Shades of Freedom

  Shades of Freedom

  Linda McNabb

  Copyright Linda McNabb 2012

  www.mcnabbnz.com

  Images copyright Algol

  Linda McNabb asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission from the author.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Kala landed heavily on her elbows as she was thrown forwards onto the textured metal floor. The shuttle had stopped without warning and Kala's grip on the strap was useless with sweaty her palms. Momentarily stunned, she lay looking at the driver's foot which still held down the emergency stop button. Slowly, she dragged herself to her feet again, along with several others, while those seated ignored her.

  The shuttle had come to a sudden stop short of the platform and Kala looked, past the driver, out the front window of the Level Three carriage to see why. A man stood in the path of the shuttle and it looked as if it had only just stopped in time. He was only a few steps in front of it and he stood with his arms outstretched to form a human barrier.

  Had he fallen? Or maybe he had been pushed? It was possible, as the overcrowded station just ahead had no railing along the path of the shuttle. Several people had been crushed by the shuttle last year when they had been bumped into the path of it by the jostling crowds.

  No, it didn't look as if he had fallen for he would have moved by now. The man began to yell, at least Kala assumed he was yelling by the expression on his face. Within the totally sealed carriage she could not hear his voice at all. He looked angry and Kala wondered why he would be angry at the shuttle.

  Two guards appeared at the far end of the station and, with a quick glance over his shoulder, the man jumped up onto the platform and disappeared into the crowd.

  Kala immediately forgot about him as she settled back to her position and the driver lurched the shuttle back into motion. She changed her satchel to the other arm and steadied herself again with one of the thin leather straps that hung from the ceiling of the metal carriage. She clung to it as the carriages edged slowly towards the station and everyone began to gather their bags ready to leave. This wasn’t the shuttle she normally caught on a Friday, but then again this wasn’t a normal Friday.

  The efficient air conditioning began to cool her down when she had boarded ten minutes ago but the carriage still held the lingering smell of stale sweat and she was by no means cool yet. Kala was sure it must be close to 45 degrees outside and a thin film of condensation was creeping up between the double insulated windows.

  Nobody spoke as the carriage eased up next to the platform. They were all conserving their strength to deal with the oppressive heat once they left the carriage. Kala was no different and she wondered if it was such a wise idea to be going shopping when she could be in her air-conditioned apartment where she lived with her family.

  The shuttle stopped and the doors slid open with a gentle hiss letting the stifling heat rush in. Kala shuffled silently behind the other commuters as the carriage emptied completely out onto the already crowded station. This was the last station on the line and it was next to the high metal dividing wall that separated the sectors in the city of Jerrac.

  The carriage behind hers emptied as well and its only two occupants scowled with distaste at the crowds blocking their way. Kala smiled as she worked her way along the platform. Next week it would be her emerging from the un-crowded and comfortable Level Two carriage.

  That was the sole reason for her shopping trip today. She couldn’t be seen in a Level Two carriage dressed how she was now. Her shoes were worn through in several places and her tunic had faded from red to a dusky pink. No, she definitely couldn’t be seen like this next week.

  “It’s all lies!”

  Kala jumped in surprise at the harsh voice that boomed over the crowded station. She saw a thin young man standing on the wall next to the station entrance. His black hair was unkempt and much longer than the style preferred by men in her sector. His clothes were patched and he wore no shoes. Kala realised it was the same man who had stopped the shuttle. He certainly didn't give up easily.

  She frowned at his untidy appearance. He should be ashamed to be seen like that and he certainly should not be drawing attention to himself. Kala shuffled towards the gate next to where the man stood and tried to avert her head as she came closer. Everyone else was ignoring him too but it didn’t stop him yelling at them all.

  Kala, curious as to why someone would embarrass themselves in this way, glanced up at him as she came nearer. His face was not what she would call handsome and it was set in a determined expression. His eyes were ice blue and they locked onto hers and she felt unable to look away.

  **

  “They’ve brainwashed you all into thinking everything is fair and just under the State Rule. We of the Fourth sector know it is not! Fight for equal rights and equal conditions!”

  Johan quickly scanned the perimeter of the crowd looking for any signs of the guards who had been chasing him when he jumped up onto the wall and then turned his attention to the crowd. They weren’t listening and it was making him angrier by the second. He was trying to show them the life they led was not a life of choice but one of simply existing within the confines of State Rule. His eyes settled on the only face turned his way and he shouted at her although she was only several feet away.

  “Think about it! What choices do you have in your life? Can you do what you want, when you want to? You might say ‘We have everything we need’ but do you have freedom? Have you seen how the people in the other Sectors live? The people in Level Ten would starve if the State had its way! The Level system is unfair, and must go!”

  She was still listening and he held her light green eyes captive. The other people were shuffling past her and telling her to keep moving and to ignore him. She looked to be close to his own age of twenty and was more plain than pretty, but it was hard to tell by the loose State issue tunic she wore and with her dark brown hair pulled back in such a severe style.

