Veracity (The Seven Cities Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

body. For women it's above the left collar bone, and for men, the inside of the left forearm." He picks up his burnt stick and draws "A04A0501-A03" on the floor.
    "This was my wife's number," he says.  "Before we were married she lived in Axiom, one of the cities near here. She was able to escape, but not until she was 20 and already had her mark."
    "It just looks like a jumbled mess, what does all that stand for?"
    "It's actually a smart system, although barbaric," he says. "The first letter is for her father's birth city, Axiom. The "04" represents his surname. The second letter is her mother's birth city, also Axiom, and "05" represents her mother's maiden name. The "01" means she was the couple's first child to graduate from the school."
    "What about the last bit at the end? "
    "That stands for her husband," he says sadly. "When you graduate the school you are assigned a spouse and the mark is tattooed on."
    "I would never let someone pick my husband," Ruth says.
    "The ability to choose is the price they pay for security," he says. "On the other side of the wall, people have everything they need, but get very little say in how they live their life."
    "Their last names ain't actually numbers," Ruth says to me. "I used to think that's what it meant but it don't."
    "No." he says, smiling down at his daughter, "The number just represents the last name. Ruth's grandfather's name was the fourth surname to be assigned in Axiom, Smith. Her grandmother carried the fifth name of Branson."
    "That seems really complicated," I say.
    "I always thought so, but my wife claimed it was just a part of life, that knowing a person's heredity by their mark came as second nature. She actually considered an unmarked shoulder to be unattractive if you can believe it."
    "Why mark the skin like that?" I ask. "Isn't there a less painful way to keep up with who everyone is?"
    "I think the original idea was just a matter of needing a quick and permanent way to track their citizens. It's more of a social standard now though. The closer your surnames are to 01, the higher you are thought of. It means you have a more established, and often wealthier, family. The tattoo has become desirable, and they are proud to show it off."
    "And you think I was in one of these schools but ran away before I could get marked?"
    "If I had to guess, that would be it," he says studying me. "It's actually impressive, not many people manage to escape the city, much less someone as young as you."
    "You make it sound like a prison."
    "In a way it is. Leaving is not allowed, but honestly, most people don't want to. As bad as they think it is inside, they have been taught the outside is much worse."
    "I am starting to wonder if I should even go back," I say. "Why would I want to put my freedom into the hands of someone else?"
    "Because it's dangerous for you out here," he says. "The army doesn't take kindly to those who defy them. They only leave our village alone because they like to trade with our runners, and we help keep an eye on other outsiders. It's not the most honorable task, but it keeps our families and our way of life safe."
    "I was told I needed to find a safe house. Do you know where one is?"
    "Ruth can take you. I would take you myself, but I can't risk being scanned. You will be safe with Ruth, though, she has nothing to hide."
    "Scanned?"
    "You're not stupid are you?" Ruth blurts out shocked.
    "Ruth!"
    "Sorry, Papa, but she doesn't know anything. Not a single thing!"
    "Not anything useful," I say. "Although, I think I remember how to make blackberry jelly."
    "I'll have to get that recipe from you before you go," he laughs.
    "It's actually pretty complicated," I say. "It involves a snake and a suitcase . . ."
    "She really is crazy," Ruth mutters to herself.
    "You will have to excuse my daughter," Ruth's father says, eyeing the girl again. "Scanning is something very fundamental in our world. When you meet a soldier, they will have a device on their arm; a silver