BEYOND THE PALE: ( The Outlander ) (17 page)

Next? Nathan thought
about this question. ‘NEXT’, he still concentrated on this query for a moment
and then delivered his considered answer, “Next, I think I want to ride one of
those horses!”

River looked at him and
smiled with an expression of understanding mixed with mirth. His long
penetrating stare made Nathan feel like he was being risk assessed, but then
River nodded acknowledgement and grabbed a pair of light weight saddles which
he took over and harnessed to two of the horses. When he was done, he beckoned
Nathan over and helped him up into the saddle.

He had never been on a
horse before and this experience was strange for him. There were no controls,
just a living breathing animal of which he could sense the power underneath
him. He instinctively grabbed hold of the reins with one hand and patted and
rubbed the horse’s neck to reassure it. The horse threw back its head as if to
get a measure of who had climbed on its back and Nathan and could feel the
horse sweating as he rubbed its neck but there was also a feeling of synergy in
which the horse seemed to be accepting and acclimatising to him.

 His horse pulled
forward and started walking briskly ahead following the lead hose being ridden
by River. Nathan found that he instinctively knew what to do from a sporting
perspective. He was also closely watching River and copying his movements and
technique. He dug his heels into the stirrups and pivoted on them bending at
the knee sitting forward in the saddle. This acted as a synchronised suspension
that compensated the horse’s forceful body movements, as she increased in speed
in pursuit of River’s horse. The fresh warm air blew in his face and he
realised that he could control the horse’s movements through tapping his knees
or feet and by the reins. He encouraged the horse to break into a canter and
then into a gallop as he brought it up aside River. River smiled broadly at him
and Nathan laughed in response. This was exhilarating; He had never realised
riding a horse might be so much fun, and right now he felt really alive. 

 The others had decided
to stretch their legs and go outside for a walk. They had taken an interest in
River and Nathan’s antics on horseback but had decided not to join in, allowing
the two of them some space. Hassun had informed Isa and Ishtur that the
metropolitan friend of their brother had taken two cups of mushroom and honey
tea despite Geren’s warning. Geren had not pushed the point because he and
Isuzu were also drinking the same tea which was only a mild hallucinogenic.
Isuzu remarked that a little piece of altered perception might help to make the
man think straight.

A good evening full of
spirited camaraderie followed a good afternoon. Even Isa had come around to
join in the spirit of things. He decided to take his turn at food preparation,
and cooked a meal that was well received by everybody. Although no one else
chose to indulge in the mushroom tea, there pipe was re-packed with cannabis
often throughout the evening and added a sense of humour and frivolity to the
collective spirit.

The next day, everyone
took advantage of the shade from the piercing morning sun and slept in for a
few hours. Ishtur arose first and made tea; this time it was just honey tea.
River got up and joined her wanting to spend a little more time with his sister
aware that he would leaving in a few hours. He loved his sister and talking to
her, it occurred to him how much he had missed her and wished that Audrina
could share some of her characteristics. Whilst talking together Ishtur was
staring intently into River’s eyes in a similar way that Audrina did when she returned
his stare. Ishtur had something that she needed to impart privately to her
brother - “Brother, unlike the others here today, I see you through the eyes of
a woman. And those eyes see a change in you. Perhaps it is a change of the
heart. I feel that you may have given your heart to someone who is not present;
but I can clearly feel her presence in your heart and in your thoughts,” River
was alarmed by his sister’s prescience. She noted his concern, “You do not need
to answer; you do not need to worry. I will say nothing of these words to
anyone but I want you to know my brother, that just as I love you, you too must
follow your heart and trust it. Even if harsh words are spoken to you today,
you must still follow your heart’s direction whatever the outcome.” River felt
that there was nothing he could say to his sister that would be the equal of
hers in truth and insight. Instead he pulled her tightly into an embrace and
lifted her off her feet in a bear hug.

By high noon, it was
time for Nathan and River to get ready to leave. Nathan extended his best
regards, but allowed River longer to speak personally with each member of the
group. It was with Isa that he spoke the longest. Isa had had time now to
reflect up on River’s decision to go back to the metropolis, but despite this
he had not changed his views. He summarised his reservations, “I don’t want us
to part on these terms. You stand firm against my counsel for the second time.
I know that I can not change your mind where this man Nathan Carlson is
involved. But I still hold to the same fear that if you go back you will not be
allowed to return to us again. It is because you won’t let me come with you
that I fear this. I fear you are a prisoner of the Blue Horse.”

