Summary:

After surviving a car wreck in the desert, Archie Franklin, son of President Andrew Franklin, finds himself held hostage in a desert compound run by a cult. The innocent-like people are subjects of an experiment, apparently sanctioned by the United States Government to try to improve the human species. Ayala, the leader of one of 12 houses named after animals is trying to acclimate him to life in Hokee.

The story continues after Ayala and Archie finish eating with Koko, one of Ayala's housemates.


Ayala stood and picked up her tray, indicating the conversation was over with her sister. Archie took the cue and rose with her. He wasn't eager to return to a locked room, but was ready to be alone. He had begun to formulate an escape plan and wanted time to plan further.

Archie had taken the first step when he left the room earlier, placing a wad of torn sheet into the strike plate on the door so the bolt wouldn't slip in all the way. It wasn't a big plan, but it was a beginning, and he sure hoped Ayala hadn't noticed.

Smiling warmly, he turned to face Ayala's sister.

"Koko, it was wonderful meeting you and I wish you luck with your husband. If you get a chance, tell him the stranger from Texas says his dreams are completely normal. Like it or not, animals are tied into our evolution, and his spirit cries out for that ordinary interaction."

"I'll try to remember all that." Koko chuckled. "Don't be offended if he doesn't share your view, though."

"I would be shocked if he did," Archie said, giving her a wink.

"Good night, then," Koko said, taking her full plate to the discard window and heading upstairs to her room. "See you tomorrow."

"Good night." Archie turned back to Ayala.

"What are the names of your other houses?" he asked, trying to break what he was afraid was going to be an uncomfortable silence. It was more than obvious that he was not adjusting to the new environment with the childlike trust he had pretended.

"Are you really interested?"

"Of course."

"Okay, but let's walk and talk so you can get back to your room."

"Fine with me."

"Well, first, there are the Tarantulas. They are our architects and builders. They fix whatever is broken, and create new technology when needed."

"Limited though that may be."

"We have what we need," Ayala said. "Next is the Hare kin. They make our clothing from wool and cotton, and distribute it to our houses. You know about the Wasps -- they make and serve food to all the other houses. The Donkeys maintain the roads, and build handcarts for our people. They also make bicycles and teach us the many ways they have developed to ride them effectively."

"We once depended on donkeys and horses for transportation in our world, too," Archie said. " I don't think America would be what she is today without their patience and industry."

"Good choice of names, then," Ayala said. "We also have the Cougars which I mentioned before. They're our police force and protection against outside enemies."

"You have enemies?" Archie interrupted.

"Doesn't everybody?"

"Apparently so. Who are yours?"

"Mostly animals," Ayala said. "They're always trying to invade our land to get to our water and food supplies. Without the Cougars, we would have nothing of value. They also make sure none of us escape, which is why I warned you not to try and leave. The Cougars aren't as nice as the rest of us. They work for the Hawks, and everyone in Hokee knows their ruthless reputation."

"Not nice."

Ayala gave a small nod, then continued, "We also have the Rat kin. They're the caretakers of our young ones from the time they get here until they are old enough to be taken to the individual houses."

"Which is what age?" Archie asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Five years-old," Ayala answered. "Some are brought to Hokee as infants and then raised in the Rat house, others come a bit older. We just got a five year-old little boy, Moki, who arrived in Coyote House the day before you did. Junior said he was raised here."

"Why on Earth would you name a kin after rats?" Archie asked, "especially ones who care for your babies? I mean, what's more disgusting than a rat?"

"You don't love all animals?" Ayala asked, a sparkle in her eyes. "I'm shocked. So, in your theory, is it okay to love some animals and find others detestable?"

"Not really, it's just that rats carry disease and get into your food stores." Archie squirmed, trying to wiggle out of the hole he had just dug for himself.

"You don't have to defend yourself with me," Ayala said, smiling now. "What other animals do you find unclean?"

"None, go on."

"The next kin is the Snake," Ayala continued, openly gloating. "As you know, they are the doctors and nurses."

"Yes, I remember," Archie recalled, resisting the urge to shudder.

Ayala seemed to notice and grinned. "Okay, we have the Hawk kin, I told you a bit about. Remember, they're our political leaders."

"And Jerks."

"And demanding," Ayala corrected. "Junior is the head of that house and his brothers run our city and schools."

"Brothers?"

"Well that's what we call each other in the houses -- brothers and sisters... like with Koko and me. The familiarity gives us a sense of belonging."

"I understand." Archie nodded. "So, what about Junior's sisters, what do they do?"

"They act as liaisons between the houses. We report to them weekly."

"About what?"

"Well, like how things are going in the schools or in our household. If anyone needs discipline that we can't take care of ourselves, or we tell if there is someone is consistently breaking the rules, we tell them."

"Breaking rules, you mean like dreaming about animals?"

"Sometimes, but I'm not the one who told on Todd, Archie. I wouldn't do that. He's not just my sister's husband, he's my co-ruler in the house."

