Rooms, Page 20

  Zeer saw that it was Rad, and even though she had been observing him for quite a while now with Fawn and had recognized him immediately, in person, he looked weaker and seemed to hobble more on the leg that had the sore. She stood and watched. The line of people waiting was still extremely long, but she saw that there were very few medications and supplies left. Rad and his team would have to stop soon. She didn’t want to bother him while he was giving people aid so she moved into the shadows and continued to observe.

  Just then, Sparks walked through the door. He went to the table and spoke to Rad and his aids. They decided to stop working for the day. Sparks turned and told everyone to come back in five days. They would be able to help more of them at that time. The bit of hope that Zeer had seen on the people’s faces seemed to melt away as they turned and walked back out into the city.

  ***

  Zeer waited outside. It was almost dark as Rad and Sparks finally came out of the building with the remaining members of their team, and the very first thing she heard was Rad coughing. Sparks reached over and gave him something for his cough, and then they loaded up the two tri-bikes with the supplies that were left from their work that day. Sparks asked Rad and a member of his team to drive the vehicles back to the valley. It was obviously a subtle way to get Rad off his injured leg. He reluctantly agreed.

  Sparks and the remaining members of his team started walking towards home, Zeer followed and could see how weary they were. Their shoulders were drooping; their feet dragged the ground, and they were silent, absorbed in their own thoughts. Zeer continued to walk well behind them, wondering if she should make contact with Sparks and let him know who she was. Because of their weariness, though, she made up her mind to keep her distance and see where they were going. She would show herself later.

  ***

  Zeer couldn’t believe how far they had walked after working and spending so much time doing what they could for the people. She also stared wide-eyed at the valley below her, noticing fires burning, people milling around, and the small huts that seemed to glow with light. Seeing it with Fawn was one thing but being there was even more impressive, especially as she considered how quickly all this had been accomplished. She knew how much the Terrans had helped, but the drive, the push, and the ideas to achieve these tasks had come from Rad and Sparks. She was in awe of what they’d done and glad she was there to help.

  She saw which hut Sparks entered and noticed that someone had carried some plates of food inside as soon as he’d arrived. When the person came back out of the hut, Zeer watched as they returned to the cooking fires.

  When she felt that no one would notice, she skirted the area and found an obscure spot where she could sit and observe just at the edge of the firelight. She leaned up against a tree and felt her eyes getting heavy as she watched the people go about their jobs and begin to move into their huts for the night. She couldn’t fight it any longer. She had to rest.

  Zeer fell asleep quickly, but just after doing so, she was rudely awakened by a loud “snap.” She looked up. There were three shadowy figures backlit by the fires hovering over her.

  “Who are you?” one of them asked ominously. He was holding something that was poking Zeer in the chest.

  She froze and spoke slowly, “My name is Zeer. I’m a friend of Rad’s.”

  “Rad didn’t mention that any friend was coming. Why are you here? Are you from the Shelter?”

  “I…I’m not from the Shelter, and, no…Rad didn’t expect me. He’ll know me, though, but he didn’t know that I’d be here.”

  “How in the hell did you find our home?”

  Zeer just told them the truth. “I saw Rad and his team working today and followed them here. I could tell that they were extremely tired so I thought I’d just rest until morning and then go to meet him.”

  “Well, you’re going to meet him tonight! Get up and come with me!”

  Once she was on her feet, two of the men grabbed her arms and took her with them to Rad’s hut. The one who had spoken went inside. A moment later, Rad and Sparks stuck their heads out. Rad still didn’t seem to recognize her.

  “We found this woman near the camp. We don’t know who she is. Is she from the Shelter?”

  Sparks came forward and looked at her closely. “I’ve never seen her before. I don’t recognize her from the Shelter or the city.”

  Rad just stared. Zeer thought that she noticed a slight twitch of recognition in his eyes and wondered if the hood she was wearing might be keeping him from knowing it was her. She pushed it back away from her face.

  Rad asked, “Um…what’s your name?”

  “My name is…Zeer.”

  Rad hesitated only a second more and then rushed over to get a better look. He grabbed her by the shoulders, examined her carefully, and then the bright light of recognition beamed across his face.

  “My god! It is you! It’s you! I thought you were dead or somewhere where I’d never see you again. This is unbelievable! How…how did you get here? Where have you been? What…?”

  Zeer laughed and everyone else just looked on with bewilderment.

  “Well, it’s obvious that Rad’s not going to sleep for a while, but I’m exhausted,” Sparks was saying. “Let’s leave these two alone. The rest of us will find out more tomorrow. You two go get reacquainted.”

  Zeer accepted Rad’s hand, and they moved over beside one of the fires. They sat down and looked at each other as the crackling logs burned yellow, red, and orange and created a flickering dance inside their eyes. They couldn’t stop smiling, and Rad was having a incredibly difficult time comprehending that it was actually Zeer sitting there beside him. They talked deep into the night and fell asleep near the fire, keeping each other warm.

