Undersea

Chapter 8: The Shape of Things

Sarah dwelt in Sir LaRosa's house amongst all the beautiful things he had crafted. Everyday was a day lived by grace. "Paradise" was the official name for the little district Sir LaRosa had carved for himself into the rock and it included all ground from the roundabout lamp to the big house on the wall. His domain was Undersea and here in it was his paradise: trees, deer, birds, streams, light; along with some things that made Sarah uncomfortable to think about.

Mother thought Sir LaRosa was a genius and worshiped her husband in all he said and did. When Sir LaRosa came home from the Lab in a stewing wrath over one thing or another mother would assuage his hurt pride or calm his anger with honeyed words. She would tell Sir LaRosa that there was no one like him, that he held the power, and then tie in a suggestion on how to be rid of the problem. The big house on the wall had quite the reputation with the elite of Undersea; it did not relinquish the power it held. It gathered more to it instead.

With that power came precaution; few were permitted into the LaRosa residence without mother's consent. Even Sarah's friends Zenith and Beamer were not allowed to come up. Sarah had to go down, taken in a vehicle to the outskirts of Sir LaRosa's estate. They would often meet by the large lamp in the roundabout or near the boulevard of trees. There the three of them would walk amongst the tall trunks, though even this activity was a conscession. Few indeed were allowed that far.

"What's it like in the big house?" Beamer would ask eagerly, looking across the meadows up at the mansion high on the wall. So Sarah would talk about the pretty things in the house and the servants that were trained not to look at you and the rage of Sir LaRosa. She spoke how she missed father and grandma and how Jack was being groomed to grow up like his step father.

"But I don't think Jack has it in him to be like that," said Sarah, "he isn't Sir LaRosa at all. And he comes over to my room at night and I read to him from grandma's book and I tell him stories about father and the above world and stories about where he comes from."

"You are doing what you can," said Zenith squeezing her hand, "one Sir LaRosa is quite enough for Undersea."

Beamer had been particularly excited when Sarah told them mother's promise about attending school with her at the Academy of the Elites. It never happened though, mother never seemed to remember making that promise. Sarah wondered if she would have said just about anything to get her into the big house that day.

At school everyone walked on egg shells around her and it felt to Sarah like school was no better then trying to talk with the servants at home. Students, teachers, administrators, and staff all knew where Sarah came from. It was as if they had been given strict instructions regarding her. "But I'm just me! You all don't have to do this!" Sarah wanted to shout when she was at school, but it did no good no matter who she tried to talk with about it. She was up against something quite beyond her, but Sarah worked hard at her studies all the same for bitterness was a choice. She threw herself into her class work and semester by semester she became more proficient in what she learned. Biology was her favorite subject; in particular marine biology, and she excelled. Word of her academic accomplishments reached the ears of certain family members in the house on the wall.

- - -

Sir LaRosa, whom Sarah called "Sir" whenever they spoke, was a busy man in Undersea, it's bureaocracy, and the goings on of the Lab; usually much to busy for Sarah and her intrests. He was often in the heart of the city at the Lab planning, plotting, and expanding Undersea. There were many things to consider, but his survival was number one. Sir LaRosa was a big believer in himself and his ideas (thanks in part to mother) and if his designs did not work then the flaw was in others. He used the Mariner Patrol with great effect; arresting, punishing, and disposing any dissidents. People quickly learned it was easier to live and let live in Undersea, but Sarah had a hard time seeing things that way. Thus any conversations between Sarah and Sir LaRosa ended in tension. Sir LaRosa wanted followers, so they seldom spoke after the first few months and mother worked keep it that way.