The Town
“Where are we going?”
“Out passed the woods, I’ve been there before don’t look so worried” He smiled taking her hand “ I need to show you what I found, what I’ve learned.”
They crept to the edge of the town, ducking into shadows whenever a vehicle passed, you really couldn’t be too careful now. Of course, most didn’t realise the dangers, they were happy plodding along, working, existing, producing, towing the government line. Now he had seen it he knew 'government' was a laughable excuse for what they had.
Reaching the edge of the town they quickly found the gap in the fence, the fence that was supposed to protect them, but he suspected now it was to imprison them. That's it this wasn’t a town it was a prison. There was officially no such thing as prisons now, no need in this 'no crime safe society', those who committed a violation were 'treated'. No one really knew what that meant, most didn’t care.
“I’m scared, what if we get caught?” she gripped his hand tighter, “Why did you come out here anyway, you know how dangerous it is. What would they do to us if we were caught going outside?”
He looked at her soft face her big blue eyes staring back at him, maybe he shouldn’t take her, maybe she wasn’t ready, not able to cope with the truth. Leaning in he kissed her forehead.
“It’s fine, we won’t get caught, no one comes here, certainly not the agents”
They continued through the dark woods until they reached what he knew to be an old town. The trees had grown up, taking the town as its own, but you could still make out the houses, the old disused shops. He wondered as he had before how they had cleared the town, what had they told its residents, had they moved them or simply. A chill ran down his spine, No, he didn't want to think about that possibility, too much even for him. He held tightly to her hand, trying to shake the idea from his head.
“Does anyone live here?” she said, her voice trembling slightly. He didn't answer. She would find out soon enough. The continued along the old high street passing the remains of wooden houses long since collapsed under the weight of the trees, their brick cousins looking shabby but still standing. Outside old cars sat where they had for over 50 years, what had happened here he wondered, Why. He couldn't help but wonder as he had many times before as he looked at them. He was aware that she was snuggling closer, he would bring her in daylight next time, the place was so much less scary then, almost attractive. A faded white house swamped under the rose bush that had once adorned it caught his eye, it was lovely or had been once.
Turning the corner a large concrete building filled the skyline, compared with the small houses they had passed it was massive. Built over 100 years ago it was what they had called 'Brutalist Architecture', yet compared with today's utilitarian buildings it was beautiful.
“C-O-L-L-E-G-E” she tried to sound out the word, he laughed, knew he shouldn’t it wasn’t her fault.
“College, we don't have them anymore, there's no need. It was a place of learning, a place where people like us went to study, rather than being put to work.” She looked at him confused, she had grown up in a normal household, unlike him. He had been unlucky they said losing his parents as a baby, growing up with his grandparents, but he knew now how lucky he was, they had provided him with something his peers didn’t have, their stories, their memories of the time before.
Now all children received an education, school was compulsory. Run by the state, teaching the essentials they called it, he now knew that the essentials were the basics, all that was needed to make workers. His great-grandfather had been a teacher, he taught him extra lessons. As a child, he had hated it wanted to play on the console like his friends, but his elderly carers knew, knew he should stay off it. Now he understood, had found out the truth, the games were actually programming young people, hypnotising them his grandfather had said. He was pleased now, so grateful for his unorthodox education. It was his grandfather who had told him about this place, given him a map. He had never seen or used one before, but he loved the feel of the paper, the colours the symbols, yes he had a lot to be grateful for.
They reached the college and he pushed open the door, it creaked old and unloved, their footsteps echoed as they walked across the open foyer.
“George, it's me, Mike, I’ve brought Sarah and some food for you.” No response came, Mike quickened his pace leading Sarah to a set of double doors, Sarah looked up at the sign above, she frowned. Mike laughed she wouldn’t know that word either. “Library" He explained gently "it's a room where they kept books.” The furrows in her face deepened. “You do not what a book is, don’t you?” He wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time.
“No” She shook her head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small book, opening it showing her the pages. Taking it from him, she turned it over in her hands stroking it, feeling it, looking at the words within its leather binding.
“It's what they used to use, contains words, information, stories, history.” The excitement built in his voice, but she did not seem to understand “Like a HUD but on paper.” He gave up, an explanation could wait. “Come on let's find George.”
They heard a noise behind them, swinging round, they saw the figure in the shadows, Mike smiled, taking large strides he crossed the hallway, leaving Sarah alone. He took the old man's hand shaking it before hugging him.
“I have medicine and food that you needed, my grandfather made the medicine for you so it's safe.”
Sitting in the library after they had eaten a simple meal together, Sarah stared at a pile of books, she was still confused, a lot had happened tonight. George and Mike chatted, it was clear to her that the old man meant a lot to Mike.
“George was a teacher here, in the time before. He has lived here ever since, his wife died as did his children, so he is alone now. We want to start a community, bring life back into the town, Families.” she saw something in Mike's face, what was it, she wasn’t sure.
George saw it too, Mike was like him as a young man, filled with passion and determination. A rebel, but a rebel with a cause. He would do all he could to help.
“I want to bring people like us here, educate them, teach them to think, not just to work and accept.” Said Mike, George smiled he sounded like those politicians in the last century trying to gain votes, of course, Mike had his vote, for what it was worth.
