The Purlieu Experiment
Chapter 20
Copyright 2015 & 2021
Donte woke to the sound of a fowl crowing. He was home. Kenyon was still asleep in the bed on the opposite side of his old room. Donte slipped out of bed and grabbed the clean clothes that he had been given the night before. He bathed, dressed and headed downstairs. He had something he wanted to do in private. Slipping out the back door, he walked to the family plot. There he found the graves of Liana and Bjorn. Their daughter had been buried in the arms of Liana, and Bjorn had been buried next to them. He squatted and put a hand on each of their headstones. He prayed fervently for forgiveness. It was bad enough that he had not been there for them when they needed him, but he had dishonored Liana by having children with another woman. In his own eyes, he could not have sunk lower. He shifted his weight, allowing one knee to touch the earth nearest his son. Lowering his head, he placed his forehead on his forearm. Finally, after six long years, he cried. He cried for the life Liana and his children would never have. He cried because he missed them, and finally he cried because he was ashamed.
Later, he stood and wiped his eyes on his shirt sleeve. He would gladly trade places with them, but life didn't afford such negotiations. He couldn't bring them back and he couldn't undo his poor choices. All he could do was try to live the rest of his life honorably.
He left the graves and walked down to the stable. The equines they put in the stock trailer were in the corral, but he was hoping to find a different one. The barn smelled of fresh hay, sorghum, oats and equines. He had missed the equines almost as much as the people. He passed several stalls until he found the equine he was looking for. It was a spotted mare with white tail and mane. She lifted her head and nickered as he approached her.
"Easy girl," He said, holding his hand out to her. "Do you remember me, Schilderen?"
She shied and stepped back. He stopped, giving her time to adjust to the smell of him. She snorted again before stepping forward and reaching her muzzle out to him. Careful not to frighten her, he slowly moved forward, eventually touching her forehead. He stroked her face and moved forward, resting his chest against her forehead as he stroked her neck. From where he stood, he could see the mountains. He wished he were riding in their snow covered passes now. The bliss only lasted a few minutes before he thought of the last mountains he had crossed - cold, hungry and on foot.
"Son," a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
Donte turned to find Quade watching him.
"It is almost time for the morning meal," Quade said.
Donte nodded. "I will be there."
Quade stepped closer. "I saw you at their graves this morning. The pain will ease now that you are here."
Donte shook his head. "I failed everyone, but I failed them most of all."
Quade put a hand on Donte's shoulder. "A father's love is unconditional, you should know that. We are all fallible. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to forgive ourselves."
"I don't deserve it."
"Everyone deserves forgiveness, Donte."
Donte turned and looked at him. "Do you forgive me?"
Quade looked at him, love exposed to the core. "You have done nothing that needs forgiven by me."
Donte tried to swallow a lump growing in his throat. "I let them take your grandchildren. I left you with nothing. Worse, I gave what was important to you to the people who took them."
Quade was silent a moment, probably considering that information. Finally, he spoke. "You brought back what is important to me now. I never blamed you for the loss of your children." He sighed. "Son, you have suffered so much in the last six years. Give yourself time to heal."
"I still feel sick every time I think of what they did to her...how she must have struggled...how she suffered." Donte rubbed his forehead, the nausea returning. He shook his head, trying to clear it of the familiar image. "I don't know if I can ever forgive myself."
Quade was wrong. Being here only intensified the image. The idea of going back to their farm made him break out in a cold sweat. In Nyumbani there were no reminders. Sometimes he could forget. But here...there were reminders everywhere he looked.
"Come on, son. Let's go eat."
Donte turned and fell into step with him as they walked back to the house. "There is so much I want to talk to you about, and so little time."
Quade frowned. "You are going away again?"
Donte nodded. "I promised to take Chait and Akira to the airfield, and to see the spaceships."
Quade nodded. "That’s a fine idea." He hesitated. "If you don't mind, I would like to travel with you."
Donte studied his face. "I know you are busy...of course, you are more than welcome to come with us...."
Quade smiled. "Son, I have not seen you in six years...." He stopped. "Is Kenyon going as well?"
