Awakening the Mare (Fall of Man Book 1) (9 page)

I believed that until we drove closer.

A faded, broken sign reached from the trees.
It read, ‘Angeles City Limits’. Right after we passed that, a cow
crossed in front of us and Tanner stopped to allow it to go by. It
was then I spotted the first of many small farms. They weren’t huge
pastures like we had, they were small pockets of personal farms,
built around each house. Each owner of a house had their own
farm.

The homes had seen their share of wear and
tear. Many were covered with thick vines and tangled branches.
Nature’s camouflage I supposed.

With each mile we traveled closer to Angeles
City, the more small farms there were, along with animals. Lots of
animals. People rode past us on horseback.

When we were farther away I could only see
the tops of the buildings in Angeles City, but as we entered the
city limits, I realized how different it was going to look up
close.

Tanner stopped the car and announced, “This
is where we start to walk. No cars from this point on.”

I could see why; there was no way to
drive.

Trees had surrounded the old city. It truly
wasn’t the Angeles City I remembered.

The buildings were painted by nature. Moss,
vines and other growth crept up the sides of the metal and concrete
structures. The streets were clear, though very little concrete
remained. It was a mixture of grass, dirt, and stone.

Speckled about the landscape were cars. They
too had become part of nature. Growth had sprouted out of the old
vehicles, and in a few more years they would disappear.

There were so many people on the streets that
it took my breath away. They had barter carts set up everywhere,
trading and smiling. It reminded me of Akana and how we traded on
Saturdays. I could smell food cooking. People waved and were
pleasant to Tanner as we passed them.

We walked for a while and then we finally
approached and stopped before a building. It reminded me of the art
I had seen in class of the palaces of the early Ancient Sybaris,
only it was a smaller version. Pillars graced the front of the
building and a large staircase leading to the doors.

“Headquarters,” Marie said. “One of the few
building we actually use all the time.”

“There are so many buildings.”

“A lot aren’t safe. They’re old. We use them
for shelter or retreat. Most people live outside the city and come
in for training and trading.” She waved her hand. “Come on. Don’t
be scared.”

Marie and Snake led the way and I walked
alongside Tanner. What I could only deduce as ‘guards’ casually
emerged from the building. They wore black and carried weapons.

“That’s gonna be me,” Tanner whispered in my
ear. “I’m gonna be a soldier.”

“What are you now?” I asked as we ascended
the stairs.

“I’m just an escort and protector.”

“You do your job well.”

“Oh, wow, cool, thanks.” He smiled. “I start
training this summer. I’m pretty excited about it.”

Marie looked over her shoulder. “He’s not
gonna move you to infantry, Tanner. You’re too good at what you
do.”

Tanner scoffed. “He will too.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Our leader,” Tanner answered.

The huge tarnished bronze doors were open and
we walked in. The interior of the building was magnificent. It was
clean, shaded, and cool. The floors were marble and it was huge and
hollow, with few furnishings.

Many soldiers moved about, walking up and
down the staircases.

I couldn’t help but look up to the high
ceilings. I was amazed.

“This way,” Tanner said. He took hold of my
arm and led me across the large room.

At the far end was a desk, and two men stood
there with their backs to us. They looked to be discussing
something.

“Hey, El Capitan,” Tanner called.

The bigger man on the right tugged his ear
and shook his head. “Tanner, I have told you to stop calling me
that,” he said, his voice deep and raspy.

Tanner laughed and with Marie and Snake on my
other side, we approached the men.

“I come bringing a gift,” Tanner said. “Look
what we found at the sea.”

The man turned around and looked at me.

“This is Vala,” Tanner said. “Vala, this is
our fearless leader…”

My heart beat out of my chest and my throat
tensed up almost to the point of choking. Tanner didn’t need to say
the leader’s name. Even older, even with years past, his face was
clearly recognizable. It was a face I had photographed and
preserved in my mind.

“Davis,” I blurted in shock.

“I have known one Vala my entire life,” Davis
said softly, his eyes staring at me. “Last I saw her she was maybe
five years old. I knew one day I’d see her again.” He walked over.
“It is so good to see you.”

