Becoming Chosen
Chapter Twenty-Three

I can’t believe we are having this argument. No orbital habitat has ever allowed the animals living there to breed as they like. It is a recipe for complete disaster. Yes, we are sending as many species as we can with the ship. Yes, we want the ecosystems to be as full and complex as possible to keep the skills of land and animal management alive. But there is no way in Hell we can assume a balance can be kept. Are my colleagues willing to have predators, large and small in all the habitats? That is what it takes to keep a rodent population down, lots and lots of predators. We can send the genetic profiles for bears and wolves and badgers and large cats, but we won’t have them in the habitats. For the duration of the journey, all non-domestic animals will be born in a genetics lab.

Chief Habitat Designer McCullen, Excerpt from the minutes of the Executive Committee, Sealed Archive

“How can you expect me to go to Elder Haussmann and insist he come all the way out here, when you won’t give me any details?” Anna Stevens asked, for at least the third time.

Miri resisted rolling her eyes. She knew it was infuriating to adults, and she really needed Anna’s help. Even if she was nearly as stubborn as Uncle Fergus.

“You accept that I’m one of the Chosen. You even heard my name when everyone was looking for me. Now I show up here, far from the elevator, and dressed like this and that isn’t enough to convince you?” Miri told her, rehashing her own replies.

Anna shook her head and crossed her arms. It looked like she would keep insisting on more information, when Ronan broke in. “Miss?” Both of the women turned their gaze to him. “I’m one of the Tech, uh, the Town people. I know you don’t know me, but there is big trouble. For all of us. Now I don’t know how it works with the Chosen, but with my people when a youngster knows of a problem, they go to the oldest, most respected person they can find. That’s what Miri is trying to do.” He held up a hand as Anna bristled. “No offense intended but in a strange habmo, who can that be but one of the Elders?”

Maybe it was his earnest tone, maybe it was that he was a little older that Miri and a boy to boot, but she could see his words were sinking in where hers had failed. It was only how important the task was that kept her from being annoyed.

Anna looked down to the little campfire she built while Miri and Ronan had sputtered through their embarrassment of being caught halfway to pairing.

“Say true, that is how things are with the Chosen. That I should be reminded of it by a Town boy is a hard mouthful to swallow. But it doesn’t make it less true. If you won’t tell me more, at least tell me why an old man like the Elder should have to trek out here to the ass-end of the habmo?”

Miri started to speak, but caught the small shake of the head from Ronan. She settled back to let him try.

“This trouble is very big. People have died of it already. As long as only a few people know we’re here, it won’t endanger the Chosen.” Ronan said reasonably. Miri had to school her eyebrows against raising. What Ronan had said was both the truth and a lie. At least she hoped the last part was a lie. She hadn’t considered that coming here might be dangerous for the Chosen.

“Huh,” Anna grunted, “All I can say is this had better be a cord of trouble, or Gods of Earth, the two of you are in a for a tongue lashing like you’ve never known. Old Haussmann has a sharp edge to his tongue. And he is not afraid to use it.” She rose from her cross-legged seat, and brushed herself off. Ronan and Miri stood too.

“I’ll go and see if I can convince him. I don’t promise he’ll do it, but I’ll give it my best.” She nodded to the leather pack she’d set near the fire. “There’s food in there, and ye have the fire. There’s a stream about a hundred yards that way,” she said pointing. “If you need a good wash.”

“Thank you so much,” Miri said. “I promise when you bring the Elder back, we’ll let you know everythin’ just like him.”

Anna smiled a sour smile. “Oh, aye, you’re a Triple alright. Sharpest dealers among the Chosen, the farmers of Habmo3.” Anna gently took Miri’s arm and walked a couple of paces away as Ronan bent to look in the pack. “I doubt I can be back before the morning. So if you and the Town-born are goin’ to pair, best to do it at night, and not try to get one in first thing in the mornin’. Not unless you want to meet the Elder with your heels in the air.”

Miri’s cheeks burned and she was completely tongue tied. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about Anna knowing they might pair, mostly. It was that she assumed Miri couldn’t control herself enough to be ready when she came back.

Anna laughed an evil laugh, gave Ronan a little wave, then turned and walked off between the trees. In seconds she was gone.

“What was that about?” Ronan asked when Miri walked back up. Even the Gods of Earth couldn’t have made Miri tell him.

Good to her word, Anna brought Elder Haussmann not long after the central light-tube had begun to glow golden. Against the forester’s expectation Miri and Ronan had not paired the night before. There might have been a chance when they stripped out of the dingy suit liners to bathe in the stream, but the water was cold and the two of them were exhausted. Not that it had stopped them from cuddling like a pair of puppies to sleep.

Anna had brought more food, a fresh baked loaf, some strawberry jam and tea for breakfast. Her attitude was different too. Yesterday she had been every adult who’d ever been told a doubtful tale by teens. Now she was diffident and helpful, finding a log for the Elder to sit on and bustling around the small camp making breakfast.