“I was able to leave
this time and so I can leave again. It is not a problem,” River looked to
Nathan for reassurance.

“Whenever River wants
to go, I will get him out safe and sound again,” said Nathan loud enough to
reassure Isa as well as Geren who even though he stood by his earlier decision
was still looked concerned for River’s safety.

Isa acknowledged
Nathans assurance but spoke directly to River, “If those words are true, then I
want to meet you here next season. I will wait here from dawn to dusk exactly
three months from today. If you come, you can tell me then that you are safe
but wish to return and I will believe you. If you do not come, I will assume
that you are prevented from doing so. Swear this to me my brother and I will
also give you my blessing.”

“I swear this brother,
you will see me here again in three months.”

It was late afternoon
when they arrived back at the west gate of New Denver’s great walls. They were
able to pass through the Environment Office checkpoints without incident, and
they drove on to a nearby storage depot where Major Carlson booked his Rough Rider
into long term parking.

By the time they
reached home both Valerie and Anton were there. They both received a warm
welcome from them, but nothing that implied that they were not expecting River
to return.
Anton invited River to join him in his room, and he appeared very inquisitive
about his father’s sports activities outside. River explained briefly what they
got up to at the Flat Iron peaks near the old city of Boulder. He also recapped
on his experience driving the Rough Rider. Anton acted a little left out.

“Would you have come
with us?” enquired River

“Probably not, but I
wish my father would have asked me,” explained Anton forlornly.

“He must think that you
wouldn’t like it out there,” stated River trying to defend Nathan in his
absence. Secretly he felt that Nathan was amiss here. He made a mental point to
try and persuade Nathan to act more inclusive with his son.

River elected to change
the subject. He fondly remembered his day at university with Anton and how that
girl had given Anton her contact details, “How are things working out with
Sarah?” 

 “Oh yes Sarah, things
are progressing nicely,” claimed Anton.

“Okay; How so?” River
didn’t really trust Anton’s answer; he wanted specifics. 

“Ah you know, I have
been busy but I still found out a lot about the girl. She is very interesting.
I think I like her.”

“Are you telling me,
that you have or haven’t been in contact with her?” River was pushing Anton on
this subject due to his practiced evasiveness.

“Well not directly, but
I have found a lot of data on her and uploaded her social networking history
and private portfolios into the virtual date program…” Anton hadn’t finished
speaking but River stopped him there.

“So you haven’t
contacted her directly or spoken to her since, but you have built a virtual
simulation of this girl,” River shook his head slowly and exaggeratedly. “PLEASE
Anton! Why do you always try to find a computerised and technical solution to
any and every social issue in your life,” and having said this River reached
over to grab hold of Anton’s communicator and held it up to him as a non
returnable offering.

“What? What do you want
me to do?” barked Anton defensively.

“You are going to phone
this girl Sarah right now. No excuses. You are going to do this whilst I sit
here with you.”

“I can call her later.
I don’t think she will be home now. Besides I am not good on the phone; maybe I
can speak to her at college instead,” Anton was groping for a get out clause
but River still proffered him the communicator. Anton was almost sweating blood
but he snatched the headset, “Oh alright! If it makes you happy,” and he
dialled Sarah’s number. She was home.

River stood by his
friend throughout the call. Privacy was not an option here; he had to listen
make sure that his friend was successfully facing and overcoming his demons.
And those demons were nervousness and social ineptitude. River understood that
these could both be overcome and mastered with experience. He listened with
pride as his friend chatted confidently on the phone with Sarah. He could just
about make out her voice, and from what he could hear; this girl was acting
quite fond of Anton. This was a life lesson where Anton was learning to express
himself and talk with a girl without falling over. He didn’t even have to ask her
out on a date, because Sarah had done that instead.

“What do you reckon?”
Anton exclaimed when he came off the phone. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat
and very happy indeed with himself.

“I think you did well
brother, but I was not too happy about you letting Sarah ask you out. She only
did that because you abdicated in that respect. You have to promise me Anton
that you will tell this girl that you like her and want to spend time in her
company.”

“I will make sure that
I say that to her,
brother,”
Anton accentuated the word which River had
just addressed him with. “But I may have to rephrase it a bit more socially
cool.”

