“Plan, no, we don't plan for our day to die. We leave that last detail up to God.”
“That sounds totally absurd.” I shook my head and tried to quiet any further nasty comments. “Wait, Red's and Re-ed's, is that the same thing?”
“Not all people from the camp were re-educated to remove religious hysteria, as your topside people call it. Some were drug addicts or had crime issues like being out of work for too long.” Ezekiel scoffed, kicking a small rock out of our path.
“I mean, that's awful. But there was a lot of damage done by religious hysteria. I can't imagine anyone going through the centers and then choosing to stay in the city if they were truly brainwashed.” Ezekiel rolled his eyes at me and looked like he was formulating his rebuttal.
“Anyway, as promised, one aquafer to prove we don't steal city water.” Ezekiel waved his arm in the direction of a deep trail carved into the ground. “Let me find us some light, right through here.” A large flashlight shined on what only looked like a dark slice of rock.
The cave opening was narrow, but it developed into a wide, tall space with a large blue circle of water in the back. The edges of the waterhole were shallow, but the center was dark blue and very deep. The pit of my stomach pulled towards the darkness, and I felt dizzy.
“Sit around the edges and put your legs in the water. The water is cold, but you will dry right off when we step outside in the heat.”
“Wow, this is amazing. I have never seen anything like this. Are there creatures living in there?” I asked.
“Fish? No, not here. The entrance is far below ground and way too narrow for fish of any real size. Believe me. This water source was thoroughly inspected.” I sat close to the edge of the pool and took off my shoes. The water was cold but felt soothing on my bruised legs.
“This pool would be worth millions of credits to anyone topside,” I whispered.
“There are caches of water like this across the seabed. Only a few elders know where all of them are. My family, the men, keep track of the larger, more useful pools. We are in charge of moving the camps. You need to know where to set up. You can't house people over a thin seabed floor or too far from available water sources.”
“That makes sense. So, you're a builder?” I asked.
“I'm a son, and a brother and a faithful Christian, and then I help my father and uncles move and set up our camps.”
“My grandmother went to weekly theology discussions. They debated one book for years. She arranged for her and my grandfather to be buried under a tree in the Arborist museum.”
“See you and I are not so different really. My grandmother was Catholic too.”
“No, my grandmother just liked to study ancient cultures and theologies. She said constant learning kept her mind sharp.” I explained.
“The only way you can be buried in the museums is to be one of the faithful. That type of burial saves your mortal body so you can be resurrected on judgment day.” He pulled off his shirt and laid it flat on a large rock.
“You expect to use a body that’s been stuck in the ground for hundreds or maybe thousands of years. I would ask your God for a new body. That sounds totally disgusting
“Ha, yeah, I'm pretty sure you're given a new perfect body,” he laughed.
“Of course, why wouldn't you.” Ezekiel kicked off his shoes and jumped into the pool's deepest part, creating a large splash of cold, salty water.
“Ah, what's wrong with you? I'm all wet,” I whined.
“You're not all wet. Yet.” Ezekiel grabbed me under the knees and pulled me into the shallow part of the pool.
“Now, you're all wet.” Ezekiel pushed a small wave of cold water on my face.
“Stop it, I can't swim. I've never been in this much water.” I grabbed on to Ezekiel's neck for dear life. There was no bottom in the middle of the pool.
“About time you learn then. Don't worry. I won't let go of you, Karine. I want to keep you.”
“Why?” I asked, honestly curious.
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to keep me. You've only known me a few hours, and I haven't been a very nice guest.” I looked into Ezekiel's eyes. He was surprised by my question. The green hazel patchwork in his iris's was beautiful. I found it hard to look away.
“You are the most direct person I have ever met. You terrify Abraham Green, and that old man doesn't scare. You're beautiful, and you don't even seem to know. You have to stay here with me. I can't let you die in the city when the asteroid hits.”
Ezekiel was close to my face. He had the same look of pain that Jason gets in his eyes right before he kisses me. “I won't live here as your prisoner. Suicide is my right as a citizen of the greater continent.”
“Don't say that word, Karine,” Ezekiel yelled. The noise echoed through the cave and took on an ominous sound.
“Or what you'll beat me, force me to your will, treat me like one of those breeding robots in your camp. I am never going to choose to stay here.”
Ezekiel swam to the edge of the water, pulling me behind him by my arm. “I won't lay a hand on you. But you want me to. I can see it in your face. I can feel it in the air between us.” Ezekiel quickly hopped out of the water. I clung to the edge and watched him angrily wring out his shorts and stand dripping in the sunlight that found its way into the cave.
His wet clothes clung to his thin
