Asua: The City

By Wendy Alane MacFarland

Two years after The Tunnel, The City sends a replacement android, Two of One, to capture Kate and her sisters. One of Seven leads the Twins to safety in the tunnel and Seven of Seven flies Kate to the old tunnel. They meet Larson on the surface and form an uneasy alliance with him as he leads them to safety. Following a flash flood Kate is reunited with Dorothy and Larson ignites the Raiders to take over the Green Zone. When the City attacks the Tunnel a war of survival begins. ASUA - The City is the second novel in the coming of age story of Kate, a Joan of Arc, 'tunnel' girl in the not too distant future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Alane MacFarland
• Release date: Jul 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463840016

Wendy Alane MacFarland

Wendy A. MacFarland lives in the Texas Panhandle. She was born in Florida, raised in Arkansas but grew up in Texas. She writes for her children and their friends.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The lights were up in the tunnel and Jolene, a tall, slender woman in skirt, blouse and heavy shoes, could see Kate's house through the hanging roots of the field. Seven of Seven was standing inside the house, near the open door.

Gotcha, Brother, Jolene said mischievously to herself. She shifted her shoulder satchel behind her so it would not catch on anything and ducked behind some roots to hide herself from Seven’s view. She started working her way through the field to come up behind him.

Seven was dressed like the usual tunnel farmer, plaid shirt, jeans, brogans. He was clean-shaven and his hair was clipped short. Unlike the usual tunnel farmer, Seven had a broom in his hands.

He finished sweeping out Kate and the Twins’ house and started over to the small building beside it, The Bunkhouse, where he, One of Seven and Hunter lived.

Jolene silently slipped up behind Seven and covered his eyes with her hands. Guess who? she asked coyly.

I would guess that you're looking for One, Jolene, Seven answered.

What? Jolene answered, quickly pulling her hands away from Seven’s face.

Seven turned around with a big smile on his face, One is topside with Kate and Hunter, he said.

Jolene was red faced. You two, she managed to stammer out. You two should wear name tags, she added.

Seven laughed. Well, we kind of do, Sister. I take care of the houses and One takes care of the farms. What bigger sign do you need? he said holding out the broom.

Ohh! Jolene replied and hurried away toward a small, side tunnel and it’s topside access stairs.

They haven’t been up there long! Seven called after her. "Maybe you can still surprise him!"

Jolene said something but Seven did not catch it. He laughed anyway. He looked out over the field but did not find what he was looking for. Kaylie! Kayla! Recess is over! Get back in here. It’s time for math. Maude will be waiting for you, he called out. Looking back out over the field he saw some motion. He turned and went inside to check on the math lesson for Kate’s nine year old twin sisters. The motion out in the field slowly made its way toward the house and class.

Jolene worked her way through the farm roots into the back tunnel. Least they have the lights working back here, she grumbled to herself, trying to shake off her embarrassment. The tunnel was narrow and not long. At the end was a set of metal stairs leading up to a small, metal landing. Above the landing there was an open tunnel exit. Sunshine streamed in at an acute angle. There was a slight breeze exiting the opening.

At the foot of the stairs the air was warmer and dryer. Jolene climbed up toward the large, round opening. The sunlight was bright, blinding even before she stepped out. She had to partially close her eyes and wait for a few seconds to allow her vision to adjust to the outside.

Jolene was always surprised by the sheer size of the outside when she was there. The sky was so blue. The white clouds flowed over her head. The low rolling hills with their scattered juniper trees and clump grass ran to the horizon in every direction.

Only two things broke up the image. On the right of the tunnel entrance was a Caddi-hop, a big, flying limousine. The Caddi had not been moved in the two years since Kate, the Twins, and Maude had arrived back home with One and Seven of Seven. Tall, wild grass grew up around it and there were a couple of tufts growing on it. Nature reclaiming its progeny.

To Jolene’s left was Kate’s new surface farm, a one hectare pasture of clover. It was not a pretty pasture. It had junipers growing in it and a few clumps of wild grass. But it was covered in what Fukuoka in One Straw Revolution called ‘green manure.’ And scattered across the field were tomato plants and yellow squash. The first sun grown vegetables in years.

A young woman and two men stood in the clover field talking. They were dressed in a similar manner to Seven of Seven.

Kate, a tall, young woman with short cropped, reddish hair said, This clover is holding up well to the dry weather.

The man on the left, Hunter, responded, Well it better hold up. We were lucky to find any clover seed. I’m not sure why the guy even had this.

The second man was One of Seven, Seven’s identical septuplet. We’ll be able to get more seed from this field, he stated. Then he added, And look at those tomatoes! They’ll be ready to eat in a couple of days.

And the squash is not far behind, Kate stated. My father would be so excited.

