Several decades had passed since the destruction of the Carrington and Cellrebrum cities. Sapey was suffering from an unprecedented decline. There was sickness and poverty everywhere. The second generation of genetically modified Linap suffered from severe illness, and many of them died in childhood. The modified Linap that made it into adulthood were mostly infertile. The population of Linap was falling sharply. There was a possibility the Linap could soon be facing extinction.
Decades earlier, Locum Alset had warned about the problems that the second generation might face. However, his warning was ignored. The expansive propaganda campaign was highly successful, and the two first-generation modified Linap children, Duffo and Marlon, were strong, healthy and highly intelligent. It seemed like the Linap were heading into a great new age.
In adulthood, Marlon became aware of the genetic flaws of the next generation. He attempted to run a back breeding programme to counter the genetic defects. The leaders, who were predominantly the first generation of modified Linap, were opposed to what they believed was taking their species backwards.
The modified Linap had been taught that they were superior to the Linap that had not been modified. They typically, disparagingly referred to them as the others. Before it was known about the illness, the modified Linap treated the others badly. If they refused to have genetically modified children, they would be imprisoned or forced to be servants to the modified Linap.
A few brave modified female Linap went against the leadership and decided to run their own unofficial back breeding programme. They went to small towns and villages where there was a much smaller presence of authority. Alma Bramley was a part of this programme, and her son, Jimbo, was a product of the programme. As predicted by Marlon’s research, he was born healthy.
Alma and Jimbo lived in a small town just outside Adoy City. They stayed with an old couple, Dominik and Priscilla. Tragically, they had recently lost the last of their children and grandchildren. If the enforcers or any other authority visited, the old couple would pretend that Alma was their daughter and Jimbo was their grandson.
It appeared Alma and Jimbo could be protected, but soon everything changed.
The Government in the Capital City had an urgent announcement, which was to be made just prior to the evening news.
Dominik sat down on their sofa. Priscilla sat next to him on his left, and Alma sat next to him on his right. She was holding Jimbo and had just placed him on her knee.
Dominik turned on their television. Governor Maskameera Wolf was about to make the announcement.
Maskameera walked up to a small podium in front of the palace.
‘Good evening, everyone,’ said Maskameera. ‘Today I need to make one of the biggest and most important announcements in our history. Our society is on the verge of complete collapse. Things cannot continue the way they are. Our resources are stretched too far. Therefore, we have decided to reduce Sapia to just three district cities. They are the Capital, West, and Phoenix.’
‘Oh, this sounds serious,’ remarked Priscilla.
‘Everyone will be relocated to these cities,’ said Maskameera firmly. ‘This is the only way forward for our species. I’m afraid none of us have a choice in this matter. Therefore, I strongly urge everyone to cooperate with this mandate.’
Alma clutched Jimbo tightly, causing his eyes to bulge slightly.
‘Over the next six months, everyone will receive notifications on where you’ll be located. Please take them seriously. You’ll only be told once. Thank you, I wish everyone a wonderful evening.’
Dominik sighed deeply.
‘We can’t go to these cities,’ said Alma in a stressed tone. ‘Jimbo will be discovered for sure.’
‘If you don’t and you’re discovered outside one of these cities, the consequences could be even worse,’ said Dominik.
‘Maybe you could contact Marlon,’ said Priscilla. ‘He might be able to help again.’
‘Marlon is being heavily monitored,’ replied Alma. ‘We’ll be caught even quicker.’
‘Most likely we’ll be moved to West City,’ said Dominik. ‘I know someone who might be willing to help us.’
‘How certain are you that we can trust this someone?’ asked Alma.
‘It’s Governor Reveileb,’ replied Dominik. ‘I’ve known him a long time. He has good intentions, and he’s protected by the House of Divine Knowledge.’
‘Do you think he would be willing to help the other mothers and their children?’ asked Alma.
‘I’ll arrange a meeting with him in West,’ said Dominik. ‘We need to act now. Things could move very quickly.’
Two weeks later, Dominik met Reveileb in one of the temples in the West District.
‘You’re looking well during these very difficult times,’ remarked Reveileb as he hugged Dominik.
‘Ah, living out in the country helps me to remain removed from the tragedies in the cities,’ replied Dominik.
‘Yes, well, I’m afraid that’s going to change,’ sighed Revelieb.
