by T. C. Edge
We both nod together.
“Everyone who sees it for the first time thinks the same. But there’s a charm to the quiet here, a sense of calm that I could no longer live without. Everyone comes round eventually.”
Looking at the streets, I don’t see how that’s possible. I’d have to get a lobotomy to be able to stomach it here.
We continue to circle, drawing closer to the core, the High Tower appearing between gaps in buildings and teasing us as it continually flashes and disappears. The buildings, too, most of them apartments, grow more grand, larger allowances of space provided to the higher ranked members of the city.
“What’s the point of having all that space?” I ask Sophie. “The Savants don’t care for art. They’ll just have bigger blank walls to stare at.”
Sophie gives a hint that she agrees. I see it in the twitch in her eye. Naturally, she has a pre-programmed response, though.
“It’s a status symbol, Brie. It shows importance, influence.”
Still, I wonder if that even matters to them. Where is the line drawn? So, they don’t feel emotions, and therefore can’t love, or hate, or feel fear or joy. So why does status matter? Status, surely, gives a feeling of pride, perhaps of superiority. Do they feel those things?
I don’t bother Sophie with the query, since she’ll just give me a canned response. Most likely, they’re not entirely devoid of emotion, just severely lacking in it.
I mean, surely if a Savant had to watch their parents die, as Tess did, they’d feel some grief at the loss, some anger at the perpetrators, some desire for revenge?
And if they don’t, then surely they can’t be human. Some higher evolution in their own minds, perhaps. Higher in some ways, lower in others.
For me, it’s culture that sets us aside from the rest of the birds and the beasts. If it’s just survival and proliferating the species that matters to them, then they have more in common with cockroaches than they do with us over in Outer Haven.
As my mind rumbles on, the car does so too, albeit as silently as the streets around us. Soon, Sophie is drawing our attention to the front as the car curves around the final bend.
Ahead, the High Tower comes into full view for the first time, stretching up to the heavens. It looks so much more imposing up close, its base wide and circular, its domed roof disappearing into the low hanging clouds.
The street finally goes straight as it leads towards its foundations, set up with towering stands with tiered seating on either side. Between them, a stage awaits, sitting within an open square before the many glass doors that lead into the building. And all over, huge screens have been erected, ready to broadcast the ceremony across the city.
Above the stage, several storeys high, a balcony extends out from the High Tower, looking down upon the world below. White chairs adorn it, waiting to be occupied by only a dozen men and women.
And in the middle, one stands out more distinguished than the rest.
“Who sits there?” asks Tess, staring at the balcony, her eyes dazzled by the scene ahead.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” says Sophie. “The Consortium will be in attendance, watching from up there.”
My heart thuds. I had no idea they cared…
“And the middle chair…” continues Sophie, bristling with excitement. “Well, that will be occupied by Director Cromwell, the Consortium’s senior member. I hope you girls know what an honour that is.”
I look upon the scene again, and the word ‘honour’ doesn’t register.
Fear. Nerves. Deep anxieties.
Those are all far more appropriate.
10
“I didn’t even realise the Consortium had a senior member,” Tess is saying as the car curves into an underground parking garage to the side of the road. “So, this Director Cromwell is their boss?”
“I suppose you could say that,” says Sophie. “He’s their elected leader. The members of the Consortium are all the most prominent people in the city, leaders of its various committees and operations. His job is to oversee them all.”
We pull to a stop against a wall, sliding up against other similar looking vehicles. As we do, the walls of the car once more take shape, losing their transparency.
“So, what now?” asks Tess.
“Now, we wait. The ceremony will be beginning soon enough. But before then, let’s take a stroll. Give you a closer look around.”
“Sounds good to me.”
I follow the two of them out as they continue to converse, Tess seeming oddly undaunted by what we’ve just seen. Frankly, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s going to be like out there when the stands are full, and all eyes are on me.
I shudder and send the thought to the rear of my mind as I jog to catch the others up.
When we emerge outside of the parking garage and onto the city streets, it quickly dawns on me how warm it is. Outside of the academy, it was freezing wearing only this dress. Here, it feels like a regular spring day.
“Underfloor heating,” Sophie says, tapping her heeled foot on the ground. “It’s the same across Inner Haven. The temperate is based on scientific evidence for the ideal heat for happiness and productivity.”
“I’m starting to see the appeal of living here,” jokes Tess, a vocal hater of the cold.
Oddly, though, the warmer air feels out of sync with the surroundings. The entire aesthetic here is cold and lifeless, a place that fits in perfectly with the detached demeanour of the Savants. It’s clear that this place was designed by, and for, such people.
I actually feel sorry for the rest of the Enhanced who have to endure it. At least in Outer Haven, for all its problems and dangers, there’s some vivacity and soul to the streets and districts, a lived-in feel that serves to animate the world. Here, it’s dull and empty and there’s a cold that no amount of underfloor heating can fix.
We wander a little closer to the High Tower, and from various avenues and side streets I see people beginning to gather. All wear similar clothing: men in suits similar to that worn by Deputy Burns, women in dresses with cardigans and jackets. The colours range from dark tones of grey to light, with plenty of sky blue on show as well.
