‘Wretch scum,’ the commander said.
‘Manners, please,’ Edmond barked.
‘What happened? Are there many others, any survivors from the city?’ Amy asked.
Carl turned to Amy. ‘He tried to wipe the city out, that’s what happened. He nearly killed everyone with his stupid plans.’
Edmond sighed. ‘I appreciate this is hard for you to deal with, but there is…I mean there was a bigger picture to deal with.’
‘A picture so big that it involved murdering everyone in the city including our families,’ Carl said as he glanced towards a steak knife on a nearby table.
Edmond sat back down. ‘Such events are bigger than either of us. I’m sorry if you lost loved ones, I really am. I’ve lost people too and that’s not to diminish your suffering,’ he said straightening his glasses. ‘But my goal was to save mankind. To build an ark to take man away from this poison and return when the planet had healed.’
Carl glanced again at the knife. It was within a few steps’ reach, but he wasn’t sure if he could get to the other side of the table with it, past the soldiers.
Edmond pointed to his right. ‘This is Doctor Russell by the way. And I’m sure my military colleagues will introduce themselves shortly. I’m not very good at remembering everyone’s names.’
‘Now then, not quite the introductions I was expecting, but there is food on the table and we should eat it,’ Elias said.
Carl moved two chairs to the furthest end of the long table, away from Edmond, and sat down.
‘Forgive the question, but are you expecting, Amy?’ Doctor Russell asked.
Amy nodded.
The doctor raised her eyebrows. ‘How long? I’ll examine you after this if you wish.’
‘I’m not sure, I’ve lost track, and no thank you.’
‘Congratulations,’ Janelle said.
‘Thank you.’
‘Truly amazing,’ Edmond said. ‘A miracle if there ever was one. I’m glad you survived, Amy. The world needs hope, it needs a chance, and I really think you are it.’
Carl leaned back in his chair. ‘No thanks to you. We’d both be dead if your plan had worked.’
Edmond placed his cutlery on the plate. ‘Well, it didn’t and you’re not, and I do sincerely hope this is a better chance for you both. From what I’ve seen of the excellent facilities here you have certainly found somewhere better to make a new life.’
The commander banged the table with his hand. ‘I’m sorry but this is bullshit. We’re having to eat with this rabble now. What are we trying to achieve if we end up living like these rats?’
Edmond rubbed his eyes, not knowing quite what to say. He knew the commander was right. It had been indoctrinated in all military personnel since the academy that city dwellers were far superior to the Wretches.
Janelle looked on in disbelief. ‘They didn’t ask to be here, in the same way we didn’t. They were offered food and shelter just like us. Where has all your humanity gone? Can’t you see we’re all trying to survive here?’
‘There’s no class system here, Commander,’ Elias said. ‘You are all equal in my eyes.’
‘Don’t try and fool us with your misplaced sense of morality, Elias. As grateful as I am for the food and shelter, I’m also aware of how sick this planet is and those who live on it. I’m determined to see it cleansed,’ the commander said.
Edmond stood up. ‘This bickering is pointless. We’ve all been through enough to last us a lifetime. If we can’t share a meal with some dignity then what hope is there for the future?’
Carl tightened his grip on the knife. He wasn’t going to be bullied or abused any more. He may not kill them all but if he could get to the commander and Edmond he’d be satisfied with that.
The commander stood up, pushing his plate firmly into the middle of the table. ‘I can’t take this crap any more. We’re leaving here, let’s go.’
‘I’m enjoying this,’ a soldier said as the grease from his steak dribbled down his chin. ‘Can I bring it with me?’
‘Fill your boots, but either way we’re leaving.’
Amy placed her fork down as the four soldiers walked out. ‘I really don’t have any appetite.’
‘My apologies,’ Edmond said. ‘Tensions are clearly running high.’
Elias leaned back in his chair. ‘It’s my fault; I should never have brought you all back together. You’ve all been through so much and I was hoping we could find some common ground. A way forward to clear the fog of recent events.’
