2999

By Michael Young

In the year 2999 written history is forbidden. A capital offence. Yet Loeth dreams of writing down the huge inventory of oral histories filling his memory. 

The short, stocky Loeth travels the world as a reporter for local news outlets. At the same time, he spies for Ceth, a Sentinel. His journeys bring to light hundreds of oral histories begging to be told to a wider audience.

Supported by a small circle of loyal friends and sexy lovers, using a quill and ink, the 50-year-old Loeth writes a personal memoir that folds into the suppressed history of the world as revealed by the stories he has heard.

He rebels against the Authorities to follow his dream. He rejects the Sentinels' commandment, called a Prock, "there are no yesterdays, no tomorrows, only today". Officially, history did not and shall not exist.

Surveillance by the all-powerful Sentinels is everywhere. Ceth says he will not monitor Loeth's home. Can he be trusted? Anything Loeth writes could be exposed. Loeth's driving compulsion to finish his illicit memoir overpowers his fear of discovery and probable death. 

Follow Loeth's and his gifted friends' difficult journey through its many twists and turns to its surprise conclusion.

The seeds of tomorrow's history can be found all around us. In this debut novel, discover Loeth's history of the world as seen from 2999 and the story of Loeth's personal voyage to achieve his goal.

This the first of a possible series. It is 80K words long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Young
• Release date: Jun 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540136572

Michael Young

I’ve arrived at my writing via engineering and sculpting.  I attended high school in Chichester in the south of England. Studying engineering, I progressed through university at Imperial College, London before landing jobs with mainly large building companies in England. I later moved to Southern Ontario with my wife and family to work in the steel industry on a pilot project to build industrialized housing. We stayed in Ontario where I later worked on public housing and then moved to employment at a bank.  Throughout my working career I dabbled in art and took classes at a local community college. An early retirement presented the opportunity for me to attend Ontario College of Art and Design and graduate with an honours diploma in Sculpture and Installation. With two fellow sculptors, I founded a stone sculpting studio. I lasted ten years before setting this physically challenging activity aside. I turned to writing shortly afterwards. As a lifelong student of human nature, I have always been impressed by the diversity and generosity of spirit of mankind. Such qualities are a source of inspiration.  

Book preview

Chapter 1

LOETH WOKE. HIS MIND fought to surface through the insistent beat of a bass drum resonating in his brain. His mouth was rank. He struggled to part eyelashes cemented together by overnight grunge. He managed to squint. A metallic grey, featureless matt surface came into view.

He turned his head to the left.  He then screwed his eyes together again in response to a cleaving red pain that severed his head. He took a deep breath and once more gathered himself. His second look of the day revealed that he was on his own bed looking out of the clear window at familiar trees.

Loeth readied himself for a second searing pain when he rolled his head to the right. He gritted his teeth and endured. Eva came into view. She stood holding a tray with a large glass containing a lime green concoction and a small bowl. Eva’s head’s slight tilt to the left complemented her wistful smile of amusement.

After a moment’s pause, Eva broke into a wide grin and spoke in a soft tone, Heavy night? She paused and raised her eyebrows. Loeth grunted.

Eva offered, Here's your usual pills. Your morning drink has a few of my mother’s special ingredients added. Sit up. The drink was usually orange. 

Loeth struggled to raise his head to take the pills and wash them down with the foul green concoction. He once more settled his head on the pillow and grunted a command, Ceiling. Early morning sun. Blue sky. Thirty percent white puffy clouds. Window. Eighty percent opacity. Smell. Twenty percent lavender. He now looked up at a pleasant sky and felt a slight warmth from the sun on his cheek. Light from the window reduced to a negligible level. The lavender perfume took his mind off the residual aftertaste he was experiencing.  Loeth relaxed and soon gave himself to a restorative sleep.

He woke in pain for the second time that morning, but not in his head this time. Eva lay naked at his side. He had his arm around her as she rested her head on his shoulder. The weight of her head had restricted the blood causing the shoulder to ache. Loeth extricated himself from under Eva’s head. She continued to snuggle against the outside of his bare arm. He never wore clothes when sleeping. Neither did Eva. She started to play with his limp penis. 

Not now Eva. I’m still feeling fragile. Maybe later. Remember, I don’t have to attend the debriefing any more or go to work. You have me all day. In reality Loeth wanted to free his mind and cast it over his situation. He enjoyed the warm intimacy of Eva's arm over his chest. Her hand teased his nipple. Loeth hoped she would remain silent. He was wrong.

