The Foundling Saga: Revelation Read Free Page A

see his aunt and mother having such fun together.
    Cormic once told Keller that whilst the Regents had advanced technology and seemed well fed and healthy, their dependency on their life-style and the privileges that came with it was a form of imprisonment. They rarely left the city limits and didn’t experience the simple freedom of walking through the countryside. Truly there were areas requiring haz-suits for whoever travelled through them, but there was still enough world out there which could be safely explored by a person for a lifetime.
    At the age of nineteen, his world was turned upside down at the Arpo. He was by then 6ft 1in tall and had attended these trading days several times a year since he was seven. He stood at least a head taller than the rest of his family. His blue eyes and fair hair added to his distinctive looks. He walked tall and proud and was rarely bothered by his peers who shied away from tormenting him. They had learnt that he had strength and speed and could look after himself. Perhaps more relevant was the fact that Nola and his immediate family had a fierce protective streak for their foundling son. Keller was still a little embarrassed at the memory of his Aunt Nerys ducking some poor boy in the stream half a dozen times for throwing stones at Keller when he was thirteen, and in his view capable of dealing with the situation himself.
    Keller was never allowed too close to the Regents when he attended the Arpo. He didn’t question this. He knew that his family were wary of them.
    On this particular occasion, whilst Nerys had stayed at home, Cormic, Keller, Nola and a number of others had attended the Arpo. Keller sat by his family’s bundles of goods protecting them from straying hands whilst they traded nearby. He noticed two of the Londoners staring at him. A heavily built portly man, who deserved the ‘delicate’ tag, was talking to a trooper and gesticulating in Keller’s direction. Keller looked on with interest and a little nervousness. A second trooper was called over and the original two observers were having what appeared to be a discrete discussion with the third, a trooper of some rank, judging by his distinctive uniform insignia.
    Keller now saw his mother suddenly alert further down the barrier. She concluded her discussion with a Londoner and came over to Keller with one eye on the trio showing interest in Keller. As she approached she called out to Cormic, who was in deep in negotiations with a Regent across the barrier nearby.
    Cormic looked up as Nola gestured towards the trio of Londoners who were now warily looking from Nola to Keller. His reaction finally caused Keller to be concerned but he still couldn’t understand the situation. Cormic came over to Keller and told him to leave the family bundles to Nola and to walk with him towards the far side entrance of the Arpo.
    “Keller, come with me and don’t look back. We need to leave immediately.” He said taking Keller’s arm and leading him away. “You can’t come to the Arpo anymore; it’s not safe for you. Those pigs will take you.” Cormic seemed fearful.
    Keller realised later that he only became really scared when Cormic described the Londoners as ‘pigs’. This was not a light insult amongst the Outsiders.
    He only glanced back once as he was led away and took in a situation that frightened him. The Londoners were looking towards Nola, and, with her hands on her hips, she was clearly berating them. Others on both sides of the barrier were now watching the situation develop, and he noticed one or two looking in his direction.
    “Don’t look back Keller, let’s move!”
    “I don’t understand!” said Keller as he obeyed him and headed for the Outsiders usual exit. “What’s wrong?” His confusion, and fear, led him to raise his voice for the first time ever to Cormic, who didn’t seem to react to Keller’s tone.
    “Just keep going, we can discuss this later,” Cormic continued in a calmer