"I don't know. He hasn't said. I suppose he will."
Quade tucked his hands in his back pockets, palms out, and stood a moment, looking at the house with a troubled expression. "I don't know what to say to him. I don't know why he left, or why he stayed away for so long. He acts uncomfortable around me. If I did something to hurt him, I don't know what it was."
It had never occurred to Donte that Quade might blame himself for Kenyon's long absence. Apparently, Kenyon had not told him about his captivity. Donte had been too busy with his own troubles to notice that his father needed help.
"I don't know what caused him to leave, but I can tell you that he didn't return because he was a captive."
Quade stared at him; his expression confused. "What?"
"He has been a captive of the Lochfowk for nearly thirty years."
Quade's brows drew down. "Why?"
"I don't know all the details, but from what I understand, they had a law that said if you enter their territory, you don't leave - ever."
Quade continued to stare at him. He was obviously having trouble either comprehending or believing.
Donte sighed. "He tried to escape numerous times, but they caught him and brought him back. There were other captives and, from what I understand, he tried to take some with him. At one point, one of them was killed. Kenyon needs to tell you about it, because my knowledge about it is limited."
Quade shook his head, the muscles in the side of his face working as he clenched his teeth. He stared at the house a long time before responding in a controlled voice.
"They are here now, and he is back. I assume they are trying to make amends." He turned to Donte. "What about the other captives, and how do you fit into this?"
Donte took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It is a long story. Lochfowk president Sima said that Kenyon was a test release. She said that if things went well, they would begin releasing the others in a year. I suspect they will release the others when Chait and Akira return."
Quade cocked his head to the side. "How did you get involved in this, and how did you talk them into releasing Kenyon?"
"I didn't talk them into it. They decided to release him with me." He related the council meeting and subsequent decision. "They said they considered me a diplomat." He shrugged. "Of course, it could be that both of us would have been captive if not for the fact that the Anialwch knew who and where I was. Anialwch knew nothing of Kenyon or the captives. I am certain they would not have let me walk into a trap."
Quade stared at him. "The Anialwch?"
Donte smiled. "I told you it was a long story. Akira was captured by the Nyumbani."
Quade nodded. "I heard there was a raid, and a captive."
"Yes. Farasi was going to have her executed. He had her kneeling with her head on the post. They were going to cut her head off. I couldn't let him do that. That was when I killed Farasi."
Quade stared at him for a moment, a horrified look on his face. "They were going to execute a woman captive – a Mascot?" He turned and walked toward the house, his mouth a straight line. "If I had known that...." He stopped. "And that was how they were going to execute you? How did you escape?"
"That’s how they do all their executions. They were going to execute me but they decided to exile us both instead. I was stripped except for my lower torso and my hair was shaved, leaving a roach down the center. They took us to the mountain and released us. We had no food or water - nothing but the clothing we wore. We made it over the snow-capped mountains and half way across Anialwch before some of Farasi's raiders caught up with us. That was when the Anialwch rescued us. They captured Farasi's raiders and turned them over to the new Nyumbani government. I had promised the Nyumbani that I would take Akira home and explain what happened. I didn't know that Lochfowk had a law that no one who entered could leave. You know how they are."
Quade considered the information for a moment. "She led you into a trap."
Donte nodded. "Unintentionally. She thought her sister would make an exception in my case because I rescued her and removed the Nyumbani threat."
"But she didn't."
Donte shook his head. "No, actually it was the council - Chait being one of them - who decided to release me - and Kenyon."
Quade stared at the ground reflectively. Finally, he looked up at Donte. "I will not reward them for doing what they should have done in the beginning. What Sima did is unconscionable. There will be retribution."
"But I promised..."
"Donte, I understand how you feel," Quade interrupted. "But we cannot allow this kind of thing to go unpunished. It is not only unacceptable to me, but completely incompatible with our founding laws."
Donte gave him a level look. "What about the Nyumbani? If we punish Lochfowk, wouldn't it be fair to punish Nyumbani as well?"
