13: A New Way Forward

“You’re a storyteller.
Dream up something wild and improbable,” she pleaded.
“Something beautiful and full of monsters.”
“Beautiful and full of monsters?”
“All the best stories are.”

Laini Taylor

A young woman touched her ear. “They’re here,” she announced.

“Excellent. We’re ready and eagerly awaiting your count, and thanks, Susan.”

“Please, I’m just happy to be taking part in this. It’s something I never even imagined, and to think I’m bringing these people together.”

“I believe you have some eager young people to meet,” the coordinator reminded her.

“Sorry, won’t happen again. I’m just so—”

“Excited? Yeah, we all are, but we’ve got a lot of people to process.”

“Okay, I’m on it!”

She headed out and counted the incoming private school buses. “Eight. Check. And at a twenty-four-person capacity, that makes potentially...” she did the math in her head. “One-hundred and ninety-two. It’s not as much as we hoped, but it’s still a decent number.” Heading for the lead bus, she climbed the three short steps, looking at the driver.

“I’m Susan, who are you?”

“I’m Thomas.”

“How is everyone?”

“Too excited to sit still, I can assure you.”

“What the count?”

“Seventeen.”

“Really? That’s all?”

“It is what it is!”

“Okay, but it dramatically affects the numbers.”

“Which I was told doesn’t matter, since no one has a clue how many actually exist. The fact we got anyone is a miracle, so count your blessings.”

“Fine,” she said, crossing herself. “Check!”

“So, you have people monitoring them?”

“Yeah, that’s why we don’t have room for our normal occupancy. These aren’t all kids either.”

Susan held her fingers to her lips and whistled—loudly! All conversation stopped mid-sentence, as everyone looked at her.

“Everybody who’s a number one, raise your hands.” Three hands shot up, and she noted they had their own group, with space between each with a bevy of individuals between them. She turned back to Thomas.

“Is that a girl?”

“It certainly is. You have good eyes. I take it you’ve encountered them before?”

“Cute! But this changes things. I think they’ll be pleased. And those are all girls with her?”

“Yep, they definitely are. You’re batting a hundred with the painfully obvious!”

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” she observed. “How many single boys?”

“Also three, and they’re looking pretty glum, though the girls are keeping them company.”

“Excellent.”

Turning back to the riders, she cleared her throat.

“Okay, this isn’t Match.com. If you’re here because of bad dating experiences, always pick creeps, or haven’t met the perfect guy, you’re on the wrong bus. The correct one is heading right back to your local parish. We’re seeking those who somehow know there’s one person in the entire world who’s waiting for them, and no one else measures up. They’re not handsome enough, intelligent enough and not attentive and caring enough. They’re just not your one. Is there anyone here on the incorrect vehicle?” Not a single hand went up.

“Very good. I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be, we read them the same warning, which is why the numbers are so low. Many bailed once they discovered this wasn’t the love bus.”

“Still, it’s encouraging so many are such strong possibilities. That means much of the prescreening has already occurred.

“All right, everyone,” she announced, “follow me. We have plenty of folks to interview and only a handful making the decisions, so we need to be organized and not distract each other. If you haven’t guessed, this will likely be the most important day of your lives, so don’t spoil it by not paying attention.” She waved them forwards. “Let’s go people, move it!”

They followed her out and she tapped her ear again. “Seventeen on the first bus.”

“Seventeen?” Jake the coordinator asked.

“You heard me, but these appear to be the real deal. They’ve been prescreened before they left.”

“Excellent! Send them in and go inventory the next one.”

“I’m on it,” she said before turning to speak to the individuals waiting for her. “Head directly in the main door. The gentlemen there will guide you in. And good luck. I’m praying for you.”

“Gracias!” Nearly everyone said as they filed past. She waved one last time, then headed for the second bus.

“Alright, this is where the selection happens. Guys or any potential pod-leaders, head to the rear on either side so you won’t block everybody else. There’s really no way to identify yourselves, but if others are swarming around you, when women previously avoided you, consider that sufficient prescreening.

“You girls with them, I hate to break it to you, but we’ll need to verify you before you’re allowed to claim anyone. The rest of you, wait here until they call you.”

