Leaving the Underground 2 - by Joshua Omoijiade

We last left Geleck above the hell of his birth. He now had 3 choices: a chance to be a guard, to be returned to the pits, or to end it all in death.  For the night, he was placed in a hostel room, complete with bed, table and chair. There was a bathroom containing appliances he had no real idea how to use; he contented himself with a wash and the toilet - easy enough to operate - all after finishing the dinner of roasted lake Eels. All evening, he turned over questions in his mind. Darkness came down outside his window - this night had light in it, these must be stars, he thought; the breeze had grown familiar now, but he noticed how it mellowed with night's coming. The next morning, when the officers came in the door, they met him staring at the door, seated upright. Before they could say a word, he asked,  “ Why did my father not bring my mother up?” With brows upturned, Baron and Ben exchanged glances. “Guards can't just take up any woman, girl or boy they take for nightly company up from the pits.”, Ben said Geleck’s stomach tightened. “The country would be a circus. Resources would be greatly reduced; the upper stateswomen, some married to wardens and guards, would be in a rage immediately.” Baron added  Now he comprehended his mother's aversion to his hopes of family; he pondered his foolish naivety and regretted all his enquiries on the subject. A silence fell.Officer Baron laid a heavy hand on Geleck’s shoulder, closing the distance and staring down at him. He leaned over with a voice slow and steady. “What is your decision? Many necessary evils can be made right this morning” Looking up into the hardened face of the guard, Geleck struggled to mask his emotions, his lips trembling slightly - he could feel anger simmering within him. He managed a nod. “I’ll become one of your…” Ben stepped forward, removing his right glove “I’ll be an uperstatesman”  “Welcome to freedom, Mr Geleck,” Ben said, patting his shoulder. Geleck’s fist clenched tightly at his side. “I only have one more question”, Geleck said, looking down at the floor to hide his frown. “When can I meet my father?” The end of the story intentionally leaves much open to speculation. I intended this to conclude in two parts, but I will finally bring my thoughts to bear on the story in the third part. I'll explore how this “freedom” of Geleck binds him in ways that are not immediately obvious—finally, the nature of freedom and why it is not available in this story.

Leaving The Underground