Chapter 8: Chapter Seven. The Assessment Call.

It was several months later and the smile Cami held inside was not dampened in the slightest by the early spring downpour common to the rolling hills of western Ti Lepus. She even had a skip in her step and she was almost dancing past the puddles on this quiet and anonymous street. Only the training that she had received practically from birth held her in check. It had arrived, her day was here.

The call had come during the last class of the day at her school, General School for Girls Number 14. “Cami sis Nep, report to Counsellor Remi ion Nessar, at once.”

The teacher, they were all women in this school for girls, looked down the rows of desks topped with computers to the frozen young woman. “Well, you had better get going girl, Counsellor Nessar does not like to be kept waiting!” Spurred on by the teacher, Cami stood and gathered her few items and moved to the door with the eyes of every student in the class following her slim figure, neatly dressed in the all-concealing school uniform smock. All the students were filled with the questions they could not ask. Once in the hallway Cami walked with outwardly sure steps to the stairs leading to the administrators’ officers, where she would find Counsellor Remi. Inwardly she groaned, knowing that after school there would be a gauntlet of questions that her friends would have waiting for her.

“Come in, sit down.” The tall and thin, stern faced woman that was Remi ion Nessar pointed with a spear like finger to a vacant chair.  Carefully, Cami slid onto the one indicated, studying the counsellor for some indication of the reason for the summons, but seeing none.

 “You wish to see me, Madam Counsellor?” Cami asked as Remi ion Nessar tapped at her computer terminal. Comm units were not used in school for privacy and security reasons. The computers used were unable to be tapped into as there was no outside connection.

“Hmm, your marks are good and reports by your teachers are satisfactory. Excellent.” The counsellor leant back in her chair. “Excellent.” She repeated. Cami sat quietly just listening. What did this all mean? She wondered.

“You are thirteen years and twelve months old, correct?” The counsellor asked the somewhat frightened and confused girl.

“Yes Madam Counsellor, I will be fourteen in two months.” The puzzlement deepened.

“Have you given thought to what you want to do after you leave school?”

“No Madam Counsellor.” Cami shook her head.

A sudden smile from Remi almost caused Cami to drop her mouth open in shock, she barely restrained herself, however the next bit of news broke through Cami’s conditioning. “Some time ago I received a request for an assessment of you with regards to a contract placement in a salon!”

This unexpected and very welcome news caused Cami to jump to her feet sending her small bag of personal items flying, as she let out a squeal of delight. A contract! That was the dream of every girl in her school!

“Control, Cami, control. Remember restraint is what you must show at all times.” The familiar warning had Cami returning to her seat after gathering what she had dropped. Her body tight with anticipation, she waited for what her counsellor had to say next.

“The information I provided along with the profile pictures of you have brought the assessment to the next stage. You know what happens next.” The young girl nodded with abrupt movements of her head. The counsellor considered the young girl. She had anticipated this moment, Cami was exceptionally pretty, had a desirable slim figure along with an attractive face highlighted by hazel eyes, light brown hair touched her shoulders and long, but not too long, legs conditioned by the races she had been running completed the effect. Remi had been surprised however, by the club that was interested.

“Would you like to know who is inquiring, Cami? Which club?”

“Yes please Madam Counsellor, my parents would also, I am sure.” A frown of worry appeared. “Can I tell them? Is that allowed?”

“The club is called The Trigon Club, and yes, you may tell your parents.”

“The Trigon Club? Is it new? I have never heard of it. Is it new?” When learning about contracts, the girls had studied all the local clubs.

Remi gave a chuckle, “I thought that you would pick up on that.” The counsellor was pleased with Cami. “It is a very exclusive club in Lepus Mal, the capital.”

“Lepus Mal!” Cami’s eyes were now large and round, “I have never been outside of Libus Re, not even our local district! I can’t go to Lepus Mal!”

“The assessor will be here in the next two days.” Remi soothed the somewhat agitated girl. “If he finds you suitable, then you will have to go for an interview, but you will have time to prepare for that.”

“Is it one of the local agents?” Cami asked.

“No, this club contracts their own agents.” Remi explained. “As I said, it is a most exclusive club with has a large and powerful membership of high status women.” At Cami’s look of puzzlement, Remi continued, “Unlike the smaller clubs here, this club is exclusively for women. High status women.” She emphasised the last.

“Oh, I see.” Cami thought for a moment, then frowned again. “My family and I will have to meet him, if it isn’t a local agent, how will we know to recognise him?”

Impressed, Remi ion Nessar looked at Cami in a new light. The girl is more mature in some ways then she appears to be, she thought. “He will have identification that he will have to show you. It will have a number and you must check it against the agents’ check site. There is a link on the police page as you know. You have practised that.” She stood and Cami stood with her. “That is all I can tell you. Now it will soon be time to leave.” With another rare smile, Reni told Cami to return to class.

