Signaveria

By Shelley Chase

Two years ago many millions of people around the world disappeared in what the government called the most horrific terrorist attack in the history of mankind. Sixteen year old Karis’s grandfather was one of those who disappeared, but now she and her family know the truth, and terrorists were not to blame. Karis and her family and friends struggle to survive in a world where they are suddenly forced to choose a side, and making the wrong choice can have eternal consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelley Chase
• Release date: Aug 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005011840

Shelley Chase

Shelley Chase lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four children, and one grandson. This is her third biography, and first published book.

Book preview

Signaveria

By Shelley Chase

Copyright © 2013 Shelley Chase

All Rights Reserved

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission

Cover artwork: Original image by Godfried Schalken, public domain, modified by Andrew Chase

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Author’s Notes

Chapter 1

Karis lay flat on her stomach in the tall grass at the top of the hill, her chin resting on her crossed arms in front of her. The fall sunshine was warm on her back through her T shirt and jeans, and the perfume of the rich earth and green blades of grass filled her nose. She sighed deeply, closing her eyes. The ache in her stomach that began two weeks ago, the day when they came and took her little brother away, would not ease. How much longer would she have to bear it?

In the valley below her, she could easily see the brick building with the wide stone front steps stretching down from the double doors. A seven foot high chain link fence surrounded the large paved yard next to the building. Three swings hung down from their tall metal cross bar, two tether balls hung limply against poles, and a slide sat emptily on the playground, the bark pit at the bottom scooped out in a bowl from the landing of many little feet. The basketball hoop, its torn net hanging by threads, stood tall on the far side of the pavement.

There was no grassy field to play on. Only a bench to sit and wait for a turn. Or to take a time-out for running, or pushing, or spitting.

Karis glanced at her old-fashioned watch on her arm to check the time. The watch was her grandfather’s, the kind you wind with the tiny knob on the side every day. She had found it in a small wooden box in her mother’s drawer, and her mother had said she could have it. The face was scratched a little, and the thick stretchy metal band pinched her wrist sometimes, but it kept good time. When she remembered to wind it, that is. Today, she watched it carefully. The bell would ring soon.

The sound of an engine in the sky above her began over near the horizon and grew louder as it passed overhead. Karis rolled over to watch the jet plane far above her, moving across the sky. If I could get on a plane, she thought, I would take Avi and fly far, far away from here, to some small island in the Pacific, where no one could find us. We could pick tropical fruit to eat, and spear fish. No one would tell us what we were allowed to buy, where we had to go to school, or who we were supposed to obey. Her throbbing stomach began to pinch again.

A bell rang out from below, the sound easily carrying up the hill. Karis quickly rolled over again and parted the grasses in front of her so that she had a clear view of the double doors and the stone steps. The doors banged open, and children began pushing their way out and down the steps. They scattered across the playground, claiming swings and tetherballs, and a line formed in front of the stairs to the slide. Forty, fifty children were now laughing, squealing, playing together. Karis anxiously searched each small body for the familiar face of her seven year old brother Avi. Where was he?

A group of three adults came out the door, and behind them, another held the door open for a small, curly-headed blonde boy. Karis squinted and smiled. There he was!

Avi slowly walked down the steps behind the teachers. He dragged his feet, his head hung down. He waited until the teachers had moved in a small huddle over to the other side of the playground, then he walked to the fence and peered through, grasping the fence with both hands. His small face searched over the fields and up the hill. It was all Karis could do to stay down, she wanted so much to jump up and yell, Here I am! Don’t cry, Avi! I’m right here watching! I didn’t forget you!

She had to remain hidden, though. She couldn’t do her little brother any good at all if she was caught and placed into foster care as he was. She wouldn’t be able to watch for him on this hill every day at 10:30, or 12:15 when they were let out for lunch recess, or at 2.

