Induction by Tom Dillon
* * *
Emera had hoped that the week leading up to the Ceremony would fly by, but even with the tasks for her preparation it dragged on. Her parents assumed that the Ceremony was the cause of her distress, and were partly right, but next to the loss of her lifelong friend, it didn’t seem that scary. The only Vaarplikt campus on Korsem was in Kuopi, which stretched along the interior shore of the island. Kuopi was several hours walk from her parents’ home, and they walked there with her. They walked in silence, which was a mixture of relief and torture. The week had been exhausting, with her talking around the new, secret, part of her life, and walking next to them, about to leave their protection and care, part of her wanted nothing more than to tell them everything.
That part of her was frighteningly persuasive, logical and persistent. There was a chance that she would be forgiven for her mistake on account of her age or circumstances. There might be someone at the University on Kinav who could sever the connection without killing her. A thousand scenarios played themselves through her mind, and she rejected them all, feeling a coward for it. The persuasive minority of her mind used that, too, dwelling on her shame, so that by the time they reached the city, she could think of nothing else.
Her parents ate lunch with her, splitting a side of roast lamb. It was her first time eating any meat other than seafood or poultry, and she found herself happy for the culinary distraction. The lamb, which they had always regarded as an unnecessary expense, only served to underscore the import of the Binding ceremony, and she found herself talking to them about everything she could think of, about what Assignment she hoped for, where she wanted to go and what she wanted to see, about the Battery and what it would mean for the Island, everything but she scorpion. At the end of the meal, she found herself more relaxed than she had been since before the fall. She was ready.
The three of them went to the building that housed the Vaarplikt induction chamber, and she said her goodbyes, shared tearful hugs, and went inside. The induction chamber was a small room containing just her and the man who would perform the Binding. On the floor next to her was a small bag, containing all of the possessions that she was allowed to take with her to her new life. She had stashed the scorpion in a small woven cage padded by layers of clothes, and had to work not to look at the bag as the man began to work.
The process was not painful, although she was not sure if it was due to her link with the scorpion. When the man stopped, two Seals had been inscribed into the two smaller frames on her arm, one the Island’s symbol, the other its negative. Emera looked closely at them, and saw a gap in the outline of each. she looked up and started to open her mouth, but the man beat her to it.
“They aren’t done yet.” he leaned back in his chair for the first time since he had started, and ran a hand through his wiry gray hair. He looked at the bandage that covered Emera’s missing eye, and quickly looked away. Would anyone ever look at her like a woman, or would they just see what was missing? “Once I complete those outlines you will be connected to the Battery. At first it will be incredibly painful, which is normal. You’ll wish you were dead in the morning, and that’s normal too. Ready?”
“Yes,” Emera said. It was a lie, but it was the expected lie.
The man leaned forward again and began to work on the lines. A few seconds later, the first was finished, and Emera could feel energy rushing through her, like when she had first touched the scorpion but more intense, and a burning sensation worked its way from the back of her head down her spine. The man looked up and nodded. When he completed the second Seal, he was quick to scoot back before Emera convulsed, doubling over as it felt like something was trying to pull her stomach through her spine. A minute and a hairsbreadth from puking later, she felt something like herself again, and stood up, trying hard to look more steady than she was.
“Thanks,” she said, and the man just laughed and waved her through the door that would lead her to the Vaarplikt.
Emera picked up her bag, which felt like someone had filled it with stones while she was in the chair, and moved towards the door. The next room was larger, but felt smaller due to the bookshelves that didn’t leave a spot of open wall in between them. The shelves were filled with books and it seemed to Emera that they might soon encroach on the floorspace. A man sat at a table with a book spread in front of him. When Emera got closer she could see that the book was a list of names, each of which had a signature next to it.
“Emera?” the man said, looking up from the book. His voice was tired and distracted. Emera wondered how many more he would have to go through before the day was done. “You have completed the Binding Ceremony, and are ready to enter the halls of the Vaarplikt, where you will spend the next ten years in service to the community, its people, and yourself. Do you accept this responsibility?”
“No.” Emera had decided her response to the ritual question after she had spoken with Taine, but even so was surprised to hear herself say it.
The man at the table was equally surprised. “No?”
“No,” Emera repeated. “I volunteer myself for service on the watch islands.”
“For what term?” the man asked as he made a note next to Emera’s name. The surprise left his face as she adapted to the different ritual.
“Ten years.”
The man stopped writing, and put down his pen. For the first time he gave Emera his full attention. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re running from, and I don’t want to, but ten years is a long time. You can take a shorter term and always sign up for more later, but you cannot change your mind once I enter it into the book.”
Emera had studied the ritual, knew the exchanges, and knew that this was not part of it. The challenge threw her off, and it took her a moment to reassert herself.
“I’m sure,” Emera said.
The man sighed and finished the entry in the book. “I’ll need you to sign,” he said, rotating the book so that it faced Emera and placing the pen in its crease.
After Emera had signed, the man told her to wait there while he left to make arrangements. Emera set down her bag, and looked at the book, flipping through the pages until she found Taine’s name and signature from earlier that day. She had expected him to request service on one of the other islands, but him column read that he was to serve on their home island of Korsem. She heard voices coming from the other side of the courtyard and flipped back to the page with her name on it as the man returned with a woman who was looking at Emera like an insect under glass.
“Emera?” she asked. She looked Emera up and down, eyes lingering on the bandage around her head, and nodded to herself.
“Yes.”
“Let’s get going, the ship will be leaving shortly,” she said, beginning to walk towards the side exit before she had finished speaking. Emera picked up her bag and hurried after her. She didn’t look back.
END
About the Author
Tom Dillon lives in Olympia, Washington with his awesome wife and an assortment of cats, ducks, and dogs. When he isn’t busy writing or reading, you can find him riding his bike, working wood, or rock climbing. Visit him online at https://pawnstorm.net.
About the Series
Other Stories by Tom Dillon
Try Not To Panic
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