Remembering the Past

Author's Note: When my parents read the first copy, they pointed out some comments in the writing that could be considered prejudiced. In spite of their, perhaps, better judgment, I decided to leave the story as is because I didn't want to ruin the impact it had. Please, when reading this, remember that I did not have the intent of being mean or prejudicial. I was responding to an article I found in the newspaper about how people believe that the Holocaust had never happened. If I was trying to offend anyone, it was those people and no one else. If you have any concerns, please feel free to email at . Thanks,

-Ember Silverly

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The president of the United States looked at the bill just passed by Congress. In a nutshell, it was limiting the rights of the light-colored Americans. They would not be allowed to be out between ten at night and seven in the morning. They would be forced to walk and not drive the flitters, floating cars. On the bus, they would have to sit in the back.
The president glanced at his aide. "Is this constitutional?" he asked.
The aide nodded. "We've already cleared it with the Supreme Court; they've agreed to pass it."
The president frowned. He didn't believe it was constitutional, but if his party and people wanted it, he would sign it. "How do the people feel about it?"
The aide shrugged. "Most don't seem to interested except for the diehard equal-rights activists."
The president nodded and signed the bill.

Amber sighed and walked to her spot at the back of the classroom where all those of Caucasian lineage would be sitting. Of course, since the population explosion of the 2020's, thirty years ago in Africa, those of Caucasian lineage were rare.
Darian, Amber's twin brother, was already seated. Besides them, the only other Caucasian in the class of thirty was Robert.
"Did you hear the new law passed by the president?" Darian asked. He looked worried.
"No. I don't think so. Which president?" Amber replied.
"The United States," Darian replied.
"Then it doesn't concern us here in Russia." Robert pointed out.
Amber wondered where Robert had been the past twenty years. All the nations followed the lead of the U.S. Ever since the bill restricting the rights of Caucasians had been passed in America, Caucasian rights everywhere were being stripped. The only country that wasn't following America's lead was the Moon Base. "Of course it will," Amber told Robert. "It always does." She turned to Darian. "What was the bill?"
"The police can go and search the house of any Caucasian without a warrant or cause."
Robert's eyes widened. "I thought that was against their Constitution?"
Darian shrugged. "It is. They probably found a loophole."
"Or made one," Amber chimed in.
The teacher walked into the room and began teaching an obscure piece of twentieth-century history that was considered mainly fiction; a plot of the Jews to get sympathy from the rest of the world. Everyone knew the Holocaust had never happened.

"Mrs. President?" a man's voice called.
The Russian President raised her head. "Has the new bill gone through?" she asked.
The man nodded. "America signed the bill for the Global Police. Will we be signing it?"
The woman nodded. "Of course. Every other country has. Except for the Moon Base."
The man nodded again. "What will these Global Police do exactly?"
"Enforce the problem with the Caucasians. They are an unruly bunch you know."
The man nodded hesitantly. He had grown up in a white neighborhood and the kids there had been nice. But maybe he was remembering wrong; it had been a while ago. Better people then he had declared the Caucasians to be a problem and who was he to argue? "Why is the Moon Base refusing to sign the bill?"
The president pursed her lips. "I'm not sure. Something about it being against their founding beliefs or some such nonsense."
The man nodded and left the President in the office to sign the Global Police bill.

"I thought the Global Police were supposed to enforce the laws already passed," Amber muttered. "Killing a person for buying food isn't right. She was in a Caucasian store even."
"Don't talk to yourself, Amber," Darian said, coming into the room. "It worries people."
Amber snorted. "Did you hear the news, brother dearest?" she asked.
Darian nodded. "Mom and Dad said they knew this was coming. They've arranged for us to go live on the Moon Base in a couple weeks. We won't be around here much longer."
"Assuming by that time we can still use the spaceports."
Darian grinned. "If we can't, we'll escape. It'll be an adventure."
Amber rolled her eyes. "Boys!" she said.
"Seriously, sis," Darian said, "we'll be alright. Father has a job lined up as an English teacher up there. Mother is sure she'll be able to find a job, even if it's being a waitress."
"I'm not worried about once we get there, Darian. Do you really think that the government will let us go? How long before they start killing us?"
Darian laughed. "You've been listening to Mr. Smith too long. You sound like you're taking his Holocaust stuff seriously."
"Even if it is made up, who says it can't happen?" Amber asked.
Darian shrugged. "It won't, you'll see."
"I have homework Darian," Amber told her brother. "So do you."
"Trust me, Sis. Nothing like that is going to happen."