Tell me. How was the retirement party? Eva was not invited. The exclusive event was for the former Consuls only. The organizers did not invite companions or helpmates. 

Surprised me. It was very enjoyable. I met many of the other Consuls I had come across in my service across the Habitats. Lots of chatting. The food and the drink were both superb. My head tells me it’s too good. Eva giggled. Loeth went on to list the names of some of his former contacts knowing Eva would remember them. She had been with him for the last twenty-six sols. They chatted about each one of these old colleagues and how they seemed.

How was your time at the UG center when I was debriefing? Loeth was curious. 

Lots of tests. A few tweaks to help me look after you in your retirement.

What was that reference to your mother helping you with the hangover meds? Mother? Come on. Since when did Evas have mothers?

I’m just trying to be more sympathetic. Loeth let it rest. He wondered what other tweaks Eva received. He knew he had to be alert for the changes.

I’ll leave you now. Eva was perceptive. I’ll bring up a late lunch if you are not already up.

He thought about the tweaks again. We missed something this morning Eva. The morning salutation.

I know. But you were in no fit state.

I’ll do it now. Loeth recited the morning prayer as he had done every day from age two until now. Great Wrubb we acknowledge and appreciate the wealth of happiness and happiness of wealth you have conferred on us humble souls. We resolve to honour all the Procks and stay righteous in our daily life today. They both hung their heads and said, Men in unison. 

Loeth never spoke to anyone about his hypocrisy in saying this prayer. To him, the Worshipful Righteous Ultimate Beautified Being was a myth. Even so, ninety-nine percent of the world population accepted Wrubb. 

Ignoring Eva, he ordered, Window. Full transparency. The window instantly cleared to reveal a sky very like the one in the ceiling over his head. Smell. Cancel lavender. He arranged a second pillow and tilted the top half of the bed up twenty-five degrees with a simple command. Eva left.

What now, Loeth? He spoke to himself out loud. 

Loeth faced the prospect of how to fill the rest of the remaining ten sols, less the one lunar of the debriefing. His retirement sols. He accepted that he would die on his designated Departure Date in the last moments of the Millennium. His worldwide cohort also reaching their sixtieth sol would go at the same time. He smiled to himself that the auspicious date of his departure would take place with a lot of fanfare. The predetermined time of death was a comfort to most as a clear certainty in life.

In retirement, Loeth wished to improve his small-white and small-black ball-games. He knew he was unlikely to get around to such endeavors.  Large spherical bladder ball was too much at his age. He liked to sing and had thought about joining a choir, but reckoned his voice was not good enough. He would explore all the land covered by Habitat Zero. Then again, he could indulge his pleasure in playing with his collection of ancient silica based puters although he did not know long this amusement would last.

There were many approved books he should read. He had a few on his shelf he knew he would reread. He wanted to write about the stories he had heard. Yet the third Life Prock forbade the type of thing he wished to pull together from his experience. As he thought about writing, he remembered some of the ancient books in archaic languages he had seen. He dozed off once again and had a revelatory dream. When he awoke, he wondered if he could find a calligraphy class or tutor. He would like to try that, and it could be useful. 

Loeth stretched and sprung from his bed with a renewed sense of need and purpose after a solid sleep. His energy levels were back up to normal or higher, although his head still carried a mild ache. An immediate urgency necessitated a visit the bathroom. As he sat relieved, he wondered if the plum had registered his adrenaline rush. An exhilaration generated by the dream idea gripped him. Loeth realized that the plum may have shown a blip.  Even so, his hangover euphoria would explain his state. Loeth’s dream, known only to himself, had given him the lift he badly needed, and generated the excitement he felt. He had the outline of a plan for his retirement.

As he stood naked, Loeth appraised himself. Short at a meter sixty, he always had been smaller than his peers resulting from a rare premature birth. His mother had died when her domestic dispenser exploded, and he was miraculously saved. Loeth never knew he was raised by a foster mother as he grew up. This kind fepet was his mother in all but birth. She always affectionally called him the low one, Loeth. On his Name Day she told him that she was not his birth mother and of the fate his real mother had suffered. The name Loeth stuck. 

