Awakening the Mare (Fall of Man Book 1) by Jacqueline Druga

promiscuous.”
    “What?” Davis laughed. You can have a
boyfriend and not be promiscuous. It’s life, Vala, it’s what makes
us part of who we are. Being human and being around humans.
Touching them, being touched. Connecting, even innocently, it’s
normal. The Sybaris didn’t want you tainted, which is why you are
going to the facility.”
    “What is that?”
    “The Sybaris want you to act a certain way
and only know what they tell you. You are programmed, in a sense,
to be exactly how they want you to be.”
    I took offense to that. “I am
rebellious.”
    “I’m sure you are, but really, how rebellious
are you that you act like having a boyfriend is a crime? You act
that way because that’s all you know. We are going to secure you
away and basically teach you all you need to know pretty fast. Sort
of deprogramming you. We are going to teach you how humans act,
talk, react. We are going to teach you man’s history.”
    “I do know a lot about man’s history. I
believe I at least have some advantage there.” I stopped, pulled
back my shoulders, and proudly stood straight. I was going to
impress Davis with my knowledge. “I know who Ronald Reagan was. He
was a great leader of yours.”
    “Yes,” Davis chuckled. “Yes he was.”
    “And your God, he had long flowing hair.”
    “He did.”
    “I saw a picture of him. He wasn’t wearing a
shirt.”
    “You’ll have that.”
    “Not in Akana. Men always dress fully. Your
God was very beautiful. In the picture, there was a light, it was
behind his head, glowing through his hair.”
    Davis nodded. “That’s called a halo. It
signifies holiness.”
    “I see. Do your people pray to him?”
    “Many do, yes.”
    “Is there a temple for him?”
    “As a matter of fact, yes.” Davis said.
“People keep it clean and go there regularly. It gives them
strength and hope.”
    “I would like very much to see the temple of
Bon Jav Vie. Will you show me?”
    As if I made a shocking request, Davis came
to an abrupt halt. He turned to face me and stared down at me.
    “Am I in trouble? Did I say something
wrong?”
    “No. Vala… you said... Bonjav…?”
    “Bon Jav Vie.”
    He shuddered a bit. “Where did you hear the
name Bon Jovi?”
    “Oh, is that how it is said? I am so sorry.
Are you impressed?”
    “Yes.”
    “I learned from a box I uncovered long ago.
My mother said it was a time capsule from the year 1988. I kept it
hidden and learned everything about man that I could from that box.
It is special. I brought it with me.”
    “I would love to see it.”
    “I’ll show it to you. You’ll have to be
careful.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Because there is poison in there. It’s the
best of poison they had in 1988, so be careful. I didn’t throw it
away in case we can use it one day on the Sybaris. You think we
can?”
    “Maybe.” He closed one eye, looking at me
strangely.
    “See?” I smiled proudly. “I am not as bad as
Snake said, am I? I don’t have that much to learn.”
    Davis didn’t really reply to that. He cleared
his throat, placed his hand on my back, guiding me to walk. “Finish
your food.”

22. Three Times

    “What do you know about the Sybaris?” Davis
asked me.
    We had stopped at what looked like a garden.
In fact, many people were resting there, enjoying their meat on a
stick, talking to each other, laughing.
    It was a comfortable place.
    “In which way do you mean?” I asked.
    “Do you know how many kinds there are?”
    “Two. The Savage Sybaris and the Civilized,”
I answered. “The Savage kill for food and do not reason. The
Civilized ones use humans for food and workers.”
    “Do you know where you are wrong in your
answer?”
    I shook my head. I honestly did not know
because I did not think I answered incorrectly.
    “There are three types,” Davis said. “The
Savage, the Civilized, and the Day Stalkers.”
    “They are not Sybaris!”
    “Ah, but they are.” Davis held up a finger.
“They are a combination of the