Escape the Amoz

By Nancy Jo Wilson

Pride turns to anguish as fourteen-year-old Caleb GoodArcher watches his father's unjust arrest. On that horrible day, Caleb is confronted with the true oppressive nature of the relationship between the technologically-superior Amoz and his people, the Kinz. During the next three years, the Amoz grip tightens as the planet drifts out of its orbit. Dooming it, and its inhabitants, to a never-ending winter.

The mysterious OneCorp offers an escape, but Caleb has to deliver his people from the Amoz first. He struggles to free the Kinz while fighting opposition from within his own community. Who would follow a criminal's son? With his best friends, his family, and some sympathetic Amoz, Caleb fights for the lives of all the Kinz. Caleb needs to Rescue his People from their dying planet--but they have to escape the Amoz first.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Jo Wilson
• Release date: Mar 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393998242

Nancy Jo Wilson

Nancy Jo Wilson was published in her local paper and won various writing contests in high school, including a scholarship from the state of TN. Her first novel, Escape the Amoz, placed second in the science fiction category of the 2009 Do It Write! competition. She blogs about faith and homeschooling on her website, six5mom.com. Nancy’s articles have appeared in Practical Homeschooling and MauMag magazine. A Jacksonville, FL native, she now resides in Thomaston, GA with her family.

Book preview

Amoz City

D on’t say a word, Caleb GoodArcher hissed, clamping a hand over his sister Zara’s mouth and pushing her ahead of him into the field of naris. He crouched down at the edge of the row, peeking out at the sharer talking to his father. He heard his two best friends, the twins Naldo and Leila, slip into the row behind him.

What’s he doing here? Leila whispered.

I thought they only came at harvest time, Naldo said.

Caleb ignored them while he crept further out to get a better view. The Amoz sharer was a head taller than Caleb’s Kinz father and dressed in black from head to toe like all members of the Amoz Protectorate. A helmet with black faceplate ended at the high collar of his tight-fitting uniform coat. The cuffs disappeared into thick gloves and his pants were tucked into gleaming black boots.

Is your father in trouble? Leila asked.

If he was in trouble, he’d be on the ground already, Naldo scoffed.

Zara gasped and grabbed Caleb’s arm. Caleb glared at Naldo, who shrugged, before reaching out to comfort her. No need to fear, Pest, Caleb reassured her. Sharers sometimes talk to Father because he’s the Kinz Regional Inspector. I’m sure they’re talking about the crops or the harvest quota.

Caleb returned his attention to the sharer and his father. He knew Zara had every reason to be scared, but he didn’t want to worry her. For the four hundred years since the Kinz had settled within Amoz territories, the sharers had controlled distribution of crops with an iron fist. The slightest miscalculation on a quota was met with dire consequences.

Caleb knew the stories, but he wasn’t overly concerned. Only people who’d cheated on the quota or broke an Amoz law were punished, and he knew his father hadn’t done anything wrong.

I think they’re just talking business, Caleb said as he settled into a sitting position. Let’s wait here until he goes. Zara pressed herself against him and he draped his arm around her. She was shaking all over. Really, Pest, there’s nothing to fear.

It wasn’t long before a silver hoverpod rushed over their heads. Caleb stood up and watched until it was out of sight. The sharer was headed back to Amoz City.

Did you see how fast that was? Naldo asked. Working the farm would be so easy if we had those.

It wouldn’t be very practical, Leila said.

He felt a sharp pain in his arm and realized that Leila had punched him. Are you listening, Caleb GoodArcher? she asked, planting her hands on her hips and cocking her head.

Yeah...no...I was just thinking about—

Amoz City, the twins said in unison.

I can’t believe you want to go there, Leila added.

"How can you not want to go there?"

Easy. I remember Sal LowGatherer.

He never came back from the city, Naldo said.

I know that, Naldo, Caleb snapped.

They even came and got his family. Took them away and they never came back either, Leila ignored Caleb’s irritated look.

What did they expect? Sal LowGatherer assaulted a member of a Ruling House. Everyone knows the Kinz are perfectly safe as long as we follow the rules, Caleb said.