  ***

  During that night, Rad had had many questions. Zeer had done her best to answer them and yet be careful to follow Landree and Fawn’s directions. She told Rad about being chosen by the Old One who ran the Room and completing the first two levels. Then she led him to believe that she was still playing the Room on level three, just as he was. She explained that during the third level she had been on another part of the Earth, but then had been brought here about a week ago. She’d spent the week living with the Terrans, giving them what aid she could until she’d found he and Sparks that day.

  As they continued talking, Rad told Zeer all of what he knew about the Shelters and Sparks and what they had been doing to help the Terrans. They also shared memories about their experiences on R-131 and their common drive to play the most elite Rooms wherever they had lived. They discussed the Old One, the levels of the Room, the energy spheres, the fact that both of them had met Brit and Shee, and the learning that they had experienced from their leather books. They laughed and remembered the few times that they’d met, the ride that Zeer had taken on the speedcycle, and the times they saw each other in the hallway outside their flats.

  It had been a night of remembering, reconnection, and joy. It was also a night that neither of them had expected, nor one they would soon forget.

  ***

  Morning brought the warm glow of the reddish sun as it rose through the deep layer of smog over the valley and the mountains. The air was definitely cleaner here than in the city, but still not easy to live with. Rad and Zeer opened their eyes to all this and the morning routines of the people living in the valley. The fires again had been lit. Food was being prepared for the morning meal. Others were just beginning to come out of their huts, stretching and yawning themselves awake from their night’s rest.

  Rad and Zeer sat up, noticing a blanket that someone had placed over them during the night. It was warm and comfortable. They were huddled together against the morning’s chill, and the day had begun.

  Zeer asked if there was any way that she could clean up a little, and Rad showed her where everyone bathed and cleaned themselves. It was a natural shower. The Terrans had found a place nearby where they could stand in the stream under a very small waterfall that sp
lashed down from a rock overhang. The water was frigid, but Zeer decided that it would be a good thing to do after the long week she’d had. “I’ll be back to eat after I do this,” she said with some apprehension in her voice. Rad smiled as she walked away.

  Although the sore on his leg was not getting better, and he was still very tired, he felt more energetic and excited this morning than he had for a long time. He was astounded by the turn of events, and it made him think about the Room again. He’d asked Zeer what she thought it was all about. She only shrugged and said that the Old One had told her that they both would understand at some point.

  Sparks walked out of his hut and glanced over at Rad. “Well, you two had quite a night. I woke up a couple of times to your laughter and your voices. Did you ever sleep?”

  Rad answered, “We did, but only a couple hours. It’s okay. Seeing her has given me new strength.”

  “I can see that, but now, tell me what’s going on.”

  Rad proceeded, giving Sparks a shortened version of what he knew about Zeer’s appearance and who she was. Sparks just shook his head. “Both of you come from this Room you’ve told me about? Well, Zeer seems strong and healthy, and we could sure use her help right now. I’m glad she’s with us.”

  Rad smiled and said happily, “So am I!”

  ***

  Zeer came back from her cold shower revitalized and awake. She joined Rad and Sparks for breakfast and met many of the people in the valley. You wouldn’t say it was a joyous gathering, but it had some light-hearted moments and was a morning that everyone there would remember. They all felt more hope and determination to continue their work as they welcomed their newest member and discussed what they needed to do next.

  ***

  The following few weeks flew by as Sparks’ team met with each other, helped the people in the valley, and continued to expand what they were doing in the city. The Terrans within the city were talking more and more about the people who were providing medicine and relief to them.

  The water and air were still severely polluted with toxins. The food was horrible at best, and people’s lives were still on the line every day, but at the very least, more of them were getting some aid from these caregivers. Some of the Terran’s lives were actually improving.

  Rad, Zeer, and Sparks, along with their many friends and helpers from the valley, were working better together and were more able to spread their help to a larger segment of the population. Life in the city was slowly, ever so slowly, improving, but it was still too measured for many of them.

  ***

  Zeer was now involved in most of the aspects of the work that was being done. She couldn’t get over the dedication of everyone involved, but she was especially proud and more and more connected to Rad and Sparks. Sparks was a remarkable healer, and his body continued to be strong and healthy in the midst of everything. Rad was phenomenally committed as well, and he had channeled his abilities as a leader and his focus as a player to a cause that he believed in completely. He and Zeer would sit and have endless talks in the evenings. They discussed what they had learned and experienced about the Earth when it was a pure and pristine wilderness whose beauty and immense diversity had given rise to the human race. They compared what they had learned about the wars and how the corporations had usurped the governments’, as well as the people’s, rights, and they agreed that the wealthy’s lust for money and power had been utterly insane and destructive.

  Sometimes, though, the two would just spend time together hardly saying a word as they walked along a trail or sat quietly drinking some tea, gazing into the firelight. In those moments, even in the midst of everything that was going on, there was a part of each of them that could find a modicum of peace and contentment, knowing that they were doing what they could for the Terrans and happy to be with each other.