Then, surprising me, he wrapped his arms
around me and embraced me tightly. There was no shame in that for
me, I returned the embrace, flashing back to the safety I felt in
his arms as a small girl.

“Look at you.” Davis stepped from the embrace
and laid his hand on my cheek. “So grown up. How is your mother?
Please tell me she’s fine.”

“She is.”

“Your brother or sister? They have to be,
what, fifteen?”

I shook my head. “My brother was killed. My
mother used him as an entrance into the Straits.”

Davis’ hand shot to his face. “I’m sorry. I
am so sorry. I knew it. I tried.”

“I remember.”

“Dude?” Tanner stepped to us. “You really
know her?”

“Tanner,” Davis said irritably. He squeezed
the corner of his eyes. “Go.”

“No, I’ll stay.”

Davis grumbled a little.

“Hey, Davis,” Snake said, “if you don’t need
me right now, I wanna go see my wife.”

“Absolutely. Check in later.”

“Will do.” Snake paused. “Before I go… our,
um, newcomer is gonna need full treatment.” Snake nodded his head
toward me.

“Seriously?” Davis asked, surprised.

“Yep. She is immersed.”

Immersed?
What did they mean by
that?

Davis looked at Marie. “Is he
exaggerating?”

Marie shook her head.

Standing there, my head went back in forth
listening to their conversation. I knew they were talking about me,
but was clueless as to what it was all about. I was the newcomer.
But immersed? Immersed in what?

“You seem so shocked, Davis,” Marie stated.
“I mean she
is
young.”

“I knew her mother. I would’ve never thought
…” Davis rubbed his head. “Okay, if it’s that deep, prep a team,
Marie. Our best. And we’ll plan for tomorrow afternoon.”

“That soon?” she asked.

Davis nodded.

“You don’t want to toss her in the mix at
first.”

“If she is that immersed then it would only
be worse.”

Snake and Marie left and once they were gone,
Davis inhaled deeply, placed his hands on my shoulders, and looked
at me. “Where were we?”

“What is wrong with me? I know you were
speaking about—”

His hand covered my mouth, shocking me.

“Nothing is wrong. Okay? Just… you are very
much a part of that world, and we can’t have that here.”

“I want to fight. I want to be part of this
revolt I have heard about.”

“And you will, if that’s what you want. First
things first though. You have to learn.”

“I already know much.”

Tanner giggled and Davis shot him a
glare.

“I’m sure you do,” Davis said. “But we have a
way. A fast track integration into our society.”

“Like Esperanza detox,” Tanner piped up.

“What is that?”

Again, Davis crinkled his brow at Tanner.
“Part of training.”

“Yeah, we make you normal.”

“Tanner,” Davis scolded softly.

“I
am
normal.”

“Yeah, in that place you lived, but here
you’re kind of a freak.”

“Tanner!” Davis shouted. “Have some tact for
crying out loud. Now go, make yourself useful elsewhere.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll go.” Tanner took a step and
stopped. “Oh, hey, before I forget. Speaking of freaks…”

“Tanner,” Davis growled.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean that. Uh, apparently…
she’s a Mare.”

Davis looked at me and smiled. “Yes. I
know.”

Although he was as irritating as a summer
rash, there was something comforting about Tanner, like a favorite
childhood blanket or toy. When Davis sent him off to ‘do something
useful’, I missed him.

Davis was a busy man. His desk was sprawled
with maps and papers, yet he excused himself to walk with me. We
left the grand headquarters building and walked to the street. He
explained about the bartering, which I was very familiar with, and
we stopped at one cart where a man handed me what looked like meat
on a stick.

“I have no barter items,” I said.

“Enjoy,” Davis said. “Charlie here brings the
meat to town to hand it out. Sometimes we have too much meat and
this is a way to get rid of it so it doesn’t go to waste. I love
these.” Davis held up his meat stick.

It looked odd and I took a whiff. It smelled
savory, that was the best way I could describe it. I took a bite,
and discovered that the meat was tender, with just enough of a
tanginess.

“Do you have any questions?” Davis asked.

