The Knowledge Seeker (A Young-Adult Dystopian Novel) by Rae Knightly

Author:Rae Knightly [Knightly, Rae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PoCo Publishers
Published: 2021-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19 Close Enemies

The pigeon coop is one of the dirtiest places in the Atheneum—aside from the pigsty, that is. I have regularly been tasked with cleaning both.

I do not mind the pigeons as much. They are located in one of the towers of the building, which is shaded and relatively cool because a breeze comes in through the narrow windows. The messenger pigeons coo quietly and flap their wings but are mostly content watching me sweep and scrub the floor.

Once in a while, a pigeon lands on the windowsill with a message attached to its little leg. I must drop what I am doing, go down the winding stairs of the tower, and deliver it to whichever Senior Seeker is in charge that day. Sometimes, though, I finish cleaning first, so I do not have to clamber all the way up again after delivering the message.

A few weeks after Uncle Denesius reveals the existence of the NASA Ground Station to me, I am sitting in the coop with my back resting against the wall. I have finished my task and am in no rush to report to the Senior Seeker. If I report to him too quickly, he will certainly send me to the pigsty. So, instead, I relax in the coop, enjoying a moment to myself without anyone bossing me around or tormenting me. My only companions are the feathered creatures resting on their perches.

The messages that arrive with the pigeons come from Knowledge Seekers who are away traveling the land. They report back to Uncle Denesius on their findings. It still astounds me that we have had to return to the basic use of birds to transfer messages. Before, during the Enlightened Era, people called each other through some small handheld devices—again using those fascinating communication satellites. It is said that people could even see each other directly on small screens.

I try to imagine what that must be like: to call a Knowledge Seeker who is located in a distant land and being able to see what he is seeing. I close my eyes, imagining.

Feathers ruffle above my head, and a pigeon makes its appearance on the windowsill. I stand and talk softly to the bird, making sure it has grains and fresh water. Once it is settled, I check its leg for a message, and startle back.

There is indeed a tiny scroll rolled around the pigeon’s leg. I look closer. A skull and crossbones are imprinted on the outside of the paper.

My heart races, and I start sweating.

A skull and crossbones! That is the symbol used by the pirates!

I start sweating. This is serious! I have to inform someone, but who? The Senior Seeker?

I back away with the sealed message in my hand, breathing fast. No. I have to tell Uncle Denesius directly.

My heart thumps in my chest. Interrupting Uncle Denesius is not something one does lightly. It is severely frowned upon and could get me whipped. I glance at the small paper in my hand. Failing to deliver this message, however, could lead to something worse.

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