Publisher: Expected publication: September 12th 2012 by
ESB Publishing
Synopsis:
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She
lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side
other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her
brother Liam is missing.
Noah
Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs
and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those
who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like
her specifically.
Zoe’s
carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that
Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
PERCEPTION
is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too
distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and
impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both
financially and philosophically. It
explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate
us as enemies or alliance us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of
betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.
This is
the first book in a planned three book series.
Author Biography: Lee
Strauss writes historical and science fiction upper/mature YA. She also writes
lighter stuff under the name Elle Strauss. She's a married mom of four, and
lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. She's
fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather.
FYI: 1st Chapter of Perception
FYI: 1st Chapter of Perception
PART ONE
ZOE
Chapter 1
I balanced
on my surfboard, right thigh burning and salt water stinging my eyes, while the
best wave of the early morning carried me like a goddess on a pedestal to
shore. My older brother Liam and I shared a friendly competition, and it gave me
a certain, blissful satisfaction to catch the same wave and to get to shore
first.
“Beat ya!”
I shouted over the noise of the crashing surf.
Seagulls
flocked and circled over us, squawking loudly, adding to the cacophony.
The sun
glistened off Liam’s damp blond curls as he shook them out. His eyes sparkled
as his lips tugged up into a grin. “I let you win.”
“Did not!”
I smacked him playfully on the arm. “One more ride?”
Liam
unzipped his wetsuit letting the top half fall down past his waist. He was in fine
form, and I understood why all the girls raved about him. He was responsible
for a long list of broken hearts.
“I gotta
get going,” he said, lifting his board.
I fell
into stride beside him, my feet sinking into the cold, wet sand. “So soon?”
He nodded,
the glint leaving his eyes. My lips tightened into a frown “You’re taking off
with Jackson again?”
Jackson
was my boyfriend but lately he’d been spending more time with my brother than
he had with me. It was starting to tick me off.
Liam
stared straight ahead. “Lab stuff.”
“What are
you working on?” I rushed to keep up with my brother’s long, strong strides. He
flicked his head, tossing the hair out of his eyes but didn’t answer.
“Come on,”
I knocked into him sideways. “Tell me!”
“It’s just
stuff.”
“Just
stuff? Like what? Top CIA stuff? I know you’re smart but I think the government
has been doing a good job without your help.”
I meant it
as a joke, but Liam huffed. “It’s just stuff, okay? So leave it.”
I stopped
short shocked that he’d snapped at me.
He turned
around and exhaled, “Zoe, I’m sorry.”
“Fine. If
you can’t tell me, you can’t tell me.”
We resumed
our trek along the beach, and I pushed back my frustration. Liam used to
include me in everything. It was always him and me against everyone else. Him
and me against Alison and Paul, aka our mom and dad. Him and me against the
surf. We were a team. When did we start keeping secrets from each other?
Rather, when did he start keeping secrets from me?
I
re-adjusted my board under my arm. Maybe I could get Jackson to unzip his lips.
Especially if I helped him. He could be easily persuaded if I poured on the
charm. I hated to go behind my brother’s back for information, but something
about all this--this, whatever it was that Liam was doing--made me uneasy. I
couldn’t pinpoint why, it just did.
We reached
our home, a massive glass box with two floors of windows facing the Pacific
Ocean. It was built after the San Andreas Fault shifted and triggered the Big
Quake that, along with the subsequent tsunami, wiped out ten miles of
shoreline.
A nearby
white-stucco storage shed housed all our water toys. We stopped there to hang
up our wetsuits to dry.
“Thanks
for surfing with me today.” Liam said, smiling at me, back to his jovial self.
“I know it was a sacrifice for you to get up so early.”
I smiled
in return. “No problem. It was fun.” Surfing with Liam was one of my most
favorite things to do.
“You’re
back for dinner?” I asked.
Liam
didn’t know it, but once he left, I’d be spending the rest of the day preparing
for his surprise birthday party. He’d turned twenty-one yesterday and had
celebrated at a bar with his friends. I couldn’t go because I was underage, and
it irked me that Jackson went and that he and Liam had once again shared a
significant moment without me. I took consolation in the fact that Alison and
Paul gave me free reign to plan this party. My heart beat with excitement, and
I couldn’t wait to see his face when he got home and found the house full of
his friends.
“Yeah,
I’ll be there,” he answered.
I bit my
cheek to keep my voice even. “Good.We’ll see you, then.”
Our
property tiered twice before connecting with the sandy beach. Three glass doors
slid open disappearing into the corner and creating a wall-less view of the
stone patio that encased an eternity pool. Its waters slipped over the far edge
into a waterfall that was collected again on the second tier.
Liam
strode into the house, through the living room and down the hall to his bedroom
at the back, his wet shorts dripping on the glossy white tiles.
I
tightened the towel around my waist and climbed the open-slat staircase to my
room.
As I
passed the maid, Saundra something, her brown face blanched. She stumbled
slightly before grabbing the rail and catching herself.
“Excuse
me,” she said softly at my astonished look.
The woman
really didn’t look well, and I was thankful for my enhanced immunization. I was
glad I didn’t have to worry about diseases brought in from the outside.
“Are you
okay?” I asked.
She nodded
weakly, and proceeded to clean the rails.
A trill of
anticipation reclaimed my thoughts. I couldn’t wait for tonight.
