Water and Power by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    Morakil Esterhart clutched her purse as she walked toward the screening centre. Her world had become a strange and dangerous place to live in, and it was getting worse.
    Resicor was turning into a world of darkness and paranoia, and Mora was afraid that she was about to become its next victim.
    A woman came up next to her and said quietly, “Do you want to pass this interview?”
    Mora tried to turn but the voice said, “Don’t look. Do you want to pass this interview?”
    Mora nodded.
    “Good. Just relax.”
    A hand gripped her wrist and held tight for a moment. A second later, they were in the midst of a pushing and jostling crowd. A cloak was draped over her head and shoulders and hands guided her out of the crowd and away from the screening centre.
    Mora glanced back, and she bit her lip as she saw herself stepping toward the centre with a nervous stride. She kept her head down and walked with the stranger who had his arm around her.
    When they got around the corner, a transport was waiting for her. The man behind the wheel said, “We can take you home or to the mountains. Your choice. Once you are out there, you will be on your own.”
    “So, I am escaping the dome and going to the hills instead?”
    “Your mind and body will be free. Consider that our gift to you.” The man nodded to his companion, and they chuckled together.
    Mora sat back. This was going to be no life for a jeweller, but she supposed that living free was a better option than living in confinement. Idly, she wondered how the fake her was doing at the interview.
     
    * * * *
     
    The double was sitting in the interview room with two people glaring at her from across the table. In the corner was an empath who was monitoring her mind.
    “So, despite your neighbour complaining about your farm having water during the drought, you are claiming that you had nothing to do with it?”
    Fake Mora smiled nervously, keeping the copied memories and personality in front of her own. “I don’t know why the family farm has more water than my neighbours. We might be on a different water table. I don’t involve myself with the farm at all. I am a jeweller.”
    Fake Mora felt the pressure on her mind, and she showed it only what it should feel. Nervous fear and confusion.
    This was not the first time she had done this, or even the hundred and first. She sat through more questions about the water levels at Mora’s home, and finally, she was discharged when the empath shook her head.
    She had a clean bill of being normal, which would mean that Mora could go home, but the blood sample would degrade in a matter of hours. Mora would be registered as normal until someone checked on the blood that they took when fake Mora entered the building. After that, there would be a hunt for her.
    “Ms. Esterhart!” The empath caught up with her just inside the door.
    “Yes?”
    “You forgot your purse.”
    Fake Mora sighed and smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”
    The empath didn’t extend it. “You know, you have a very organized mind. I was surprised, from what your brother said, you were a little scatter-brained.”
    Fake Mora scowled and rummaged through her memories. “I don’t have a brother.”
    The empath inclined her head with a cruel smile. “I had to try. Here you are.”
    She extended the bag and fake Mora looked at it curiously. “That isn’t my bag.”
    “Oh, really? I suppose that the property master got them confused.”
    Fake Mora bobbed her head. “It is fine. I am sure you can understand; I really want to just go home and get back to work.”
    The empath finally gave up. “Good day, Ms. Esterhart. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
    “Thank you. Good day.” Fake Mora felt the tingling in her body that preceded her return to her normal shape, and she turned to escape the centre with as much decorum as she could manage.
    She made it outside and inhaled sharply. She could sense the two men following her as she moved down the