Walking back to the stairs that lead to her classroom, Cami felt that she was walking on air. Pausing at the classroom door, she gathered herself, schooled her features into immobility and entered.

Nodding to the teacher, who waved her to her seat, she ignored the discrete stares sent her way by some of the girls.

“Back to work girls,” growled the history teacher, “We will now consider the effect of the sectional wars on the growth of Ti Lepus, bring the sectional wars up on your computers.”

*********

Class finally over, Cami retrieved her formal outdoor clothes from her locker, placing her personal items in a satchel. Walking to the stairs, she found her two best friends waiting for her. Leda sis Real was a half head taller than Cami with pale skin and wore her black hair in a long braid. Cami envied both her hair and her physical development, noticeably further along than Cami’s. Ava sis Neill was the same height as Cami and of a similar but compact build along with darker hair. Neither was quite as pretty as Cami.

Ignoring curious onlookers, Cami walked up to her to Leda and Ava. Using the semi-formal greeting between friends did not distract them, not in the slightest.

“Greetings Leda, greetings Ava, how were your classes today.”

“Greetings yourself Cam!” Leda retorted. “What’s up?”

“Yeah Cami, why were you called to the Remster?” Ava looked around quickly to see if she had been caught using the forbidden nickname.

“I can’t really say. I have to tell ma and da first.” Cami looked at her friends, “Sorry.”

“Come on, give us something” Leda coaxed Cami. “We are your best friends and I told you straight away!” They were walking to the front door and Cami was uneasily aware of the interest in her from other girls. Some not looking not at all happy. But Leda was right, when she had been assessed, Leda had told both Ava and her.

“Yes, please tell, what happened?” Ava also pressed for details as she reached for her outside hat. Leda nudged her friend and with a subtle inclination of her head, indicated the curious onlookers.

Giving a shrug, Ava stroked her hat, her full lips pursed.

 “Look, it is good news and I will comm you both as soon as I have told ma and da. I promise on a Peace Givers tea cup.” Cami made a face as she looked out through the school doors at the down pour out side. The rainy season for the western part of the main continent of the planet had just started and would continue for several weeks, off and on. Putting on their heads the large hats that was required dress for all the people of Ti Lepus, the three girls then fastened the voluminous cloaks around their shoulders. Properly dressed, they could now leave the school building, waving their implants at the readers as they left.

Somewhat mollified by the hint dropped as well as the schoolgirl promise, Leda and Ava agreed to wait. Peace Givers were an important part of the culture of the people of Ti Lepus along with the tea ceremonies. Even though it was a childish promise, it had better be kept!

There’s my ride.” Cami called, seeing the conveyance that took her to her street. “I’ll comm you!” She called over her shoulder, adding, “At the usual time!”

“Talk to you tonight!” and “See you tomorrow!” was shouted back. The two girls watched as Cami climbed aboard her conveyance that was more than a bus.

“I bet that she was told about a contract.” Ava said. As they walked in the rain to their own conveyance.

“Yes, it’s all that makes sense.” Leda replied. “But she hid it well!” There was a note of pride in Leda’s voice at her friends’ exhibition of self-control. “Talk to you tonight!” She called to Ava as she boarded, showing her travel pass as she did. All citizens of Ti Lepus needed a pass to travel, even students.

*********

It was the seventeenth period when Cami, still holding her smile inside, arrived at the apartment building in which her family lived. As the building did not have an implant reader, Cami had to enter the proper codes herself and was soon at the family’s apartment door. Entering their apartment Cami saw that her sisters Koral, and Kinna, were already home and absorbed in a show they both enjoyed on the holo display. Brother Damma, was sitting at the dinner table, fiddling with the comm unit. Neither her parents nor her two older brothers, Dar or Tremma had arrived yet.

Looking around as she removed her cloak and hat, Cami saw with some surprise that her sisters had hung up their hats and cloaks. Damma, however had not.

“Damma,” she called to her brother, “Your hat and cloak.” Damma continued his play on the comm. “Damma!” At the sharper tone he looked up. “Your hat and cloak.” The youngest member of the family had not fully adsorbed his lessons and went back to what he was doing.

With a sigh, Cami walked to where Damma was sitting. Looking at the comm unit, an older model, Cami saw that the battery was almost completely discharged. Reaching down she took it from her brother and entered the ‘off’ command before resetting it on its docking station to charge. This brought on a predictable response.

“Why did you do that?” Damma whined. “Give it back!”