What about Malek Calmsower’s father? she asked. Do you think his brother Maldin wants to be running the family farm at seventeen?

Their father cheated on the quota. That just proves my point.

Leila humphed, turned on her heel, and walked away. Caleb chuckled to himself. Today, it was Caleb’s turn to take her wrath. He didn’t mind—she’d be over it by the time they reached the barn.

When he entered the yard, his father stepped out of their house. Zara, go play with Leila and Naldo in the barn. Caleb, come inside.

Caleb followed his father into the house. His mother stood at the sink, scrubbing a pot so hard he wondered if she would put a hole in it.

Did you see the sharer? his father asked.

Yes.

Did you wonder why he was here?

I thought he was here about the crops.

No, I’ve been petitioning to speak at the House of Amoz.

Really? Caleb asked. Pride rose and swelled in his chest. What did they say?

They granted me permission to come and speak tomorrow. Caleb thought he might explode. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends and everyone at school his father was going to speak at the House of Amoz.

His mother clanged several dishes together in the sink. It was obvious she didn’t want his father to go. Why is she angry? Isn’t she proud of Father?

His father cast a glance toward her. Nadira, he said.

She swung around and looked him in the eye. Yes, Talman?

Can you do that more quietly?

Of course, she said in a calm voice that usually meant she was anything but calm.

Returning his attention to Caleb, he said, I’ve decided you can go with me. His mother stepped away from the sink and stormed across the kitchen into his parents’ bedroom. She slammed the door making the house shake.

Caleb couldn’t believe he’d heard his father correctly. Did you say I can go with you?

Not to the House, of course, but to the city, yes.

That’s what she’s mad about. She doesn’t want me to go to the city. She still thinks I’m a little boy.

Well, do you want to go? his father pressed.

Yes, sir. I definitely want to go.

Your mother thinks at fourteen you’re too young. The truth is most people never go to the city and certainly not at your age. I know you can handle it. I know you’ll be careful.

Caleb thought of what the Amoz had done to Malek’s father. I’ll be careful Father, I promise.

II

Caleb couldn’t sleep. Anticipation coursed through his body like fire, making him jumpy. As expected, Naldo had been impressed when Caleb told him about the trip. Your father gets to speak at the House of Amoz! My father’s never even been to the city.

All the better for our family’s safety, Leila quipped.

Naldo ignored her and went on, Do you think you’ll get to ride in a hover? I wonder how fast they go.

I don’t know how they stay in the air, Leila said. Caleb GoodArcher, you shouldn’t go and, Naldo LongPlow, you shouldn’t be encouraging him.

You sound like my mother, Caleb said.

Maybe you should listen to her. Leila crossed her arms and set her jaw.

My father thinks it’s a good idea. He’s been to the city before. He knows better than my mother.

Leila shook her head and walked toward her family’s farm. Come on, Naldo. We’ll be late, she called.

Naldo shrugged his shoulders. Try to bring me something from the city, he whispered as he followed after her.

Now in the darkness of his loft, Caleb pondered Leila’s reaction. It hadn’t been all that different from his mother’s. Girls, he muttered to himself, all they do is worry.

He lay in his bed and stared at the ceiling beams. Try as he might, he couldn’t get his mind to be quiet. The roaring, zipping possibilities of the city were too overwhelming. It seemed like months passed before his father told him to dress. Caleb would finally see Amoz city.

He threw on his clothes and joined his father at their triam, a small three-wheeled transport. Caleb wished his people, the Kinz, weren’t forced to use vehicles that rolled on the ground. Why are we always tied down? Do you think I’ll be able to fly in a hover? he asked his father.

Yes, a large one for transporting groups. Let’s go.

For a while, Caleb watched Jaron region pass by, but before long the seemingly endless crops and gentle hills bored him. He took out a wooden box he was making for his mother. Around the rim, he’d embedded tilnak stones. Now, he etched her name, Nadira, on the top.

Caleb, his father said, we’re near the city.

