I would like to see this mornings release of the twin.
One moment, Receiver. Thank you for your instructions.
Jonas watched the video screen above the row of switches. Its blank face began to flicker with zig-zag lines; then some numbers appeared, followed by the date and time. He was astonished and delighted that this was available to him, and surprised that he had not known.
Suddenly he could see a small windowless room, empty except for a bed, a table with some equipment on it Jonas recognised a scale; he had seen them before, when hed been doing volunteer hours at the Nurturing Centre and a cupboard. He could see pale carpeting on the floor.
Its just an ordinary room, he commented. I thought maybe theyd have it in the Auditorium, so that everybody could come. All the Old go to Ceremonies of Release. But I suppose that when its just a newborn, they dont
Shhh, the Giver said, his eyes on the screen.
Jonass father, wearing his nurturing uniform, entered the room, cradling a tiny newchild wrapped in a soft blanket in his arms. A uniformed woman followed through the door, carrying a second newchild wrapped in a similar blanket.
Thats my father. Jonas found himself whispering, as if he might wake the little ones if he spoke aloud. And the other Nurturer is his assistant. Shes still in training, but shell be finished soon.
The two Nurturers unwrapped the blankets and laid the identical newborns on the bed. They were naked. Jonas could see that they were males.
He watched, fascinated, as his father gently lifted one and then the other to the scale and weighed them.
He heard his father laugh. Good, his father said to the woman. I thought for a moment that they might both be exactly the same. Then wed have a problem. But this one, he handed one, after rewrapping it, to his assistant, is six pounds even. So you can clean him up and dress him and take him over to the Centre.
The woman took the newchild and left through the door she had entered.
Jonas watched as his father bent over the squirming newchild on the bed. And you, little guy, youre only five pounds ten ounces. A shrimp!
Thats the special voice he uses with Gabriel, Jonas remarked, smiling.
Watch, the Giver said.
Now he cleans him up and makes him comfy, Jonas told him. He told me.
Be quiet, Jonas, the Giver commanded in a strange voice. Watch.
Obediently Jonas concentrated on the screen, waiting for what would happen next. He was especially curious about the ceremony part.
His father turned and opened the cupboard. He took out a syringe and a small bottle. Very carefully he inserted the needle into the bottle and began to fill the syringe with a clear liquid.
Jonas winced sympathetically. He had forgotten that newchildren had to get shots. He hated shots himself, though he knew that they were necessary.
To his surprise, his father began very carefully to direct the needle into the top of the newchilds forehead, puncturing the place where the fragile skin pulsed. The newborn squirmed, and wailed faintly.
Whys he
Shhh, the Giver said sharply.
His father was talking, and Jonas realised that he was hearing the answer to the question he had started to ask. Still in the special voice, his father was saying, I know, I know. It hurts, little guy. But I have to use a vein, and the veins in your arms are still too teeny-weeny.
He pushed the plunger very slowly, injecting the liquid into the scalp vein until the syringe was empty.
All done. That wasnt so bad, was it? Jonas heard his father say cheerfully. He turned aside and dropped the syringe into a waste receptacle.
Now he cleans him up and makes him comfy, Jonas said to himself, aware that the Giver didnt want to talk during the little ceremony.
As he continued to watch, the newchild, no longer crying, moved his arms and legs in a jerking motion. Then he went limp. His head fell to the side, his eyes half open. Then he was still.
With an odd, shocked feeling, Jonas recognised the gestures and posture and expression. They were familiar. He had seen them before. But he couldnt remember where.
Jonas stared at the screen, waiting for something to happen. But nothing did. The little twin lay motionless. His father was putting things away. Folding the blanket. Closing the cupboard.
Once again, as he had on the playing field, he felt the choking sensation. Once again he saw the face of the light-haired, bloodied soldier as life left his eyes. The memory came back.
He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realising. He continued to stare at the screen numbly.
His father tidied the room. Then he picked up a small carton that lay waiting on the floor, set it on the bed, and lifted the limp body into it. He placed the lid on tightly.
He picked up the carton and carried it to the other side of the room. He opened a small door in the wall; Jonas could see darkness behind the door. It seemed to be the same sort of chute into which trash was deposited at school.
His father loaded the carton containing the body into the chute and gave it a shove.
Bye-bye, little guy, Jonas heard his father say before he left the room. Then the screen went blank.
The Giver turned to him. Quite calmly, he related, When the Speaker notified me that Rosemary had applied for release, they turned on the tape to show me the process. There she was my last glimpse of that beautiful child waiting. They brought in the syringe and asked her to roll up her sleeve.
You suggested, Jonas, that perhaps she wasnt brave enough? I dont know about bravery: what it is, what it means. I do know that I sat here numb with horror. Wretched with helplessness. And I listened as Rosemary told them that she would prefer to inject herself.
Then she did so. I didnt watch. I looked away.
The Giver turned to him. Well, there you are, Jonas. You were wondering about release, he said in a bitter voice.
Jonas felt a ripping sensation inside himself, the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry.
I WONT! I wont go home! You cant make me! Jonas sobbed and shouted and pounded the bed with his fists.
Sit up, Jonas, the Giver told him firmly.
Jonas obeyed him. Weeping, shuddering, he sat on the edge of the bed. He would not look at the Giver.
You may stay here tonight. I want to talk to you. But you must be quiet now, while I notify your family unit. No one must hear you cry.
Jonas looked up wildly. No one heard that little twin cry, either! No one but my father! He collapsed in sobs again.
The Giver waited silently. Finally Jonas was able to quiet himself and he sat huddled, his shoulders shaking.
The Giver went to the wall speaker and clicked the switch to ON.
