Running Dry (3 page)

"Can you believe we are going to be finished with school in a week?" one of the thunks from our pod says.

"It's pretty wild," Evy says.  Everyone else nods in agreement.

"What are you going to shoot for?" Evy asks one of the boys, Greer, who has purple hair, several piercings, and a large neck tattoo. 

"Research," he says thoughtfully, which comes as a shock to me.

Working in Water as a scientist is one of the top jobs you can get.  If you ace the exam you can bypass the military training and get placed there straight away.  Acing the exam is almost unheard of, but Greer is a pretty smart guy, and his dad, and his dad's dad both worked in that department, so his chances seem pretty good.

There are basically four areas for assignment: Water, Food, Maintenance, and Government.  Within each of those areas are many layers, for example, Water workers can be high up, like a researcher, or they can be in distribution or collection.  Though the pay differs, anyone who works in Water is still regarded highly.   

People assigned to Food generally make or pack food.  Pretty straight forward.  Maintenance workers are all the people who maintain the city, so trash, mail, construction, recyclers, and laundry all fall under Maintenance. 

Government includes the military, police, as well as teachers, trainers, and anyone affiliated with education.  Runners are technically housed in Government because they are part of the military, but they are also greatly respected because they work so closely with water and risk their lives for it. 

"Do you think you'll score well on the exam?" I ask Alex, still standing with his arm locked around me.  He's been doing that more and more since Zane left. 

"Not well enough to place me in Water, but I don't care.  I'm good with being a soldier."  He winks at me.  I don't see Alex as a soldier at all, but he's not really into school and studying, so he's destined for it.  I think he likes to play the macho goofball, but I see right through it.  He's really scared as hell.

All of the talk of the exam makes me anxious about all of the studying I still need to do, so I squeeze out of Alex's grip and say, "I'm gonna head out.  Talk to you later." 

"K.  See ya," Alex says.  I nod to Evy who's still talking to Greer, and I head home.     

Zane

Lying in my bunk above Harmond, I'm still fuming about what a psycho my commanding officer is and wondering why he has it out for me.  Even before Zander was killed, I had strong anti-war sentiments and after, well, it just solidified my opinion.  I'm a pacifist, but for some reason, this violent hell hole of a city doesn't breed others like me; just the opposite, actually. 

I've always been singled out as someone to bash in when given the chance.  I have no idea why.  Maybe because people can tell when someone is above them and they want their turn at trying to knock you down a peg, so you can be at their same level.  In my early teens, after several head bashings, Zander suggested I start lifting weights.  He thought I actually enjoyed it, and I did like spending time with him, but I really was thinking if I got bigger, maybe people would leave me alone.  Instead, it was just the opposite, they enjoyed seeing if they could beat up the ripped guy.  No matter what I do, people seem to love making the peaceful guy get mad and fight.               

I'm sure that's what all this is about, this deal with Officer Fulton.  He's trying to break me; probably sees my disdain for the military, as much as I try to hide it.  Except, what he doesn't understand is that every time I fight, I want nothing more than to run from this ruined existence and become a loner.  And I would, if it weren't for Bekka.  She's the only reason I'm even sane.  Even if we don't see eye to eye about the war, she still gets it, and me, and that's more than I can say for anybody else I've ever known; except maybe my mom.  Even Zander was a Junkie.  That's what everyone calls the freaks who are hothead soldiers.  They crave fighting, so this war is perfect for them. 

I wouldn't even be trying in the training exams if it weren't for Bekka, but if I fail to place in the finals, I'll just get a regular job assignment after training is over, like most of the ingrates my age.  There will be a few handfuls of the top placers who will be assigned to military careers like guards, soldiers, or police force.  I'm shooting for guard so I can get assigned to the tunnels and make sure nothing happens to Bekka as a runner.  Plus, guards don't need to fight.  They just protect the runners from our enemies and fellow water hoarders, the residents of the neighboring city, South Sacto.

"Hey, Zane.  You still awake?" Harmond says from the bunk just below me.

"Yeah.  What's up, James?"

"I just wanted to tell ya that I don’t want to fight ya tomorrow."

"I know.  Don’t worry about it."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why does everyone mess with you?"

"I have no idea."

"I thought it sucked to be me, but it must suck to be you, too."

"It’s no picnic."  I chuckle, though I don’t really know why, because it's goddamn true.

My life is pretty miserable, but at least I have Bekka.  That's more than Harmond can say.  He's a big, ugly, pathetic guy who has the personality of a rock.  I don't think a girl has ever even allowed him to look in her direction.  I feel a little better.  It could be worse.  I could be Harmond. 

"Sorry, man," he says.

"Don't worry about it."  I wish this guy would stop making me like him.  I'd almost rather hate him so it would be easier to fight him tomorrow night.  Either way, it won't be something I enjoy doing.  I consider that a good sign.  No matter how many times I fight, it doesn't change my perspective.  I'm sure there's got to be a better way.

Chapter 4

Bekka

Returning to my building, I don't feel like studying all of a sudden.  Instead I find myself knocking on Regina's door.  Even though I know Zane isn’t inside, I can’t stop myself.

"Hi, honey.  Everything alright?" Zane's mother asks, standing in the doorway in her long nightgown even though it's not even dinner time yet.

"Sure.  Just thought I'd say hi," I say, feeling insecure suddenly.

"You wanna come in?"

"If it's not a bother.  Were you sleeping?"

She looks down at her attire and I feel embarrassed that I stopped.  Regina says, "No, just changed into something comfortable after I got home from work.  Come on in."  She moves to the side to let me in.