  If he could sow the seed of doubt in just one person it would be a start. Things couldn’t go on as they were, but they would never change until people knew the truth.

  “They’re coming.”

  A sharp tug at his trouser leg broke his concentration for a second and the girl turned her head away and began to shuffle off with the crowd. He had lost her. Another urgent tug at his trousers brought his attention to the small girl who stood on the other side of the wall. She was far too thin, accentuating her cheekbones and making her eyes look sunken. Her tunic was in a similar state to Johan’s clothes and she was pleading with him to get down.

  “We’re going to get caught.”

  “Okay Katee I’m coming.” Johan looked up once more and scanned the crowd for the girl and finally caught her eye again. It was her expression that made him forget the warning from Katee. It was a mixture of pity and contempt and it hurt him deep inside. Pausing a few seconds longer than he should have he suddenly found himself grabbed by the ankles. He was pulled, more roughly than seemed necessary, down towards the black clothed guards that held him.

  **

  Kala felt her cheeks colour and she turned her head away. If she hadn’t looked up again he wouldn’t have been caught by the guards. She felt a stab of pity for the poor misguided young man.

  The State made sure everyone had everything they ever needed. Privileges were only taken off those who wouldn’t follow the rules so he must have brought any injustices upon himself. If he didn’t like the Level he was then why didn’t he work hard and buy himself in
to a higher one as she was going to do on Monday. She had no sympathy for him at all.

  “Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!”

  A high pitched yell, followed by a shrill scream, brought her attention to the scene behind her. Kala looked for the source of the noise and so did the guards. In that split second of inattention the man in their custody broke free and vaulted easily over the low wall.

  Kala watched as he picked up the small child who was making all the noise and they headed quickly along the metal wall looming only a hundred feet away. The guards went after the pair and Kala watched, fascinated, to see if they would be caught. Much to her disappointment the crowd swept her out the gates of the station and she lost sight of them all.

  Once out of the station the crowds thinned a little as everyone headed their own way and others stayed in the station to board the shuttle. The heat was almost unbearable and Kala felt a trickle of sweat running down her back. Normally, she didn’t use the covered automated walkway as it went too slowly. But today she stepped onto it and let herself be propelled along, with a small sigh of relief to be away from the harsh sun.

  There were no housing blocks here, only Community Issue Stores that provided all the daily living needs. Everything except food came from here, with that coming from markets scattered throughout the sector.

  Kala looked with longing through the crystal-clear shop windows, already mentally drawing up a list of things to furnish their new apartment. She briefly wondered where their Level Two apartment assignment would be, and hoped it wasn’t too far from Suan, her best friend.

  A few minutes later she stepped off the walkway and entered the shop she had chosen. There weren’t a lot of clothes or shoes on display for there were only three official styles allowed, unless you were Level One or Two. Kala already knew what she wanted, but to prolong the experience she browsed through the different style and colour choices. The store was fully air-conditioned and Kala shivered in her sleeveless tunic.

  “Can I help?” A small woman in her late forties with a sour looking face came over and Kala began to give her order.

  “I’ll have one of these in red with...”

  Kala was abruptly cut off by the woman turning away and ignoring her completely. She frowned at her attitude and then saw the reason why and understood.

  A woman had entered the store and was heading straight for Kala and the store assistant. The woman was fat to the point of obesity and the flimsy blue dress she wore was clinging to her in all the wrong places. Her short curly hair was unnaturally blonde and it made her skin look far too dark. She held a leash with a toy-sized dog on the end of it and gave an overall impression of self-importance.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs Fortnes.” The assistant curtsied elegantly and beamed at her like a silly schoolgirl.

  It was obvious to Kala that this woman was a Level One by the sudden smiles and fawning attitude of the assistant. It wasn’t unheard of for a Level One to sponsor someone up a Level because they liked them.

  “Take care of Kas for me,” Mrs Fortnes ordered as she scooped up the little dog and deposited it into Kala’s arms.

  Clearly this upper-class snob thought she was a store assistant too.

  “But I’m not...” Kala tried to object.

  “She's just a...” The store assistant cut her off but was herself cut off by Mrs Fortnes.

  “I don’t have time to argue. This girl will serve me and you can serve me next time,” Mrs Fortnes smiled smugly at Kala, obviously enjoying herself and thinking they were fighting over who was going to serve her.

  “I want a special dress for a function next week. Is the new catalogue out yet?” The shop assistant guided her to a comfortable chair and Mrs Fortnes took the quickly offered catalogue. She looked over to where Kala was still holding the dog.

  “Well go and give him a drink,” Mrs Fortnes snapped, not looking very impressed with the service she was getting.

  Kala simply stared at her, too surprised to answer.

  “There is a dress here I think would be just perfect for you,” the shop assistant fawned pathetically as she rushed out from the back room with a ribbon covered box. Her attitude was making Kala feel ill.