Although short, Loeth was quite broad and had a taut sinuosity. He sighed at the mirror as he observed his hair was well thinned on the top of his head. He observed his chest and his back covered with a dense curly black mat of hair.  The hair was draining down, he thought to himself. Closer examination of his slack muscles gave rise to the thought, time to get into better shape. 

Loeth washed the residual grunge from his eyes, soaped and then rinsed his face and hair. He donned the shower helmet and stepped into the shower. He raised his right foot onto the highest level of the positioning frame. The door closed.  Hundreds of needle-thin high-pressure jets teased all his body. He never failed to enjoy the pleasure of showering. The warm drying air finished with a blast of ice-cold air to close the pores. 

Chapter 2

THE LAKE PARK BECKONED. He dressed in hiking gear. The ten-kilometer trail around The Lake was rough in places.

Weather?

Seventeen degrees. Seven kilometers per hour winds from the south west. Light cloud.

Precipitation?

Probability less than five percent.

He called an Auto-Vehicle to arrive in thirty minutes to take him to the Park a half hour journey away.

Eva seemed busy with a game, so Loeth dispensed his own light breakfast including a litre of orange juice. He also dispensed a ham bagel sandwich to go in his backpack. He filled and packed three one-litre water bottles.

Eva. I am trekking The Lake Park trail. I should be back in five hours at the most.

Can you pick up some cooking apples at the Valley Orchard. It’s on the way back.

Certainly. Four?

Just right. Large ones.

Bye.

The door of the AV opened as Loeth approached. Good day, Loeth. Lake Park west entry. Correct? Loeth grunted his agreement. He objected to talking to machines. The AV took off as soon as he had fastened his safety harness. The vehicle quickly and silently reached one-hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. Twenty-three minutes to destination. Soft music played in the background. The Lake was near the perimeter of the Habitat Zero. The route to get to The Lake circled a mountain.

Loeth had hiked The Lake trail twice before. Once with his mother when he was about ten. Again, ten sols ago. He was not in such good shape now. He set out at a brisk pace but slowed as he rose over the gentle slope of an open meadow covered with blue wildflowers. At the top of the hill, the vista opened up to a range of snow-covered mountains beyond The Lake. Loeth stopped at an exposed flat-topped rock. He sat in the sun to take in the magnificent view and catch his breath. The casual thought that he should take up painting crossed his mind. He had always been good at drawing at school.

A bee flew towards him and hovered for a moment in front of his face before continuing its journey. Loeth sighed. He knew it was not a bee. The small drone checked his face. The information gathered was further cross-checked with the communication sent in by Eva. Loeth was taken back to his work days. He too had spied for the Sentinels.

Where did this all start? Loeth’s mind thought back. Born on the day of the dispenser explosion, January 8th, 2939. He had to wait almost a sol for his Official Birthday on 1st January 2940, the first day of the next sol. Loeth shared his official birthday with all other hupets born in the preceding thirteen lunars.

Loeth shook his head. Hupets. Such an awkward word. Maybe that was intentional. Was the pet part of the handle some sick humor?

He had attended first birthday celebrations. Noisy affairs with all the babies bawling. Loeth pictured the big event on his first official birthday. He imagined the plum operation and felt a momentary spike of pain run through his head. All other one-sol-babes suffered the same fate.

The tiny plum-shaped organic, quantum puter module was inserted deep into the brain. Loeth’s took root with the brain’s blood supplying the energy. The puter reported on the health, identity and location of the individual. Not everyone’s implant went as well as Loeth’s with about three percent dying from the procedure. After three lunars, it was impossible to remove the device without killing the host. The plum grew and integrated itself into the brain structure.

Kindergarten started at age two. Children were constantly monitored for native intelligence, linguistic ability, problem solving, artistic tendencies, spatial perception, physical strength, stamina, attention span, sociability and physical coordination. The quality of the toddlers’ six basic senses was also measured to understand their ability to track their environment. Loeth's exceptional linguistic and social awareness aptitudes were identified early. At age four, at the start of more formal schooling, Loeth entered into an enriched program to develop his latent abilities. Most children entered a stream for the development of their latent aptitudes by age six.

Loeth sat deep in thought about his early childhood. He pondered what he had learned about the system structure. He did not notice a rather short slim female hupet approach him. She called out a greeting, Lo!. He jumped.

It was clear she was a hupet. Her face showed she was about the same age as Loeth. Some hupets made a significant effort not to show their age by treating their skin. They even copied Eva styling. This fepet, in front of him, was natural and had spent a lot of time outdoors for her darkish skin to be so creased. She looked very fit.

