The Bridge Read Online Free

food you eat and the clothes you wear. Everything you do will require money. It’s nothing like Alfheim. The outsiders worship money. You even have to pay taxes in order to live there.”
    They had no idea about social security, income tax, the way the outsiders hired, or the amount they would be paid. The truth was the government owned everything. It didn’t matter if it was communism, socialism, fascism or any of the other types of government. Everyone worked for the government. The brothers had never lived under the rule of any government, had never gone to a public school, had not graduated from high school. All of their schooling was done at home. They knew how to build a tower fashioned like the modern Tesla towers that could provide electricity for a whole village. They were far more advanced in science than the outsiders, in subjects like physics, molecular biology, the genetic codes, and DNA. Their food had always been free, especially grown to provide the nourishment their bodies needed and to protect their mind’s eye. All of the village was open to them. They took care of each other. Even the wild animals roamed free.
    “We’ll have to change our names,” said Arnar. “We’ll have to have names like the outsiders.”
    “But first, we have to get to a town.”
    Trucks and cars sped past them as they stood on the shoulder of the highway.
    “We’re going to have to split up,” said Arnar, “if we’re ever going to catch a ride. No one will stop for two grown men. There’s a war going on. They’re afraid we’ll hurt them.”
    The war had spread from the Middle East into the United Federation, but it was nearing its final moments. Except for its larger cities, Colorado was mostly safe, but the Huldufolk were never safe from the outsiders. They were hunted down like wild animals.
    They divided the silverware and shook hands. Olav crossed over to the other side of the highway. He was only there for a few minutes when a truck stopped. He looked over at Arnar, waved, and smiled, then climbed into the truck. Arnar watched as the truck drove out of sight, then he started walking down the highway. He walked across the highway thinking that was the best side, but still no one stopped. He was just about to give up and go back home when a woman stopped across the highway in her little sports car and lowered the window.
    “I can give you a lift into town if you’re not in a hurry. I’ve got to run down the road a piece, but then come back. I’m going as far as Crested Butte.” Arnar ran across the highway and got in before she could change her mind. It was the first time he’d ever been in a car.
    “My name’s Heidi.” She held out her hand. It was the first time Arnar had ever touched an outsider. He felt a cold chill come over him as he looked back at the gate of the cemetery, wondering if this was all a mistake. He felt alone and lost for the first time in his life.
    She was a beautiful, young woman. She wore sweet smelling perfume and lipstick and other makeup. She was barefooted and her toenails were painted bright red, something the women of Alfheim never did, and she had on white shorts that exposed her pretty, soft, brown legs. Just touching her was causing a change to come over him. It was exciting. He could feel part of her moving into him as he shook her hand. He had hopes that part of him would soon be moving inside of her. He was a grown man and had never had sex with a woman. He didn’t count those times out behind the barn when he was all alone watching their neighbor’s big-bosomed wife hang out her clothes as real sex. He had never even touched a woman other than his mother. A double axle tru ck drove by with Wakefield Ecofuel Capsule Company written on its side.
    “What’s you r name?” she asked.
    Never forget who you are and where you’re from , he heard his mother say.
    We’ll have to change our names, he’d told Olav.
    “What’s your name?” she asked again.
    “Oh, I’m