IX
Christine and I were not far from the University Chapel and their delightful gardens. I was desperate to slow our headlong rush, and buy time to think about where we were headed. I was a frequent visitor in the gardens, so access wouldn’t be a big problem. I agreed to go to the gardens; Christine had demurred from going to Slim’s. Christine had made a good suggestion. Slim’s was on the main drag through our sector. If we stayed there I would have to rely on the good will of the Dregs to get back to the club. I had been caught out in the gardens several times after curfew, but was able to get back to the club fairly easily by following a dried up creek bed. The Gardens were domed now, and fed by subterranean irrigation systems. The creek bed, that had once made the area so lush, was usually dry. I wouldn’t have to rely on the pass Christine had given me to make it to the show, this made me relax a little. We wouldn’t be able to have privacy, but if, as she said, she was the Gov’s step child, we wouldn’t have privacy anywhere anyway. The magnitude of the situation was overwhelming. I kept looking out for the bee sized surveillance drones, but who knows, maybe they were using upgrades to follow us.
The Gardens were one of the places the government worked very hard to maintain. Even in the most wretched draughts they were an oasis. God’s good earth was never to be seen as fallow, at least not from the steps of the cathedral. The city had once been spotted with parks and gardens, but years of financial decline, and the sky rocketing cost of food and fuel meant that the trees were used as firewood, and the gardens were strictly utilitarian. Not so for the Chapel Gardens though, they were resplendent with lush lawns and towering trees. There were wishing wells, and water walks (pools that were crossed by stepping stones), and even a wisteria wreathed gazebo. During holidays and weekends the place was thick with people. Families would picnic and enjoy the chance to get out of the baked dryness of their neighborhoods. Because it was domed, even the stench of the city was held at bay. The choking fumes were filtered out, the blazing ultraviolet sunlight was softened, and the burning hardness of concrete was replaced with the coolness of the sacred earth. I especially loved the oriental section of the gardens that were, without a doubt, the most popular possession on the grounds. We made for the shade of the native arboretum when we finally got through security. Even the gardens had weapons checks, and metal detectors.
Our pace slowed... It was wonderful to be in the gardens again. We walk along the quiet paths to one of my favorite haunts, the century magnolias. I had climbed the branches with my brothers when I was a boy. Somehow they had survived. At any other time the branches would be packed with kids, they were perfect for climbing, but it was nearing dusk on a weekday, so we had the place almost to ourselves.
“It was a good suggestion to come here”, I said in an attempt to break the ice.
“I haven’t made a bad suggestion all day, Count. You’re frightened for no reason. We could be on the bus right now if you trusted me.” I had no idea if this was true. Maybe she was insane; she wouldn’t be the only one.
“I wonder why all the rules bend for you, its hard for me to believe. While the iron hand in the velvet glove has crushed so many beautiful people, why has it found you so exceptional.” I was trying to explain myself, my terror of trusting her, but I was also fishing for information. I new there was more to the movie, but I had never seen this one before. I was used to the one where every break was mirrored by a setback. It would take some time to get used to one with a happy ending. “Why are you even interested in my project. If you are the Gov’s little girl you could walk through the doors of most prestigious dance school and launch a paint by the numbers career.”
Christine was leaning against a tree as I talked. We had reached a resting spot. The low light of the setting sun was mostly blocked by the broad ancient leaves of the prehistoric trees. Christine turned and hugged the knobby trunk of the tree.
She looked up into the canopy of leaves, and said very softly, “I want to be a part of something that is alive. The art in the Academies is shallow and hollow. Everyone knows that they are just stepping stones to the clubs. The moves are all predictable, the music is saccharine. There is no life in the party, everything is so predictable and antiseptic.” She turned to face me again. “When I heard your music for the first time it was like a blast of hot air. Some of the kids at school got ahold of Da Beaver and we wore it out. It was so different. It wasn’t hateful like a lot of the underground is. It was playful and funny.”
I interjected, “I am very proud of my beaver.”
She laughed. We were standing very close. The light was streaming through the tops of the trees now, because the sun was low in the west. I didn’t think it would be long before we would be told to leave the park.