I immediately feel some affinity with those wearing the latter, knowing they were once, like me, living across the wall. Those with the darker tones of grey I can get on board with too – they’ll be regular Enhanced, modified and evolved, but still human.
Those in light grey, however, are the aliens to me. Savants with their detached eyes and cold stares. How I’d like to get inside one of their heads and have a fiddle about, see what the hell they’re thinking.
As the people gather, and begin hovering into position, it becomes evidently clear that the concept of hierarchy and class are once more at play.
Like with the living arrangements here, the Unenhanced are afforded the worst viewing positions at the rear of the stands, furthest from the stage. Then, the order is once more based upon an Enhanced’s particular worth, with Savants of the Court given the best positioning, and their most esteemed members right at the front.
The show of colour, or lack thereof, is actually quite fascinating. From the sky blue at the back, to the darker tones of grey, all the way to the lightest of greys at the front. It’s one of the only things I’ve seen here that’s actually quite striking and beautiful.
It does draw a question to my lips, though.
“Can Unenhanced marry Savants?” I ask. “Or do they only marry among themselves?”
Somehow, their natural air of superiority makes me think it’s the latter.
“No, Unenhanced can marry them,” Sophie informs me. “However, it’s usually quite rare, and only the most exceptional of Unenhanced are given such an honour.”
Honour? Being married to a cold, heartless Savant is hardly what I’d consider an honour. Jeez, they’ve really done a number on Sophie over here, haven’t they…
“Naturally,” continues Sophie, “given the limited numbers of S
avants, breeding with Unenhanced is something that’s unavoidable. However, mostly they try to manage with what they have.”
“Can’t they just, I don’t know, make more Savants?” asks Tess. “You know, like they did hundreds of years ago, when they were first created. Why do they bother breeding them naturally?”
“Because, as far as I know, the natural resources aren’t available for such things,” answers Sophie. “I’m sure if they could simply create modified people they would. It would certainly be a lot easier.”
“Well, lucky for us they can’t,” I say. “If they could do that, I’m sure we’d eventually become extinct…”
For a brief second, Sophie’s eyebrows drop into a questioning frown. Then, remembering herself, they rise up again and that inane smile returns.
“Enough of that talk, Brie. Let’s change the subject, and please, make sure you smile and don’t frown so much. Remember what we talked about.”
I plant the biggest smile I can on my face and look straight at her. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
“Ah, caught you!” I say. “No negative expressions, Sophie…remember!”
Tess laughs loudly. Sophie struggles to prevent her expression from turning even more sour. And for the first time, my smile becomes genuine.
As the square begins to fill more quickly, Sophie leads us over towards the right where I notice a few other men and women, all dressed in sky blue, have gathered. Our guide appears to know several of them, quickening her step – in a suitable manner, and maintaining perfect posture, of course – to meet them.
As we mesh into a group, it becomes clear that these are the other Unenhanced here to be honoured, along with their guides. By the looks on the people’s faces, it’s obvious which are which.
The guides are all very much like Sophie, smiling constantly and holding their posture perfectly. The rest are more like Tess and me, staring around in awe and looking quite out of place.
As we stand there, the various guides perform some quick introductions. I shake hands and try to see if I recognise anyone. One man stands out from the video footage. If I recall correctly, he went charging straight into the fray at about the same time as Tess and me.
Brave souls, all of them.
Truth be told, the honour today is not in being invited here to Inner Haven. Nor is it in meeting any of the luminaries I’m sure to encounter later. Certainly, I have no feelings whatsoever about being looked down on, literally, by the Consortium and Director Cromwell.
No. For me, the true honour in today is meeting these brave people. It’s a trait that the Savants seem to admire, but can never possess.
Because to be brave, you need to first feel fear.
As we stand in our huddle, watching the huge square fill with a sea of people, a familiar face appears.
“Good to see you all here today,” says Deputy Burns, wandering towards us from near the front stage.
Immediately, the guides stand up even more firmly and turn completely still. One or two of the Outer Haveners attempt to do the same. The rest of us just stand there like normal human beings.
“As you will have been told, I will be presenting the ceremony today, seeing as I’ve met you all already. You will be called up, one by one, and presented with a ceremonial plaque. I may also invite you to answer a question or two…”
Jesus Christ. Did I zone out during that bit too?
“Now, I can sense a lot of nerves among you. There is no need for them. This is your day, and you should enjoy it. Your seats are reserved for you over to the right of the stage, set out in alphabetical order.”
I glance at Tess. With a surname like Bradbury, she might well be up first.
Better to get it out of the way early, rather than endure the wait.
“Well, good luck to you all. And remember, the world is watching.”
Great. What a way to sign off to a bunch of nervous people. I thought these Savants were meant to be super-smart?
Deputy Burns moves off, now without his guard of Brutes - here, there’s no such need for them – and moves towards the side of the stage. With a little prodding from our guides, we follow, moving right to the front and a little section of seating set out beneath the stands.