‘Your intentions were good, Elias. But we’re trying to weld together two fractured bits of a now lost society. We should be on our way and seek out other settlements,’ Edmond said.
Elias sipped his wine. ‘You won’t find anything else around here. You may find pockets up north. Unless you head back to your Crystal City and see what the situation is.’
Edmond shook his head. ‘I fear there wouldn’t be much for us there.’
‘You’re more likely to be lynched, you mean,’ Carl said.
‘Quite possibly.’ Edmond nodded. ‘Quite possibly.’
‘Can we leave, please? I don’t feel well,’ Amy said.
Elias leaned forward. ‘I’ll send by a medic to give you a check over. You really do need a full medical.’
‘No, I’m fine, thank you. I just need to rest.’
Chapter Nineteen
The sentry scanned the rocky outer reaches with his heat-sensitive binoculars. His viewpoint high up on the city wall gave him and his colleagues the best view of anything that might approach, including sandstorms that would appear almost instantaneously and disappear just as quickly.
‘There’s definitely something kicking up dust out there,’ he said, squinting while trying to focus his eyes.
Corporal Bartez stepped forward. ‘What do you see exactly? A storm or more travellers?’
The sentry wiped the sweat from his eyes and tried to look again. ‘Picking up heat, dust trails and possibly a column of people.’
The corporal checked his weapon. ‘Do you think they’ve spotted us?’
‘I see vehicles, three, with one ahead on point. They are heading this way, so if they can’t see us they’ll run into us.’
Bartez squeezed the button on the side of his walkie-talkie. ‘Boss, looks like we have more visitors. A column heading this way. Do you want us to intercept them?’
‘Negative, hold firm. Our cloaking might fool them enough for them to pass by,’ Elias crackled over the radio.
The sentry lowered the field glasses. ‘The lead is accelerating in our direction, Corp. He’s coming at speed, what shall we do?’
‘Boss, we now have a military-style vehicle fast approaching.’
‘I’m on it,’ Elias replied.
A machine gun turret spun round and targeted the vehicle. It whirred and clunked as its ammo belt was automatically primed.
‘Six hundred yards and closing fast. What we supposed to do, Corp?’ the sentry called out.
Corporal Bartez looked at the turret. He knew Elias would be using the high-powered wall-mounted telescopes to view and target the incoming threat. ‘Wait for the boss to make his move, soldier. That’s all we can do.’
The turret-mounted weapon clicked then let out a short deafening burst of gunfire. The sentry and corporal ducked as the heat from the muzzle flash engulfed them.
‘Jeez, remind me to stand further away from that damn thing,’ Bartez said.
The vehicle came to a halt in a cloud of dust as a front tyre shredded then disintegrated. Several other soldiers now trained their weapons on the truck. Through the haze a door opened and a figure got out.
‘Put your hands above your head and walk slowly to the wall,’ Bartez shouted.
The man complied and walked forward with hands on head. Behind him another figure appeared, a female holding a young child.
‘I said place your hands on your head,’ Bartez shouted.
‘Corp, she’s got a kid
,’ the sentry said.
The man stopped at the foot of the wall and looked up. ‘We mean you no harm, sorry if we startled you. I don’t understand…one minute this town wasn’t there then the next it appeared. Next minute you opened fire.’
Bartez trained the steel sights of his weapon on the man. ‘We like to maintain our privacy, now I’ll ask once more…what do you want?’
The man put his arm around the woman holding the child. ‘We’ve escaped the Crystal City. There was an uprising, a lot of fighting. Many were killed and we got away as fast as we could.’
‘How many of you are there?’
The man looked round and shrugged. ‘A few followed us, and then more followed them. I don’t know, twenty, maybe thirty on foot, with three or four vehicles?’
Bartez held up the walkie-talkie. ‘Boss, we’ve got over thirty people here, they look like refugees. Are we letting them in or sending them on their way?’
‘Send them away.’
Bartez nodded and leaned over to pass on the instructions as the child cried out.
