by Jon Robinson
Susannah nodded. ‘Correct.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ Rayner said, caught between a laugh and a growl. ‘I don’t believe a government could get away with something like this.’
‘A government couldn’t get away with it. Oh, people always think they’re involved in these things. The Prime Minister was told – as a matter of courtesy, they claim – but I think the real reason he was told was to show him how powerless he is. Even if he wanted to stop it, he couldn’t.’
Rayner snorted. ‘Where is he anyway?’
‘He’s taking an extended vacation,’ Susannah answered.
‘So you’re really telling me there’s some evil group sitting around plotting everyone’s destruction?’
‘No, the opposite. There is such a group, but they’re concerned about the way the country is going – extremists, anarchists … moral, social and financial ruin. We’re no longer a player on the world stage; we’re like the fool who forgot his lines. The country is being torn apart at the seams and the Pledge sees this. It’s willing to go to lengths that other people wouldn’t. If that makes them evil …’
‘It usually does,’ Rayner grumbled. ‘Isn’t every maniac willing to cross the line?’
‘You’ve seen the recent terrorist attacks. The bomb threats, the violence, the havoc. The Pledge is trying to build a better world, Claude.’
‘By using these kids to change the current one? And the kids have got no idea what they’re doing, right?’
‘That’s what the lessons are for. We use subliminal images of things we want to change. Consciously they don’t even see them, but that’s the wonderful thing about their Ability. It can be harnessed unconsciously. These kids are special, but if they knew what they could do they could become very powerful … too powerful.’
Rayner gave no sign he was even listening. ‘A better world,’ he spat.
‘A utopia.’
‘A fantasy,’ Rayner corrected. ‘So who else knows?’
‘Just us now,’ Susannah replied. ‘None of the other guards have any idea either. They’re just pawns. And the other ninety-four children in here – they have no idea.’
‘Why tell them they’re criminals?’ Rayner asked. ‘What’s the point?’
‘If we’d just kidnapped them and put them here, they would ask questions. They would resist,’ Susannah answered and pointed out of the window to a group of uniformed inmates in the yard. ‘We gave them a story, a narrative to fulfil. Memories are easy to manipulate. Everyone needs a part to play. Tell someone they’re bad long enough and they start to believe it. It’s easier than you think.’
Susannah reached into her pocket and pushed a piece of paper towards Rayner. He snatched it out of her hands.
‘It’s a recommendation – for you to take Martin Adler’s role as chief warden, should anything happen to him –’ She paused as Rayner scanned the letter, eyes darting quickly from side to side. ‘Regardless, Adler is dead. The job is yours, if you want it, Claude. The prison, the guards … the inmates. You’ll have charge of everything. The other arrangements will be left to me.’
Rayner turned his back to her.
‘It’s what you’ve always wanted,’ she continued. ‘To be someone important. To be appreciated. To be respected.’
Rayner watched the snow falling. In the yard, guards were struggling to repair the broken wire-mesh fence.
‘There’s another group who are helping the prisoners,’ Susannah continued. ‘I’ve been aware of their presence for some time now, and their interest in what we’re doing. They call themselves the Guild. They’re going to try to destroy everything we’ve worked for. I’ve tried slowing them down, but I think it might be too late.’
‘The man who attacked us – you think he might be part of this group?’
Susannah nodded. ‘Yes. As a matter of fact, I know he is.’
Rayner still pressed the gauze against his head. ‘I’ll get another team back to the forest at once,’ he said.
As Rayner left the infirmary, dazed and still in disbelief, the telephone in the office rang. Susannah hesitated, then slowly walked towards it. The phone continued to ring. Eventually she picked it up.
‘Yes?’ she said quietly, watching as a couple of guards walked along the corridor.
‘Ms Dion,’ Stephen said. ‘I need some updates on the little job you’re doing for me regarding Felix’s company.’
‘Everything’s going as planned, Mr Nover,’ she said.
‘It needs to happen quietly and quickly, as I explained. I need JF Industries to take an almighty hit, but more than that I need him to remain completely unaware.’
‘I’m sure he’s too busy focusing on other things at the moment,’ Susannah said, ‘but I’ll do what I can.’
Stephen giggled. ‘Do, and there is a large bonus with your name on it.’
11
‘Wake up,’ Henry announced, pushing open the door.
Ryan, who was curled in the corner inside the carapace of a tangled sleeping bag, stirred and nestled deeper into the fabric.
‘Five more minutes. Just five more …’ Ryan’s voice trailed off.
