Last day. Last day in Diego, for foreseeably ever. Well, that is if I could get the bus driver to skim by bus pass. Tag said drivers from Itex didn't care, but the ones from Diego studied the bus passes so hard they'd know if the two council members somehow had "the same handwriting." I was hoping for an Itex driver.
Tag rode with me on my own smart-drive car. It felt like a dream, driving though the suburbs, to the machine belt, then finally to the park belt. The rings of the city faded away to the ruins and the smart-drive car stopped at the last bus stop. After that, there was about twenty kilometers before the edge of Diego territory. Then I'd be free.
It felt so weird to know this would be the last time I'd be here. I felt almost homesick of the place I once called home. Then again, I didn't know anywhere else then.
"Are you ready?" Tag asked, getting out of the car.
I programmed the car to go immediately home. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be," I said, getting out myself. The car drove away, and I realized that if I… failed, it would take at least half an hour for any car to get out here. No turning back now.
We sat down at the bus stop bench with our things. I only brought enough clothes for a day or so, and enough Diego currency to trade for Itex currency and start a bank account. I had no plans for the month and a half of summer where the dorms would be closed. Tag said I could live with him, but I didn't know what he had planned, either.
Tag sighed. "Last day, huh?" he said, breaking the silence. "Seems kind of strange, leaving home."
"What is home, anyway?" I said. "This will be our new home."
Tag took my hand. "Yeah, that's the spirit. New home!"
"Um…" I said awkwardly, staring now at his hand on mine.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, letting go. "I thought you know."
I almost hyperventilated. "Let's forget that happened. New beginnings, right?" The bus came into view.
"Yeah. New beginnings," Tag said finally. Another smart-drive car rolled in and Harriet Ladson stepped out. The bus stopped in front of me, and the door opened, silent save for an electric whirl. The three of us of in line, with Tag in front.
"Name," the gruff bus driver said in monotone.
"Tag Smith," Tag said, handing the driver his bus ticket. The bust driver grabbed it, squinted unconvincingly at it, and shoved Tag in.
"Next," he bellowed. Another car drove in, technically late by a few minutes.
I walked up, taking a deep breath. "Amery Carol," I said. I unfolded the half-completed bus ticket and waved it into his hands as quickly as possible. The driver frowned.
"Did you say your name was Annie Carol?" he asked.
I took a quick breath of air. "Amery Carol. A-m-e-r-y. Carol," I spelled.
The bus driver narrowed his eyes. "Elle's kid? I'm surprised you're here." He stuffed the paper back into my hand, not even giving it a second glance. "Next," he bellowed, shoving me in.
I had almost made it. Twenty more kilometers to go, and I would be free.
Two more people filed into the bus and then the driver got in. He made the usual no food, no drink, no weapons, no horseplay announcement and started off.
"Are you ready?" Tag asked. He was probably trying to calm me down. True, we were almost there, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't done yet.
"I suppose," I finally responded.
"Do you like chips or fries?" Tag asked. The good old game again. That never failed to lift my spirits.
"Chips," I said. "Crunchier and saltier." The driver seemed to look straight though my eyes in the review mirror. "Tag, no food, remember?" He shoved a salt and vinegar chip into my mouth.
"Shh," he whispered. "Too late." It was delicious.
Bombed out land stretched beyond the road as we neared the city's edge. Occasionally, there would be a government outpost all alone, keeping risky characters out. And, I realized, they were supposed to keep me in. Fat chance at that, I hoped.
Suddenly, the bus stopped at the gate. The definitive edge of the city. The edge of freedom, of life, of opportunity. The final goal. Right there. It was palpable.
The driver told us to line up single file. A man with a mustache walked out of the booth next to the gate. He held a blood sampling kit. For us. For me.
"It's okay," Tag whispered. I could hear the fear in his voice.
What now?" I asked. Fear was heavy in my voice as well. "Is this farewell?"
"Carol," Mustache said, handing me a packet to sterilize my finger. I stepped forward, swabbed my finer, and put it on the pad. Prick. Done. He gestured for me to get back on the bus, and then he called Jost's name.
I quickly rushed back to my seat in the back of the bus. I watched as everyone else was called up. The man didn't seem to be reading the output on his machine, as if the sample was for data basing instead of crosschecking. Tag slid beside me and we watched the man put away his blood sampling kit.
"Papers," he said. The people in the front row handed in their documents, and all too quickly, Mustache got to me.
"Amery?" he asked. "You're Amery, right?"
I gulped hard. "Yes?"
"You're Selvin's kid?" 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYw4aSIeuO
"Yes?"
Mustache nodded. "Smart family. He didn't talk about your transfer." 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwjaIrzFzV
"Oh, really?" I said, palms sweating. I gave him my paper. The half-empty one. The one with Selvin's forged signature and the empty spot for council member two.
"Sad to see you go," he said without looking at my pass. He walked to the front of the bus and disappeared into his booth.
Freedom. The bus crossed the Diego border and I was free. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUTrc2SFSW
