Free Unison (The Spheral) by Eleni Papanou Page B

Whenever we were together I could be myself, without all the pretenses.”
    Old Woman smiled. “In Unity we can be enslaved, and in Unity we can also come together as individuals. This contradiction confused me at first.”
    “I could tell her anything because I knew she’d understand.” Wade wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Now I have no one to confide in. It’s unbearable…the loneliness I feel.”
    “Nasia was passionate about her beliefs, but I never thought she’d go to such an extreme to prove them,” I said. “Introducing you to her was a mistake.”
    “It was the smartest thing you ever did. Before Nasia, I didn’t know what it meant to feel alive.”
    “Then why have you been a walking dead man for the past seven years?”
    “I never found anything else to live for.”
    “You have to live for yourself.” Old Woman unclasped her holologue and handed it to Wade. “And you can only do that after you free yourself. Make the effort to see ahead, or you’ll remain as you are.”
    I grabbed Wade’s arm. He pulled himself away and took the holologue.
    “It’s anti-Unitian!” I yelled. “Read that poison, and you’ll probably succumb to the scourge, like her.” 
    I tried to snatch the holologue from Wade, and he violently pushed me away.
    “Are you sure you don’t have the scourge?” I asked. “You haven’t even read what’s in that thing, and see how irrational you’re already acting.”
    “I have the…the…” Wade rubbed his head. “I can’t even think of a word to describe what I’m feeling.”
    “Right,” Old Woman said.
    Wade scowled at me. “I have the right to do as I choose.”
    “If you listen to her, you’ll end up living in the middle of the woods communing with  boars and wild dogs.”
    “Sounds like paradise compared to Unity.” Wade walked away.
    I glared at Old Woman. “This will be the last day you’ll speak your seditious words."
    Her gaze remained relaxed. “What have I said that you find threatening?”
    I gripped my plazer.
    “Killing me won’t silence your doubts. It’ll make them scream louder.” She stared at my hand on the plazer and then at me. “I’m old and tired,” she said. “This was Torrin’s crusade…not mine. Do it, if you must.”
    Old Woman walked to the counter and calmly poured herself a glass of water. “I’m usually not this candid with visitors.” She took a sip of water.
    “What do you want from us?” I asked.
    “Nothing.”
    I stared at Wade and then back at Old Woman.
    “I can only hear the truth when I make the choice to listen,” Old Woman said. “It took me over fourteen weeks of watching Torrin’s interactions with Unitians to understand. If I ask you to think or live as I do, I’d be worse than the Overseer.” She glanced directly into my eyes. “You’ll learn this in your own time.”
    “For that blasphemous remark, you’ll be brought up on charges of treason.” I peered into the optic of my holologue. A blow to the back of my head threw me to the floor, rendering me unconscious.

 

    HIKING PAST THE CROSSROAD
    W ade sat on the chair in front of the window. He didn’t flinch when I regained consciousness or when I groaned from the throbbing pain radiating from the back of my head. Fearing Old Woman killed him I tried to call for help, but my holologue was missing. I took a deep breath and sat up.
    “In case you’re looking.” Wade raised an arm in the air. Three holologues were strapped to his wrist. He extended his other hand and waved my plazer. “You gave me no choice. I didn’t want you to turn her in.”
    “Your regret is touching. Where is the old woman now?”
    “I told her to leave.”
    I grabbed the edge of the counter and slowly lifted myself to my feet.
    “I can’t feel anything, except for the stun from the implant,” Wade said. “Harmony stole everything else.” Wade stood and faced me. His eyes were vacant. “The most gloomy revelation came to me while you were