Tyler lifts his head up. Keons, the Bishop from Five, has appeared. The surprise effect never misses: one moment Keons is at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Altar, the next he's on top. Just like the other Bishops od Dema, Keons seems to move, not in fluid movements, but in jolts. He's there, and in the blink of an eye, he's somewhere else. Tyler remembers, weirdly, that this used to scare him at first. But soon enough, he learned to accept that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, and that if this was the price to pay to ensure his safety, then it wasn't a big deal, really, nothing to be scared about.
"Dear members," Keons' voice resonates in the courtyard, and Tyler witnesses some of his neighbors twitching nervously.
Keons doesn't need tools to amplify his voice. Keons doesn't yell. Yet, each of the members, wherever they kneel in the courtyard, hears him just as well as if he was whispering in their ear. His voice is heavy, low, robot-like in a way, but that, either, isn't something to be scared about.
"I regret to inform you that one of you, in this community, has tried, and failed, to escape the perimeter."
Keons' eyes are hard as they watch the assembly below him and, at his sides, Tyler notices most of the members lowering their heads, in shame or fear he can't tell. Tyler watches ahead. He isn't ashamed. He isn't scared. He follows the rules. He has nothing to be blamed for. Yet, when Keons' eyes cross his from under his red hood and behind his protection veil, Tyler can't help it: his head lowers too, his eyes landing on the feet of the person in front of him. His body, his blood inside seems to get cold. But Tyler isn't surprised. He doesn't wonder about it. Doesn't even seem to notice that he loses possession of his own body sometimes. Because he has learned to live with it. Because that's how people live in Dema.
"It's important to point out," Keons continues, "that each member of this community is here of their own free will. Nobody forced you in, and nobody will force you to stay. However, please note once again that the Wall and the cardinal doors, as well as the Surround, aren't simply there to decorate this place. They are all protection tools against external threats."
Tyler's head lifts up at these words, and he admires the towers of Silence, softly visible on the horizon. Further still, and all around him, the shadow of the Wall. The Surround isn't visible from the Regions, but Tyler has heard the Watchers: the Surround towers over Dema from so high that it seemingly disappears into the clouds.
"Please note," Keons' voice starts again, loud into Tyler's and the other members' ears, "that all attempts at unauthorized escape will be severely punished. It is intolerable for a member of Dema to put their neighbors at risk. Let me remind you that the Outside is a hostile place to humanity. Nobody can survive it. Dema is the only human community still alive. You all are the one and only proof of human life on Earth, and it is important to preserve you."
Tyler nods. Once again, only one question floats in his mind: why would anyone want to escape Dema? Incomprehension takes possession of his body as he glances furtively to the other members around him. Who? Which of them would want to escape? Who would have, voluntarily put the other members at risk? Tyler's eyes stop for a few seconds at the end of the last row where a man is sitting. Not kneeling like everyone else, but sitting on the grey cushion, legs crossed Indian style, eyes closed, a grin on his lips as if nothing at all was a worry. Tyler doesn't remember seeing him before.
"...starting tomorrow morning, each Region will follow a set of additional classes, as a reminder, since some of you have forgotten why you are here. And don't fear: we will find the one to be punished."
Tyler nods again without really knowing why, as his eyes find Keons again, pacing at the Altar in his full red robe.
"Finally, dear members, let me finish with these words: if your safety matters to you, stay vigilant, and don't be afraid to come and find your Bishop if you notice any suspect behavior."
Keons claps his hands together and steps down from the Altar – or rather, disappears from the Altar to reappear at the bottom of the stairs, before disappearing again on the horizon, the red shadow of his robe heading towards the towers of Silence. Everyone knows what this means, the hands clapping: back to your daily activities.
Keons' last words still resonate in Tyler's mind as he stands back up, followed by the other members of his Region. Careful, he glances behind him, towards the last row, but the man who was sitting there on the last cushion is now already walking towards the buildings.
"I wonder if they'll find him", RIko's voice reaches Tyler's ears, and it's hard for him not to roll his eyes. Instead, he shrugs and starts walking too when an idea strikes him.
"Riko, tell me," Tyler whispers. He knows he shouldn't talk, but he can't help it. "Who's that man, over there?"
Riko raises an eyebrow, following Tyler's look, before a smile reaches his lips. "You mean, the one wearing all grey?" he laughs.
Tyler doesn't even notice the joke, his eyes insisting. He already talked too much this morning. He doesn't want to waste more words today. Riko turns back to a straight face, frowning, then looks at Tyler one last time before heading towards the houses. "He's new, I believe. I think his name's Clancy."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