Both guys were happy
with the outcome. Anton was really happy that he had mastered what was a
nervous situation for him and that it was now behind him. He felt good about
himself and his nervousness was now replaced by a feeling of anticipation for
the date; but that was a much nicer feeling. Anton felt very grateful to River
for his help and direction. He grabbed hold of his arm and held it whilst
trying to find some fitting words for his new best friend. However the only
words he could find was “Thank You” as opposed to saying ‘
Cheers’
which
was his usual exclamation of gratitude. River stared him directly in the eye
and told him that today he was brave. He then embraced Anton in a bear hug.
Anton who did not like his personal space being invaded, or too much body
contact slightly withdrew. However he quickly changed his mind, and was soon
returning River’s all embracing hold in an expression of brotherly love.

Less than fifteen
minutes later, Anton was sitting at his desk editing lines of code on a work
project. As usual, he was totally absorbed in what he was doing and oblivious
to River lying on his bed playing with mini holographic models of famous
buildings. In this rare foray of his into the world of technical gadgets, he
was amusing himself by building an imaginary mini city landscape. The shock of
the door forcibly opening caught both young men off guard as they turned to watch
Audrina bursting in. She stood motionless for a second just inside the room
fixing predatory eyes on River. She back flipped the door closed with her heel
and then dived on to the bed knocking River flat on his back. Next she pinned
his hands down under hers and straddled him, sitting on top of his body like a
wrestler pushing for a submission.

Anton watched in
surprise and shock as he saw his sister bear down slowly and menacingly on his
friend until she was locking lips with his. His second reaction was
embarrassment and he looked away and back to his display screen. However,
curiosity got the better of him and he turned back to see them still in a deep
and overtly sexual embrace. His brain computed through the options, and there
were two obvious connotations; his sister and River obviously felt passionately
about each other, and this was not their first date. Anton was disturbed; He
felt party to a secret that he didn’t want to know. Feeling more than a little
uncomfortable as he watched them still carrying on as if he wasn’t in the room,
he decided to not be in the room, and got up and went out to the kitchen. When
he returned later, neither of them were there; however It had not escaped his
attention that Audrina’s bedroom light was on whilst River’s was not.

Nathan had already left
for work by the time River had arisen for breakfast. He had however left a
message for him with Valerie. The message said that a non-custodial identity
bracelet was ready, and that Nathan would pass by at midday to collect and take
him to the Citizens Protection and Security Headquarters for the fitting.

So once everyone had
gone to work River found himself in his own company for a welcome change. He
used the time to exercise out on the roof terrace, and by midday he had
showered and dressed in his pseudo military style outfit and was ready to head
off. Nathan was on time as usual and explained the etiquette of the CPS HQ on
the journey.

“This is not a public
access building. It adjoins the Office of the Interior, so there will be a
large number of security and intelligence officers walking around in different
uniforms. You won’t find any citizens in the building, nor patrolmen or local
district enforcement officers. So you may attract some undue attention, River.
Do not say anything; just let me do the talking. Stay with me and don’t wander
off. Understood?” Nathan paused and waited until the return of confirmation
from River. He then proceeded “I have a pass ready for you, we sign in and head
down to one of the technology labs to get the bracelet fitted and your current
one deactivated and removed. Then we leave as soon as we can. If I could do
this any other way I would because I am not comfortable with you visiting our
Headquarters.”

“Why?” asked River

“Too many of the wrong
kind of people might be taking an interest in you,” came the cryptic reply from
Nathan. River didn’t get the chance to draw him out on his answer because they
had arrived at the CPS headquarters and Nathan was busy swiping security readers
to gain access to the internal vehicle park. All the signs on approach to the
austere building referred to the Civilian Protection & Security Head
Quarters. There was practically no reference at all to the Office of Interior
even though it was probably one of the biggest and most powerful government
offices. River saw a rare road marking directing traffic into a left stream in
order to access the Office of Interior. They took that path. Once parked,
Nathan walked briskly to the elevators and swiped in security access for
himself and River. They dropped down to floor B3, and then had a brief walk
down a set of corridors before he swiped security access again in order to
access an I.T. Lab. Inside the lab a number of technicians were working mostly
on various hardware projects. A few looked up but no one really passed them any
heed. Nathan led River through to the rear of the lab and into an adjoining
office where an older and more senior technician was sitting at his desk
catching up on his administration. Nathan did the introductions.

“Hello David, This here
is River.”