Jolene shaded he eyes from the sun with her right hand. She called out to the trio, You all need to invest in some hats if you’re going to stay out here all the time.

The three turned around at her call.

Add that on our list of things to make and sell, Kate called back. There’ll be a lot of people up here before long.

Eventually, Hunter corrected. There will be a lot of people up here eventually.

A little self consciously, One raised his hand and waved to Jolene. She blushed a little and returned the wave and started towards him.

Kate looked at Hunter and stated, Soon.

Hunter replied, Eventually. He grinned at Kate.

She frowned in reply.

That’s enough you two, One said. It’ll happen when it happens.

Okay, Kate said. I can live with that.

You’ll have to, Hunter said with a grin.

One, make him stop before I hurt him, Kate asked.

Both of you stop, One whispered harshly, You are embarrassing me in front of Jolene.

Both Kate and Hunter laughed.

What are you two laughing about? Jolene asked as she came up close.

They’re making fun of me, One answered. They think they’re so funny.

We are, Kate agreed.

Ignore them, One, Jolene instructed as she gazed at One. They couldn’t do a thing without you.

Well, that is a fact, Hunter stated and slapped One on the back.

One staggered a bit under the blow. Well don’t knock my lungs out, he laughed, Or you will have to figure out how to get along without me. I’m not like you. I am breakable.

Hunter laughed.

Kate spoke up, I’m sorry I got him started on you, One. But better you than me.

Everyone laughed.

Hunter was the first to break the laughter, I bet Jolene’s not here for the laughs. She has that ‘business’ look in her eyes.

I’m not sure what that means, Jolene answered, But I am here to pick up that next pad machine.

Good, you found someone? Kate asked.

Yes, a young woman in Van Siclen with two kids, Jolene answered. A pad business will get her going in the right direction.

That’s great, Kate beamed. Let’s get down to the house, she instructed. I need to see what the Twins are doing to Seven. He and Maude let them get away with everything.

The four of them headed back to the tunnel entrance. Jolene and One walked closely together.

Chapter 2

The room was small and below ground. The building above it was the tallest in the Green Zone. The round table with its six chairs almost filled the space. There was barely room outside the chairs to walk around the table.

To the left were One and Two of Two. They were slender, smallish, redheaded men, who looked like identical twins, but on close inspection were not identical.

One, Two and Three of Three were on the right. They were bigger boned, heavier set men with dark hair. They were triplets.

Two of One sat in the sixth chair. There was a thin folder on the table in front of him. He looked identical to Hunter but was newer, less than six months old. He was saying to the Threes, I have all One of One’s operating systems but I do not, obviously, have all his experiences after his initial launch. After consultations with the Two’s we decided to suppress my empathic processes. We are of the opinion that is where his failure occurred.

Two of One glanced around the table to be sure everyone was listening. Since I became operational three months ago I have been reviewing One of One’s files, documents, video/audio, basically every piece of data he left behind.

Two of One glanced around the table again. Then he pushed the folder out to the middle of the table. Until he prepared this file, I can find no errors in his work, Two stated.

And what is that file? One of Three asked for everyone in the room.

This is his appraisal of the sisters: Kate, Kayla, and Kaylie, Two answered.

Two of Two groaned, Ah, not them again? We are done with them.

Three of Three moved his eyes back from Two of Two and asked, What error did he make?

He grossly understated the heritage of these three sister, Two of One answered. Both of their parents were Designers.

What? gasped One of Two.

How is that possible? demanded Two of Two. The parents of those females helped build the Green Zone?

Yes, Two of One stated. The mother was a mechanical design engineer and the father was a design geneticist.

I can not believe that! Two of Two swore. Those females?

Why would One of One have done that? Two of Three asked. He recommended we use them but hid their history from us?

Since he and I are not 100% the same, I can only infer that One of One was torn between his responsibility to us and his personal interest in the eldest female, Two of One answered.

Explain, Three of Three asked.

Well, Two started, On the one hand their genetic composition is exactly what we are looking for in ovum donors. He felt he had to present them to us as viable candidates.

Two looked around the table to be sure everyone was included. He hid their real value from us so that they could be more easily rejected. Just as Two of Two did.

I resent that remark! Two of Two angrily protested.

Feel free, Two of One responded. Those are the facts that got me, us, here.

Two of Two jumped to his feet. One of Two followed a half beat later.

What are you trying to accuse me of? Two of Two demanded.

Two of One looked coolly at the angry, red faced Two of Two. I am not ‘accusing’ anyone of anything, he answered. I am simply stating the facts that got us here, two years later on our time. If One of One had been truthful about the three females we would have developmental models available now.

Two of One turned back to the Threes. If Two of Two had been more open to examining the three sisters, we could have been at that point also. And, Two continued, If you Threes had been more willing to make a choice we would not have released Larson back into the wild.

