The Biomass Revolution (The Tisaian Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

not everything is as it may seem… Well, there is much you two young men don’t know. Much I haven’t told you.” Paulo turned and quickly scanned the crowd to make sure no one was listening.
    “Truth is , when I was written up at work, it wasn’t just because I failed to turn off my lights a few times. My supervisor accused me of spreading negative rhetoric about the State.”
    Ing raised an eyebrow. “What kind of rhetoric ?”
    “The type that gets you locked up. Luckily , the case never made it to the Knights. My supervisor dropped it when his boss got involved. It was blackmail. He wanted the position I had been hired for. So he accused me of spreading lies about the State. The truth, however, is more complicated. I had been discussing many theories about the State with another co-worker. This man told me he was getting info from the TDU. He disappeared a couple months ago.” Paulo paused and took a short swig from his mug.
    “ I’d be locked up for telling you both, but I don’t care anymore. I have nothing to lose. The State isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, boys. This life as a State worker, it’s all a facade. We’re told lies to hide what is really going on. Do you really think there aren’t survivors in the Wastelands, or in the skeletons of what used to be cities?”
    Ing raised his hand to stop Paulo before he could go on any further. “What you’re saying is bordering on treason. You do realize this, right?”
    “And I don’t care, Ing. I’m telling you this because my life is over anyways.”
    “Let him talk,” Spurious barked. Ing looked over at his normally quiet friend and quickly nodded.
    “Go on Paulo. I ’m listening,” Spurious said.
    “I know there are survivors because I have heard the transmissions. I ’ve heard the broadcasts, people on the two-way channels that are asking for help,” Paulo exclaimed.
    “Try and keep it down a bit,” Spurious interrupted. “We don’t know who is listening.”
    “Radio transmissions? Come on, that’s a bunch of shit. How do you know this?” Ing asked.
    “I know because I have a two-way radio. The co-worker gave it to me before he disappeared. He was getting paranoid and said he needed a safe place to keep it, so I stashed it under my mattress in a metal box that blocks signals from being traced. And at night, I take it into my bathroom, where my AI can’t hear the transmissions.”
    Ing slammed his mug down on the wooden surface of the table, which was already covered in empty glasses. “Man, this is ludicrous. You’re going to end up in prison, or worse, dead! And I could end up there with you, just for listening. Forget this. I’m finding myself a female, and will pretend I never heard this conversation.”
    Paulo stood up to stop Ing as he made his way into the crowd.
    “Let him go. Let’s move to a leather booth. Over there,” Spurious pointed.
    Reluctantly , Paulo obliged and they moved across the room to a booth in the corner. It wasn’t long before Spurious realized he had all but forgotten the message. He sat down in the plush booth, sinking deeper into the comfort of the aged leather. His curiosity was getting the best of him tonight; first the message, and now Paulo’s stories. After living with such a monotonous routine, it was finally good to have some stimulation, even if there was a risk.
    “What type of transmissions are you hearing?” Spurious asked.
    Paulo looked down at his drink and picked at the wooden table nervously. “Perhaps Ing is right. Perhaps I should not bring you two into this.”
    “ Ing just doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
    “That maybe so, but it’s selfish of me to put you two at risk. You don’t know what the State is capable of. What the Knights are capable of.” Paulo paused and picked at the table some more, before his drunken eyes turned back to Spurious. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you two.”
    “It’s going to be all right, you know that,