“I was very happy when Anita told me you were found with the Town-people,” Elder Haussmann said. Once he must have been a giant of a man, but like all Chosen, now that he was past his sixtieth year, he was fading away. The broad shoulders were still there, as was much of the height, but he moved with slow deliberation as if each joint pained him.

His face was seamed. At least the bits that were above his white and silver beard. He had the same kind of green eyes as Solange, peering out from under amazingly bushy white eyebrows. As old and frail as his body might be, his mind seemed sharp as an axe.

“Thank you. I really didn’t mean to worry everyone,” Miri replied more meekly than she wanted to.

Haussmann nodded. “It’s a problem of youth, doin’ things and only then findin’ out they affect others. We’ve all been there,” he said, with a significant look to Anna. There was some story there, but Miri couldn’t waste any time thinking about it. “So, I’m here, you’re here, we all have had breakfast. Maybe now is a good time to tell me why?”

Miri took a deep breath. “Elder, there is trouble among the Town people, the Tech they call themselves. It involves the mission we are all on.”

“Mission?” Anna asked.

Haussmann waved her to silence. “What do you know about the mission?”

Miri pointed at the slim tablet the old man had in a bag, sitting at his feet. “I’ve read the Book of Elders, sir. I know about the Gods of Earth. I haven’t given my consent yet, but I will. Have you?”

Haussmann sat up a little straighter, his eyes focused and piercing. “I have. And I am surprised the Tech let you have a copy of it. How does that fit in with this trouble?

Miri nodded and after another deep breath she told the whole story. Her running away and being found. Captain Collins’s decision to make her the first of the bridge between the two peoples, Nesbit and the Captains killing and their escape to this habmo.

At times, she was embarrassed by what she’d done. But she bulled through even if her cheeks were red. From time to time Anna had started to ask questions, but the Elder had put a stop to that.

When Miri finally ran out of her story, there was silence. They were all waiting on Haussmann. The Elder picked up a stick and poked at the coals under the fire for a while.

“So close, but not close enough. You say it will take twenty years to reach the journey’s end?”

Miri nodded.

“I won’t see it after all,” Haussmann sighed. “I suppose it would be too much to ask. Well, knowin’ it will be in my children’s and grandchildren’s life will have to be enough. You were right to come to me, young lady.”

Miri let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Part of her was sure the old man would not believe her.

“I think we had better take this to the whole council. If the Tech are killing each other, that could risk us all,” Haussmann continued.

“I think that is a good idea, sir,” Ronan put in.

“The two of you really walked outside the ship?” Haussmann asked. “What was that like?”

“I’d done it before, sir,” Ronan said, “But this time was the scariest walk ever.”

“Ha! You hang on to that memory, youngster. The times when we’re pants-shitting scared are almost always the best memories when you’re old.”

“Yes, sir,” Ronan said in the same tone he used when he was issued orders.

“Best make a start then,” Haussmann said, reaching into his bag for the Book.

“Sir?” Ronan said, “I don’t think using that to speak to the other Elders is a good idea. I don’t know that Nesbit has people listening to those channels. But they can, and if they do, then they will know that we are here, and that you know.”

“I can call a meetin’ without spillin’ the whole jar of secrets, boy.”

“Yes, sir. But why take a chance? If you send different people to collect the Elders, the Tech will never pick it up. We don’t really follow your movements.”

“We’re beneath their notice, eh?”

“No, sir. Or at least mostly not. It’s just that it is too much effort to track the comings and goings of the Chosen. There has never been a reason to, so there isn’t a system for it.”

“Hmph. I suppose you’re right,” Haussmann allowed. “I had better get going.” He stood, slowly. Anna reached out to give him a hand, but he slapped it away. “I’m not in my grave yet, girl! Keep your hands to yourself ’till a body asks.” He started walking away, and the others all followed.

After a few paces, he stopped. “And I don’t need you all followin’ me. Anna, you stay here and show these adventurers some wood craft. They aren’t too old to learn more of the knowledge the Gods want us to preserve. I’ll send someone back with more food and some clothes. If they are goin’ to stay here, they had better look like good Chosen.”

Miri could see Anna wanted to object, but the hard glint in the Elders eyes brooked no argument. It was a look she’d seen on Grans’ face more than once.

The next two days were mild torture for Miri. Anna had been none too happy about being set to babysitting, and she took it out on the two of them by making them do all kinds of tasks. She claimed it was part of the Path from the Gods of Earth, but Miri had her doubts.

There were times when there was nothing much to do, and Miri would have been happy to sneak off with Ronan to find out how pairing would be. But Anna had made a point of telling her it was okay, as long as she let the older woman know where they were going.