‘We need to eat,’ Henry went on. ‘Since you’re both my guests for the time being, we’re going to need more food. Which means more work.’
Ryan grumbled something, swallowing a mouthful of fabric.
‘Are you ill or something?’ Henry said.
Still face down in the sleeping bag, Ryan tried shaking his head.
‘Good. Because you’ll both need to be strong.’
Ryan closed his eyes. ‘I am strong,’ he mumbled.
‘Fit,’ Henry corrected. ‘The forest is enormous. You have any idea how hard it is to trek miles in the snow? The pair of you are weak. You need food. My people will be waiting for you at the edge of the forest. But first you need to get there.’
‘Yeah, whatever. Just five more minutes …’
Henry marched over to him and tore the zip down. ‘Welcome to the real world, Ryan,’ he said. ‘Now get up.’
Ryan rolled over, his forearm over his eyes. ‘You’re even worse than the damned guards …’
He reluctantly sat up, nursing his head, and looked at Jes, who was dozing peacefully on a sleeping bag. Ryan slipped into his coat and followed Henry into the tunnel and up the ladder.
‘So where are we supposed to find food?’ he said as they reached the top, shivering.
‘I have some traps,’ Henry said. ‘But we’ll need to be careful. There are probably still guards out there, looking for you.’
Henry nodded, then noticed Ryan’s coat. ‘Is that an ibis?’
Ryan looked down at the ibis. He had picked it up just after they left with Jes, but he hadn’t given it much thought until now. ‘Took it from one of the guards. You seen one before or something?’
‘I’d heard rumours of this sort of weaponry being developed. Always thought they were just stories, though.’ He examined the weapon cautiously and handed it back to Ryan. ‘Keep it safe. You never know when we’ll need it.’
The pair walked slowly, not speaking much other than Henry telling Ryan to watch for the occasional dip or branch. They were almost a mile into the forest when Ryan paused, light-headed and breathless.
‘You need to eat,’ Henry said. ‘The traps aren’t far. We’ll be there soon.’
A quarter of an hour later the pair found Henry’s first trap, containing a wriggling hare, scrambling at the snow.
‘If you’re squeamish, you might want to look away.’
‘I’m not squeamish.’
Henry quickly snapped the animal’s neck and brushed a layer of snow away from its fur with his sleeve.
‘We can cook this back in the tunnel. If we light a fire here, it might alert the guards. Jes needs to eat.’
‘You reckon she’ll be all right then? I mean with the wound and everything …’
Henry turned the animal over in his hands. ‘People have survived much worse. Th
e bullet is out, and the wound is clean. And I’ve got enough painkillers, for a few more days, anyway. So do you go to school, Ryan?’
‘Did. Before this.’
‘How did you find it?’
‘Hated it. Couldn’t wait to get out of there. You’re gonna tell me it’s the best days of my life, I’ll bet –’
‘No,’ said Henry with a smile. ‘As a matter of fact I never liked school much either.’
Ryan nodded and sank his elbows on to his knees, looking around at the trees, half expecting to see signs of movement.
‘I don’t know why you’re sitting down,’ Henry went on. ‘I’ll need some help collecting wood for the fire. Fetch some branches. Big ones.’
Ryan grudgingly stood and gathered some branches from the snow, sighing with each swoop.
‘Why don’t you tell me some more about “Nowhere”, Ryan?’
Ryan wiped a foam of snow away from a branch with his sleeve. ‘Nothing to tell. Everyone there is just a bloody actor.’
‘What exactly did they have you doing in there?’
‘Chores. Work. Those stupid lessons we told you about. There was a woman – she said she was a teacher and she wanted to help us, but she was just another liar.’
Ryan looked down at the faint lines on his hand left by the papercuts Susannah had forced Jes to give him.
‘Soon as Jes is better, we’re out of here – as far away from Nowhere as possible,’ Ryan muttered. ‘We’re going after them.’
Henry threw another branch on to the pile, shaking his head. ‘You’re angry. I understand that.’
You don’t know the half of it, Ryan snarled inwardly, feeling himself getting worked up. He drove his forearm across a branch, splitting it in two, and gathered up the broken pieces, chucking them with the others.
‘The Guild will be on the way,’ Henry said. ‘They’ll make sure you’re looked after.’
‘They gonna help us go after this Pledge?’ Ryan said.
‘They’ll make sure you’re looked after,’ Henry said evasively. He patted Ryan on the arm. ‘Come on. Let’s go back and get this cooked. You must be hungry.’
12
Pyra launched a bundle of clothes at a sleeping Alyn.