Quade nodded. "It sounds like you have already done that."
"I didn't do that to punish them. You can't punish everyone in the colony for what a few do, can you?"
Quade nodded again. "Yes, you can, Donte. When you know something is wrong and you allow it to continue, you must assume some of the blame."
Of course he was right. Living in Nyumbani for six years and doing nothing about Farasi in that time certainly left him with part of the blame. The people of Nyumbani were afraid to do anything, but that didn't make them any less guilty. They were doing something about it now, though, which made them different from Lochfowk.
He lifted his gaze to Quade. "What are you going to do?"
Quade heaved a long sigh. "I'm going to start with a conference. I assume all these captives are from different colonies. Speaking as President of Libertad, I will demand the release of all captives immediately, of course."
Donte frowned. "They will say they should not have let us go."
Quade closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he looked at Donte. "The message is that they never should have taken captives in the first place. If they do not see that message, something still must be done, don't you think?"
When Donte didn't respond, he continued. "We will see what the others say at the conference, but my stand is that only a strong reprimand has any chance of preventing this from happening again."
"What if they kill the captives?"
Quade frowned. "Do you think they will do that?"
Donte shrugged. "I don't know what they will do. I only talked to them briefly one day."
Quade began walking toward the house again. "After the morning meal, we will all talk. I would like to hear what Kenyon thinks about all this." He paused again. "I almost forgot. Pieter has asked that we all come to Bergen tonight for a celebration. Donica is leaving this morning to help with preparations." He shook his head. "This is not going to go down well with him."
Quade said nothing more, but his sullen mood was indication enough that he was stewing on it. Pieter was a fair man, but he had a deep booming voice that could intimidate anyone. Quade was right. This wasn’t going to go down well.
When Donte and Quade were late for the morning meal, Akira was certain they had been exposed. She couldn't blame Donte. In fact, she was surprised that Kenyon had not exposed them already. Once she would have said that was a weakness, as she had told him that staying in the lake country when he could escape was cowardice. She was wrong. Kenyon stayed because it wasn't in him to leave the other captives, and because, like Donte, he could not break a vow.
The council hadn't been preventing him from escaping. They were preventing him from going for help. They knew what was on the other side of that border. She didn't. She had thought a lot about it, though, and if she had to do it all over again, she would make the same choice. She was glad she was in Libertad, and she still didn't want to go back - even if it meant she would be executed here.
When Donte and Quade finally arrived, they were both solemn. Neither spoke unless they were spoken to. Their response was brief. A glance at Chait assured her that he was equally concerned.
At the end of the meal, Quade pushed his eating utensils away: "Kenyon, Donte and our guests; I want you all to come to my office for a meeting. Donica, if you want to wait, we'll travel with you part way on the tram."
Donica glanced at Donte and Kenyon. "That would be nice."
Quade stood and led them all to his office. He set out a half-circle of chairs for them around his desk before sinking into his chair. Kenyon sat at the opposite side of Quade's desk, refusing to look at them.
Akira’s throat felt tight. It would have been hard to swallow, but fortunately her mouth was dry so there was no need.
Quade immediately came to the point. "I brought you all here because it has come to my attention that Kenyon has been a captive in Lochfowk for the last thirty years. Kenyon, I'd like to know your side of it first." He glanced at Akira and Chait. "You'll have an opportunity to speak, but I want you to remain silent until Kenyon has told his part." He nodded at Kenyon. "Proceed."
Kenyon shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat. "There isn't really much to say. I came into Lochfowk at the time the borders were being shut down because of the plague. After that, I wasn't allowed to leave. I was told that they had made a law that said if you entered, you stayed."
Quade nodded. "That isn't much to say for thirty years of your life. How were you treated? Did you ever try to escape and if so, were you punished?"
Kenyon lifted one foot and put it on his knee. He met Quade's probing gaze. "I tried to escape twenty times. Eighteen of those times I took at least one of the captives with me. After the fifth time, I was put in chains for a year. The next time I was forced to do labor. Each time there was punishment, but I was never physically harmed. The last time I tried to escape, five years ago, the captive who was with me was killed. I was taken on a work crew to maintain the paths in the lake country. I liked it there and was told that if I would vow not to try to escape, I would be released in that area. I made the vow. Someone was sent out at random times to make sure I was still there.