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“If the comm isn’t fully charged by the time ma and da get home, it will be your problem.” Cami replied in a calm voice. “You know what that means.” Damma scowled, it looked amusing on his childish face. “And wait till Tremma gets back, if he can’t use the comm, he will be upset!”

The young boy stiffened, but part of his training asserted itself. “I will speak to him then.” He said and stalked, or tried to, of to the boys room, picking up his hat and cloak along the way. The three girls looked at each other and raised an eyebrow. Without saying a word, they all gave an inward smile; little brother was learning and would uphold the family’s status

*********

It was a full period later, almost the eighteenth, when Tremma sis Nep walked through the door. Stocky and considered by some of Camis friends to be good looking, he took after their mother’s side of the family. Recently he had been informed that he was being considered for further training in his chosen career. This had made the family very proud, of course they had been very careful in their display of their pride. He and Cami were close and she considered Tremma her best ‘boyfriend’.

“How’s my big sister?” Tremma actually smiled when he saw Cami who was in the kitchen preparing the family meal. “And what’s the big news?” he asked as he hung up his cloak and hat. Cami’s smile, she could and did often smile at her middle brother, changed to a sharp look.

“That’s right, you are a friend of Cliea’s brother, Killy.” She said slowly, mentioned a girl that she knew at her school. They were not close.

The two younger sisters had perked up at Tremma’s comment, attending a different school, they were unaware of Cami’s news. “What happened?” Koral asked. Kinna was also listening, their interest showing clearly.

Pulling of his boots, Tremma put his stocking foot down in a dry area of the floor. “Cami got a call to the counsellors today. Big secret, she didn’t even tell Leda and Ava!”

Cami’s cheeks flamed. “Was that sneak Cliea listening in on a private conversation? I will report her if she did!” Tremma’s smile faded, conversations were private and listening to another’s conversation was considered a serious matter. But reporting someone for eavesdropping was also serious and could rebound against the reporter.

“There was no overhearing or listening in, Cami.” Tremma soothed his oldest sister. “The call to the counsellors’ office was an open broadcast and Cliea simply said that if you did tell Leda and Ava why, then they were the best actors in the school.” He smiled reassuringly. “It was clear to everyone that you were showing self-control in a proper Ti Lepus manner.”

The two younger sisters watched with interest, but knew better than to get involved. Besides, they were on Cami’s side in this instance.

Somewhat mollified, Cami walked back into the kitchen where she was preparing the evening meal for the family. Their parents and their older brother, Dar, would eat later, when they returned home from work. She also resolved to talk to her Tremma quietly and privately. The matter of Killy and Cliea was not fully resolved in her opinion.

 “I have to tell mum and dad first.” Cami then changed the subject. “Evening tide is ready.” The name for the evening meal was local and old, so old that no one knew its origins but there was much speculation. “Tremma, Damma is in the boys’ room.” The girls did not go into the boys’ room and the boys did not go into the girls’ room.

The five siblings were soon standing around the dining table. Following tradition, as he was the oldest present, Tremma stood at the head of the table while Cami as she was the oldest of the girls, stood at the other end. With bows to the table and each other, they took their seats and began to eat.

The supper was simple, mostly locally grown vegetables, purchased from local growers. Only a little meat was served as it was expensive. Libus Re was in a fairly rural area, and consisted of a number of smaller communities around a larger urban and city area. Total population in the area hovered around one million. Being in a semi-rural area, Cami’s family was able to eat if not well, at least adequately. No one in the family went to bed hungry. Others were not so lucky.

The meal finished, the younger siblings cleared the table, Damma putting the dishes in the dish cleaner while Koral washed the pot used and Kinna cleaned the table and the counters.

Once they were finished, Cami announced, “Tremma and I will talk.” This formal way of announcing a serious discussion caused all the others to freeze for a fraction. Cami, still sitting at her spot at the foot of the table looked straight ahead at Tremma, still at the head.

After a brief fraction, Tremma nodded at the other three who went to their respective rooms. Damma opened his mouth to complain but was quelled by a look form his brother and a hush from Koral. Looking rebellious, he went to the boy’s room as Koral and Kinna went into the room they shared with Cami.

“Why is she so serious?” Kinna asked her older sister, as the door closed behind them. Similar in appearance to their older sister, Koral had darker hair and hadn’t quite begun puberty yet. Kinna, although younger was actually considered potentially the prettiest of the three with similar features to Cami’s and wavy brown hair.

“Wouldn’t you be upset if someone was listening in on your private conversation?” was the distracted reply from Koral as she dropped onto the lower bunk. Rather than climbing onto her bed, which was the top bunk, Kinna leaned on the support at the foot of the bed and looked at Koral.

