Dystopia

by Janet McNulty

Dana pushed the crate back into place in front of the hole in the wall to the barracks. She stood up, turned around, and stopped cold, her heart leaping into her throat.

  Colonel Fernau stood in front of her, wearing his crisp uniform. His fingers wrapped around the handle of his stick. Dana squirmed under his icy gaze.

  “So the mystery of how you manage to come and go has been explained,” he said.

  Dana did not care for his sarcastic tone. She had a feeling that he always knew. “Where is everyone?”

  “On an emergency drill.”

  Dana looked around the empty barracks, desperately wishing it were filled with anyone but Colonel Fernau.

  “I grow tired of waiting,” said Colonel Fernau.

  “I—I—”

  “By now, you should know who the leaders of the resistance are.”

  “There have only been two meetings.”

  “And who seemed to be in charge?”

  Dana didn’t answer.

  “Come now, Miss Ginary.”

  “A man named Simon and one named Charles,” relented Dana. Guilt gnawed at her.

  “And your friend George?”

  “He is just a nobody.”

  “I don’t believe that and neither do you.”

  “He doesn’t make the decisions,” said Dana.

  “But he has influence.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Miss Ginary, do you want your parents dead?”

  Dana gaped at Colonel Fernau and his suggestion.

  “I don’t blame you if you do. They are a burden. Your father has developed a nasty cough, and considering our limited resources, I very much doubt that he will receive treatment. No, perhaps we have been pushing the wrong button.”

  Sweat formed on Dana’s neck.

  “You visited that girl again, didn’t you? Perhaps I should pay her a visit as well.”

  “No!” Dana recoiled after her outburst. “Please, I don’t know much. You’ve been watching on the camera. You know what they have planned.”

  “Yes, about that.” Colonel Fernau picked up an item of clothing from a bunk and tossed it aside. “Interesting thing about that camera. Seems to get covered up at times. I don’t want to accuse you of anything, but it’s almost as though you are trying to hide something.”

  Dana backed against the wall. She wished she had thought about the fact that they might have been watching very closely.

  “I’ve told the First Councilman that it was simply an oversight on your part.” Colonel Fernau approached until his face practically touched Dana’s. Surprisingly, his breath smelled of peppermint. “Don’t let it happen again.”

  Dana nodded.

  “When is your little raid on the media center supposed to take place?”

  “I—I don’t know. I won’t know until the day it’s supposed to happen.”

  Colonel Fernau studied Dana. “Find a way to let us know. We will, of course, be waiting.”

  Colonel Fernau’s polished boots clicked on the floor as he left. Dana released a huge breath, relieved to be free of him for the moment. She slumped against the wall, wishing it was all over.

  Chapter Nineteen