"How many captives were there?" Quade asked.
"I don't know," Kenyon said. "They were in different areas, often working for families as slaves. I personally only knew of five."
"What part did Chait and Akira have in this?"
"They were following orders." Kenyon said, still refusing to look at them.
Quade nodded again. "I understand that, but what part did they play in it?"
Kenyon finally looked at Chait. "The last three times I escaped; Chait led the group that caught me. Akira was sent many times to make sure I was still in the lake country." He finally looked at Akira, a wry smile twisting his lips. "I don't think she liked the fact that she kept finding me there."
Akira looked at the floor. At least he didn't say all the things she had called him.
Quade looked at Chait. "What do you have to say?"
Chait shrugged. "I was told to bring him back. I did."
"Did you agree with the captive law?"
Chait glanced at Kenyon. "I did. Especially in his case. He was constantly causing trouble with the other captives."
Quade kept his attention on Chait. "In what way?"
"Trying to get them to escape. Telling them they should fight back - just generally causing dissention."
"Dissention? Then you thought it was fair to capture people and never let them go?"
"They made a choice," Chait said. "We didn't invite them into our territory. It was a law."
"Even people who came in unaware of the law?"
Chait snorted. "Everyone says they didn't know. What else would they say?"
Quade leaned forward, his gaze intent on Chait. "Are you calling both of my sons liars?"
Chait's face turned red. "No. But it was the law - and we didn't hold Donte a captive, because Akira brought him there."
Akira jerked her head up and looked at him. Was that why they decided to release him? That wasn't what Sima said.
"Akira," Quade said, his attention finally focused on her. "You look surprised by that answer."
Every eye in the room was on her. She would have liked to become invisible, but since that was impossible, she decided to confess and hope for mercy.
"I led Donte to the main colony of Lochfowk because he wanted to talk to President Sima, my sister. I knew of the law, but I thought they would make an exception because he had saved my life and had...neutralized...Farasi. I was not present when the council made their decision, so I don't know what their reason for releasing him was. I thought it was because they considered him a diplomat."
Quade leaned back in his chair, watching Chait as he contemplated the information. "Chait, were you on that council?"
Chait lifted his chin. "Yes. I voted to let him go."
Quade glanced at Donte as he asked Chait the next question. "Why did you consider him a diplomat rather than an assassin?"
Chait looked at Donte. "Because he carried word from the Anialwch that King Neirin was going to have a conference and President Sima was invited."
Quade looked from Chait to Donte and back again. "The Anialwch knew where he was going and why he was there. I take it that the Anialwch were unaware of your captives and the law about coming into your colony."
Chait shrugged. "I don't know. We don't communicate with them directly. If we want to send a message to them, we contact one of the traders in Vlaktes."
"Vlaktes is aware of this law?"
"It doesn't pertain to them because we trade with them."
Quade stood, his voice low and cold. "You are telling me that you have no contact with anyone but Vlaktes, and they don't know about this law because it doesn't pertain to them. All these captives came to your colony unaware of the law."
Chait shrugged again. "I didn't make the law."
Quade leaned forward, hands on his desk, his hard gaze on Chait. "I see. You only enforced it." He stepped around his desk, confronting Chait. "I am sending you back with an escort to deliver a message to Sima. I want every captive released to me within two weeks. In the mean time, I will get together a council of my own, including Vlaktes, Bergen, Bosvrouwen and Anialwch to discuss what action should be taken if that is not done. There will be no negotiating this release. Is that clear?"
Chait stared up at Quade, all the fire gone from his eyes. "Yes Monomi."
Quade turned and stalked back to his chair. "Donte has promised that you would be taken to the airfield and up to see the spaceships. This will happen today. I want you to fully comprehend what you are coming up against. This nonsense of isolating yourselves and making laws to capture other colonists who chance into your territory will not be tolerated."
