Chapter 4
Male voice, older: "Begin Alpha Recording Session 4."
(Pause)
Female voice, younger: "My name is Raine Elsie Johnson Bergrenn."
(Pause)
"During this time period of the first few months, I was learning Ginsanese as fast as could, working at the hospital, smuggling medicine to Petr, and trying to spy on my husband. It was a rather busy time for me!"
(Laughter)
"Most days everything went well, but there were some days that I thought would be the death of me. One day, for example, during the second month, Celene and I had a huge fight. I came in late from work and she was alone. 'Where is everyone?' I asked as I took off my jacket. 'I don't know, Raine,' Celene barked, her tone of voice showing displeasure. 'What's wrong. Celene?' I enquired, hoping she was alright. 'I'm fine.' I rolled my eyes – I didn't believe that for a second. 'Are you lying to me?' I asked; it was a joke between us. Celene dropped the towel in her hand and sat down on our burgundy couch, head in hands. 'Celene, sweetie, come on, one what's wrong...?' Angrily, she cut me off, 'shut up, Raine! Stop trying to fix everything! Stop pretending to be nice!'"
(Pause)
"I pulled back, shocked. I couldn't think of anything to say, but I didn't have to. 'I hate how you get to leave, how everything is so easy for you!' 'This isn't easy for me. I am so-' 'No, Raine, it is easy for you. You go to work and come home happy. You never cry, you never seem sad.' Her voice loud and shrill, she finished, 'You like them coming here taking over Firmslad!' I confess, I saw red for a second, but I took a deep breath... and lost my temper. 'Oh, is that so? You think this easy for me? Well guess what, Celene, it isn't! I don't cry, because I have no tears left and, frankly, I just don't see the point. I am trying to survive here - I don't have time to waste moping around.' She tried to cut me off again, but I held up my hand and plowed on, 'I hate them! I hate them coming into our country and killing our people and ordering us around and keeping us from our families and marrying us off! I hate them!!' "
(Pause)
"'But you don't see that do you? You're too busy feeling sorry for yourself and fraternizing and falling in love with the enemy!' At that I knew I had gone too far, her face was red with fury as mine was, I'm sure. I tried to calm myself, 'look, Celene, I'm sorry – it's none of my business. I know you love Firmslad. I just...' 'No, I see what you're saying, Raine. You think I'm a traitor.' 'No, I....' 'I guess we just won't agree over that.' 'Alright, we'll just forget about that,' I agreed, choosing to ignore that fact that she had pretty much called me a traitor as well. There was an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly, Celene hugged me tight, 'I'm so sorry, Raine! I've been so moody and unfair to you!' I sighed and hugged her back, 'It's alright – I said things I shouldn't have and I have been neglecting you lately.' Things were better after that, but she was quiet as we prepared dinner. I confess I worried."
(Pause)
"The next morning was a little strained between the two of us, but we both pretended nothing was wrong. I got out of there as soon as I could. For the last couple of days, I had been allowed to walk across campus to the makeshift hospital myself. I smiled – the more they trusted us the better. But apparently I had smiled too soon, two men in suits and sunglasses came up to me. 'What are you doing, miss?' said the first holding his hand up as they stood in front of me. I tried to smile, but their cold faces stopped me, 'I'm on my way to the hospital, I work there.' I was confused, who were these men?"
(Pause)
"I found out later they were GSS, Ginsanean State Security. Like the KGB of Old Russia, the GSS monitored both Ginsaneans and Firmslads. They wore black suits, white shirts, with black ties, and black sunglasses, looking like the proverbial G-Men. However, right now I had no idea who they were. The second one spoke, 'Where's your pass?' 'Pass?' I squeaked. 'I don't have a pass. I didn't - I've never...' 'What's your name, girl?' 'Raine Elsie Johnson, er, Bergrenn,' I almost forgot that new last part. That was the first time I had used my new name – it sounded strange on my lips."
(Pause)
"'Bergrenn?' asked the first one. 'Are you the major's wife?' I nodded. He continued, 'well then, I guess you're alright. Here let me make you a pass - how often do you go out?' 'Um, everyday,' I said. 'When are you supposed to be there and when do you get off?' I thought quickly; a few extra hours would give me extra time. 'Seven to six,' I said quickly, before I lost my nerve. 'There you go, Mrs. Bergrenn, he said as he pulled the new plastic card from his handheld. Don't go anywhere without this.' I managed a half smile as they let me by. The second said in Ginsanese as I walked off, 'lucky man; she's pretty cute.' I blushed and hurried away so they wouldn't know that I had understood them. Men!"
