An ocean between

The first days after Terminus, the neighboring countries made it's citizens compromise never to visit David, or choose to leave their country forever. Not many families were separated, but countless lovers. Although anyone was welcome in David, there was a clear sequester to that brave land, and many people feared the secularized (logical) way of life.

At the beginning there were walls and guards. But as time went on, the will of some to flee to David was too big a challenge to the surrounding countries' leaders. Small towns near the border had revolted and annexed themselves to David. It was the tipping point, and it could only be solved in one manner. What followed was the greatest endeavor humans had overtaken, build an ocean between David and the rest of the world.

Everything was prepared from the previous evening. The small group of five walked in the shadows to the waterline. As they sank into the water, one felt the cold penetrating up to his brain, and jumped out of the water and went back home. Paula stayed in the group of 4. As a young woman she decided to part from her lover, and not live in David. After 10 years and her unbearable heartache for Sebastian, she decided to swim. She had read some stories on the life in David, and had fantasied to live next to him in that lovely place.

Dim lights could be seen from the other shore. It was the port city of David+6, only a few kilometers away from David+5, where Sebastian lived. Nobody guarded the ocean, the waters guarded themselves. She took the first stroke, and small cold drops splashed in her face. The minutes went by slower, and everyone was tired. Paula felt tears on her eyes, or maybe it was the poison from some sea animal. She could feel the slippery skin of things underwater.

The light grew stronger, only a few miles away. It was getting hard to breathe. She paused for a moment, and suddenly realized it was quiet. She didn't dare to shout. Still she rested for some more time, and then resumed to swim. With her last energy, she reached the shore of David+6, and fell asleep. A gentle voice woke her up. She had a bracelet on her hand, and wore warm clothes with a tag in the chest "Central Institute of Social Technologies". She was taught logic, and left to explore the wold. She took the next train to David+5.

Sebastian lived in a house in the outskirts of the city. Paula was in his door as he came back from his social contribution. He gave her a big hug, and let her into his home. When they began to speak, Adrienne came through the door, and said hello. Sebastian introduced her as one of his partners. It was still hard for Paula to understand that in David, nobody owned no one, and logically a person could no be together with a single other person for all their life. Although she tried, it was too hard for her to change, and so decided to leave.

The Central Institute of Social Technologies had spent enormous resources to "mend broken hearths", but the research showed no promising advances. The institute had taken the decision to send Paula to the island.