“I don’t think that is the real problem though. She got told about a contract I bet and she is afraid that it’s going to be messed up by Cliea.” Koral muttered. “As if our perfect sister would be dropped in the sea!”

Kinna stared, then smiled. “You’re upset that Cami has an assessment coming and you don’t! That’s it isn’t it!” Kinna didn’t laugh, both her training and an awareness that Koral, who wasn’t answering the question, would get angry at her rather than Cami stopped her. But she couldn’t resist a dig or two.

“Hey, if Cami gets a contract with a salon, won’t she have to get more clothes?”

Koral glared at her younger sister. “More hand me downs for you from both of us than!” she ground out.

Kinna faked looking off into the distance. “Maybe she will share her makeup with me and get me an introduction as well.” This, spoken in a dreamy tone, annoyed Koral even more.

“If you haven’t got anything sensible to say,” Koral was working hard to retain her temper, “just get up into your bunk and stop bothering me.” Turning over onto her stomach she got up onto her elbows and turned on her reader which she had brought with her.

Still hiding her smile, Kinna climbed up to her bed and laid down on her back, hands behind her head. She closed her eyes, dreaming of the day that she would get her own contract.

*********

Tremma sat back in his chair waiting for his sister to open the talk. While Cami was usually a quiet and compliant girl, Tremma was aware that she could also be stubborn and when angered, sometimes blind to the consequences of her actions. He knew that he may have to talk her down.

“So brother, you think that I should just let Cliea’s talking about me just slide?” It was in a flat tone that Cami spoke, revealing that she was still angry.

“Yes, and all the rest as well.” Tremma calmly replied.

“What, what rest?”  Cami came up out of her chair and leant across the table.

“Well  ...” Her brother rubbed his hand across his well-defined jaw and mused. “I would guess about half the school and their parents as well.”

Cami sat down with a thump, staring at her brother. Not normally caught at a loss, she did not know what to say. Gathering her wits she narrowed her eyes and spoke. “What do you mean, ‘half the school and their parents’?” she asked, the skepticism clear in her voice.

“Cami, you are the prettiest girl in the school and you haven’t been given an assessment.” Tremma began. “And half of those who did get an assessment, didn’t get a contract. Now your friend Leda has although Ava hasn’t.” He stopped, got up and went into the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of water. “Do you want one?” He said to Cami who nodded. They would not make tea without their parents present.

Returning with two cups, Tremma sat at the same end of the table as his sister. Passing one cup to Cami, he continued.

“I have been getting some discrete comments about you not getting ‘The call’ for some time now. Everyone has been waiting for today.” He smiled, “Even some of the boys!”

“What, boys!” Cami blushed. “What do they want?” She asked, the blush deepening.

“Well, if you have to ask, you better pay attention in sex class.” Was the smiling reply, then the smile vanished. “I have had requests for introductions from several of my friends and some who aren’t as well. All very discreet of course.” Tremma shook his head. “I simply told everyone who asked that you were too young to consider any introductions.” Cami was by now, openly showing shock.

“You were right of course, I won’t even be fourteen for two months, what were those … boys thinking!” A touch of fear appeared on her face. “You didn’t tell mum or dad did you?”

“No, mum and dad don’t know. They have enough problems without adding that to the list.” Tremma looked at his oldest sister. ‘She really don’t know what effect she has on men or boys’ he thought. He continued out loud, “What I am trying to say is, I think that someone has had their eye on you for a while. A club that has enough power to block any other club from getting to you first.” He smiled at the look on Cami’s face, one that showed how accurate his guess was.

Cami slumped back in her chair, shaking her head to clear it. Surprised, she had forgotten how perceptive her brother was, she decided to get back to her current bone of contention. “Cliea?” she asked her brother.

“Forget her. People will talk and lower their own status without you doing anything at all.” He continued after a fraction. “On the other hand, if you try to make an issue of it, that could affect your own status and us all.” The look on Camis showed her understanding. He decided to make his last point. “It could also affect your assessment.”

Tremma hid a smile as his sisters eyes opened wide and the impact of Tremma’s last words sank in. Cami is smart, he thought, now that she is over her anger, she will understand. “Anyway, father, mother and Dar will be home soon, and we have to get ready for them. Let’s set the table and finish getting the meal ready.” They stood, looking at each other. Tremma moved and gave his sister a rare hug. “You will be great.” He whispered. Cami smiled and went to get her sisters.

As Cami turned away, Tremma called to her, “I bet that the Dark Lord Himself would give you just about anything you wanted!” 

Cami stopped and spun around, her face holding a look of horror. “Don’t mention His name, you know that is bad luck!” She hissed. Tremma just laughed.

Ti Lepus saying that means the same as ‘Fed to the wolves.’

 

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