David was a little
portly, and thus probably younger than first impressions portrayed. “Hello
guys. How are you doing River,” he said standing up and reaching to shake hands
with each in turn. David then led the way out of his office walking and talking
over his shoulder as Nathan and River followed him to a work bench near the
corner of the lab. -“So I have modified a diplomatic bracelet that our
officials wear when visiting other Metropolis. They are not comfortable using
their ID implants for temporary access in other citadels. So we use similar
bracelets to this one…” -he had picked up a bracelet from the work bench and
was gesturing with it in hand as he talked- “…This enables them to get
temporary access, rights and privileges without the intelligence service in
those citadels being able to back access privileged and secure data from the
New Denver profile.” -David reached out to take hold of River’s right arm
whilst he examined his current custodial bracelet- “I have to say that you are
the first person that I have ever come across that is allergic to any implant.”
-David was addressing River directly, “I mean they use totally anti allergenic
materials as well as T-cell suppressors in those implants. Could you imagine
the disorder if everyone became allergic? Geez, it would be an I.T. Armageddon.
It doesn’t bear thinking about.” Whilst David talked, he was positioning
River’s old bracelet over a desk mounted reader and deactivating it. As soon as
that was complete he unclasped the bracelet which then fell off. David still
held onto River’s wrist with one hand whilst his other snapped the new identity
bracelet in its place. “I now declare you man and wife,” he chuckled even
though his joke was lost on everyone present. “Now this bracelet has got cloned
information from the implant record compiled by the Environment Office. There
are no updates to those records since the day it was rejected. Also there are
medical records on profile but they can only be updated by external writing.
What I am saying is that there is no biological spore updating his medical
records in real time anymore. Is this okay?”

“More than OK,” declared
Nathan. “Thank you very much for your work on this David. You are a real
friend. Now I better get this young man out of here before someone accuses him
of stealing it,” This time David didn’t find Nathan’s joke very funny, but he
walked both men to the door in the style of a good host.

As the door opened,
their way was blocked by two burly security guards wearing the all black
militaristic uniform of the Interior Office which showed the insignia of
Internal Security. One of the Privates addressed Nathan.

“Major Carlson, we are
instructed to escort you to a review board on the 6
^th
floor. Please
come with us.”

Even though Nathan out
ranked both men, there was no dilemma about who was really in charge here.
Nathan would have to report immediately. His main concern was River though, “River
please stay here with David in his office, and just sit tight even if I am a
long time. Don’t leave or go anywhere. David, can you oblige?”

Nathan was escorted up
to the sixth floor. A review board was another name for a supervision meeting.
It meant that Nathan had to report to a panel of superiors who were about to
proceed with an unannounced review of his recent movements and actions. The two
Internal Security guards walked Nathan into the designated room. He saluted the
board and sat him down in a single chair which faced a large desk seating a
panel of three ranking Security Officers. Nathan only knew one of them to speak
to. This was Colonel Paul Richards who was the officer in command of his
intelligence department. He was a silver haired man in his early sixties.
Sitting to his left was the Deputy of Operations Leo Weiss who was Richard’s
boss and on the right was an unknown officer who was wearing the uniform of the
Internal Security. They each had access to a visual display in front of them
and for the benefit of Nathan a large screen above and behind their heads
allowed Nathan to view the same content.

Leo Weiss was a fifty
year old career officer of short stature and sharp features. He began by
formally stating the intentions of the review board, “Major Carlson, you have
been randomly selected for review, analysis, and approval of your actions and
conduct over a randomly selected period of duty.” The word random was being
used and accentuated a lot. This was likely because every one present in the
room knew that random was not a factor here. Nathan’s recent actions both on
and off duty had raised an alarm somewhere, or with someone. The other misnomer
was the word ‘duty’ because the panel seemed more interested in Nathan’s out of
working-hours curriculum. Weiss continued, “Major Donnell of Internal Security
will be playing us selected highlights of a period of two recent periods of
duty. After each has played out, we would like you to pass commentary on what
is actually happening or taking place.”

“In your own words
Nathan,” prompted Colonel Richards who smiled at Nathan. “No need to be formal
here.” Nathan considered this a strange thing to say whilst he was effectively
conducting himself in a disciplinary meeting.