(Laughter)
"I looked over my card – it was black plastic with my name and picture on it. Where on earth had they gotten my picture? I think it was a yearbook photo of me – we had taken them at the beginning of the year, but I hadn't even seen it yet. It sent a shudder of fear down my back, these people really had us under tight surveillance. It had the times, the hospital, and a rank - 'level 2.' Who knew what that meant? I shoved in my pocket and hurried to the hospital. Work was routine there and at a break I went out back and looked for Petr. As usual Petr came out in a few minutes. I smiled at his curt greeting and handed him the dictionary. 'Finished already?' he looked surprised. 'I think I've got the gist of it; hopefully now I can use it. Hey, what do you know about this?' I handed him my new card. He looked at it thoughtfully for a moment."
(Pause)
"'You just got this? Nice job with the times. I have somewhere to take you sometime. This should work out nicely.' 'How do they have our pictures and what does level 2 mean?' 'Who knows how they got all the pictures. Level 2 means citizen, no threat. Most of us are level 1 or citizen, possible hostile, see?' He handed me his card. I smiled at the picture; he had the same serious expression, but his eyes seemed softer. I had never noticed before, probably because of his continual sour expression, but Petr was a good-looking man. I cleared my throat, 'they give everyone these?' 'Yeah,' he nodded. He straightened up, 'I have more serious matters to discuss with you. There's been an outbreak in the city.'"
(Pause)
"An outbreak? I felt my heart tighten up. 'It's not too dangerous at the moment, but there's been an outbreak of typhoid fever among children who haven't had the vaccine yet - the Ginsanean don't seem to care about those types of things.' 'Typhoid ? I thought that was a tropical disease.' I snuck Petr inside; 'apparently things like this spread in poor living conditions,' he muttered quietly. Oh heavens, what was it like for the poor people in the city? I felt terribly guilty, I lived in comfort, while the poor people lived in squalor. Petr must have noticed my expression, because he placed a hand on my shoulder and said, 'it's not that bad, Raine.' Inside the storeroom, I grabbed a reference book and flipped through it in the dim light. 'Here: typhoid fever. Um, let's see, treatment: the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. I don't think we have any of those.' I looked through the storeroom shelves. 'Maybe some strong antibiotics will work – the book is old after all. How much do you need?' Petr frowned, 'as much as possible.' I sighed and pulled off eight bottles of the twelve there, 'maybe no one will notice.'"
(Pause)
''I asked, 'you let me know what happens, won't you? Maybe I can get more.' He nodded in affirmation and stuck the bottles in his coat pockets. 'I have to go now, Raine. You've been a great help.' I smiled; maybe he was warming up finally. I saw him out and leaned against the doorframe watching him slip into the shadows. Shaking my head, I turned inside; I could only hope the children would be alright. Dr. Kurtz let me go early again and I dared to take the long way to the dorm room, delighting in this little bit of freedom. No one stopped me, but even if they had, I had my card. It was another night with strangers, and it was extra strained because Celene was still acting awkward."
(Pause)
"I wish now that I had talked more with her, but I can't change what happened – I did think that things were going to be fine, if not now then soon, after all. The next day, I left early for work and with a bit of courage, went around the back instead of going in, hoping to see Petr. He wasn't there, and I decided to walk down the alley to look around. I had never wandered around this part of the campus before. The hospital was on the edge of the university and the alley behind it was between two buildings a dozen stories high in Le Sourne. I walked down a ways and looked out before me. There were a score of buildings beyond with narrow streets weaving and fumbling throughout. It was dark and dank; garbage and rubble filled the streets, making piles of inscrutable filth. Horrid smells wafted through the air and I held my hand under my nose to keep it from creeping any closer. It was vile; I felt like gagging, but I swallowed hard and got over it, just like I had done in the hospital weeks ago in triage."
(Pause)
"I was then overcome by a feeling of horror – my poor people were forced to live in such squalid conditions. Morning light had not penetrated these weary streets and their gloom echoed the somberness in my heart. No wonder they had contracted typhoid. As least as far as I could tell, the streets were barren, save a few rats I saw boldly running around the area. At least someone was thriving, I thought caustically. I was too upset to go any further and slowly turned and walked back to the hospital."
(Pause)
"I was depressed the rest of the day. Dr. Kurtz even noticed and looked concerned, but didn't say anything. I was anxious to get home and back there I went to bed early, though I refused to cry myself to sleep. The next day I awoke surprisingly refreshed and set out. After work Petr was there, I was glad to see. 'How are the sick people? Did the medicine work. Do you need....'
Petr cut off my hurried questions, 'they're getting better, but that's not why I'm here.'
I was greatly relieved, but asked, 'what do you need?'
He raised an eyebrow, 'come with me.'"
(Pause)
"'Hold on,' I cried as Petr disappeared into the dark alley. His dark figure stopped and he shushed me as I caught up. I smiled sheepishly and he frowned, but turned to continue in the darkness. I followed him for a few minutes, then he ducked into a doorframe in the back of one of the dank buildings. 'What is this?' I hissed as silently as I could. Again he frowned, but only for a second as he tapped on the door.