The door
beside my bathroom opened into a second room, a walk-in closet big enough to
house another bedroom set. Racks of clothes and shoes lined the walls, a
well-lit mirror station was located near the sky light and a cushioned leather
bench was placed in the middle for sitting. I stood in my closet and stared at
the rows of sundresses, blouses and shorts.
What to
wear?
I settled
on a lace blouse and cotton shorts, then went to take a luxurious shower,
rinsing the sea water out of my long, blond hair. I leaned into the built-in
seat that was designed specifically for my body height and shape. Laser lights
mapped my head and twenty-eight silicon fingers reached out to massage my scalp
while shampooing and conditioning my hair. Most days I had to watch or I’d doze
off, but today I was excited. I commanded the water to turn off as soon as the
rinse was done.
When I was
dressed and my hair combed out and tied back, I slipped my platinum
Communication Ring onto my left middle finger. I tapped it which produced a
holographic image of my phone apps on my palm. I touched the clock icon and
holographic digital numbers appeared in the air.
Ten
already? Where did the time go? That was the thing with summer holidays; every
hour ran languidly into the next.
I imagined
the cook and her crew were busy preparing for the party in the kitchen. I’d
requested fresh sea food and simulated roast, fresh fruit and vegetables, an
assortment of fancy chocolates and baked items plus a three-tiered,
surfer-themed birthday cake.
I skipped
down the stairs to check on the progress, but in my hurry to the kitchen, I
slammed into a body.
“Sorry,” a
male voice said.
I stepped
back agitated. I recognized the dark-haired boy wearing the white tunic my
mother made the male staff wear. He was the maid’s son.
He held a wet mop in his hand, and I figured
he’d been cleaning up Liam’s spotty water trail.
He stepped
politely out of the way, but the expression on his face was stoic. Even though
he was clearly from the outside and the help, I still expected some small sign
that what he saw when he viewed me was pleasing. A twinkle in the eye, a slight
upturning of the lips. These were the responses I got from all the boys. The
straight ones, anyway.
He wasn't
especially attractive but I didn't see people with his appearance very often.
He had eyes the color of imported coffee beans and skin like caramel candy. His
nose was wide and his jaw-line sharp. I was suddenly intrigued by him and
surprised myself by thinking he looked exotic.
“Excuse
me, what was your name again?” I asked.
“Noah.”
Right. I
remembered now. I waited for him to say something, but he stayed quiet.
Footsteps
echoed from the hall above. My parents spoke together, their muffled voices
floating across the high ceilings.
“Do other
maids send their sons to do their work?” Alison's voice had a brassy tone that
carried through the cavernous space.
I felt a
flare of red creep up my neck when I realized Alison was talking about Noah. My
eyes darted to his, but he kept his averted.
“He does a
good job,” Paul responded. “That's the main thing. Besides you know they need
the money.”
“So we're
charity now?”
“What's
wrong with a little charity? Besides, they're not just anybody.”
“I don't
care. I still don't trust him.”
I was
mortified. My feet felt cemented to the floor and I didn’t know what to say.
Anything would come off as trite since nothing I could say could undo what Noah
had heard.
“Did you
know the Pikes have a household robot now?” Alison, again. “Apparently it’s
very efficient, and at least Mary doesn’t have to worry about things going
missing.”
Noah’s jaw
tightened and he turned his back to me. He attacked Liam’s dried and dusty
water spots aggressively and soon had disappeared around the corner.
“Zoe?”
Alison click-clacked down the wooden stairs. She wore a pale yellow pant suit
and high heels even though it was Saturday. She was in-between careers now,
having spent the last fifteen years in law. She barely looked thirty years old
and with lots of time ahead of her, she could do anything. Probably several
things.
“Mom! You
have to keep your voice down. How many times do I have to tell you your voice
travels in this glass box?
“Oh.” She
looked mildly shaken. “No matter. Is everything coming together to your
satisfaction?”
“I’m just
checking in on things now.”
“Your
father and I are meeting people for lunch. What time is the party again?”
I blew a
frustrated breath. She could at least pretend she cared enough to remember
details I’d told her a dozen times already.
“Seven.”
“Right.
We’ll see you at seven.”
Things
proceeded throughout the day as planned and I was pleased with my ability to
pull off an event like this on my own.
The
decorators showed up at 1:00 as promised.
The band
arrived to set up at 3:00.
I got
dressed at 4:30, having bought a thigh-length mini-dress that sparkled with
tiny crystals just for the occasion.
My hair
and makeup girl arrived at 5:00.
I tapped
my ring and called Jackson at 5:30.
“Where are
you?” I said to the three-inch holographic image of him that popped up above my
palm. “You said you’d help.”
“Sorry,
Zo. Got tied up at home.”
“Are you
okay? You don’t sound so good.”
It was
odd. No one in Sol City ever got really sick, but it wasn’t unheard of to get
run down if you pushed yourself too hard. Jackson had been working a lot
lately.
“I didn’t
sleep well last night. Uh, spent most of the day in bed.”
I felt a
little panicky. “You’re still coming, aren’t you?”
“Of
course. I’ll be there soon.”
Alison and
Paul arrived at 6:30 along with all of mine and Liam’s friends.
I hushed
everyone at 6:55, giving instructions on when to shout “Surprise!”
It was all
a wasted effort.
Liam never
showed.
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