‘What is that?’ Elias asked.
‘One of the women has a child,’ Bartez replied.
‘Interesting, bring them in for questioning,’ Elias ordered.
Chapter Twenty
The prison building sat not far from the gallows, which was a handy location when examples needed to be set and the death penalty carried out. Its thick concrete walls encased a dimly lit interior, which had become the home of so many in the past. Four small cells lined a wall, with their thick iron bars and heavy Victorian-style locks that ensured whoever was on the other side would stay there. A mixture of dirt and straw covered the floor and the carved names of former residents adorned the walls. The place stank of decay and just a single bulb flickered, illuminating the dark interior.
Edmond sat on the floor opposite Janelle. They had been placed in one cell while the others were spread amongst the remainder.
‘Not quite what I’d got in mind after such an initial warm welcome and hearty meal,’ he said, using a strand of straw to draw circles in the dirt.
Janelle placed her head back against the wall. ‘Things have changed so much since we got back. The world seems to have gone mad.’
‘I think it was already crazy. We wouldn’t be in this situation if our ancestors hadn’t messed up big time.’
Janelle nodded. ‘So what now?’
‘I’ve run out of plans, to be honest. I’m sick and tired of trying to save the world,’ Edmond said, shaking his head. ‘I just don’t have the energy for it any more. We should just let the whole planet destroy itself and everything on it. It’ll recover in time, it always does.’
Janelle sighed. ‘We need to maintain some hope. I got back here somehow and for some reason. I don’t understand what it is yet but I know there has to be more to it.’
‘How are you feeling now? I know you haven’t had much time to adjust. I wish we could have offered you more time and support when you woke up.’
‘I feel much better, stronger even. My memory is still very cloudy and I can’t remember the fine details of the mission, but my energy levels have improved a lot. Maybe it’s the extra food and rehydration.’
The main door swung open and Elias entered the building. ‘Greetings, everyone. I trust your needs are being catered for?’
‘I was hoping for cotton sheets and better room service if I’m honest,’ Edmond replied.
Elias laughed. ‘Always the comedian Edmond. It is what it is and this facility will keep you and us safe until we decide what we do with you.’
‘I wasn’t trying to be humorous. I’m just not impressed with your hospitality and want to know when me and my people can leave this hellhole.’
Elias leaned against the bars. ‘Now now, Edmond, that’s no way to speak to your host. You seem ungrateful that we rescued your sorry ass and gave you food and a roof over your head.’
‘Now who’s the comedian?’ Edmond said, shaking his head. ‘I’ll repeat what I just said and maybe this time give me the courtesy of an answer. When can we leave?’
‘The truth is I have no idea at this point in time. You see, you’ve created quite a conundrum for us by turning up like this. You should be dead, plain and simple. We’ve worked hard to rid this place of your kind but you drop by one afternoon, knocking on our door like a long-lost friend.’
Janelle stood up. ‘I take it we’re not leaving here alive?’
Elias folded his arms. ‘I have no quarrel with you directly, Janelle. The problem is that I’ve spent years building this place and hiding from these murderers. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into building this and although it’s not perfect, it is all we have.’
Janelle stepped forward and held the bars with both hands. ‘I understand that and I’m sorry if my people have made you suffer. But the Cloud people are gone; the guys in the other cell are just military grunts and will follow whoever commands them. I’m just part of an exploration ship’s crew and have no intentions beyond trying to survive, and Edmond…well, he’s a throwback to a now lost city and its people. Surely it’s in all our interests to now pull together and build something.’
Elias clapped slowly. ‘Bravo. You’ve trained her well, Edmond; she almost had me reeled in there. In fact, I’m sure there was a tear about to form. Let me see, nope sadly not,’ he said, placing a finger in the corner of his eye. ‘Whatever he has told you, Janelle, I’m sure it sounds plausible. But you’re all connected, part of a large problem that’ve we’ve been battling for years. Now I have the last of you, caged like the animals you are.’