“OK girls, this is where I leave you,” says Sophie. “I’ll be seeing you after. Good luck!”
Off she goes, along with the others, leaving behind a rather confused trail of ten or so Outer Haveners. We move towards the seats, and see that our names are laid out on them. I glance to the front to see that Tess is, as it turns out, up first.
“Nervous?” she asks me.
“I’m fine,” I lie. “Don’t set the bar too high up there.”
She laughs as she wanders over to take her seat, and I drop into mine about two thirds of the way down the line.
From the shadows beneath the stage, we’re pretty much out of sight of the crowd above. I’m happy for that. I had a vague idea that we might all be seated up on the stage, all lined up for so many thousands of eyes to inspect.
Instead, I just need to get my time on stage out of the way. Then I can relax. A bit of socialising here, some chit-chat there, and I’ll be back home before I know it.
From our position, however, the stage is visible, straight off to the left. We all watch as Deputy Burns appears, walking towards a little podium in the same efficient yet rigid fashion that everyone here seems to adopt.
He attempts another of his odd smiles as he goes, his lips rising but his eyes remaining flat. When he reaches the podium, he stands straight and turns his head to the left, then right, like some sort of robot.
Behind him, a giant screen shows a close up of his face, giving those at the back a better view of his awkward attempts to display emotion. I just hope the more easily frightened kids aren’t watching this back at the academy. It’s the sort of thing that will give them nightmares.
“Good afternoon to you all,” he begins, his voice booming through a microphone hovering above the podium. “To all of you present here, and to all of you watching across Outer Haven, I offer you a warm welcome. Today, we are here to celebrate ten brave men and women who acted valiantly in the face of adversity, and to further extend the hand of friendship across the two parts of this great city.”
He pauses suddenly for dramatic effect. It’s jarring. And yet the crowd begin to applaud, clapping in unison, prompted to do so by signs that light up with instructions on either side of the stage.
When the signs turn from ‘Applaud’ to ‘Stop’, the clapping ends abruptly. It’s unnatural and odd, but very much in keeping with what I’ve seen around here.
Deputy Burns continues as soon as a complete silence has fallen once more.
“Before we meet our special guests, let me introduce you to our most esteemed members of the Court. Please welcome, the Consortium.”
More canned applause begins as I look up and see several men and women appear at the balcony above, several storeys up from the stage. They line up, all dressed in pure white, looking down upon the crowd with empty eyes. They appear to have little interest in attempting a false smile.
It’s such a rare sight to see them, these people behind the curtain who pull all the strings. It speaks volumes of this event that they’re here, displaying themselves to the public in a show of solidarity. It suggests that they’re taking the threat of the Fanatics seriously.
In their centre, I see the man who must be Director Cromwell, his hair neat and short and almost as white as his suit. Like all men I’ve seen here, he has no facial hair, his skin pale and yet strikingly smooth given his age.
In fact, were it not for his elderly hands, wrinkled as they are, I’d consider him a much younger man. The same goes for many of the Savants, their faces so lacking in expression that wrinkles are less inclined to develop.
There’s little to differentiate him from the other members of the Consortium but for the small letter ‘D’ that sits within the centre of his insignia. Like all
city officials and servants, he wears the badge of Haven below his collar, the inner circle coloured white to indicate that he’s a Savant. On his badge, however, there’s a little ‘D’ in the middle, while the rest of the Consortium have the letter ‘C’.
For a brief moment, the cameras show them all, standing up on their balcony, displayed to the whole of the city across the giant screens that dot it. I look closely at the huge screen behind Deputy Burns as a fresh applause greets their entry, inspecting them closely before the cameras once more centre on our presenter for the day.
The applause dies again, and Deputy Burns continues.
“Three days ago, a terrible atrocity was committed in Outer Haven, at its centre of art and music. We here in Inner Haven are all horrified by this event, and are here today to not only celebrate those who acted so bravely, but to assure you all that everything is being done to prevent any further loss of life.
“This city stands alone as a beacon of hope for all people. Here, we are dedicated to the sole aim of rebuilding this world that has seen so much chaos and turmoil. The fate of the people living here is paramount to us. We will not tolerate wanton acts of destruction and murder.”
He stops, and turns his head to the left, his eyes levelling on us all hidden away in the shadows.
“Now, without further ado, let me introduce our first special guest. Please welcome, Tess Bradbury, a labourer from the western quarter.”
I feel my heart thud as Tess stands up. The world goes deathly silent for a second. Then, when Tess steps into the light, the signs come to life with the word ‘Applaud’, and the artificial clapping fills the air again.
I can barely watch as Tess wanders up to the stage, moving with grace given the unfamiliar heels she’s wearing. She looks calm and assured, her face glowing bright with a smile on the big screen as the cameras follow her towards the podium.
When she arrives at Deputy Burn’s side, he reaches out with his hand and she takes it. Then, from the other side of the stage, a young woman appears carrying a small commemorative plaque. It’s passed to Deputy Burns, who hands it straight over to Tess.