The Beginning of the Future
By Mak Foerderer
Last Book in the Universe
By Rodman Philbrick
9/23/13
Chapter 1
A Message from Lanaya
“A message from Eden,” he says. His voice sounds like the whisper of the wind in a clear sky. “Someone you know says, ’Chox!’ and ‘Don’t forget me!’ and ‘Thank you,’ and a whole lot more. He grows a little every day and we love him as our own. Do not despair my friend. Today is theirs, but the future is ours.”
Two years later…
I sit staring at the piece of parchment I have just received. I am in Ryder’s cube in the stack box. It’s been two years since I’ve seen Bean, Lanaya, Little Face, and Ryder (since he was wheeled.) Since the probes have gone things are not as crazy, but the Bully Bangers still rule this latch. I haven’t spoken to Billy Bizmo in two years either. He tries to talk to me, but I ignore him and he leaves me alone. The runners now take paper to the people that can read and I’ve been practicing with this recorder. The parchment reads,
“Dear Spaz, Little Face is 8 now and has chosen to be called Little Spaz. He talks about you and misses you very much. In 20 days I will turn 17 and will be inaugurated to become one of the masters. I would love for you to be there. If you can, tell the runner and I will try to send someone to bring you and we will also try to fetch Bean. We miss you. This is the future I was talking about, today is the beginning of the future.”
I sent a yes with the runner and wondered whether it will really happen. For the last two years I had remembered seeing Bean, taking care of Little Face, learning from Ryder, and knowing Lanaya. When he was wheeled I tried to stop them, but I had no chance. They had to blame someone for the disappearance of the probes and Ryder was their target. That was the day I found out Billy Bizmo was my father. I tried to process it, but to tell you the truth I still haven’t. I figured if I ignored him, I’d feel better about it.
The Urb is basically still the same without the probes. There is less violence, but the skies are still grey. Although sometimes I can almost see the blue sky and green grass of Eden. I hope I can go back there, but I really don’t think that the other masters will allow me into Eden. Even from Lanaya’s message I knew she was worried.
That night I lay in bed wondering if she would actually send someone to get me and what would happen if she did. I drifted off and was dreaming of seeing Lanaya again, while wondering if she would still like me, when I woke up to someone on top of me shaking me forcefully. I couldn’t see who it was due to the darkness all around us.
“Get off of me,” I yelled throwing a punch in the direction I thought my attacker was.
“Stop Spaz,” a girl’s voice said.
I stopped in my tracks as the voice coursed through my head. I knew that voice--it was Lanaya. I got to my feet and walked over to where I knew my lamp was, I lit it and turned around. There was Lanaya with her blond hair and perfect, blue eyes, more radiant than ever before.
“Lanaya,” I said.
She ran at me and threw her arms around me and I returned the embrace.
“Oh Spaz, I’ve missed you!”
“I’ve missed you too Lanaya, more than you know.”
I looked in her eyes and remembered how dangerous it was for her to be here. After the probes were taken away Normals were very angry with the pruvs. I’ve even heard many say that they would kill any that were seen.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her a little harshly.
“I’ve come to take you to Eden, Spaz, don’t you want to come?”
“Of course, but Lanaya you shouldn’t have come. Normals aren’t too fond of pruvs at the moment and you need to leave now.”
“Oh Spaz, don’t worry, my guards are right outside and I’m not leaving without you. You're right I should go, but you’re coming with me.”
I knew I wanted to leave, but something told me I was probably never coming back. I looked at Lanaya, looked back at Ryder’s old house and made a decision.
“Alright I’m coming, I just have a couple things to grab.” I replied.
I grabbed my type recorder, Ryder’s old walking stick, a couple other things, and then walked towards the door when suddenly someone screamed! There was a thud. I grabbed Lanaya and pushed her behind me. Something or someone was moving outside the door and it was getting closer. I grabbed Ryder’s walking stick and opened the door. Outside were some of the Bully Bangers going through Lanaya’s takvee. Her guards lay passed out or worse ,dead, on the ground.
“Stop!” I yelled raising the cane.
“Oh, if it isn’t little Spaz boy,” The co-leader said in a mocking voice.
He edged closer and as he did, he pulled from his pocket a candle with a small bottle of gasoline. As I watched, he lit the candle with a match and said,
“Pruvs don’t belong here Spaz boy, and neither do you.” His face turned into a cruel, nasty smile.
Right then he chucked the lit candle and gasoline at Ryder’s hut.
“Lanaya!,” I screamed.
I ran into the house and grabbed Lanaya by the hand. I pushed her in front of me and just as I was almost out the door, I suddenly blacked and smelt the familiar smoky smell.
Chapter 2
Waking up in Eden
I woke up to find that I’m lying on a comfortable bed. My head hurts and I don’t want to open my eyes. I can’t remember what happened, all I can remember is that Lanaya was there. Then I fall back asleep.
The next time I wake up someone was holding my hand and putting a washcloth on my head. My vision is blurry and I pass out again.
Finally, I woke up and my vision was a little better. I was in a large room with big windows and a fan. I’m tired and my head still hurts like crazy, but I’m feeling better. I look up to find Lanaya holding my hand and Little Face sleeping in the chair next to me.
“Where am I?” I croaked, “Are you okay? What happened?”
“You're in Eden Spaz, we were at Ryder’s old hut when part of the Bully Bangers Gang came and tried to kill us. They had just threw the candle with gasoline at me when you ran in and pushed me out the door. Right as you were about to come out you had a seizure and fainted. The Bully Bangers tried to grab me, but then one of my guards woke up and took me away. The Bangers then smashed your head pretty badly before we got to you, and you’ve been asleep for 5 days. You woke up a couple of times, but then went back into your coma.”
I tried to speak, but no words came out. I wasn’t sure what to think, how to react, or whether to believe that I was in Eden.
“Oh, I’m sorry Spaz, I didn’t mean to overwhelm you!”
“You didn’t.” I said.
Then I slowly felt myself drifting off again. I closed my eyes and slept.
When I awoke again, nobody was in the room besides me. I saw a tray of food next to the bed and picked it up to begin eating. The food looked delicious, better than anything I had had in a long time!
