Memories of Life

14. Trackers Plan.

14. Trackers Plan.

I sometimes think about what goes through Little-Boy's mind? Very little I suspect, if trying to make sense of the past helps. He's younger then me, but was still born into the old times. I wonder if he remembers family, brothers, sisters, parents, the ones who survived. I wonder if he remembers their names? I remember mine, I remember Minister's, General's and our mother's names. But the calamity changed everything, even what we call ourselves.

Minister and General remember more, and sometimes they talk about the old times and how much they gained by its end. They remember the leaders and how they talked of freedom and opportunity for all, while acquiring everything for themselves. General was imprisoned by them, and would often remind me of how my brother and mother freed him when those that held him were dead, or dying. It was after that life became truly free, and we did as we pleased. Together with like minded others we fought, and took what was needed to survive. We accumulated the most precious of possessions, the things that held true currency, like weapons, fuel, food, and fucking.

It was our mother who inspired us, telling my brothers and I it was our destiny to be strong and powerful. In her mind it was reward for the years of struggle. General was the eldest of her sons, with an impulsive reckless nature. Before he had even left school he was taken from us by the old leaders, telling us he needed to be "reformed". Instead he was returned with his spirit even more twisted and hardened. It was an irony which made him more suited to survival in our changed world.

Minister had always been different to the rest of us though. Mother always elevated him above General and I. He was the opportunity to escape the path the old leaders had set for us. Resembling a chameleon, charming and intelligent to those who mattered, while being respected and accepted by those who didn't. He believed more than any of us the words our mother uttered - of greatness.

After those first few dark years just before the wars for the Ruin's, our numbers grew in strength as did Mothers and Ministers authority. Though this was challenged when a new currency now dictated strength, and newborns were traded. I remember the conflict inside our group when Minister attempted to take children from some of the families that had once been part of us, for trade. He was shot and wounded by one of the fathers, but General restored order by killing all those who resisted. It weakened us for a time, though our mother found the solution which would make us what we are now. From that day forth no man was to have a family of his own, and women were only to be vessels for any man who desired them. The consequence being no man would know if a child conceived would be his own, freeing him of any burden or allegiance, except to the Brotherhood. When fully recovered Minister would use this to cleverly increase his power over them. Elevating some to privilege, while making scapegoats and examples of others. Shortly after this our mother became sick when her tits began to fester and decay. She died during the wars for the Ruins, and Minister used his grief to fulfil her prophecy of greatness for us – his blood brother's.

I, for my part believed it to be true. I would use my title as Tracker, a Captain of the Brotherhood to reinforce our claim. No horror, no treachery was too great, and it is all I have ever known. Though now as I look at Little-boys, I feel it no longer. The men of Catch-22 have revealed the trick played upon me. For the first time I can remember feeling fear when the brother's rushed forward with blades, bolts, and small arms. While those drawn in by the lie of the Old Master's, fought back with committed desperation. A small group led by a brave man took many Brother's lives, and I saw the look of concern on Ministers face when he feared something all together different - defeat!

Our brother General saved us all in the end, leading his well armed men into the fray destroying the fuel pod they carried with a grenade. Only to be be slain by a monster of a man who showed no fear, not even when he knelt before Minister as his child called out to him.

This is the lie I now see, trapped in my life, beholden to a cause I could never escape and do not believe in anymore. It will only see me die for the glory of my brother. I hear the whispering of the Warden who has long wanted to be Minister, and there will soon be a reckoning between them. But what he does not know or understand, is that my brother now has a new vision?

For now though, I will follow these children along the valley floor from where they spent the night sleeping beneath the rocky cliffs. They still follow the path of least resistance, but will soon succumb to fatigue, hunger, and fear before their journey will end. I will give my companion the boy to do with as he pleases for a time. Hoping for the poor wretch to have some moment of pleasure before I kill him and the children we follow, denying the Old Masters and my brother their prize. For I grow tired of this life; so I will do what the old Tracker told me to so long ago. I will leave my Brother's behind, and become free like woman when she found her own catch-22, and shot herself.