‘Tough guy, aren’t you, talking from outside of these bars?’ the commander said from the other cell. ‘Threatening older men and women gets you off, does it? Floats your boat on cold nights?’
Elias walked to the other cell. ‘Rather rude of me to ignore you and your men, Commander. Forgive me but I was talking to the organ grinder rather than the monkey.’
The commander stepped forward. ‘I’m no monkey and you can shove your bananas up your ass. Open this door and face me like a man. Or are you all talk and no minerals?’
‘Commander, please let’s not escalate what appears to be an already difficult situation,’ Edmond said.
The commander gripped the bars. ‘I don’t care about this situation; I’m done with sitting in this shithole. Elias, let me out of here now, I’ll leave your crappy little town and you’ll never see me again.’
‘Nobody is going anywhere,’ Elias replied. ‘I’ll get you a peppermint tea. Trust me, it works wonders for stress and anxiety.’
Edmond rubbed his face and felt completely lost with the situation. Every day was bringing more misery and suffering and the feeling of complete hopelessness was growing. He sat down and placed his head in his hands. ‘Spare Janelle and the men, Elias, at least do that, please. I’m in charge, I’ve made all the decisions, it’s my fault, please…take me and spare them.’
Elias looked at the commander and back at Edmond. He backed away, turned round and left the building without answering.
Janelle placed her head on the bars. The cold steel and flaking paint left an impression on her forehead. ‘We’re all doomed then.’ She sighed, hitting the lock with her fist. The lock buckled and the bars around it bent. She stepped back and looked at her fist. There wasn’t a mark on it but the lock was almost destroyed.
Edmond stood up and his mouth dropped open, not quite believing what he’d just seen. ‘Or we’re saved…depending on your point of view.’
Chapter Twenty-One
Amy sat on the edge of the bed while Carl paced around the bedroom. They felt trapped, like animals. It was now becoming worse than life in the Crystal City where they enjoyed some freedom until captured and put to work. Although no harm had come to them yet and they were still sleeping in a clean bed and enjoying plenty of food and water, the impending feeling of doom hung over their heads like an executioner’s axe, promising to fall at any given
time.
‘We need to get out of here, now,’ Carl said, peeking through a gap in the curtains out onto the street below.
‘But where would we go?’ Amy asked. ‘Vincent is downstairs and armed. That’s the only way out as far as I can see. I get the feeling he’ll shoot us if we even try.’
‘Maybe, but if they wanted to kill us why didn’t they do it sooner? They’ve had plenty of opportunity since we arrived. I’m not staying here waiting for Elias’s kangaroo court to find us guilty of who knows what,’ Carl said, flicking the window latch open and pushing at the window frame until it opened slightly. ‘Come, there’s a small canopy over the front door that we can drop down onto if we’re quiet.’
‘Are you serious?’ Amy said, standing up. ‘If he hears us he’ll shoot us both before we even get onto the ground.’
Vincent relaxed in the armchair, took a pipe from his pocket and tapped it on the table to remove the old residue. He then took a pinch of tobacco and stuffed it into the end and lit it. Short sucking breaths drew air through the pipe as the end glowed red. The tobacco substitute was relaxing and fairly harmless; it didn’t contain toxins that poisoned so many of the ancients. He placed his head back and closed his eyes. It’d been a long day and he felt weary and in need of rest. The ticking longcase clock was hypnotic and he could feel himself drifting into a sleep, which he fought as hard as he could. He found himself micronapping, falling immediately into a deep dream-filled sleep that he instantly woke from, remembering fragments of the dream.
A bump from upstairs woke him with a start and he leapt out of the chair and ran upstairs. He knocked the door and entered at the same time. ‘No!’ he shouted as he stood there looking at the open window. He ran to the window and leaned out, aiming his rifle down the street. Two figures were running towards the corner so he levelled his rifle, lined up the sight and squeezed the trigger. The shot whistled past as they ducked and scrambled their way out of the line of fire. ‘Damn it,’ he said, running back down the stairs.
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