I’ve not seen you before. I’m Soe. Well met.

Well met. Loeth. That we’ve not met before is no surprise. I have just retired, and this is my first free day. I haven’t walked this trail for many, many sols. You a regular here?

I usually run this track three times a week. I strained a muscle and the treatment is slow, it’s been three days already, so today I’m walking. I guess I’m addicted to the area.

Soe paused. Retired Consul?

The question coming out of the blue threw Loeth. He was unsure how to answer. All his life he had carefully concealed his role, but what about now? He made a decision. Yes. How did you know? After he blurted it out, he wondered if he was being set up or audited by this fepet.

Over the past twenty sols of running in this area, I have probably met four-hundred people on this trail. Three-hundred and twenty-two of them were Consuls. The odds for my guess were in my favour. I am surprised you admitted to it so readily though. Usually I have to weasel the information out of the retired Consuls. Us regular folk always let you know up front, so by a process of elimination, it’s an easy guess. Loeth mused to himself that most Consuls retired to Habitat Zero. In every other Habitat one was hard pressed to find a Consul.

Why do you need to know in the first place? What do you do with the information? Loeth was feeling defensive.

Curiosity. Do with it? What can I do with the knowledge that you are retired Consul? Nothing. Knowing is enough.

You’re different. Loeth was still feeling a bit off balance, and knew he was being a bit stiff with this friendly fepet.

No, I’m not. Soe looked puzzled. Why do you say that? It’s not very nice.

Loeth softened. My apologies. I had no intention of insulting you. In fact, I’m feeling pleased I have met you. Can we walk the trail together?

I’d like that. But not too fast. The leg. Soe rubbed the back of her right leg.

Loeth could not hold his own curiosity. When’s your Departure Date?

My DD? Three-thousand-and-three. Why do you ask?

Like you. Just curious. We’re nearly the same age.

And yours?

It’s a special one. Hour twenty-four, Day seven, Week four, Lunar thirteen, twenty-nine-ninety-nine. Loeth had strung the words out.

Soe grinned, Typical Consul. Pedantic as a Sentry.

Soe gave a running commentary on the features of the trail as they walked. She named the mountains, and what it was like in the different seasons. She named the tree species and the early flowers in bloom. Loeth became aware of the bee stalking them. He guessed it was listening to their conversation. When Soe also noticed it, she said, That’s the earliest I’ve ever seen a bee in this part.

Loeth did not think the bee was around when Loeth revealed his status. Not that it mattered anyway. But it did show how diligent he would have to be to undertake his retirement project.

When they completed the circumnavigation of The Lake, Soe and Loeth discussed sharing an AV. They agreed it would be a good idea; he would drop Soe at her pad about ten kilometers from his home. They exchanged contact details while waiting for the AV.

Eva met him at the door and gave him a hug. Nice time?

Tired. I’m out of shape. Loeth did not want to discuss Soe with Eva. He guessed she probably already knew about her, and possibly more than he did.

Apples?

He had forgotten them.

No problem. Eva should be mad. She and all the Evas still had some way to go to pass as fepets.

What’s for dinner?

I dispensed two Chateaubriand steaks. A good protein hit. Pomme frites for the carbohydrates. Zucchini with wild mushrooms I picked up in the forest. I thought we’d skip the wine this evening. I have made a smooth alcohol-free lime drink that has a good calcium supplemented soy base. Sound K? Oh, and no dessert.

Loeth thought, Maybe she does have a touch of anger. No dessert indeed. I expect it was going to be one of her fancy apple dishes.

After the meal and watching the local news, weather forecast and the Call–In show, Loeth and Eva retired to bed. As they lost themselves in a gentle coupling, Loeth’s mind kept wandering

back to his new friend Soe. He liked her pleasant open personality. The fact she looked him straight in the eyes when they stood together appealed to Loeth.

Chapter 3

SOE VISUALED LOETH the next morning to thank him for the company on the walk. Loeth was so entranced by the sparkle in her eyes he failed to notice her dishevelled hair. They agreed to meet the following day for another hike around The Lake. Loeth would pick her up in his AV. Each entered the date into their ap-pods. They chatted about mundane topics.

After he disconnected, Loeth relaxed in his favorite S-chair. An idea struck him. He thought, Of course, why didn’t I think of that before?