One of Three sputtered at the statement but did not actually speak. Two and Three of Three just looked on at Two of One.

Finally Three of Three asked, Any contact with Larson?

Two of Two was still standing, glaring at Two of One. He looked over at Three and answered, No. We have not had any contact with him for several months now.

What about the location chip we put in him? Two of Three asked.

It went dead shortly after his last communication with us, Two of Two answered. We assume he cut it out of his ear and destroyed it.

Please, Two of One asked the Twos, Sit back down. We need to decide how to move forward from here.

The Threes nodded their agreement.

The Twos both sat down, but Two of Two made it obvious that he was not happy doing so.

Three of Three looked at Two and said, I suppose you have a plan? That’s one of your specialties. What do you propose?

Two of One reached out for the thin file folder and pulled it back to him. He opened it, turned a couple of pages over and said, We have the last sighted location of the Caddi-hop the females used to flee us.

Two looked at the faces around him. I propose to go to that location, find the females and bring them back here. At this point in time they are the best candidates we have and as One of One stated here, he added, tapping the file with his right index finger, If we do not have developmental success with the oldest female, her sisters are only minor adjustments away from laboratory ready specimens.

Two of Two gave an audible groan in answer but the others sat silent.

Two of One looked around, then said, I take this as authorization.

Three of Three spoke up, How many people do you think you’ll need to take with you? he asked.

Two of One stood up with the file in his hand. I will be able to take care of it myself, with a few people here in the city in support. I will inform you when my preparations are ready.

Two of One turned and left the room.

I hate those hunters, Two of Two stated.

Chapter 3

The camp was small, one tent. It was at the base of a low hill, out of the wind, and in the bright morning light. Larson stood in the middle of a ring of four motley looking men. He was taller, heavier and stronger than his ragtag opponents. He had his fists up and was moving in a slow anticlockwise circle, watching everyone at once.

Suddenly Larson stepped forward and struck the man in front of him in the face with a right uppercut. The man staggered backwards, then fell to the ground unconscious.

Larson spun around to face the other three men around him. Who’s next? he shouted. Let’s get this done! He stepped toward the man on his left. The man retreated. Larson switched his glare to the man in the middle.

Wolf, the man stated, raising his hands in surrender, We got no fight here. Whatever you say. You’re the boss.

Yeah, Wolf. You’re the boss, the other two concurred.

Larson did not lower his fists. When you fools think about trying me again, remember these, and he shook his fists at them. And know that I’ll kill anyone who tries me again. He took his time and glared at each man individually before he lowered his fists.

We’ve wasted half the morning, Larson continued. Get Bill up on his feet and get the camp packed up. We have places to be.

The men hurried to get out of Larson’s sight. He ignored then and walked up to the top of the hill. With the bright sun to his back he cast a dark shadow to the west where his eyes searched the horizon. His right-hand came up to the bottom edge of his right ear where the lobe should have been. His ear lobe was missing and the connecting tissue where it had been was tinder looking. Larson ran his index finger along the new bottom edge of his ear in thought.

Finally, he reached into his front pants pocket. He pulled out a small, flat, circular case and opened it. A 3-D image popped up out of the map case. Larson raised the image up until it was level with the horizon. He panned to the left, then to the right.

Ah, there it is, Larson said under his breath as the image and the terrain aligned. He snapped the map case closed and put it back in his pocket before turning back to the men breaking camp.

One of the men was helping Bill to his feet and the other two were striking the tent. No one said anything. The tunnel is about half a day’s walk, Larson called out to the men. I’m starting off. You follow as fast as you can, he ordered.

DO YOU HEAR ME? Larson shouted.

The men working on the tent stopped and looked up at Larson. The man helping Bill looked up and answered, Yes, Boss! We hear you! We’ll be about ten minutes behind you!

Bill grumbled, Right, quietly, almost to himself.

Good! Larson shouted back and he took off walking to the west.

Bill, you need to watch yourself. Larson’ll kill you without a thought, Bill’s friend said as he helped steady Bill.

I’d like to see him try it, Ike. I’d like to see him try it. He just caught me off balance with that right. I was lookin’ for him to lead with his left, Bill explained.

I know, Bill. I know. But until we get into those tunnels we need to follow his lead, Ike answered.

Sure, Ike. I can wait until we get to those tunnels. Then he’s mine, Bill replied.

You got him, then, Ike grinned. Then he turned to the other two men, Tom, Frank; Bill gets Larson after he leads us to the tunnels.

Both men looked up from their work grinning.

Can I have a part of him, too? Tom asked.

And me three, Frank chimed in.

All four men grinned at each other before they got back to work packing up the camp.

The sun was high above when the five men scrambled over a low ridge into a shallow depression.

There it is! Larson shouted pointing at a large, round, tunnel door. "Right where