We sit on the couch I've sat on a million times before, except it was when Zane was here with me.  Now I feel awkward and out of place.  I pick at a loose thread on my t-shirt hem.

"I just wanted to tell you that I saw Zane this morning," I say, though I'm still not totally sure if I should be telling her how he has been sneaking off base to meet me the past few months.

Her eyes widen.  "Is he okay?"

"Yeah.  He looked good.  I mean, the same as before."

Her posture relaxes a little.  "That's good.  Thanks for telling me.  I've been worried about him."

"Me too," I say.  "He said he'll be done with training soon.  I think he gets a visitation with family members before his assignment starts."

"Yes.  I've been waiting for that invitation.  Do you want to come with me?"

"I'm not family," I say.  That fact is confirmed by how uncomfortable this conversation feels.

Regina chuckles and the familiar spark I'm used to seeing in her eye appears.  "You are the closest thing Zane and I have to a family.  Come with me."

I immediately feel the tension ease from my own shoulders and I sit back into the cushion a little more.  "I wish I could, but I'm afraid I will already be gone by then.  I get my assignment on Monday of next week."

"Oh," she says and I see her eyes fade again.  She gets up and walks to the kitchen counter.  "Would you like something to drink?  I have an extra ration this month, since it's just me now."  She begins to fiddle with the kettle and mugs.

"I should probably get home and start studying.  Hopefully, Zane and I will be working together soon, if he makes guard duty."

"I know he wants that," Regina said.

Regina walks me to the door.  "Regina?"

"Hmm?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to miss you," I say and choke back emotions I wasn't expecting.  "I'm glad you were just down the hall."  I turn to leave but Gina pulls me in and hugs me tightly.

"Bekka.  Please take care of Zane for me.  I know he is happiest with you in his life."

"I'll try," I say and walk the short length of hall to my front door.

In my bedroom, I lie on my bed with my books spread in front of me and think about how bad I feel for Zane's mother.  She's all alone now.  Zane was the only one she had left and although she will be able to visit him on occasion, I'm sure it must be strange to go from a woman who had a husband and two kids to being a lonely old lady who puts on her pjs at five o'clock every night and sits in her small apartment by herself.  I wonder what she will do with the rest of her life.  The thought makes me sad. 

I try to focus on my studies, but it's overwhelming, attempting to relearn everything I've been taught since I was a small child.  I wish I knew what the test was going to be about.  I've always been a good student, but I want to do well on the exam.  I skim the chapters and go over all of the basics.  The next thing I know I'm sound asleep and Cheryl is knocking on my door to tell me dinner is ready.

Zane

After a full day of combat training and more tunnel drills, I'm physically exhausted and want nothing more than to crash onto my bunk and become dead to the world, but instead I need to go to the yard and pretend my pathetic bunkmate is beating me up.  My life is amazing.

I walk the dark hall and push open the heavy door that leads me outside, which is still humid and sticky at eleven at night.  There is a glow from a few of the overhead lights, but not enough to actually see more than shadows of a dozen or so men waiting to watch other men experience pain and anguish for their own amusement and entertainment.

"Zane Brenner.  Nice of you to join the party."  I don't need to see my CO in order to know his face is plastered with that disgusting little smirk I've become too familiar with.  I wonder what must have happened to him during his childhood to make him such a loathsome human being.

"I saw your dad a few days ago down on Washburn Ave," he says.

"That's nice," I say, knowing it's a trap.

"Yeah, he was literally ON the street.  Lying there.  Passed out cold.  I think he was even drooling."  Laughter erupts around him.

I don't respond.  This just makes him more angry.

"Did you hear that most of the guys here bet their water ration on Harmond to win tonight?"

I stay silent.  This fact is not shocking to me.

"So, if you win, you still don't win because you are gonna have a lot of angry squad members on your hands."

More barks and hollers come from the animals standing behind Fulton.  I finally make out Harmond, standing up against the fence.  Fulton grabs his arm and pulls him closer to the pack. 

"Harmond here requested specifically to fight with you, did you know that, Brenner?"

Silence.

"I'm speaking to you, Brenner!"

"No, sir.  I didn't."

"Yeah, and you know why?"

"No, sir.  I don't."

"It's because he's in love with the same girl as you."

I'm glad for the darkness now because I'm sure I have a very visceral reaction to what he is saying and I'd rather not have it be seen.  I know it's still all just lies and taunts, but I don't want this piece of scum to even think about, let alone say, the name I know he's about to speak.

"That's funny, sir, because I'm not in love," I say as calmly as I can.

"That's a bunch of horse turds, Brenner, and you know it."

I say, "Listen, if you want me to fight Harmond, I already said I would, so let's just get it over with."

"That's good, but I still want you to understand that it's because Harmond is in love with Bekka Tyson, aren't you Harmond?"

My hands become tight balls as much as I try to force them to relax.

"Yes, sir," Harmond stutters.

"Tell him the rest, Harmond."

"I'd rather not, sir."

Fulton screams a command.  "Tell him!"

"I love Bekka," Harmond says in a pained voice that is merely more than a whisper.

"What else?  Tell him everything you told me," Fulton says.

"I've loved her ever since the third grade when she helped me with a project in Water History.  She's the only girl who didn't make fun of me when I wet my pants in front of the class giving a speech.  She is the only girl who was ever nice to me."

That's when I know he's being serious.  He's actually telling the truth.  I know Bekka and I can see why he might actually really love her.  She is nice to everyone.  She would never treat an ugly, dumb kid bad.  She's too good for that.  All of the blood I have in my body begins to pool somewhere between my ears and all I can hear all of a sudden is a buzzing sound.