By Tom Millicent

Japan

As a part of the replication process I was given access to this information. I was getting so tired of having to fill those boxes ~ there was no way I’d meet this month’s quota. I’d run into a bit of a situation with my teacher, we had an assignment due that required us to submit a working replica of a system found in society; simple I know!

The problem arose when my project had reached its final phase, I was the Japanese version and should have had no trouble with putting the pieces of my model bridge together - a functional suspension bridge - turned out more tricky

than I’d expected… the cars lined up on either side waiting for the gate to open, allowing water traffic to pass and visa versa. The boats weren’t confined to lanes and took a staggered approach, whereas cars would line up behind one another trailing beyond the model.

I shared my design with our teacher before completing a model version. He had encouraged me to stick with my idea no matter how difficult it may seem. I’d successfully demonstrated that I listened intently in class, engaging with the topics that were set; this was no issue, that was one box filled. Upon hearing that my mainland counterpart would be joining us though, I began to behave strangely.

The supervisor at the school entrance mentioned my tally to me – “you’re a bit short this term, why don’t you speak with your coordinator before you leave today?” I’d happily done so ~ my friend waited for me after class.

“What did he tell you?” He asked.
“He said that I wasn’t filling enough boxes, that they’re sending my mainland version to the school so I have to look after him.”
“Oh, I have not met a mainland counterpart before.”

We all gathered in the recreation room that evening. Some kids were playing games, I was too exhausted from hearing that news so I watched television. There wasn’t much of interest on; advertisements for retirement packages in serene locations in between teasers of the movie that was showing this weekend. I eventually retired to my room as an attempt at study - I had a lot of work left on my model, the bridge wasn’t yet lowering; vehicles waited patiently in both directions, boats bobbing gently on the waters surface had right of way while the gate was opened. I only had to let the cars through and it would be a functioning suspension replica.

The next morning I arrived for class a little early as I was going to meet my self from the mainland. He was waiting at the entrance ~ smiling as I walked in his direction.

“Good day, I’m from the mainland!”
“Morning, we should go inside. Class begins soon.”

Mainland

I had hardly a recollection of my home, it appeared so far away. The school was wonderful ~ bright, wide hallways with lots of room for students led to classrooms that filtered sunlight through great windows. Today we were presenting our models so all the desks had been pushed up against the walls with an island in the middle for whoever was showing their work; dioramas and contraptions spread about the room ready to be brought into the middle.

When it was time for showing the suspension bridge, we both went up. I let my self do the talking - he was better with Japanese and had done most the work, so I couldn’t do more than offer my presence. He demonstrated how the bridge would allow cars to cross from one side to the other: once the boats were ready to pass through that section of the river the gate would open, stopping all the traffic.

I looked toward the door and saw a clerk peering through a gap at me. He had a somber expression as though a smile was not possible; though much deeper down he wanted to express this sentiment, his scrutiny would be undermined.

Watching the model again we were nearly done, some boxes were left unchecked - I could see my friend was getting nervous. He lowered the gate allowing the cars to drive from one side to the other once more. The boats continued along the waterway…

We met for lunch near the eatery, my friend was not happy with his performance.

“I just don’t understand what they want from me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do alright”

Just as we were about to leave, a teacher could be seen from the hall as if he was approaching us. Another clerk pulled him away through the swinging doors, his outcry muffled as he disappeared down the hall.

The next day we left the dormitory together. I had been experiencing a continuous buzzing in my left ear while my friend seemed more estranged than the day before. When we got to the school I couldn’t help but feel I was being watched; my friend took my hand and led me away from class.

“We can’t go in there!” “What do you mean? We don’t want to be late.”
“They’re watching, they know who you are and they will come for me. You have to follow me.”

He ran along the great hallway, pulling me behind him. I could hear footsteps in the distance as we reached the entrance gate.

“Going somewhere?” The supervisor asked.

We ran past the gate to a small opening in the building’s exterior wall, my friend began crawling through. I didn’t look back though I could hear the clerks closing in on us - I followed him through a service shaft that opened onto a rooftop. He was scrambling up a large vent; I ran after him, finding my way to the top where he sat, gazing mindlessly at the view - vast valleys stretched into the distance, it was like he hadn’t been outside before.

I sat beside him. A television set was attached to the surface of the vent, pointed towards me. An image surfaced from the static ~ a clerk spoke to me.

“You will remain where you are, don’t move. We are coming to get you, it is not safe out there!”

I kicked the monitor from the vent and it fell some distance before crushing another clerk who was approaching.

“They are always watching us!” I screamed at my friend.

He nodded and gave me a smile.