Sunset Rising (4 page)

But before we could pass through those imposing doors, we had to get through reception.
There were a lot of guards, most of them wearing the white uniform of the Pit and some the khaki uniform of the Dome. While the guards in the Pit stood out in white, the bourge preferred their guards to look less conspicuous. We called them Domers.

“Scan in
,” a guard dressed in white directed me as we approached reception.

I turned the back of my hand above the scanner
, and it beeped. Summer had been sent to a different scanner, and I waited for her.

“Move on
,” the guard instructed me. I started to tell that him I was waiting for Summer, but he cut me off. “Move on.”

Since I had no
choice, I joined the queue and walked through one of the large steel doors. Of the two doors, only one had been opened, so we had to file through in pairs. No one was really talking, and I kept to myself as well. I was unprepared for the sight of the Dome when I passed through those doors, and I gasped.

“Let me gu
ess. It’s your first time here,” the girl beside me said. She looked younger than me.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.
”

“Well if they
really
like you, you’ll get to see it
all
the time.”

“You’ve been here before
.”

“To
o many times,” she said glumly. “But I guess it’s not so bad. The food is good. If he decides to share it.”

“Oh.
” I wasn’t sure what to say to her. Suddenly I had the urge to turn and run.

Summer came to stand beside me.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“A
nother newbie,” the girl said with feigned surprise and walked away.

“What’s her problem?” Summer asked.

I thought about telling her but decided it was best if I didn’t.
“Nothing. Just promise me that you won’t be your usual happy self tonight. Try not to smile too much. Okay?” I didn’t want anyone upstairs to
really
like Summer, but she was so pretty that I didn’t know how she would avoid it.

“I promise. I’ll b
e miserable.”

As we stood waiting with the others, we
took in all the colors of the Dome. It was almost impossible to believe that this beauty existed right above our dark world of rock, concrete, and steel. All the walls were smooth and painted in shades of yellow. Colorful framed pictures hung on the walls, so much richer in detail than the charcoal sketches and carvings we made in the Pit. Even the floor came alive with richly patterned rugs resting under overstuffed sofas and chairs.

“Line up!”
a matronly looking woman shouted.

Summer and I took our place in line, but this time I
clasped Summer’s hand firmly in mine so we wouldn’t get separated again.

“Is that a real plant?”
she whispered.

I looked in the direction she was staring and saw a large green thing sitting in some kind of pot.

“I
think it is!” I could hear the excitement in my own voice. I’d never seen a live plant before, just fruits and vegetables in the kitchen.

“There will be no talking!” the woman said, glaring at Summer and me.
We quickly fell silent. “I’m your supervisor for the evening. Do everything I say, go everywhere I tell you, and we’ll get along just fine. Follow me.”

She led us across the big reception room to another set of d
oors that were much smaller than the main doors behind us. We filed through in a single line and walked down a short narrow hall that ended in another doorway. The doors were made of frosted glass and “Gym” was written across them. The room was smaller than the last one and full of weird equipment.

“Fo
r all you newbies, this is the gym. It’s where people come to stay in good physical condition,” our supervisor said.

Summer gave me a questioning look, but I didn’t know how they used the equipment to stay in good physical condition either.
We continued through another set of doors, and the air was suddenly very humid. We stepped inside, and I saw the biggest pool of water I had ever seen in my life.

“Wow!
” Summer exclaimed, a little too loudly. “What is it?”

“Who said that?”
our supervisor demanded.

Everyone pointed at Summer.

She
gave Summer a look of disgust. “It’s a swimming pool, you dumb girl. Although I shouldn’t be surprised that an urchin wouldn’t know that. Unfortunately, it’s the only area large enough to bathe all of you. We can’t have you serving at a presidential dinner as filthy as you are. But, not to worry, when you’re done, the pool will be drained and fresh water added.”

I thought of our own dirty stone tubs in the Pit and wondered where they found enough water to fill such an enormous pool. I looked over at Summer to see if she was just as shocked as I was, but
she had her hand in the air trying to get the supervisor’s attention. I made a grab for her arm to pull it down, but it was too late.

“Yes
?” our supervisor asked in an exasperated voice.

“We had a bath before we came,” Summer said
, proudly pointing at the two of us. I wanted to hide my face in my hands.