‘That’s why I’m here; I need your help,’ said Dominik.
‘I’m happy to help anyone who asks,’ replied Revelieb.
Revelieb and Dominik walked around the grounds of the temple as Dominik explained his predicament.
‘As expected, Marlon was correct,’ said Revelieb. ‘If the arrogance and hatred did not run so deep, we would not be where we are today.’
‘Will you be able to help Alma and Jimbo?’ asked Dominik.
‘If Alma gives herself to the House of Divine Knowledge, I will be able to take her in,’ replied Revelieb. ‘Then I’ll be able to keep Jimbo safe as well.’
‘Thank you,’ said Dominik as he nodded. ‘I do not wish to sound ungrateful, but there are others who also need protection.’
‘If they are designated for relocation in West City, I’ll help,’ said Revelieb. ‘It is my duty to both them and our species as a whole.’
‘Again, thank you,’ replied Dominik. ‘I’ll provide you with as much information as I can as soon as I get it.’
Dominik returned to the town to inform Alma about what he had discussed with Revelieb. Alma was still hesitant, but she knew there were no other good options at this point. Dominik informed the other families who were hiding back-bred children and told them to contact him when they were informed of their relocation.
He did not have to wait long. The family looking after Janey and her daughter Emma was contacted to relocate to West City. Dominik contacted Revelieb, and he arranged to meet them on arrival. Janey and Emma arrived by coach. Revelieb took them directly to the House of Divine Knowledge. He put them in the trainee accommodation. Over the next couple of months, Revelieb secretly took in about half a dozen mothers and their back-bred children.
Finally, a letter arrived at Dominik and Priscilla’s home.
Priscilla opened the letter. Dominik and Alma gathered around her.
‘We’ve got a week to pack,’ said Priscilla as she looked up at the other two. ‘We’re moving to West City.’
Both Alma and Dominik sighed with relief.
‘Revelieb has done a great job of keeping the mothers and their babies safe so far,’ said Dominik. ‘I trust he will ensure your safety too.’
‘Thank you for everything you’ve done and the risks you’ve taken for us,’ said Alma as she looked at both Dominik and Priscilla.
‘Thank you for giving us all hope,’ replied Dominik as he hugged Alma.
Priscilla put her arms around both Dominik and Alma, and the three of them hugged tightly.
Around a week later, Dominik, Priscilla, Alma, and Jimbo hugged each other tightly again. They were about to head to the coach stop. From this point forward, they would no longer communicate with each other. Dominik and Priscilla would go to the apartment allocated to them, and Alma and Jimbo would go to the House of Divine Knowledge. They had no idea when or if they would see each other again.
They arrived at the coach stop together but boarded the coach separately. Dominik and Priscilla sat in the second row on the left from the front, and Alma and Jimbo sat in the third row on the right from the back. During the long journey, Alma would occasionally glance across at Dominik and Priscilla. She was filled with so much sadness.
On arrival in West City, Dominik and Priscilla were among the first to get off the coach. Whereas Alma and Jimbo were last to get off.
Once they had stepped off the coach, Revelieb and two other philosophers greeted them.
‘Welcome to West City,’ said Reveileb, warmly. ‘You have made a great choice in deciding to follow in the ways of the House of Divine Knowledge.’
‘Following the ways of the higher power is the only way we can restore our civilisation,’ replied Alma.
‘We’ll take you to his temple and fill you with his knowledge,’ said Reveileb, nodding.
Reveileb and his team took Alma and Jimbo to their accommodation. They were to share a room with Janey and Emma.
On entering the room, Janey ran over to Alma and hugged her.
‘It’s been a long time,’ said Janey. ‘You look well.’
‘You look well too,’ replied Alma as she placed Jimbo on the bed. ‘Tell me, what is this place like?’
‘We are required to live the lives of trainees as well as look after our babies,’ said Janey as she walked over to Emma. ‘It’s not easy by any means, but I believe we are safe. The philosophers and theologists are kind and friendly. No enforcers come here to check on us.’
‘I’m not worried about how tough it might be,’ said Alma as she rubbed Jimbo’s head. ‘Jimbo’s safety is the only thing that matters.’
The two of them chatted for around an hour while Jimbo and Emma played together.
Reveileb interrupted their conversation when he entered their room.