"Then what is unpardonable in your opinion?"

"Well, like becoming violent, or trying to escape, or having a baby."

"Whoa, I thought you are allowed to get married here."

"We are, but we're sterilized once we reach puberty. Leander, alone, decides who enters our compound. In this way, he can control the population and eliminate birth defects. He only picks the strongest children to bring here."

Archie took several deep breaths to control his anger. Righteous indignation would do him no good with his clever supervisor, but it wasn't easy not to defend personal choice and human rights.

"Leander is a good and kind man," Ayala said in response to the expression on Archie's face. "Remember, he's in charge of saving our species from self-annihilation. He has to take extraordinary measures to do that. If it was so wrong, your government wouldn't have sanctioned the experiment."

"Our government has been known to err," Archie said, "but it's still sound, and I have a pretty good idea they don't truly understand what's going on here."

"Well, Leander says they do, and that he's been given a right, morally and legally, to improve the human condition using whatever means he deems necessary."

"The last I read in my biology books, babies were considered a necessary part of the progression of a species."

"Leander says that once we have become strong enough, he will start allowing limited breeding; that's why women only have their tubes tied and not burned. Men's sterilizations are done similarly to make them reversible as well."

"Which can sometimes lead to babies being conceived," Archie said, getting the point. "Which is, apparently taboo in Hokee."

"You got it, which is why I have to tell the Hawks so they can set up a disposal with the Snakes."

"Disposal?" Archie snarled. "You mean abortion?"

"You make it sound so crude. Look, it may not be the way you were raised, but it's the way of our experiment. It's a terrible sacrifice, but a necessary one."

"Do you really believe that?" Archie asked, his face red with emotion and his fiery golden eyes boring into hers.

"I believe what I am told to believe," Ayala said.

"I don't think you do."

Ayala broke eye contact for a moment, then cleared her throat and continued. "Another house belongs to the Buzzard Kin."

"Let me guess, they're the clean up crew." Archie's voice softened. He had to control his temper if he was going to get anywhere with these people.

"That's right, and it's important to keep away disease and waste. Waste brings animals like your rats you don't like."

"I like them," Archie said. "In fact, if I saw one right now, I'd kiss it."

"Really?"

"No, but please tell me more."

"The Ant Kin breed and raise meat animals outside the village," Ayala continued a bit terse. "They're considered unclean, and we seldom interact with the people."

"I'm surprised you eat meat," Archie said. "It carries disease, you know."

"True, and early in our history, we tried to do without it, only to suffer deficiencies. It's one of the weaknesses Leander and the others are trying to eradicate. For now, we must accept our need for flesh and go on. It's our shame."

Archie disagreed, but left it alone. They were back at his room and he didn't want Ayala to stop talking. He was learning important facts about his captors, and that was good. Know your enemy, he thought, but there was something more. He didn't want to be alone.

"You've told me eleven houses now, what's the last one?"

"Our sports specialists, the Deer."

"Hey I saw one of those right before I crashed. Maybe it escaped your city."

"Oh, so you agree animals are dangerous, then?"

Archie laughed and opened his door.

"Okay, that's one for you. Good-night, Headmistress."

"Good night, Archie. You'll find some law books on your desk I had sent over while we ate. Study them so we can begin preparing you for your new life in the village."

"I'll do that, and then try not to dream of animals later."

"That's nothing to joke about," Ayala said with real fear in her eyes. "We don't even mention animals before we go to sleep."

"Then I take it back," Archie said softly. "Sleep well."

"Please don't let our differences come between us," Ayala said as she began to shut his door. "Such matters as we've talked about are really out of our hands. It's liberating to know you aren't the one who has to make decisions affecting other people's lives."

"I'm a United States Senator," Archie said. "Messing with people's lives is my job and passion. You're a leader, too, and as such you need to think about the well-being of the people you govern. Otherwise, all you'll ever be is the mouth and ears of the two Leanders and the Hawks."

"But that's all leadership is here in Hokee."

"Then make it something else."

"How? I can't go against my people, or I'll end up in the mines with all the other malcontents, and I'm not suited for underground living."

"I really don't know how you are going to be able to find your voice," Archie said, "but if you don't, you'll never grow."

"I'm not expected to grow," Ayala said quietly... "just survive so the scientists can observe me. It's my lot in life to be a subject in an experiment and, now, it is yours as well. Sacrifice is often required for science to progress, right?"

"Goodnight," Archie said, leaving the question unanswered.

After changing into pajamas he found on his dresser, he thumbed through several law books that turned out to be insulting lists of wrongs, all ending in one-way tickets to the mines. Archie slammed the last one shut, then lay down in bed.

Just as he was dozing off, he heard raised voices. Curious, he grabbed a robe the good people of the Hare kin had provided, and slipped it on. He used a metal clip off a pen and pried open his lock, a trick he had learned on TV. Oh well, he thought, not all education comes from books.

Once free, he crept down the hall so silently a mouse wouldn't have heard him, had they been allowed in Hokee.