Miri would rather go back on the surface without a suit than face Anna’s smug smile and knowing laughter. Ronan seemed a little disappointed, but he didn’t press. He was so different from Chosen boys, especially that pile of cow crap Bret!

A few hours after Elder Haussmann had left, another forester came with supplies. He brought food and clothes. As well as the news that the Elders wanted them to move closer to the elevator. After all you didn’t get to be an Elder without being old, and it was a hard walk for those who hadn’t grown up in a forest habmo.

During their trek to the new campsite, Anna had drilled them on forest-craft. As annoying as it was at first, Miri had to admit there was much she didn’t know. And though she’d never tell her to her face, Anna was quite skilled at teaching.

When they arrived at the new camp, Anna had made them work hard setting it up for the meeting. She wanted everything just so, and was not shy about making them do it again, if it wasn’t up to her standards.

Ronan had flatly refused to have anything to do with the fire pit. It annoyed Anna, who had him dig a latrine instead. The older woman found fault with just about everything he had done. But instead of being angry, Ronan had calmly asked her to go over what he had done wrong. Then he proceeded to fix it all. When Anna inspected his work again, she was couldn’t find anything to complain about, except how long it had taken him. Good for Ronan! He’d found a way to shut Anna up, and he hadn’t raised his voice once.

When she had finally spotted the Elders making their painfully slow way through the trees Miri could hardly believe her eyes. It had only been a few weeks, but Gran had gotten so old! She rushed up to her, but stopped short of the rowdy hug she wanted to give the old woman.

Instead she held still and waited for Gran to start a hug.

“Oh, child! It is so good to see you face to face,” Gran told her as the two of them swayed together.

“Gran,” Miri said, embarrassed for no reason she could name. “You saw me on the tablets. We talked nearly every day when I was first with the Tech.”

“Oh, I know, child, I know. But I’m Chosen, and we talk to each other in the same place, not over some bit of technology.”

Desperate to get off this subject, Miri stepped back and gestured to Ronan. “This is Ronan Candemir. He’s one of the Tech. He saved my life on the surface. Ronan, this is my gran, Anita Blaylock.” Mentally Miri cringed. Why had she said that? It was like her mouth had a mind of its own.

Luckily Gran was as gracious as Miri was graceless. “You did, did you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ronan agreed, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “Anyone would have done the same.”

Gran looked Ronan up and down, then looked at Miri. Why did she suddenly seem like Anna? Did adults spend all their time trying to figure out if youngsters were pairing? It was sure starting to feel like it.

“Perhaps,” Gran allowed, “But it was you that did it, and I thank you. I’ve always thought our Miri needed someone she could count on.”

“She can count on me,” Ronan said, his blush getting deeper. At least she wasn’t the only one whose mouth was determined to make them a fool.

“Yes, I can see she can. Well done, young man, well done indeed.”

Miri was ready to sink into the ground and disappear forever when Anna, of all people, came to her rescue.

“Elders, if you would care to take a seat? They aren’t chairs, but I think you’ll find the logs a comfortable height, and there is hot water for tea.” Miri promised herself she’d never think an unkind word about Anna again.

“Yes, let’s,” said Elder Haussmann. He went to the circle of stumpy logs they had cut and arranged around the fire-pit.

There was a brief pause while the old folks found a place to sit and tea was made and handed out. Gran introduced Miri and Ronan to the other seven Elders. Four men and three women, all of them obviously at the end of their lives. Miri nodded her hello’s. Ronan gave a ma’am or sir, to each. The level of respect went down quite well.

Then it was time for Miri to tell her story. She told it just the way she had to Elder Haussmann. She strongly suspected he would notice if she left anything out. Somehow, here in the tall trees and warmth of the light-tube it all seemed like another life, lived by someone else. It only took about twenty minutes, but she was very glad to sit back down when she was done.

Elder Costello, the oldest of them all, spoke first. “I have a few questions,” said the completely bald Elder as he leaned on a gorgeously carved cane he used. “Is what you have told us the whole truth Miri Blaylock?”

Gran bristled at the question and started to speak, but Costello went on. “I mean no offense to your granddaughter, or her friend. But we all know that young people will sometimes make up a story to put the blame on someone else. And this is too serious a matter for any question to be left.” He turned back to Miri. “Well?”

Miri looked into the Elders eyes. They were a golden brown, and they seemed very tired. She could tell he wanted her to admit to a lie, but there was none to admit.

“Sir,” Miri said, using her best Tech-respectful voice. “That is the truth. All of it. I swear by the Gods of Earth.”

Costello nodded, and a gap-tooth smile appeared on his face. “Very well, though in this company, that oath is not as strong as it might be elsewhere.” There was a quiet round of laughter from the other Elders. Miri looked down, feeling shamed she’d used a common oath with people who knew there were no real Gods.