‘I want this place to be as safe as possible, but we live in a very uncertain world,’ said Reveileb to both of them. ‘I want to show you something in case things take a turn for the worse and your safety is somehow compromised.’
Alma and Janey grabbed their children and followed Reveileb. Reveileb led them to the main temple. He took them deep beneath the main hall to a basement.
‘Under here is a secret passage,’ said Reveileb as he raised a large stone slab revealing a trapdoor. ‘If a threat enters the House of Divine Knowledge, you will come here, and I will hide you in the passage below until it is safe for you to come back. I have placed enough food and water down there to last you several months if it ever comes to that.’
Both Alma and Janey looked nervously at the trapdoor and then nodded.
Not all the mothers with back-bred children were transferred to West City. Some of them were transferred to Phoenix City, and some of them did not move to their designated city. For a few years, none of them were caught. The healthcare system in Phoenix City was too overrun to perform check-ups on all children. The mothers and the families helping them did a good job of ensuring that they did not attract attention.
Problems occurred when a mother, Sylvie, and her child, Tony, were caught on a farming robot’s camera. The captured footage was sent to the nearest enforcer outpost. A small team of enforcers was sent to the area where they were spotted. It did not take long for the enforcers to find Sylvie and Tony. They took them back to the outpost to interrogate them.
‘Nobody is allowed in the no-go zones; what were you doing there?’ demanded the commander.
‘The city atmosphere makes Tony feel so ill,’ replied Sylvie. ‘When we’re in the country, he feels so much better. Look how well he looks?’
The commander looked at Tony carefully. ‘You’re right, he looks fine,’ said the commander as he looked up at Sylvie. ‘Still, you can’t stay in the no-go zones. You’ll have to be transferred to one of the cities.’
‘Do you think you’ll be able to help us get to West City?’ asked Sylvie.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ replied the commander.
He got up and left the interrogation room. Then he called the Head Enforcer in the Capital City. They chatted for a few minutes, and then the commander returned to the interrogation room.
‘I spoke to the Head Enforcer,’ said the commander. ‘One of my team will drive you to West City.’
‘Thank you so much!’ replied Sylvie
‘Is there anyone you would like to call in West City before you leave?’ asked the commander.
‘Yes, there is,’ replied Sylvie.
The commander took Sylvie to another room with a telephone in it. Sylvie called the House of Divine Knowledge in the West District and asked for Governor Reveileb. Unfortunately, he was not around. A senior philosopher took the call instead. Sylvie explained to him her desire to join the House of Divine Knowledge. He agreed to meet her when she arrived in West City. An hour later, she and her son headed off to West City in an enforcer’s vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Head Enforcer in the Capital City decided to call Maskameera regarding his conversation with the commander.
‘So, she was found wandering around in the no-go zone with a healthy child,’ remarked Maskameera.
‘Yes, apparently she claimed it was the country air keeping him healthy,’ replied the Head Enforcer.
‘It is very interesting,’ said Maskameera. ‘Her child must be taken to the West Medical Centre on arrival. We need to get to the bottom of his good health. He might help us save our civilisation.’
‘I’ll contact my enforcers in West City,’ replied the Head Enforcer.
‘Excellent!’ said Maskameera as she hung up the phone.
Just as they were about to reach West City, the enforcer department contacted the enforcer driving the vehicle. Sylvie heard the message. She began to panic.
‘We can’t take Tony to the medical centre,’ said Sylvie.
‘They think he might be able to help with a cure,’ replied the enforcer.
‘They’re going to kill us,’ said Sylvie in a terrified tone.
‘Don’t worry; it’ll be fine,’ said the enforcer.
Sylvie and Tony began screaming frantically.
‘Okay, calm down,’ said the enforcer. ‘Let me radio them back.’
Enforcer had a long conversation with the commander in West City. He finally agreed to let them continue to the House of Divine Knowledge.
‘Thank you so much,’ said Sylvie as she rubbed the enforcer’s arm.
‘I just want you to remain calm,’ replied the enforcer.
End of Part One. Continue this story in Part Two.
Images were created with the help of Bing Image Creator
Sapien Loop Short Stories
Sapien Loop short stories explore the adventures of some of the characters from the Sapien Loop series. These stories are intended to reveal more about individual characters and the events that have helped shape them.
Currently, two books from the series have been published on Amazon; see links below:
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