  ***

  One thing that was a great worry to Zeer was that Rad was not getting any better. The sore on his leg was getting larger. It had started oozing puss, and his cough had continued to worsen. It didn’t slow him down a lot yet, but his illness was something that she and Sparks spoke of often.

  “Sparks, we’ve been able to help so many. Why can’t we heal Rad?”

  “I think it’s because Rad has not been on the Earth for very long. All of the toxins and diseases are so new to his body that his immune system is having a difficult time dealing with them. My medications just aren’t strong enough to bolster his system and heal the disease. It’s probably also due to the fact that he has more than one virus attacking him.”

  Zeer listened and then had to share something with him. “Please don’t mention this to Rad, but I need to let you know that I’m here to take him back to someone named Fawn. She’s from our own time, and she is the Old One that Rad has mentioned to you from the Room. She’s told me that it’s about time for this to be over. She’s found out what she needs to know about Rad and about me. I’m not exactly sure what that is, but I had to tell you. She’ll let me know when it’s time, and I’ll have to do what she says.”

  Sparks sat quietly for a moment in thought. “I need both of you so much. You know that…but I also know that soon the people in the Shelter will be leaving Earth. I hope when they do that we can use the Shelter and many of their supplies for our purposes. I also have so many wonderful people to work with now, thanks to both you and Rad. I know he’s not well, so I understand and agree that it’s time to take him home, but first, I need your help with something.”

  “What’s that? You know we’ll do anything for you.”

  “I need to get some information. I need to find out precisely when the Chosen are leaving. I also need to know what they’re taking with them and what they’re leaving behind. I have to learn as much as possible in order to get ready for what will come after they’re gone.

  “I already have an idea about how I’m going to get that information, but once I have it, I’d like you and Rad to help me figure out the best way to help as many of our people as possible. I know that I can count on some help from my friends inside the Shelter, but the more minds that work on this the better chance there’ll be of success. What do you say?”

  “Of course. We can help you with the logistics, and we’ll also help you carry it out and get ready for when Rad and I will have to leave. I’ll talk to him.”

  “Zeer...thanks. I understand that you’ll need to leave. This is not your time or place, but your help... Thank you.”

  “I have one question, though. You mentioned that you had a way to get the information that you need. How are you going to do that?”

  “Well, I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to try to go directly to the head of the Visionary Council, to Harlequin. I want to speak to her, tell her some of what we’ve accomplished, and ask her my questions directly.”

  “Do you think she’ll work with you?”

  “I don’t know. If she sees what we’re doing out here and that we might actually have a chance to turn things around – maybe, just maybe, she’ll give me all the information I need. They’re leaving, so it really shouldn’t be difficult for her. At least that’s what I’m hoping. We are all humans after all, not just the people inside the Shelter!”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  30

  The Room: Level 3

  The Meeting

  The next week Sparks traveled to the Shelter and set up a meeting with Harlequin. It wasn’t easy. He could tell that he wasn’t welcome. It took a lot of talking to get in to see her, but he finally succeeded.

  He walked into Harlequin’s office. She looked up for a second, finished something she was working on, slid her glasses off her nose, and spoke to Sparks in a condescending tone. “I don’t have a lot of time, so what is it you want.”

  It wasn’t the best start to the conversation, but it was the attitude that Sparks had expected. “My name is Sparks.”

  “I know.”

  “I’ve come to talk to you about what we’ve been workin
g on in the city. We’ve had some successes and things are changing for the people outside. I also have some questions that I’d like to ask.”

  She simply said, “Go ahead.”

  “As you know, the Terrans are suffering terribly. You also know, my immune system is quite rare. Your scientists have been studying me for some time now, just as I have for most of my life. By using what I’ve learned, I’ve found ways to relieve the Terrans’ suffering, and in some cases, even cure their illnesses. We’ve established a research and safe facility in the mountains and some help centers in a couple of the old broken down buildings in the city. We’re using these to work with people and do what we can. The people that we’ve successfully treated have become our assistants. We’re working hard every day, and we believe that we’ve started something worth continuing.”

  Harlequin spoke quietly and said, “I know what you’ve been doing. We’ve known since the beginning.”

  Sparks was somewhat surprised. “Oh…I’m glad, so you know that we’ve made progress. It’s not a lot compared to the problem, but we’ve proven that people can be helped. Things can get better.”

  “So…your question?”

  Sparks swallowed and then said, “I want you to rethink leaving the Earth. With our combined knowledge and resources, we could do great things and change what’s happening here. It would take a huge commitment from all of the Shelters around the globe, and it would take a long time, but we could change the dynamics of this terrible situation, if we only tried.”

  Harlequin narrowed her eyes and simply said, “We are not changing our plans. They are set in stone. The Visionary Councils of every Shelter have agreed. The answer to that question is very simple. No!”