize for making reference to your personal life.”
“I accept your apology,” she said, her voice still stiff. “Is there anything else?”
He watched her for a long moment, his eyes wide and thoughtful. “Hey,” he finally said softly, “I really am sorry. I’m afraid that the last week in here has soured my manners. My mother would be appalled.”
“I understand. Do you have other questions?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Okay.”
“Are you implanted?”
She was instantly on guard again. “No. As we told you, Guardians are exempt. Why?”
“Oh.” He fell silent.
“Why do you ask if I’m implanted?” she finally asked.
“Oh, I just wondered what button to push to get you to smile.”
Her eyes flashed and her mouth snapped into a tight, hard line.
“Whoops,” he said, with a rueful expression. “Obviously not that one.”
She momentarily fought it, but she couldn’t contain it, and she laughed out loud.
“Well, that’s better. And while we’re at it, how about knocking off this ‘Mr. Lloyd’ business? Nobody in my life has ever called me Mr. Lloyd. Okay?”
Nicole nodded. “If you wish. I’m Nicole.”
“Does anyone ever call you Nicky?”
“No, thank heavens.”
“That’s too bad. My sisters call me Ricky. Ricky and Nicky, controller and controllee. It has a special ring to it.”
She pulled a face. “Ricky and Nicky? That’s awful.” She was amazed at the change in him. Suddenly he was a gracious host charming a visiting guest.
He nodded; then slowly the smile left his eyes. “And if you decide I’m not responding as the Major wishes?”
“I will so report.”
“And?”
“You’ll be implanted and sent to Serenity to be a farmer for the rest of your life.”
Eric leaned forward, studying her face so intently that she finally looked down. “And you could really do that?”
Her head came up and she met his stare unflinchingly. “Yes, I could.”
He leaned back, his face thoughtful, and once again he shifted direction, catching her off guard. “What stops people from running?”
“Running?”
“Yes. Going through the Outer Perimeter.”
“They’re happy here.”
“Sorry. You’ll have to do better than that.”
“It’s true!”
“Are you happy?”
Her head snapped up so sharply, her hair bounced lightly on her shoulders. “Of course.”
“How do you manage to hide it so well?”
The emerald eyes had suddenly become twin volcanoes belching fire. “I’m sorry if my basic nature doesn’t fit your picture of the giggly, happy-go-lucky female, Mr. Lloyd, but I am happy. Sorry. Try again.”
Undeterred by her anger, he bored in, his own voice rising. “Are you telling me that happiness is the only thing that keeps people in the Alliance?”
She was taken back by that and hesitated for a moment. He sensed his advantage and pressed in relentlessly.
“Or has the Major invented another one of his little electronic gimmicks to see that no one crosses over the line?”
“I—”
“Yes, I’m listening,” he said sarcastically. “They aren’t totally free, are they?”
“No, Mr. Lloyd,” she said, the ange
r at his attack suddenly giving her the control she needed. “The wrist computer is monitored by the central computers. If a person crosses the Outer Perimeter, it automatically triggers the Punishment Mode. Intense agony would result.”
“How intense?”
She bit her lower lip.
“Well?” he demanded.
“It would probably be fatal.”
“That’s what I figured. So much for happiness.”
“But, no one ever—”
“I’m sure of that. Now, I have one other condition for acceptance.”
“Somehow I thought the Major was setting the conditions,” she said dryly, “but go ahead. It’s your little show.”
“I want Dr. Cameron put on the same status as my family. As soon as I prove myself, he goes up to Stage One implantation, then has it removed when they do. Agreed?”
She shook her head. “The policy is strictly limited to immediate family members, and I can’t change that.”
Eric turned to the mirror. “Major? That’s my condition.”
The silence in the cell stretched out for a long moment. Then the overhead speaker popped.
“Nicole is right, Eric. That’s a very strict Guardian policy.”
“If it weren’t for your Guardian policy,” Eric shot back angrily, “my father would be alive right now. Since he’s not, Cliff is the closest thing to it. I want him counted as my father now. I figure you owe me that.”
Nicole watched his reflection in the mirror, a little awed that one minute he could absolutely infuriate her, and the next moment move her emotionally to his side, hoping that the Major would grant his request.
Finally the speaker blared again. “It’s against my better judgment, but Travis thinks we ought to make an exception in this case. Nicole? What do you think?”
Eric turned around and watched her, but she detected no pleading in his eyes, no submission on his face, just a patient scrutiny of her inner depths.
“Yes,” she finally said, looking past him. “I think the special circumstances warrant the exception.”
“All right,” the Major said after a moment. “You have your agreement, Eric. Does that mean you accept?”