“We’re not laughin’ at you, girl,” Elder Haussmann put in. “We’re laughin’ because we’ve only recently found out the Gods weren’t real. We believe you, Miri. Elder Costello is just makin’ sure.”

“Just so,” Costello agreed. “Let me break this down to be sure I have all the pieces. One, the Captain has been killed. Two, this Nesbit has told everyone that you, Ronan, did the deed. Three, they don’t know where you are. Four, you want our help. Is that right?” Miri and Ronan nodded.

“Then the question is, what do you want us to do? I suppose they will eventually ask us if we have seen you. We could deny it, and you could stay here.”

Ronan and Miri shared an uncomfortable glance. Elder Costello saw it.

“Or we could let the Town people know we have you with us, and under our protection. If this new Captain is anythin’ like the last, he’ll be happy to have a problem off his plate.”

“What would happen if you went back now, Ronan?” Gran asked.

“I would be detained. There would be a tribunal, but I don’t know what they would do with me when they found me guilty. I’ve never heard of one Tech killing another. There are fights, sure, but no deaths.”

“You said when, not if they find you guilty, why?” a silver haired woman. Miri thought she was from Habmo7.

“Ma’am, Captain Nesbit has all the resources of the ship at his command. I have none. I didn’t kill my uncle, but if Nesbit wants to make it look like I did, I don’t see any way of proving him wrong.”

That made an impact on the older folks around the fire. Miri saw a couple of them nodding.

“So, we can take that off the list,” Elder Costello said.

“I don’t see how we can make a decision with the information we have now,” put in the Elder from Habmo7. Miri thought her name was Callahan. “No offense to you young people, but we only have one side of the story. As far as I know, no one has asked after your whereabouts. Maybe things are not as dire as they seem. I remember when I was your age. Everything was life and death all the time. But in the end it was never as world endin’ as I thought.”

Miri couldn’t believe her ears. Hadn’t the Elder been listening? Nesbit and Ferro killed Captain Collins! Worse most of them were agreeing with Elder Callahan, from the nods and ‘ayes’.

“I think you do my granddaughter a disservice Esme,” Gran said, with an edge in her voice. “Miri has always been a level-headed child.”

“Anita,” said Elder Callahan, “You say true, I’m sure. But what could it hurt to have a meetin’ with this new Captain? We don’t have to tell him the children are here. We don’t even have to let ’em know we know there’s a new Captain. After all more information is always better than less.”

“Aye, we can ask to meet with the Captain,” Elder Costello agreed. “No need to ask for Captain Collins. Then when the new one shows up, we can ask all the questions we need about what happened,”. The others all nodded as well, even Gran.

Miri was dumb-struck. She wanted to say something, anything, but she was so stunned at the stupidity of this plan she couldn’t find the words. Luckily, Ronan did.

“Sirs, Ma’am’s, with respect, this is a very bad idea. You don’t know Nesbit like I do. He is not at all like my uncle.”

“Young man, I am sure this is an emotional time for you. Death always affects the young the hardest. But we are more experienced. As you grow you’ll find that not everythin’ is always as it appears. After all no-one here had the whole story of what the Chosen really are, until we received our Books,” Elder Costello said in a condescending voice. There was a dry chuckle from the other Elders.

“It is decided,” he continued. “We will call for a meetin’. In the Town, I think. We’ll meet with this new Captain and see what is what.”

Miri wanted to yell, to shout they were being so stupid. But she knew it wouldn’t do any good. The looks she saw on the Elders faces were the same as she’d seen on Uncle Fergus’, many times. Shouting would not change their minds. If anything, it would convince them that she and Ronan were the dumb kids they already suspected them of being.

“In the meantime, I think it best if these two stay here, in Habmo2. Anna and Kyle can watch out for them. Until we are sure where things stand, there is no point in lettin’ a lot of others know they are here. Word might slip out.”

Anna looked less than pleased. But she obviously knew the look the Elders had too, and didn’t argue the point.

The meeting broke up. The Elders climbed slowly to their feet and began to leave. Miri walked over to Gran.

“Gran, this is very bad idea. You have no idea what Nesbit is capable of.”

“Now, don’t you fret. In a couple of days, we’ll have enough information to know what to do for you and that lad. The Elders have this in hand now, no need for my shining girl to worry.” Gran dug into the shoulder bag she always carried, and pulled out her copy of the Book of Elders. “I know you’ve seen this, but maybe re-readin’ it will help to calm your mind. The Chosen have been dealin’ with the Town people for hundreds of years. This is just another stone in the row. It will pass.”

Miri nodded and took the tablet. She swept her Gran into a big, long hug. The old woman patted her hair, like she had when Miri was a child. When they parted Miri stood in silence and watched her pick her way through the trees.

As Gran went out of sight, Miri felt a gnawing in her stomach. She had the unshakable feeling it would be the last time she ever saw her.

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