Caleb sat upright and stared. His farm-boy experience struggled to comprehend the sight in front of him. Amoz city took up the entire horizon. It stretched as far as he could see from side to side, but more amazingly it rose high into the sky. Giant spiral towers winked in the sun ahead. The tallest things in Jaron were the signal towers and they weren’t much higher than his family’s barn.

How do they build so tall? he asked his father. Wouldn’t the wind make the buildings fall?

You always think of things beyond your age, his father said, chuckling. The Amoz are smart designers. They know how to make buildings sway in the wind without breaking.

How long does it take to build one?

I don’t know. Must be a very long time.

I’ll ask someone.

No, you won’t. You cannot speak to any Amoz or even look them in the eye. You could be punished, if you do.

Yes, sir, Caleb said. It doesn’t make sense though. What’s wrong with asking a simple question?

It’s law. I brought you on this trip because you are wiser than your friends. Don’t disappoint me.

Yes, sir, he answered. The last thing Caleb wanted to do was disappoint his parents. The warning had surprised him though, because he’d only thought of the sharers as dangerous. The teachers had always seemed nice enough. His father drove on in silence. Caleb watched as the city came closer. There were so many moving objects that his eyes couldn’t keep up.

Finally, they entered the outskirts. The city blocked out the sky and all of the surrounding countryside. It seemed like they were in a world of glass, metal and concrete. In the distance, Caleb saw hoverpods entering and leaving through a golden arch in the wall surrounding the city.

His father didn’t go to that entrance. Instead, he drove to a smaller opening, where there was an Amoz guard. Guards were a division of the Amoz Protectorate, like the sharers, and were dressed like them. Caleb studied the man out of the corner of his eye. Black covered the guard’s entire body. The sun glinted off his boots, and the creases in his pants looked razor-sharp.

The gen, general purpose weapon, shone brightly at his side. At its tip was a blue crystal. Caleb knew the crystal somehow had the power to lift heavy objects, injure a man, and even kill. It dimly pulsed, reminding him of the power within.

What is your business? the guard growled.

Caleb’s father told him. The guard touched his sleeve and a viewer appeared. He seemed to be reading something on the surface. He touched it again and the viewer was gone.

Leave your transport here, he said in the same gruff voice.

Why are we leaving the triam? Caleb whispered to his father.

Kinz are not allowed transports in the city, he said quietly.

This part of the city had rough, dingy gray structures. They had none of the bright colors that Caleb had seen on the towers. The House of Amoz can’t be in here.

No, we’re in the Kinz section. We’ll walk through here and then we’ll ride a group hover to the House.

The streets were deserted. No children ran or played. Caleb heard no voices from inside the dwellings. Where is everyone?

Most are working.

Caleb studied the buildings as they walked. Occasionally, he saw faces peering out. He waved and said hello to a little boy, but the boy popped his head back inside.

Why is it so quiet?

The City Kinz are quiet people.

I didn’t know there were enough of them to fill up this many buildings.

In the beginning, people traveled from our region each day to work. But as the city grew, the demand for workers was greater. Some settled here. Now generations later, the ways and traditions of City and Jaron Kinz have changed enough for us to be like different people.

The crude buildings ended abruptly, but the large wall still surrounded them. Caleb’s father strode to the wall and placed his hand against a smooth, black square. A deep grinding sound came from the wall and an opening appeared. Through it, Caleb could see Amoz City. People filled the streets as hovers flew overhead. He and his father stepped through, and the wall ground to a close behind them.

III

Here clangs, chugs, and whizzing noises came from every direction. Above that there was the constant murmur of hundreds of people talking; it reminded Caleb of water running over rocks. Home was quiet, aside from the sounds of the animals and the wind.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the hovers. The ones sharers drove all looked the same, but these were all different shapes, sizes, and colors. One even had people sitting on the top of it. The sight distracted Caleb so much that he had to run to catch up with his father.

One of the smaller buildings housed the hover station. Groups of Amoz stepped onto metal platforms that rose on the outside of the building up to each floor. Caleb watched as the building walls slid apart and