Councilman Jones lifted his head to study the newest batch of refugees from Earth. "You are welcome here, my friends," he concluded his speech.
He turned and stepped off the platform, ignoring the scattered applause only to be assailed by the media. He walked quickly to the awaiting flitter without answering any of the questions tossed his way.
"How much longer, Councilman, can we continue to accept refugees? They're a drain on our resources," the Councilwoman Jones as meeting for lunch asked. She didn't agree with his view on the Caucasians from Earth.
Jones shook his head. "That's not the point. We can't let them die down there. And that's exactly what's happening. The Earthside governments aren't even trying to hide their agenda anymore. Read this, Mrs. Parker."
Councilwoman Parker took the crumpled letter and read the plea for help. "So? Are you going to answer it?"
"I'm going to do everything in my power to. But, I'm afraid I'm in the minority on the Council. As you know, the rest wants nothing to do with these people."
Parker sighed. "How old is this Amber?"
"Her and her brother are both sixteen. But you'll note that the letter wasn't for either of them. It was for the hundreds of orphans on Earth who can't take care of themselves."
"We can't accept anymore refugees. They're not our problem and are just a waste of resources," Parker said firmly.

"It was stupid, Amber!" Darian whispered fiercely. He glared at his blond sister.
Amber glared back. "We need to let the Moon Base know. Jones is the one on our side. Maybe that letter can save some of us down here!"
Darian said nothing but turned to stare out of the crude shelter the two were hiding in. Since Amber had sent the letter, word of it had reached the governments of Earth. They were now looking for Amber and Darian. The twins were on the run and hiding somewhere in Poland.
Outside the shelter, boots marched up and down the streets. Laughter from the non-Caucasian races followed. It was New Year's Eve, so there was a party raging outside. Of course, neither Amber nor Darian could show their faces. Not only were they wanted, it was after curfew, almost twelve in fact.
"Get some sleep, Amber," Darian told his sister harshly. "I'll keep a look out for the Global Police."
Amber nodded and curled up. She tried to sleep, but the noise from the party kept her awake. Finally, she heard the countdown:
".. New Year!" the crown roared.
Amber sat up and smiled ironically. "Happy New Year, brother," she murmured.
Darian jumped. "I thought I told you to get some sleep!"
Amber put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Darian. I was only trying to help," she whispered. She suddenly wished her parents were not dead but right there with them. yet, that it was last year and everything was all right and they could be out celebrating with the crowd.
"I'm not mad, Am," Darian replied after a moment. "Not at you, at least. I'm sick of hiding and I want to go home and see Mom and Dad and go to school and to live a normal life, like it was before."
Amber nodded, even though she knew Darian couldn't see her in the dim light. She rested her head on Darian's shoulder and cuddled up to him. "I'm scared, Darian," she whispered.
Darian put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "Me too."

"I want those children found!" the Polish president said. "I don't care how. They need to be dealt with."
"If we kill them, Mr. President, they'll just be turned into martyrs for the Moon Base," an aide replied.
"The Moon Base doesn't care what we do on Earth. If they did, they would've done something by now. If you don't find those Russian brats, I'll fire you all!"
The aides nodded and scurried from the room to order more troops to look for the kids.
"Who would've thought one letter would go so far," the President muttered to himself. "Those two children have caught the eye of every person on the Moon Base. If we don't kill them, they'll inspire the Moon Base to act and if we do they'll become martyrs, essentially doing the exact same thing." The president's problems were increased by the fact that the kids were somewhere in his country, which made them his problem. The other countries were getting more vehement in a demand for action.
The president rang for another aide. The man showed up immediately. "I want the kids dead. As soon as possible."

Amber walked into the old city-like place. "Where are we, Darian?" she asked.
Darian shrugged. "Looks like a good place to spend the day, though." He led the way deeper into the place. The buildings were falling apart and gave the place an ominous feel. Dust coated the pathways.
"I don't like this place, Darian. I really don't."
"We'll leave tomorrow. Tonight. Whenever." Darian kicked up an old sign.
Amber looked at it. "Auschwitz. Wasn't that the death camp Mr. Smith was telling us about?"
Darian shrugged again. "Probably. It sounds familiar. Let's find a spot to sleep."
"You there! Halt!"
The twins whirled to see five Global Police coming towards them. "Run!" Darian shouted. The Police fired. One of the laser gun beams hit Darian in the chest.
Amber turned and ran. She knew her brother was dead. She also knew she would be too in a moment. Amber ran past buildings until she stumbled over a piece of rubble.
Amber pushed herself to her knees and started at a little black book with the words "The Holocaust" printed in English on the cover. She dumbly picked up the book and turned to the last page. There, she found this sentence:
"Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
Amber stared at the book. It was old, perhaps fifty years. Behind her a guard shouted and fired. The laser bolt took Amber through the chest. She fell with the book beneath her.

The Global Policeman walked over to the girl and kicked her body aside. If these were the right two kids, there would be a bonus for him and his squad. Under the girl was a book. The guard picked it up, looked at it for a few minutes, snorted, then threw it to the ground. Who could believe that the Holocaust had ever happened? And even if it had happened, it could never happen again. Not in today's civilized society.