Avi stood there for 10 minutes, until one of the teachers called from across the playground, Avi! Get away from the fence! Go play! Avi turned around and walked a few steps away from the fence. None of the other children paid him any attention. They happily swung, and hit, and bounced, and skipped. They all seemed to enjoy the break from their classroom studies. When one teacher blew a shrill blast on her whistle, the children quickly stopped what they were doing and ran to line up in single file at the base of the stairs. Avi joined them, last in line. Recess was over.

After the children had climbed the stairs and disappeared one by one through the double doors, and Avi had disappeared with them, Karis closed her eyes again. A tear squeezed through one lid and made a warm streak down the side of her nose. The ache in her stomach turned into a sob. Brushing away the next tear, Karis wriggled around and carefully crawled on her stomach away from the edge of the hill. She crawled into the thick line of trees that edged the field. When she was out of sight of the buildings, she glanced around, then stood up, brushing herself off. Time to get back. She had work to do. And plans to make. She started off at a trot, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her with each step. Reaching behind a tree, she swung a small backpack over her shoulder and trotted off through the woods onto a narrow trail.

Down below her, the highway wound its way parallel to the path Karis jogged along. She occasionally glanced down at the road, watching for the automated vehicles, or autocars that routinely patrolled the roads, their cameras recording all visual movement within range. No sense in getting herself on camera at this time of day, when she was supposed to be at the Ed Center, using the computers to study for her exams. She only had a few more months to complete the Ed program before she was required to start the Allegiance Class, the final group seminar that would complete her education. All 17 year olds were required to take the Allegiance Class, culminating in a ceremony where she would swear allegiance to the Global Union, and to its leaders, and especially the Honored President of the Global Union. Those who swore allegiance were then allowed to receive the special tattoo on the palm of their hand, at the base of the thumb. This tattoo, a radio frequency laser tattoo, stored all personal information, allowed for commerce, and interfaced with the internet from all access stations or portable information tablets. Getting this tattoo was an essential part of becoming an adult in the Global Union. Without it, a person could not buy or sell anything. Getting this tattoo was something Karis would never do. Something she COULDN’T do.

Karis stopped along the forest path at her hidden line of traps, checking each one, re-baiting them with apple chunks if necessary, returning them to their hiding places. Three of the traps had sprung, the bait missing. Two had squirrels in them. She removed the squirrels from those, re-baited and reset the traps, and wrapped the dead bodies in an old plastic bag before stuffing them into her backpack. Her mother would be pleased with the squirrel meat to supplement tomorrow’s meals.

As she came to the end of the woods, Karis checked the time. Good. It was now safe to go down to the road. Ed Center hours were over, and teenagers would soon be making their way home, walking to the Commerce Center, stopping for snacks. Karis waited until no one was watching, then slipped down the hill and joined the group of kids walking on the sidewalk near the Food Center.

Ho! Karis! called a voice from behind her. Karis stopped and turned.

Ho, Bliss. Hi, Carmandy. Karis’s friends, their tablet satchels swinging at their sides, joined her. Karis quickly made sure her own backpack was securely zipped. These girls would not understand about the squirrels in there.

Where you been lately? Bliss asked her, as they joined her. I haven’t seen you at the Ed Center in a couple of weeks. You been sick?

No, I’m working from home while my Grandma is getting over a bad cold. She needed me to take care of her, Karis replied.

Your grandma still lives with you? Carmandy asked, surprised. How come she hasn’t moved to the Elder Center? She’s got to be more than 75 by now. My Grams has been there for 5 years!

Karis quickly thought of an excuse. Well, she’s never been sick before. She still has money left over from Grandpa when he disappeared, too. Elderly people were required to move to Elder Centers if they were unable to pay for private medical care for themselves. The Elder Center, run by the Global Union, paid for their housing and food, and made all medical decisions for those who lived there. If medical costs became too high for any one person, that person was gently encouraged to take the Eternal Rest pills, ending their life on this earth. It was humane, dignified, and saved the Global Union much money, enough to pay for medical care for the younger members of society. It was best for all, according to the Global Union. Karis knew better. It was a way to get rid of members of society that were no longer useful to the Union.