Everyone nodded, then looked at the figure before them, hopeful but fearing the worst.

Jie stepped forward, clapping her hands until all eyes turned towards her.

“Okay, here’s your introduction.” She spoke flawless Spanish, though with an odd accent. “If you’re already formed into pods, forget it. While we’ll try to reunite you, we’re too precious to waste having multiples. Unless we’re sadly misinformed, we believe five is the optimal and maximum number for any pod. So, if you have more than one of each type, don’t expect them to join your final group. And of course, several may fail the evaluation process, so you’ll lose even more. If you’re short, don’t worry. We’ll be shifting everyone to fill as many complete pods as possible. But there will always be gaps, so we’ll do the best with what we have, while also keeping each geographically grouped.

“However, if you have a specific concern, let us know. We only know of three pods, two of which no longer exist. So, we don’t know whether you can mix and match pod-mates, though we seem to keep adding them, as Rosie will attest. It’s also possible there are more than our basic five pod-types. So, if you suspect you represent a separate skillset, please seek us out once you’ve been confirmed, since we’re still learning what this entails.”

“Rosie?” one girl asked. “I didn’t hear her mentioned in the broadcasts.”

“No, we rescued her yesterday. She’s been without her pod for a long, long time, so expect to adopt a few newbies as you continue. Don’t condemn one of us to a life of loneliness, because I can tell you, based on the two we know, it’s a hellish existence. But you’ll meet her soon, as she’s a part of today’s selection committee.

“Now, once you’ve passed this evaluation, we’ll train a couple groups, who’ll then teach the rest. Once we leave in a few days, you’ll continue the process, performing the same evaluations and search for and building new pods. For too long, we’ve struggled in isolation, never knowing there were any others and terrified that once our pod-leader dies, we’ll be left with only a fraction of our selves. But there’s no reason for that to be true anymore. If you encounter someone who’s lost their pod, like Rosie, accept and treasure them, because they’ll give anything to join a new one! This is literally a life-saving mission. Leave no one behind, either alive or dead.

“And if we reassign one of yours, you can always object and we’ll try to be accommodating. But we’re better with multiple complete pods, rather than a few over-crowed ones with everyone competing with one another. Value your pod-mates, and never take them for granted. No one but us will ever share the love we feel for each other, having felt like outsiders our entire lives.

Finally, for those of you who are Roman Catholic, which is most of you, I have bad news. Although the Cardinal personally sanctioned this event, if you’re approved, you will be breaking several church canons just by being who you are. They explicitly state you can just love one person at a time. Any more than that is adultery. You also not supposed to lust after anyone but your husband or wife, and only then in the proper context. Trust me, I continually crave every single member of my pod, especially our pod-Leader, Logan.

“We’re probably also guilty of being a cult, though I’m not sure that’s against church law. But then, we’ve always been outside the norm, so did you expect anything else?

“So, until the Catholic Church, or any religious body, officially accepts us, we’ll spend the rest of our lives as perpetual outsiders. But that’s okay, because once you’ve found your pod, such criticism won’t matter anymore. Sure, family and friends come in a distant second, and you will still respect and cherish them, but no one compares to your pod-mates’ love.

“All right. That’s your basic introduction. Good luck, and I wish you all the best, whether you’re accepted or not. Simply supporting us is more help than we ever imagined, and we’ll support anyone and everyone who supports us. Always remember that. Now...” she walked away without glancing back until she got partway up the central aisle, and then turned.

“All right, everybody, front and center!” Jie ordered, getting their attention. “How many of you can see Rosie?”

They all looked furtively at those around them.

“Sorry, you can’t look directly at her. There’s a trick to it.” She held her arm out. “Stare at my hand and let your eyes unfocus, shift them around and look for a colorful, imprecise shape. Some of you will see more details than others, but that’s okay.” She gave them time to get the knack of it. “Now how many can see our friend Rosie here?” This time, several hands shot up. “Ten? Terrific! That’s more than we hoped for. And I’m surprised at the guys, but that’s constructive. We’ve been assuming a lot, so it helps break stereotypes. Come up and line up to the left of me.” She leaned in. “Wave to your fans, Rosie. You’re doing a great job!” Several girls jumped, not expecting the fuzzy colored indistinct shape to respond.