A shadowed face opened the peephole and peered out. 'Petr. Who’s this?'
'She is the girl I told you about–'
'Ah, yes,' said the face as it looked me over, 'well, she seems alright.' We were led inside by people wearing sunglasses – odd in the dark room I thought, but they were mostly likely to conceal their identity like the GSS. I tried not to stare, and as my eyes wandered around the ceiling tiles, I jumped as hands began to pat me down, searching for weapons. I tensed up, but was too shocked to react."
(Pause)
"I was greatly relieved when I made out a female figure behind me. They did the same to Petr and then were blindfolded. Very odd, I thought again, but I complied, seeing as Petr obeyed willingly. 'It’s for security,' he confided. 'They will pass us along, blindfolded, from place to place – so that no one will know the entire route and all the hideouts of the underground.'
I frowned, 'but someone must know the who route, how else could it have been set up? Where does it go, any...'
I could imagine him glaring at me as he hissed, 'Be quiet, Raine.'
The first voice sounded, if you two are done, we should get you moving.'"
(Pause)
"As I stumbled along in the dark, being switched from hand to hand, I thought about what I was doing. Who were these people? Firmslads, all of them, I assumed, but who were they really? Sure they were probably all opposed to Ginsanea and the their control over us, but what were their motives for risking their lives - freedom?"
(Pause)
"What was my reason? I frowned. Duty was the first thing that popped into my head; I had never even considered not helping my people. Justice – what they had done was wrong; I too longed for freedom. But that was all the time I had for contemplating my innermost feelings; I suppose I should have been paying attention to where we were going, counting the turns or something. It made me smile, perhaps they had just been walking us in circles around the alley."
(Laughter)
"But when they took the blindfolds off, I saw that we were in a completely different place - an unpretentious room, bare with only a few chairs dimly lit by a single, swinging light bulb. I turned to Petr and was surprised to see that he wasn't in the room; I was alone. Somehow, the entire situation stuck me funny, perhaps it was from my thoughts earlier or maybe it was simply nervousness. All the same, I started to laugh at the absurdity and melodrama of it all."
(Laughter)
"As soon as the first few chuckles had escaped my mouth, I blushed with embarrassment – what on earth were they underground people going to think of the crazy, laughing girl. I fact, I bet that they were watching me right then. Unfortunately, that thought made me laugh again. I did manage to calm down before the door opened. An ordinary, middle-aged man walked in, holding two manilla folders. "Ah, Miss - er, Mrs. Bergrenn, so nice of you to come in. How are you?'"
(Pause)
"For the most contrary reason, his cordial pleasantries immediately made me feel uneasy and I set myself go on guard. 'I am one of the underground’s leaders, you may call me Mr. Hahn I am here to see if you can be made useful to Firmslad’s resistance army. Won’t you have a seat?' I sat, staying silent as he sat in one of the other folding chairs. 'Raine Elsie Johnson Bergrenn, yours is a small file – not much is known about you – not much to be known, I suspect. The only reason really that we are interested in you at all is your position in the hospital and, more importantly, your husband. Our intelligence,' with this he opened the other, much thicker folder, 'has shown that your husband, Major Gavrie Bergrenn is an integral part of the Ginsanean military and intelligence. As Petr has informed you somewhat, we simply want you to spy on your husband dearest,' with this a cold glint flashed in his grey eyes and I shifted uncomfortably. 'Talk to him, follow him, read his papers, search his things – anything you can do to learn about this man and his actions. Do what you must to get close to him... let romance blossom,' he finished this in a slightly strained voice and then I understood him.'
'Ah, Mr. Hahn? I see how this works – when do you need the information and, more specifically, what kind of information do you need?' When I began to understand him, I lost all fear of this man."
(Pause)
"Why did I agree to spy on my... on my husband? I’m not really sure that I actually formed the thoughts deciding this, but the major's frigid, blue eyes dared me to and I knew that I would do most anything for my country. Mr. Hahn nodded, 'anything you can get. You will continue to meet with Petr – do not trust anyone, no matter who they say they are. If you need help, you can find your way back to the first place Petr took you.' With that he stood, and I followed his example, and with a grin I tied my blindfold back on. It all seemed like a game to me at that point. Honestly, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into, but I really didn’t care."
(Pause)
"And that's how I got involved with the underground resistance."
(Male voice, indistinct)
"Certainly. And thank-you."
Male voice: "End Alpha Recording Session 4."
Chapter 5 (try & refresh several times if it doesn't come up):
http://www.quizilla.com/users/MaiKeKulanaKeaAnekona/stories/253452/voice_of_hope_break_the_silence_chapter_005/