My Grandma is still pretty active. She helps out at home. We’d miss her too much at an Elder Center.

Oh. Carmandy quickly brightened, changing the subject. Hey, guess what? I got my tattoo yesterday! Carmandy had gone through the Allegiance Ceremony last week, and had eagerly awaited her medical appointment. I was really scared, ‘cause I thought it would hurt, you know? But it only stung a little. See? She thrust her palm toward Karis and displayed the tiny, intricate pattern of lines, bars, and squares plainly visible. My mom loaded some euros onto it for us to celebrate. Want to come have some Frogurt with us?

Karis paused. She really wanted to taste Frogurt again. It had been months since she had tasted the sugary, creamy frozen treat.

Sure. Thanks! The three girls made their way into the shop and ordered. Carmandy proudly scanned her palm to pay, and then the girls settled at a table by the window, taking their cups with them.

Bliss licked her spoonful of orange vanilla swirl. Man, I can’t wait for my turn. Did it really not hurt? My ceremony is still a whole six months. Ho, Karis. When do you turn 17?

I’m three months away. Karis stared down at her cup. But I’m not sure when I’ll do it. Or if I’ll do it.

Bliss gasped. What?! You’re kidding me! You have to! You can’t buy anything on your own without it. How come?

I don’t know. I guess I’m not sure about the whole allegiance thing. I mean, do you really believe everything our Honored President says about him saving us all, taking care of all our problems. He says he is all powerful, like a god. But isn’t he just some guy like any other guy?

Carmandy put her spoon down on her napkin. Are you serious? He brought the whole world to peace now. No more wars! You have to agree with peace, right? And that whole thing about all religions really being the same deep down? It makes so much sense, you know? And who else could have stopped all mankind from fighting each other, but someone who really knows what people want? He’s pretty special! I learned all about that at the Allegiance Seminar. Don’t worry, they’ll tell you all about it then. They made it seem so clear to me. Carmandy delicately dabbed her lips with another napkin, then smoothed out her skirt. Besides, I really like being able to buy stuff I need, I mean absolute essentials, like this new skirt. Isn’t it spectacular?

Bliss suddenly sat upright, her attention drawn out the window. Oh, hello! Who are those two handsome male specimens coming up the street? Two young men, in their late teens, had paused outside the window of the Food Center across the street, looking at the cupcakes on display. They were both tall and clean-shaven, their dark brown hair in short matching cuts. They had on T shirts and jeans, and hiking boots. The taller one carried two fishing poles, the other a square basket, the strap slung across his broad shoulders. Karis looked out the window at the boys, then quickly looked away. She snuck a glance at her watch.

Oh, man. I’m late. I better take off. Thanks for sharing, Carmandy. Congratulations, I guess. And, um, yeah, that skirt is really cute. She shouldered her pack and stood up. I’ll see you around.

Carmandy and Bliss waved her off, their attention still on the two young men across the street. I wonder who they are. Carmandy said.

I don’t know, but they sure are nice to look at. Bliss absently licked her spoon clean, her attention riveted out the window.

Chapter 2

Karis opened the door of the shop and slipped out, her eyes also on the boys across the street. She quickly began heading in the opposite direction, hoping they wouldn’t notice her. She made it half a block down before she was tapped on the shoulder, making her jump and spin around. James, one of the boys from across the street, grinned at her. What’s up, Karis?

His older brother, John, smirked. Aren’t you supposed to be back at the farm skinning some rodents?

Karis didn’t answer, but pulled the strap of her backpack up a little higher, turned, and continued down the street. James and John took positions on both sides of her. How come you get to hang around in yogurt shops… John asked.

James chimed in, finishing his brother’s sentence, …while WE have to go get actual food for the rest of us?

Karis snorted. "What, you guys actually caught something in that little pond? Or are we eating the leather from an