Quade stood at his desk for a moment, his gaze falling on each of them in turn. "Akira, I want to talk to you alone. Donte, Kenyon, stick around. When I'm done talking to her, I want to talk to each of you. You're dismissed."
Akira watched everyone leave, her stomach feeling queasy with anxiety. When they were alone, she looked at Quade. "Am I going to be executed?"
Quade looked startled. "Absolutely not. What would make you think a thing like that?"
She let her breath out slowly in a sigh of relief.
He shook his head. "Some of the colonies are getting barbaric. We have to stop this before it erupts in war."
By "some of the colonies," he meant Lochfowk and Nyumbani. It was embarrassing to think he even compared them at all, let alone lumped them together as like-minded. She waited for him to scold her the way he had Chait. She had it coming. How could she have been so stupid as to lead Donte into Lochfowk?
Quade sat on the corner of his desk, looking down at her. "Akira," he began, "I know you tried to help both my sons, and I thank you for that. I don't want you to take all this personally. I do want you to tell me about President Sima."
That, at least, she could do. She looked up at him. "She didn't make that law either. She inherited it."
He nodded. "I can appreciate that, but has she tried to repeal it or set the captives free?"
She looked down at her hands. "There have been no more captives in her presidency...."
"Except Donte." He corrected.
She lifted her chin and looked at him. "Donte was no more a captive than I am."
He smiled, his eyes kind. "I stand corrected. He was detained." His gaze scoured her face. "You are not a captive, Akira. You may go anytime after I talk to you."
She shook her head. "I do not want to go back to Lochfowk."
He frowned. "Why? Are you afraid they will punish you?"
She shook her head again. "No."
He waited for her to explain, but there was no way she could. She wasn't sure she understood her reason.
He sighed. "You haven't answered my question about President Sima."
"She tried to repeal the law and she was responsible for the amount of freedom that Kenyon had. She has only been president for five years. People are afraid that if they let the captives go, they will retaliate."
He nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was some backlash. When you accept a position like that, you take the responsibility for everything, not simply the things that make you look good. How many people are on this council that guides her?"
"Four."
Quade's brows shot up. "Only four represent all of Lochfowk?"
She shook her head. "No, they represent different groups."
"So, you don't actually know what everyone in Lochfowk wants - only certain groups."
"They are powerful."
Quade stood. "I think I'm beginning to understand the problem." He smiled down at her." It was the council who asked Kenyon to make the vow?"
"Yes."
And President Sima banished him to a remote area with only occasional check-ups?"
"Yes"
"And President Sima agreed to send one of the council members to Libertad? It seems to me that she has finally figured out how to get council approval to free the captives - and initiate contact to open the border as well. I'm afraid I underestimated her."
Of course. Why hadn't she thought of it? Sima had instantly seen the opportunity when Donte arrived. That was why she had gathered the council and made a decision so quickly. By now the council realized what she had done. What would they do?
Quade was watching her. "Do you still want to stay here?"
She shook her head. "No. I want to go home and help Sima." She stood. For a moment she gazed up at him. He was taller than Donte or Kenyon - better looking in a mature way. The crazy idea flashed across her mind that this was the man she had been waiting for. She stepped away from him.
"If you are through with me, I need to put my things together."
He nodded in an absent-minded way, still watching her with a strange expression. "Go ahead. Donte and Kenyon are waiting." He walked her to the door and opened it for her. His hand touched the small of her back as she walked out the door.
"Kenyon, Donte; I'm ready for you now."
As the two men walked into Quade's office, Chait joined her.
"What was that all about? You didn't tell him about the way I let Kenyon get to the border."
She looked up at him, seeing him for the first time as a selfish child. "No, I didn't tell him, but Kenyon might. I doubt he'll ask, though. I think everything will be alright now. After we see the airfield and the spaceships, I'm going back with you. I think Sima needs my support."
He frowned. "What is he going to do?"
"You heard him. He’s going to demand the release of the captives. From there on, I think he is going to let us do our own housecleaning."
Soft Science Fiction
