THE FERALS PART 4
The last delivery was finally done. Silvy enjoyed the Ferals’ company but twelve-hour days, six days a week really took its toll. She grabbed her scooter and started pushing it towards the gate. It was late and the sun had already set. She could hear all the conversations in each building she passed. Some were in English, but most were in their native Feral tongue.
Her mind went back to her conversation with the one mother. How many other families wouldn’t be whole tonight? The thought tore at her heart.
She was passing the center tree of the compound when someone stepped out from behind its large mass. It wasn’t a Feral as Silvy would have guessed even though curfew had already been called, but a human.
A man with grey hair but a strong build continued to step closer. He held up both hands in a show of harmlessness. “Silvy? Right? Can I talk to you for a moment?”
Silvy took several steps back. She recognized the man. He was the grounds caretaker here. He even lived on site. You wouldn’t know he was an older gentleman other than his grey hair. He continued his approach even though Silvy was now taking a step back for every one of his coming forward.
He finally took the hint and stopped. “I am not here to hurt you. I need your help.” He looked around and waved one hand at all the buildings. “They do, too.”
That caught her attention. All she could think about was helping them. Maybe this man had some ideas. She walked closer so they could talk privately. “You take care of the grounds here, right?”
“Yes. I’m Tom.” He reached a weathered hand towards Silvy. She accepted it and shook his hand.
“What did you mean they need my help? I know it’s obvious from our point of view, but how can that even be accomplished?”
“I know some people that can help us. I need you to run messages for me if you can. I know you are busy, but it wouldn’t be much out of your way. Please. We have some plans laid out but can’t go forward without more people. People like you.” His eyes never left Silvy’s.
She knew she wanted to help right away but was it really something she could do? Her days were already too long and the price for getting caught doing something like this had three ways to go; life in prison, being sent to the front lines, or death.
Visions of the mother and her kits who would never again see their father or her husband swam in Silvy’s mind. The answer was obvious. “Of course. What messages do you need me to send?”
“That’s a brave girl. Thank you. I will see you here tomorrow at this time with the first message. For now, I need to make some other arrangements, so my contacts know who to expect.” He took Silvy’s hand again but with both of his. “Thank you. Hopefully, we can move forward with your help.”
When he let go, he slipped back into the shadow of the huge tree. Silvy stood there a moment. Thoughts and hopes filled her heart. It thumped hard against her chest. She looked around to make sure she wasn’t being watch and then continued on towards the gate. The more she thought about Tom’s proposal, the happier she became. Silvy kept it in check as she went past the guards though. She didn’t want to show any changes to her emotions in case they got too curious.
Her ride home seemed to fly by as she thought of all the possibilities. The idea of being a spy of sorts was exhilarating but knowing she could possibly help her friends be free of their slavery would be even better. Even if she never saw them again, their freedom would be worth it.
Instead of going straight home, Silvy stopped at a near by coffee house. It was one of her secret pleasures in life. Most of her money went straight to bills, groceries, and medicine for her mother but she allotted just enough to have a coffee at the end of each day.
Silvy went in and ordered her favorite caramel macchiato and found a seat. It was busier than normal for a mid-weeknight. Luckily, there was a table with just one woman sitting at it with her laptop open. Her blonde hair was messy, and several pencils poked out of her hair in random places.
“Mind if I sit here? I just need some down time.”
She looked up briefly and smiled. “Go ahead. I was beginning to think I had cooties.” She giggled but then went back to her work.
They called Silvy’s name. She grabbed her cup and went to sit quietly. There was so much to think about. She was lost in thought until the woman sitting with her spoke up.
“You have the look of someone with a problem.” She pushed her glasses up with her first finger.
“Not a problem but definitely working on a solution.” Silvy knew she couldn’t say anything to a random stranger. There was no telling who would turn you in for simply sympathizing with the Ferals.
“I understand what you mean.” She looked down at her laptop again but seemed frustrated.
“If you don’t mind, what are you working on?” Best to change the subject from herself to the stranger.
“I work in code and the internet. I’m just trying to figure out my solution.” She kept looking at her computer screen but wasn’t typing.
Silvy looked at her outdated computer. “I am surprised you are using a laptop instead of the hologram computers. The head pieces always looked uncomfortable, but it’s easier to think what you want to have in a message rather than typing it out on a keyboard. Searching for things is much faster, too.”
The woman giggled again. “I prefer my privacy. My work is delicate. I wouldn’t want someone stealing my codes. This way I can encrypt what I am doing.”
“All sounds Greek to me. I always wished I had the brain for that stuff. You must be really smart.”
“Nah, I just think outside of the box.” The woman started typing again.
That’s when Silvy noticed a notebook with scribbles and drawings on it. There, in the corner, was the same picture as what the robot had etched onto the wall in that ally.
