Behind the Eyes of Dreamers by Pamela Sargent Read Free Book Online Page A

talking to any of the Aadae unless you can’t help it. Some people don’t like it; you could get into trouble.”
    She was suddenly annoyed by Gabe. She withdrew her hand and went outside. A small group of people were standing in front of her dome. She wandered toward them. Something was in the doorway of the dome. She moved closer.
    She saw Joel. A shock seemed to strike her body, paralyzing her. Blood rushed to her head and face. Her skin crawled over her stiff muscles, a cold piece of iron was resting in her belly.
    Joel was hanging by his neck in the doorway. He had been stabbed several times. Someone had ripped off his shirt, revealing long scratches on his chest. His feet dangled loosely from his legs. Above him, someone had posted a sign: COLLABORATOR. His eyes were closed, the long lashes shadowing his cheekbones.
    She began to push people aside as she walked to the doorway. She stumbled near a knife carelessly abandoned under the slowly rotating body. She picked up the bloodstained weapon and began to hack at the rope that held Joel by the neck.
    “Suzanne.” Gabe was near her. His voice seemed to reach her ears from a distance. “Come away from here.” She continued to cut the rope until the body fell at her feet, a flesh-covered sack of bones. One hand draped itself across her left ankle, then slipped away.
    She stepped over the body into the large central room. No one was there. Unfinished metal devices were strewn across the floor. She heard footsteps clatter near her and turned around.
    Asenath Berry crouched on the stairway. Her blue eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. The redhead had a large knapsack on her back. Suzanne moved toward her, still holding the knife.
    “Wait!” shouted Asenath, holding up her arms. “He told us everything before he died—he admitted it—we made sure of that. He told them everything he knew about our group, about our plans. They promised him a reward.” Asenath continued to creep down the stairs. “He was a traitor, do you understand? He was looking out for himself.”
    The redhead was only a few feet away from her. Suzanne lunged toward Asenath, knocking her on her side. She lifted the knife. Asenath’s foot hit her hand, knocking the knife across the room. The redhead tried to climb to her feet. Suzanne grabbed the curly red hair and began to pull at it silently.
    Hands clawed at Suzanne’s legs. “Stop it!” Asenath was screaming. Holding the prostitute’s head with one hand, she started to punch her in the breasts.
    “For God’s sake!” Gabe’s big arms were around her, pulling her away from Asenath. She sagged against him, suddenly exhausted, staring at the clump of red hair in her left hand. Asenath got up and scrambled out the door.
    Gabe was shaking her by the shoulders. She managed to get free and saw the knife against the wall near the stairway. She picked it up and tucked it under her belt. Then she walked outside.
    The small crowd was still there. Ignoring them, she grabbed Joel’s feet and began to drag him along the pathway behind her. The people moved away from her, receding until she could see no faces, only blurs. She dragged Joel past the gray domes until she reached the side of the highway. She collapsed next to him, one arm across his chest.
    I should have been with you. She drew his head near her chest. I should have helped you. I didn’t even talk to you. I didn’t even try to find out what was wrong.
    She waited, watching the body, thinking that he would start to breathe again, that he would speak and hold out his arms to her. You once told me you were a survivor, you would live forever. He would hold onto her and she would take him back to the dome and help him recover.
    She waited. A few people hurried past her and on down the highway, toward the city. They were leaving, ready to make plans and take their chances away from the domed settlement.
    She waited. Joel did not move, did not speak. She began to dig his grave in the dirt,