“Silence!” Ioana shouted, as those who hadn’t been selected begun talking to each other. “All right, Rosetta, say hello to your new trainees.” When she did, Ioana yelled again. “Everyone who heard her come forward and line up on the right of me. We’ll process you, but you’re one step ahead of the others.”

As the girls—and two guys—lined up beside Jie, she faced them. “Okay, who can tell me where Rosie’s standing?” They glanced at one another, then one by one, each pointed. Most in the same general direction, but several were off by a noticeable amount.

“All right. Let’s try again, everybody who thinks she’s got her left hand up, turn to your left. All those who think she’s got her right hand up, turn to your right. And stop looking at your neighbors. We’re testing you, not everyone beside you!

She sighed heavily. “That’s what I thought. How many of you know anything about auras?” They again glanced at one another, and two hands hesitantly rose—though not the same two as before. “Good to know.” She indicated two girls and one of the guys. “You head back to the main area, but don’t worry. You didn’t fail, but you’re not who we’re looking for at this stage.”

She then addressed those remaining. “You are almost certainly your future pod’s Seers. So, head to the front pew on the left and wait, you’ll be called, one at a time, for your final evaluation. You’re nearly done!”

Ioana faced those before her, on the other side of the vestry, addressing a young man. “You, tell me what Rosie says.”

“Uh, ‘poppycock’?”

“Is that a question or a statement?”

“Poppycock, Señora!”

“Wonderful. You passed.” She turned. “Rosetta, letting these girls get comfortable with you and learn about dealing with deceased pod-members, could you continue selecting each by saying something to them.”

The next girl jerked to attention, her eyes widening. “Sunny day!”

“Excellent.” Ioana told her, “but let’s try not jumping, as Rosie’s already nervous enough. I won’t say anything unless you answer incorrectly. So resume, Rosie.”

“Twelve?” the next girl said.

“Wrong! Want to guess again?”

She leaned forward. “It ... it sounds like ‘warbler’.”

“Sorry. Do you suffer from any hearing problems?” She shook her head, so Ioana frowned. “Well, there’s no sense guessing or trying to decipher what you can’t hear. Head back to where you were. You didn’t fail, but you’re not part of this particular group.”

The girl dejectedly headed back, hanging her head.

“Hey!” When she spun, staring at her, Ioana continued. “Is that how you’ll greet new pod-mates? Lose the frown! This is the interview for the remainder of your life. Even if you’re not one of us, this is a grand adventure you can relate for the rest of your life. Now git! We’ve got some matchmaking to do.”

The unidentified blond grinned, turned and ran back, her head held high. The others continued as they’d been instructed.

“Seven. Wonderful. You’re almost there. Head up and sit in the front row on the right and wait until you’re called. It shouldn’t be long, but Logan can only process one at a time.” The girls rushed forward, eager to undergo the final test.

“All right,” Leslie said, moving to the middle of the center aisle. “This one isn’t nearly as precise as the other two, but ... anyone who’s a mama-bear, who’d risk her life to protect her cubs, whoever they might be, advance.”

Again, most of them glanced at one another, but a few hesitantly advanced.

“All right, whoever feels protective of someone in their lives, and would do anything for them, step up!” Many more approached, this time much more assured.

“Are any of those people here or in one of the other buses?” They again glanced at each other, and not nearly as many raised their hands. “This isn’t a precise test, as you’ll only learn whether you’re a Mama Bear when someone you love’s life is at stake, but head up the second row on the left.”

“Okay everyone remaining. How many of you can already tell who belongs here as a pod-Mate and who doesn’t, move up!” Most glanced at one another, but several not only stepped forward, they confidently strode ahead. “Excellent. But you’re not done yet. Kindly select those people and bring them with you. I want the Seekers in this row, and all their selectees in the rows behind them. These are your pups, girls. You’re in charge of them. Take care and don’t let them get discouraged.”