He auralled his long time Sentinel contact, Ceth, at the Comm-center. Loeth thought his collection of ancient puters would make a useful educational tool. He floated the idea of creating a Museum Room at The Center to house his collection of ancient puters.  He underscored how the exhibit would illustrate the crudity of early technologies while giving him an interesting retirement project.  Ceth was non-committal.

All Loeth drew from the conversation was that enquiries would be made. He had never been sure if Ceth was a hupet or not. He had never met him, if indeed it was a male. They discussed the possible project to establish a new room with proper power and heat dispersion facilities. Loeth thanked Ceth for his consideration. He hoped he would be able to move the pieces of equipment from the storage pod soon. Best not to push Ceth too hard.

Loeth next followed up another idea. He aurelled a long-time friend, a classmate from when he was three sols old.

Caleth?

Is that you Loeth? What, it’s been ten years. Very well met, my old friend. Good to hear from you.

After chatting for 10 minutes, Loeth was painfully aware of how little they had in common. He had forgotten how boring Caleth could be.  Loeth steered his conversation around to his possible request. Caleth, do you still offer a calligraphic service? At school, they had both excelled in penship class with the award going to Caleth one year, and Loeth, the next.

Yes, of course. After almost thirty sols, what else can I do? Although, sometimes I wonder if I ever want to make another Q-pledge award. Why do you ask? Do you need a certificate of some kind?

No. I’m going to come straight out with it: would you teach me how to be a calligrapher? Maybe I can ease up your load one day. Loeth tried to put a smile in his voice.

You know that could be fun. Have a chance to talk about old times and I can catch up with your news.

Loeth silently groaned to himself. At least he would not have to do much of the talking. Yes. That too. How would we start?

Come over. We'll need almost a daily lesson for about two weeks and then you’d have to do a lot of homework. Practice. Practice. Practice.

Again, Loeth groaned inwardly. He gritted his teeth as he replied, That sounds fine. The rest of the conversation concentrated on making the specific arrangements before they said their farewells. Loeth felt a mixture of excitement and concern that he may have taken on more than he could handle. He closed his eyes.

Loeth woke with a jolt. To his recollection. he had never slept in the daytime before. He shook himself, summoned an AV for transport to the local enclosed swimming pool. The air in the building smelled fresh. He stripped off his clothes, passed through the cleansing corridor and joined a crowd of energetic hupets swimming lengths. It had been a while since he swam, so Loeth joined the slow lanes and crawled for almost half an hour at a steady rhythm.

As he sat on the side of the pool bringing his heart rate down to near normal, he could not help but notice the range of naked body types and the diversity of hupet configurations. The young mothers with their infants came closest to the Eva forms with firm breasts and sleek limbs unencumbered with residual fat. He observed the older men with their expanded waistlines. A factor he was reminded of every time he saw his naked reflection with a belly bulge just discernible.

The thought crossed his mind, with all the medical knowledge that could cure all known diseases and reconstruct bodies from even the worst of accidents, it was probable the technology was available to prevent the slow decay of the body beautiful. From his experience he concluded that by allowing the body to age the Sentinels constantly and cleverly reminded the hupets of their life cycle and eventual DD.

Chapter 4

THE NEXT DAY SOE WAS waiting at the door when he arrived in the AV. She looked flushed and fidgeted in the vehicle saying little. When they arrived at Lake Park and the AV had left, Soe exclaimed, I hate those things. She signaled towards their disappearing transportation.

Why’s that?

They have ears.

Ears?

Yes. They listen in on conversations.

Soe’s reference to ears triggered a memory from long ago. He could no quite place it.

They started to walk. Soe’s leg was healed as he had difficulty in matching the pace she set.

You seemed agitated in the AV. Anything the matter?

Yes. I am mad. My food dispenser is malfunctioning, and no technician has arrived after four days. All the food leaves a bitter after-taste. I’ve almost used up all my farm allocation. Didn’t want to talk about it for the ears to hear. I’m frustrated as all Gideon.

That’s strange. I’ve never come across that before. He was reminded of his birth-mother’s death. Sure, you’ve been pushing the right buttons?

Loeth. Come on! She looked at him angrily, accompanied by a sigh of disbelief.

Just asking.

They guaranty two-day service. There’s a real dickup in the system.

They walked in silence for a few hundred meters.

"Look at those.