“Really.” S
he looked us up and down, not convinced. “If you don’t get into that pool yourself, I’ll assign someone to strip you and scrub that dirt off your filthy body. Am I clear?”

“Yes
, ma’am,” Summer said quickly.

I didn’t want to strip in front of the other girls and the supervisor.
My mother taught me to bind my breasts with tightly tied fabric, and I wore baggy clothes to hide them. She never wanted me chosen for this kind of work, and, as much as she loved the color of my hair, she was the one who taught me to use the coal to cover it up.

I stripped
reluctantly, ignoring the glances from the other girls, and eased myself into the pool. I was relieved that the water was chest high and my ponytail only grazed the surface—the bath shouldn’t disturb the coal in my hair. I relaxed a bit and enjoyed the warmth of the water. I wondered how this enormous pool stayed so warm.

Our supervisor
gave us a bar of soap and a nailbrush to pass around and then shampoo. My heart sank. I wasn’t afraid of anyone seeing my true hair color, but it would draw attention to me, and, tonight of all nights, I wanted to blend in. Figuring the guard’s threat about getting someone to scrub me if I didn’t scrub myself applied to hair as well, I decided it was best just to get on with it. I pulled the elastic out of my ponytail and slipped it around my wrist. I wet my hair and began to work in the shampoo.

“Sunny,” Summer whispered. “
The suds are black. The coal is washing out.”

Black
suds were dripping into the pool, darkening the water all around me. I pulled a few strands of my long hair down in front of my face and studied the bright red shining through the suds. Then I realized that most of the girls were staring at me. Our supervisor tutted. My face burned, and I sank down under the water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. As I resurfaced, we were ordered out of the pool.

We were each given a crisp white uniform to put on
, and I sighed. How could we keep these clean while serving food? What if someone bumped us, or spilled something on us? Would we be getting any extra credits for tonight’s work so we could cover the cost of the uniforms if we had to? I was already strapped for credits since I was docked half a day today.

“Well, my, my,”
the supervisor said, stopping to look me up and down. I didn’t like her expression. She took a lock of my hair between her fingers and thumb and rubbed it, almost as if she were testing to see if the color would come away. She smiled. “You are going to be very popular.”

I wondered what she meant by that
then realized I probably didn’t want to know.

In silence, I donned the crisp white uniform and tried to gather my hair into a tight bun, but
a few wisps always escaped the elastic. Frustrated, I took a deep breath and smoothed my palms over each side of my head, willing the errant strands into place.

Summer gave me a sympathetic look.
“She’s just trying to scare you.”

M
aybe Summer was right. After all, people in the Pit noticed my hair because it was a spot of color in an otherwise monochrome world. But up here in the Dome, the bourge were used to seeing a lot of colors. The walls, the floors, the furniture, the plants—everywhere I looked color shone out. My hair would blend in.

Our supervisor
told us to line up for the elevator. She explained that the kitchen was six floors up, which was too far for us to walk. Since I walked a mile of stairs to work every day, six floors didn’t sound like a very long climb at all, but I was happy to take the elevator. I had never been in one before.

When our turn came
, Summer grabbed my arm as the doors closed. The elevator began its ascent, and a rolling sensation gripped my stomach. For a moment, I thought I might be sick. Then the elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened again. I’m not sure I enjoyed the ride. Summer looked a little green, too.

The kitchen was a short walk from the elevator
, and we were shown through the servants’ entrance. This kitchen was different from the one Summer and I worked in on the main floor. There was polished steel everywhere, huge refrigerators, and twice as many stoves as in our kitchen. The floors gleamed white despite the many people rushing around preparing food.

“Go over there
,” said a busy cook, pointing to where a group of girls dressed exactly as we were stood waiting patiently.

We joined the queue
and waited for the rest of our group. Once we were all present and accounted for, our supervisor marched us into the dining room. It was positively breathtaking. Real wood floors shone with a glossy polish. Round tables scattered about the dimly lit room were draped in heavy white tablecloths and adorned with crystal glasses and silver cutlery. What looked like actual candles stood in the centre of the tables—but I was sure they couldn’t be real because the law prohibited open flames inside the Dome. Any open flame would be too much of a fire hazard. But the flickering glow from the candles was still real enough to make sparkles of light dance on the crystal and silver.