She had more she wanted to say. I was under her spell again, hanging onto every word. I knew a patrol would come along, but I wanted to hear her out. I didn’t want to be the one to say we should leave. She continued, “I had no idea you were part of a dance troupe until a few weeks ago. My best friend got hold of a video of one of your shows. It didn’t sound like Da Beaver, but it was so different than what we were all doing. Michelle was one of the featured dancers, she is so beautiful and confident, I would give anything to be like her. Her moves are sexual without being vulgar. Her hands are so expressive. There is a fire in her, its obvious that she loses herself to it when she dances. The coldness of academy dances don’t compare. The judges with their brutal remarks, the constant comparisons to living legends, and the grooming for corporate success just sucks. I don’t want to dance in the clubs to synthetic bands, for pathetic people with hollow lives, and end up married to one of the Gov’s cronies. You of all people should empathize. Don’t you believe me?”
Well she had pushed all the right buttons. “Of coarse I believe you. I wouldn’t be here now if I didn’t, but the stuff about the Governor is mind blowing. And the security pass, how can I walk through the jaws of death knowing that it might not work. How could it work? Someone would recognize me and blow the teachers pass, then they would cut me to ribbons trying to get to you.”
“You don’t understand at all,” she said. “Listen, for a minute, and think about it. Why haven’t we been flushed out of the park already. It’s almost dusk.” Christine looked over my shoulder. ”Well this should settle it anyway. A patrol is coming, and they won’t even stop. Come on Count, kiss me quick, if they see us, you know, we may never be together again.”
I kissed her as if it was the last time I would see her. I had seen the patrols many times, but they had never seen me in the park this late. Their presence was ominous and conspicuous. They were hard to miss. I pulled Christine towards me while we kissed, and breathed into her. My hands cradled her head for a moment, and then I ran my fingers through her beautiful hair. I rested my hands on her hips. She reached down and held my hands, and slowly moved them up to her breasts. We kissed, and I tried to forget that we were being scanned. Police no longer had to ask for your identification. I tried to forget that I had two passes in my pocket. One pass said I was a tutor, the other said I was a known activist (an easy target), practically a traitor. We were still in the embrace when the patrol moved on.
“You kiss a lot better under pressure,” she said.
I said, “I thought I was going to die while groping the Gov’s daughter.” That was not a lie. “I had two passes on me. Why didn’t they take us in? It doesn’t make sense. What in the fuck is going on?”
“I’ve been tryin’ to tell you. The new rules apply when I say they do. You are going to have to accept it. They won’t ask us to leave the garden. They won’t fuck with us at the barricades. A new set of rules apply. Six has turned out to be nine, and personally I don’t mind. All the hippies have cut off their hair, and you don’t care. It’s the same thing. So, you have to stop fighting me all the time, it’s not a crime to have a good time. You’re safe with me. Can’t you see?” We kissed again, this time with less urgency and passion. It felt comfortable and warm. I was beginning to believe her.
We spent what seemed like hours in the park. No one disturbed us. I was in the garden I loved, with a beautiful woman who was promising to wrap her cloak around me and protect me. I told myself that I was a fool to doubt her. The moon was in the sky before the sun ever set. Its pale light shifted on the ground as it danced through the leaves. Christine danced for me after the sun had crashed. It was a gift that we shared with the moonlight, and the breeze, and the ancient trees. I had seen her dance only once before. Without musical accompaniment she made her own song. It could not have been more beautiful. I watched in rapt silence.
Again, we were running out of time. I wanted to stay forever where we were, but I tried to never be late for a show. I knew it would be difficult to tear away, but the shows had invisible strings that pulled me in their direction. Battle-ship chains dragging me out to sea. I could not resist the call.
I said, “Dear lady I must take my leave. You should come to Dwnwrdspyrl tonight and break bread with us. You can break the ice with Megan. I will help you. She is only watching out for her cubs. When she sees you aren’t a threat, she will welcome you. I know it. We have strict rules of engagement, their is no way you can get around them. It is important for you to be accepted by Megan and everyone else if you want to be a part of what I do.” I spoke calmly, but I felt like I was in a dream. I watched myself from above. Explaining family values to Christine, when I had just eviscerated them. The light danced across us as the breeze rustled through the leaves overhead. In some ways the world was very different, in others it was utterly the same.
Christine said she would come to the club later in the evening. She said the tension there was unbearable, and that I should smooth things over for her before she would come back. She was hungry now. She said she wanted to go to the Top Hat for dinner, where she could relax. The Top Hat was a upscale burger joint, Dwnwrdspyrl was not nearly as classy a place. I could see distance growing between us. I tried to ignore it. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I kissed her again. I begged her to come back to the club before midnight, but I was not sure she would. She left through the main gates to show me her power over them, I chose the dried out creek bed; it just felt like the way home to me.