Yes, Receiver. How may I help you?
Notify the new Receivers family unit that he will be staying with me tonight, for additional training.
I will take care of that, sir. Thank you for your instructions, the voice said.
I will take care of that, sir. I will take care of that, sir, Jonas mimicked in a cruel, sarcastic voice. I will do whatever you like, sir. I will kill people, sir. Old people? Small newborn people? Id be happy to kill them, sir. Thank you for your instructions, sir. How may I help y He couldnt seem to stop.
The Giver grasped his shoulders firmly. Jonas fell silent and stared at him.
Listen to me, Jonas. They cant help it. They know nothing.
You said that to me once before.
I said it because its true. Its the way they live. Its the life that was created for them. Its the same life that you would have, if you had not been chosen as my successor.
But he lied to me! Jonas wept.
Its what he was told to do, and he knows nothing else.
What about you? Do you lie to me, too? Jonas almost spat the question at the Giver.
I am empowered to lie. But I have never lied to you.
Jonas stared at him. Release is always like that? For people who break the rules three times? For the Old? Do they kill the Old, too?
Yes, its true.
And what about Fiona? She loves the Old! Shes in training to care for them. Does she know yet? What will she do when she finds out? How will she feel? Jonas brushed wetness from his face with the back of one hand.
Fiona is already being trained in the fine art of release, the Giver told him. Shes very efficient at her work, your red-haired friend. Feelings are not part of the life shes learned.
Jonas wrapped his arms around himself and rocked his own body back and forth. What should I do? I cant go back! I cant!
The Giver stood up. First, I will order our evening meal. Then we will eat.
Jonas found himself using the nasty, sarcastic voice again. Then well have a sharing of feelings?
The Giver gave a rueful, anguished, empty laugh. Jonas, you and I are the only ones who have feelings. Weve been sharing them now for almost a year.
Im sorry, Giver, Jonas said miserably. I dont mean to be so hateful. Not to you.
The Giver rubbed Jonass hunched shoulders. And after we eat, he went on, well make a plan.
Jonas looked up, puzzled. A plan for what? Theres nothing. Theres nothing we can do. Its always been this way. Before me, before you, before the ones who came before you. Back and back and back. His voice trailed the familiar phrase.
Jonas, the Giver said, after a moment, its true that it has been this way for what seems forever. But the memories tell us that it has not always been. People felt things once. You and I have been part of that, so we know. We know that they once felt things like pride, and sorrow, and
And love, Jonas added, remembering the family scene that had so affected him. And pain. He thought again of the soldier.
The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. Its the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.
Ive started to share them with you, Jonas said, trying to cheer him.
Thats true. And having you here with me over the past year has made me realise that things must change. For years Ive felt that they should, but it seemed so hopeless.
Now for the first time I think there might be a way, The Giver said slowly. And you brought it to my attention, barely he glanced at the clock two hours ago.
Jonas watched him, and listened.
It was late at night, now. They had talked and talked. Jonas sat wrapped in a robe belonging to the Giver, the long robe that only Elders wore.
It was possible, what they had planned. Barely possible. If it failed, he would very likely be killed.
But what did that matter? If he stayed, his life was no longer worth living.
Yes, he told the Giver. Ill do it. I think I can do it. Ill try, anyway. But I want you to come with me.
The Giver shook his head. Jonas, he said, the community has depended, all these generations, back and back and back, on a resident Receiver to hold their memories for them. Ive turned over many of them to you in the past year. And I cant take them back. Theres no way for me to get them back if I have given them.
So if you escape, once you are gone and, Jonas, you know that you can never return
Jonas nodded solemnly. It was the terrifying part. Yes, he said, I know. But if you come with me
The Giver shook his head and made a gesture to silence him. He continued. If you get away, if you get beyond, if you get to Elsewhere, it will mean that the community has to bear the burden themselves, of the memories you had been holding for them.
I think that they can, and that they will acquire some wisdom. But it will be desperately hard for them. When we lost Rosemary ten years ago, and her memories returned to the people, they panicked. And those were such few memories, compared to yours. When your memories return, theyll need help. Remember how I helped you in the beginning, when the receiving of memories was new to you?
Jonas nodded. It was scary at first. And it hurt a lot.
You needed me then. And now they will.
Its no use. Theyll find someone to take my place. Theyll choose a new Receiver.
Theres no one ready for training, not right away. Oh, theyll speed up the selection, of course. But I cant think of another child who has the right qualities
Theres a little female with pale eyes. But shes only a Six.
Thats correct. I know the one you mean. Her name is Katharine. But shes too young. So they will be forced to bear those memories.
I want you to come, Giver, Jonas pleaded.
No. I have to stay here, the Giver said firmly. I want to, Jonas. If I go with you, and together we take away all their protection from the memories, Jonas, the community will be left with no one to help them. Theyll be thrown into chaos. Theyll destroy themselves. I cant go.
Giver, Jonas suggested, you and I dont need to care about the rest of them.
The Giver looked at him with a questioning smile. Jonas hung his head. Of course they needed to care. It was the meaning of everything.
And in any case, Jonas, the Giver sighed, I wouldnt make it. Im very weakened now. Do you know that I no longer see colours?
Jonass heart broke. He reached for the Givers hand.
You have the colours, the Giver told him. And you have the courage. I will help you to have the strength.
A year ago, Jonas reminded him, when I had just become a Twelve, when I began to see the first colour, you told me that the beginning had been different for you. But that I wouldnt understand.
The Giver brightened. Thats true. And do you know, Jonas, that with all your knowledge now, with all your memories, with all youve learned still you wont understand? Because Ive been a little selfish. I havent given any of it to you. I wanted to keep it for myself to the last.