A camera cr
ew was set up to broadcast the president’s arrival. Some of the dinner guests were already seated at the tables while others still shuffled in. Our supervisor told us to stand along the back wall with our backs straight and our arms at our sides. The president would be the last to enter the room, and we, along with the rest of the guests, would have to salute him.

It
took forever, but finally everyone was seated. The national anthem began to play, heralding the president’s arrival. The sound of chairs scraping across the floor filled the room as everyone stood to attention for the arrival of President Damien Holt.

The whole thing
was all so pompous, yet I was excited by the thought of seeing him for real. I glanced over at Summer, and I could tell she was excited too.

T
he front of the room was hard to see with so many people in the way, but I was tall and standing on my tiptoes gave me a partial view. I saw the president enter and was struck by how short he was. The patches of grey at his temples stood out in stark contrast to his otherwise dark hair. He took his position at the head table and waited for the music to end. When it did, everyone in the room snapped their right arm straight up in a salute then quickly placed it over their heart—a gesture meant to show support and demonstrate obedience. The room was silent until the president cleared his throat.

“We are here tonight to toast th
is young man, Jack Kenner.” Damien Holt patted the back of the man standing beside him. I recognized the bridegroom from the interviews I had seen on the television in our common room. It was hard to tell from this distance if he was as handsome in person.

“In two days he will be joined with my most prized
possession—my daughter, Leisel. This will mark the first time in the history of the Dome that the Holt and Kenner families will be united by marriage. And one day, Jack, you will occupy the Presidential Office with my daughter at your side. Together you will lead our people into the next century.”

The crowd clapped
, and a cheer went up.

“I won’t lie to you
, Jack. It won’t be an easy task for you and my daughter. These are turbulent times. It has been almost three hundred years since the enemy dropped nuclear bombs across our lands. Almost three hundred years since our people were forced into the bio-dome to seek refuge from the fallout of those bombs. And almost three hundred years later, here we all stand.” He paused to look around the room, giving an air of drama to his words. “A testament to our strength and power. Despite our enemy’s best efforts to annihilate us, we continue to survive!”

All the guests were clapping again, shouting
“President Damien Holt” at the top of their lungs. The bridegroom was no exception. They all seemed a little crazy. Then the president raised his hand, and the crowd immediately fell silent again.

“
I know there have been rumours, my friends. Rumours that our food is running out and that it’s time we moved out of the Dome and back onto our lands.” He paused again, this time pointedly looking at some individuals in the room. A few men shifted uncomfortably. “Who here thinks that I would let my people starve? Who here thinks that I do not know whether our land is arable yet?” Another uncomfortable pause as he waited for anyone fool enough to answer him. No one did. “I have always been honest with you. And I have always been open about the samples the drones bring back to us, and they are still
radioactive
!
Going out there is not an option
!”

The p
resident was yelling so loud that it hurt my ears. The bridegroom continued to stand beside his future father-in-law, vigorously nodding his head in agreement. Holt straightened his tie and then smoothed back his hair in what looked like an attempt to regain his composure. He took a few deep breaths.

“These vicious rumours are causing unnecessary apprehension
, and they must cease before hysteria results. Already there has been unrest in the Pit because these falsehoods are leading our friends down there to believe they are being treated unfairly!” The president drew his lips into a tight line and balled his hands into fists. “Did we not open our doors to all those civilians who came to us seeking shelter from the bombs?”

The crowd nodded
their heads and a few yelled, “
Yes
!”

“
And do we not continue to provide shelter, despite their growing population and despite their growing demands on our food and water supplies? The Dome is capable of providing enough for everyone if we continue to live sustainably. So I say to our neighbours in the Pit that we must
all
do our part to maintain harmony and balance within the confines of our refuge!” As he spoke, his voice became steadily louder until he was yelling again. The guests shouted their agreement, giving the president their full support. He held up his hand to silence them once more.

“
We can continue to grow strong, but it is up to each and every one of us to make that happen. And the marriage of my daughter to this man, Jack Kenner”—he patted the bridegroom on the back—“demonstrates that our life here can be every bit as good and beautiful as human existence was before the bombs. I can’t think of anything more inspiring than to see two young people in love joined in holy matrimony with all the possibilities the future holds before them. They are the embodiment of hope. And it is with these sentiments that I invite all of my people to take a day off from work and celebrate Leisel’s day. I have authorized the wedding to be televised. And for all those who think we are on the brink of starvation, I give a feast. It will be a day of celebration! A day to rejoice in all that we have to be thankful for!”