“Where will I stay? With you?”

“More than likely. We’ll find you a job and
start your training.”

“What will the training be?”

“Physical stuff, fighting and tactical. You
said you wanted to fight. And, well, you have a gift, Vala.” Davis
stopped walking. “We need to work on that, bring that out, only we
don’t know how. I have someone over at the library looking up old
books. The woman who placed the blessing on you passed away three
years ago.”

“So you knew?”

“I did. I was part of a transient group
headed to New Mexico. I was in the camp when your mother arrived
and gave birth. I was there with her in that truck. When you were
born, I raced with you to get you to the camp.”

“You’ve known me my whole life.”

“Well, when you were with me. It broke my
heart when your mother left.” He squinted and looked up to the sky.
“I was sad for the longest time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“The special gift was placed upon you as a
thank you for saving us and for protection. No one believed it
would work. I knew when you were little. Many times the Sybaris
were right there and it was like you were invisible to them.”

“They could see me alright in Akana.”

He began to stroll with me again. “How
so?”

“They always looked at me during the choosing
ceremony. Like they were waiting for me to be eligible. Or ready,
as Iry said.”

“Who is Iry?” Davis asked. “A boyfriend?”

“Ugh!” I gasped. “He was my educator. I am
not promiscuous.”

“What?” Davis laughed. You can have a
boyfriend and not be promiscuous. It’s life, Vala, it’s what makes
us part of who we are. Being human and being around humans.
Touching them, being touched. Connecting, even innocently, it’s
normal. The Sybaris didn’t want you tainted, which is why you are
going to the facility.”

“What is that?”

“The Sybaris want you to act a certain way
and only know what they tell you. You are programmed, in a sense,
to be exactly how they want you to be.”

I took offense to that. “I am
rebellious.”

“I’m sure you are, but really, how rebellious
are you that you act like having a boyfriend is a crime? You act
that way because that’s all you know. We are going to secure you
away and basically teach you all you need to know pretty fast. Sort
of deprogramming you. We are going to teach you how humans act,
talk, react. We are going to teach you man’s history.”

“I do know a lot about man’s history. I
believe I at least have some advantage there.” I stopped, pulled
back my shoulders, and proudly stood straight. I was going to
impress Davis with my knowledge. “I know who Ronald Reagan was. He
was a great leader of yours.”

“Yes,” Davis chuckled. “Yes he was.”

“And your God, he had long flowing hair.”

“He did.”

“I saw a picture of him. He wasn’t wearing a
shirt.”

“You’ll have that.”

“Not in Akana. Men always dress fully. Your
God was very beautiful. In the picture, there was a light, it was
behind his head, glowing through his hair.”

Davis nodded. “That’s called a halo. It
signifies holiness.”

“I see. Do your people pray to him?”

“Many do, yes.”

“Is there a temple for him?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Davis said.
“People keep it clean and go there regularly. It gives them
strength and hope.”

“I would like very much to see the temple of
Bon Jav Vie. Will you show me?”

As if I made a shocking request, Davis came
to an abrupt halt. He turned to face me and stared down at me.

“Am I in trouble? Did I say something
wrong?”

“No. Vala… you said... Bonjav…?”

“Bon Jav Vie.”

He shuddered a bit. “Where did you hear the
name Bon Jovi?”

“Oh, is that how it is said? I am so sorry.
Are you impressed?”

“Yes.”

“I learned from a box I uncovered long ago.
My mother said it was a time capsule from the year 1988. I kept it
hidden and learned everything about man that I could from that box.
It is special. I brought it with me.”

“I would love to see it.”

“I’ll show it to you. You’ll have to be
careful.”

“Why is that?”

“Because there is poison in there. It’s the
best of poison they had in 1988, so be careful. I didn’t throw it
away in case we can use it one day on the Sybaris. You think we
can?”

“Maybe.” He closed one eye, looking at me
strangely.

“See?” I smiled proudly. “I am not as bad as
Snake said, am I? I don’t have that much to learn.”

Davis didn’t really reply to that. He cleared
his throat, placed his hand on my back, guiding me to walk. “Finish
your food.”