Their respective
screens began to show first person subjective raw audio & video footage
from a few different incidents. They all shared a common subject which was
River. He featured in all the edits chosen by Major Donnell. When they had
finished playing them end to end, the Internal Security officer asked, “Major,
who is this man and what is your relationship to him, and perhaps you might
also recap for us what was going on in these scenes.”

Nathan addressed the
panel, “This is Citizen Eli River who has recently been processed as a citizen
by the Office of Environment. We have shared sporting interests in common and
to an extent we are now friends. Some of the footage shows me collecting him
from the Rangers office when he was processed. I made a point of doing this
because the young man effectively saved my life after a bad accident outside
,
and I felt that I should repay him by helping him integrate easily into his
responsibilities as a citizen. For this purpose, I have provided him quarter in
my home. Some of the other footage showed us at the west gate with Deputy Lyons
of the Environment Office. We are about to set off on a sporting activity
break.”

“I for one can vouch
for Major Carlson’s well known leisure pursuits on the outside doing his
free
running
and such,” confirmed Nathan’s boss, Colonel Paul Richards who
seemed to want to support his subordinate officer.

 Major Donnell interrupted,
“The free running is not a concern here. If you look at the audio transcripts
for the conversation with Deputy Lyons, you will notice that Major Carlson
describes this man Eli River as an asset of his. He states that he has
infiltrated a criminal organization in District 18 and knows of the location of
tunnel exits being used by the organisation. Despite this you didn’t actually
view any tunnel entrances unless you found one during your transmission break
at Garden of the Gods. Can you explain please Major Carlson?” 

“Well that was perhaps
a lie or at least an exaggerated truth I made to Deputy Lyons,” explained
Nathan. “We didn’t visit any tunnel entrance because we didn’t know the
whereabouts of any. That part was a lie, except I do intend to use River as an
asset to infiltrate one of the down town organised crime gangs. He is native
born and this might help him blend in better in those parts. As you know,
ex-natives are highly represented ethnic grouping in these gangs which we have
little success in infiltrating.”

Nathan’s two direct
bosses were nodding away as if satisfied by this entirely plausible
explanation. Only Major Donnell seemed unconvinced, “Major Carlson, You have
had three periods involving loss of both audio and video feed from your
personal recordings. The first two can be attributed to the damage sustained
during your near fatal accident. The second one also attributed to a poor installation
after your reconstructive surgery. The last outage lasted quite a considerable
time occurred at Garden of the Gods. Can you talk us through what actually
occurred there?” 

“Citizen Eli River and
I had visited the Garden of the Gods as it was the location of my accident. We
were looking for a cave passage up to the top of the ridge so that I could re
attempt the same jump. You know how it is always better to get back in the
saddle when you fall off your bike. Anyway what happened was I nearly knocked
myself unconscious on a low cave ceiling and as a result I got a lot of grit in
my eyes. I had to remove my optical lenses and they were too dirty and damaged
to replace until I got back to New Denver. I had some concussion so I took it
easy and rested up in the cave. I am assuming that the audio feed was affected
in some way.”

Deputy of Operations
Leo Weiss concluded the review, “Thank you for being candid Major Carlson. I am
quite satisfied with your answers here today. Thank you again; you may go.” Nathan
had been summary dismissed, as he knew he would right from the start of the
review board. It was still a trial though, and he took a sharp intake of breath
to recover his nerves on route back to level B3 to collect River. When he
reached and accessed the door to the I.T. lab, he was met by David who acted
both nervous and disturbed. “River has been led away by some m ore I.S. guards
who came almost immediately after you left. I couldn’t stop them. I mean how
could I stop them? They wouldn’t listen to me or tell me where they were taking
him. I am sorry Nathan.”

Nathan was angry, but
not with his friend in the I.T. lab. “David it is Ok. I should have known. I
think my whole review board was a ruse to get access to River without me. I
imagine Major Donnell from Internal Security is questioning him right now. I am
going to head back there right now.”

“No Nathan, Don’t!”
appealed David. “I know where he is, and I don’t think this place was where you
were.”

“How do you know where
he is?” asked Nathan.

“The bracelet it is
still providing location readings. He is down in B6.”

Both men looked at each
other with a sense of dismay. B6 was the floor that housed the medical labs and
interrogation rooms or the psychology and parapsychology division more commonly
known as Psych-ops. Nathan knew that he wouldn’t even get access to their floor
level. He needed some assistance from someone of a higher rank. He phoned the
main switchboard and asked to be put through to the Deputy of Operations, Leo
Weiss.