He
reached for Jack Kenner’s hand and held it high in the air. The guests were going crazy. Shouts of “Long live President Holt!”
went up. I heard a few people giving their praises and congratulations to the groom. I could only imagine the reaction in the Pit now that the rumour of a feast was confirmed.

It seemed like an eternity before the
two men finished patting each other on the back and the president took his seat. Everyone else followed suit. The camera crew packed up and left. Our supervisor ushered us back to the kitchen and ordered us to start taking the food out to the guests.

The girl in front of us
turned to look at Summer and me. “Since you’re new, I’ll help you out.” She was the same girl I’d spoken with downstairs. “You’ll be assigned a number when they give you a tray. Go out through those doors and find the table with your number on it. When you serve, you put the plates down
gently
between the cutlery in front of the person at the table. Usually you serve ladies first, but this is a bachelor party for the groom so there are no ladies here tonight. When everyone at the table is finished eating, clear the plates away. Then you can serve the next course.”

“Thank you,” I said.
I had no idea it would be so complicated. “I’m Sunny, and this is Summer.”

“I’m Wynd,” she said,
and gave us a halfhearted smile.

We were each given a tray
holding four plates. We had to balance the tray on one hand so the other was free to set plates down. I was afraid I would drop it, but when I focused on just putting one foot in front of the other, I made it to the dining room with no trouble. I’d been assigned table nine. I searched out that table and headed toward it.

There were twelve men sitting
there, all oblivious to my arrival. I set the plates down at each place setting just as Wynd had told me. No one complained, so I assumed I was doing it right. I expected them to start eating right away. I would. The food looked and smelled delicious. But they just continued talking among themselves, ignoring both the food and their server. My tray empty, I made my way back to the kitchen for more. My tray was refilled with four more plates, and I returned to table nine. Still no one had eaten. How could they ignore all that food? It was taking every bit of my will power not to eat it myself. I delivered the plates and went back for more. When I’d served all the plates, the men finally began to eat. I joined the other servers standing at the back of the room as we waited for our tables to finish.

While I was
waiting, Wynd told Summer and me that the bourge ate their meals in courses. Tonight the first course was salad, the second soup, the third a plate of meat and vegetables, and the fourth—and final—dessert. It was going to be a very long night.

With each course I served
, it became harder and harder to ignore the smells wafting up from the food. I was practically drooling. I was certain that the sound of my stomach growling was loud enough to be heard over the din of conversation and music. But on and on they ate. I delivered a full plate and took it away only half empty. Finally I served the last course—dessert. It looked scrumptious.

“Listen up
girls!” our supervisor called out. “After you finish cleaning off your assigned table, wait by those doors for further instructions.” She pointed to the doors we’d come in through earlier. “Once you’ve been given something more appropriate to wear for the evening, you’ll be brought back to the dining room. Under no circumstances should you approach any of the men. If someone wants your company, he’ll let you know.”

Nausea rose
up inside me. I’d been hoping this part of the evening would never arrive. Summer looked worried too, although she tried to hide it when she caught me looking at her. Glumly we picked up our trays and went back into the dining room to clear tables. This time I kept a close eye on Summer. I didn’t want us separated again, so I matched my speed to hers. When we were finished clearing, I walked just fast enough to get behind her.

Summer walked through the doors, stopping to place her tray on the racks provided for dirty dishes.
The small alcove leading to the kitchen gave us a precious moment of privacy.

“Don’t leave my side tonight
, Summer.”

She
turned to look at me. “I’ll try, Sunny. But I’m scared.”

“So am I.”

She stepped aside to allow me to set my tray down, and as I did she plucked a tidbit of leftover dessert from one of the plates.

“Summer, what are
you doing?” Stealing food was never tolerated. She knew that. I almost dropped my tray onto the rack.

She opened her mouth to say something, but a
muffled noise signalled that we were not alone. A jolt of panic went through me. Without thinking, I snatched the food out of Summer’s hand and popped it into my mouth.

“Hungry?”
a woman asked from the shadows.