  The assistant pulled out a dress in baby pink with layered skirts and puffy sleeves and held it out in front of her customer. Mrs Fortnes closed the catalogue with a sigh of adoration. Her good humour looked to have been restored.

  “How did you know my favourite colour?” Mrs Fortnes exclaimed and took the dress. She held it up to her in front of the mirror and then checked the tag. “And just my size too. It will do perfectly. Have it delivered to my house as soon as possible.”

  With that the woman literally snatched the dog from Kala and swept out of the store. Kala looked in disgust at the frilly pink dress the assistant was putting back into its box. It was the most unflattering style she had ever seen for a woman as large as Mrs Fortnes and her expression obviously showed her thoughts.

  “It doesn’t matter what looks nice on them. It’s more important to give them what they want. And you almost blew all the hard work I’ve been doing in sucking up to her for the past year,” the assistant was no longer smiling. The look she shot Kala was evil and her voice dripped with dislike and anger.

  “May I look at that catalogue?” Kala asked, curious to see what items she would be able to choose from next week when she and her family became Level Two.

  “You’re Level Two?” It was almost an accusation.

  “No,” Kala answered feeling a little embarrassed.

  “Then choose from the rack,” the reply was short, sharp and very unfriendly.

  All the enjoyment had gone from the shopping trip now and Kala pointed to the style of dress and shoes without speaking. The assistant held up the scanner and Kala pressed her thumb against it.

  “Deposit your old clothes at the recycle station,” the assistant brought the items requested from the back room and pushed them into a plastic bag. “We’re closed!”

  Kala didn’t get on the walkway on the way back to the Comrail Station. She walked briskly to vent the anger she felt and took no notice of the heat that had bothered her so much before. By the time she reached the Comrail station she was perspiring heavily and she joined the small crowd waiting for a shuttle. Most of the shoppers had gone home already and Kala found a shaded spot to sit and wait.

  The hard wooden seat she chose was directly opposite the wall where the man had been lecturing the crowd from earlier. He had said the Level system was unfair. Kala began to run through the other things he had said and then told herself off. The man was a deviant and obviously a troublemaker. The Level system worked and kept everything in order. Any other system would create total chaos. Kala’s shuttle shuddered to a stop and everyone piled into the Level Three carriage. The State knew what it was doing.

  Ten minutes later Kala pressed her thumb to the sensor on her front door and it clicked open.

  “I’m home,” she called out and frowned at the following silence. Where were her Mother and younger sister? Petari and Alissa were usually home well before her.

  She kicked the door shut and collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh as the air conditioning began to cool her down. The short walk from the shuttle had left her completely drained and she put down her satchel and new clothes on the floor next to the sofa.

  It certainly had been a long day teaching at the First Sector elementary today. Almost half of her students were away with a mystery illness but it was typical that none of the naughty students had caught it. Before she had gone shopping she had gone to the top end of First Sector to the home of one of the Level One families. It was unheard of for a Level One family to have an illiterate child and they had been determined to rid the family of the shame it cast upon them. Kala dreaded the twice weekly tutorials but at least there would be no more. The child had finally reached an acceptable level and his parents were thrilled.

  Kala played with the plastic discs in her pocket and sighed. Five unsta
mped marcs a week and another ten today as a bonus was a lot, but she felt she had definitely earned them all.

  She kicked off her worn leather shoes, feeling glad she wouldn’t have to wear them again. Maybe next week she would go and get a pair of Level Two shoes like Suan had. They looked much more comfortable and definitely more attractive than the State Issue shoes she had received for nothing today. However, by the time she paid for Level Two she wouldn’t have enough left to buy shoes for another month or more.

  The door alarm sounded as a familiar round face appeared on the video unit mounted on the wall. Kala dragged herself up to let Suan in.

  “How did you know I was home?” Kala asked casually as she flopped back onto the sofa. She was home earlier than usual even allowing for her trip to the Issue Stores.

  “Daddy didn’t log off his Securicom Unit when he left for work this morning,” Suan explained matter-of-factly as she strolled in looking fresh and cool. “I came over as soon as the scanner at the Comrail showed you had boarded the shuttle going to Station Three. What did you get at the issue stores?”

  Kala ignore her question and bit her lip to hide her annoyance at having been monitored, even by a friend. She wished she could tell her big news to Suan but she couldn’t, she had to tell her family first.

  Suan was wearing a loose, over-large dress of an expensive looking fabric that was definitely not State Issue. It stopped far short of her knees and showed off most of her pudgy white legs. It wasn’t a flattering look but Kala wouldn’t have dreamed of telling her. Suan’s curly, mouse-brown, shoulder length hair looked immaculate as usual with not a single strand out of place.

  Sometimes Kala envied Suan for all the leisure hours she had, but it was only on days like today when she was exhausted. Kala knew that even when she and her family were Level Two next week she would still work. Working was optional for Level Two and they even had a Level Three who came in to do all the housework. That was probably where her mother was now. The family Petari cleaned for sometimes kept her back to cook the night time meal without a second thought.