‘You’ve got five minutes to get out of your uniform – you still look like a prisoner. Then we’re leaving.’
Alyn wiped his eyes. His cheek was mottled with the imprint from the cheap carpet fibres and felt numb.
‘Not used to getting up when you’re told?’ taunted Pyra.
‘Not used to changing in front of random women,’ Alyn clarified, climbing cautiously to his feet.
Pyra sighed and turned her back. Alyn pulled off the stained, sweat- and snow-drenched grey uniform and tossed it into the bin in the corner of the room. Glad I never have to wear that thing again, he thought.
He stepped clumsily into the jeans, yanked the T-shirt down over his head and slipped his arms into the leather jacket.
‘Can I trust you to walk to the car, Alyn?’ Pyra said.
‘Yeah. I’ll walk.’
Pyra picked up a rucksack from the table, hoisted it over her shoulder and left the room, pulling Alyn along by the forearm. He took a final look at the television in the corner of the room, which showed a suburban street in the aftermath of a riot.
The three quickly left the hotel and marched across the gravel to the car.
Pyra opened the rear door. ‘Go on,’ she said. ‘Get in.’
‘You two should have your own show,’ Alyn said, ducking underneath her arm. ‘The Travelling Kidnappers –’
‘We’re not kidnappers.’
‘Yeah? Then why do I feel like I’m your prisoner?’
‘Cos you’re used to being one,’ Pyra answered as the car pulled away. ‘It’s all you’ve known in that place. You probably aren’t used to trusting people.’
‘And, unless you want to end up getting caught, you’ll need to trust us,’ Anton said, and put the silver taser down the side of his seat.
Alyn said nothing and folded his arms. Through the car window he watched as a flock of migrating birds zigzagged fluidly and nimbly across the desolate white sky.
‘So what now? You’re going after the Pledge, right?’
‘We would,’ said Pyra. ‘If we knew who they were.’
‘Or what they are doing?’
‘We know what they’re doing.’ Pyra looked back at him. ‘They were manipulating all of you. Harnessing something you have.’
Alyn looked to Anton’s eyes in the rear-view mirror, hoping he might explain.
‘You have a gift, Alyn,’ he said. ‘Like us. That’s what we – the Guild – are. We’re a training order. We’ll teach you how to use it.’
Even more baffled, Alyn turned back to Pyra.
‘Have you ever noticed yourself surrounded by coincidences?’ Pyra asked.
‘I’m finding myself surrounded by crazy people, if that counts.’
Anton turned down a deserted lane, only to find the road blocked.
‘The police yesterday, and now this? Seems like someone’s determined to slow us down,’ Pyra said.
‘So you’re saying we –’
‘Hold on a minute,’ Anton said, silencing Alyn. A second car emerged from the trees and parked across the tarmac, trapping them.
‘We’re surrounded,’ Pyra whispered. ‘Alyn, keep low. They’re looking for you.’
‘Keep low?’
‘Just do it!’
A stocky man stepped out of the car in front. He was wearing fingerless gloves and a military-style coat.
Anton glanced in the mirror. Another man, dressed similarly, came out of the car behind and leant against its bonnet with his arms folded. He smiled at the trio.
Pyra leant out of the window. ‘Why are you blocking the road? Who are you?’
The man sauntered towards them. ‘Just a quick check that you ain’t hiding anything. Then you can go.’
Alyn pressed closer to the floor. It was hard to hear anything.
‘We’re not hiding anything, pal. We’re in a rush,’ said Anton. ‘We have somewhere to be.’
‘Oh?’
‘We really have to get going. Can you please move your car …?’
‘Soon,’ the man said. ‘Just a quick check, like I said.’
He walked round to the driver’s seat and peered into the back.
Alyn jumped so much that he caught the back of his head on the seat.
The man stood up straight, smiling. ‘Well, well. You do realize there’s someone in the back of your car?’
‘Yeah. He’s my little brother,’ Pyra replied.
‘Why’s he on the floor?’
‘Because he’s an idiot. Like most teenagers. We good to go?’
The man put his hand on the roof of the car and lowered down. ‘No chance.’
‘Guess he’s got us.’ Anton looked at Pyra. ‘I’ll go first.’
He obediently unbuckled his seatbelt, then reached for the door handle. Anton closed his eyes and murmured something quickly under his breath. Just as the man was about to reach inside, a tiny, almost insignificant fly was blown off its course and collided with his eyelash. The man flinched, in which time Anton grabbed the door handle and slammed the car door against his forehead.
The man fell back, stunned, and landed on one knee. Anton hopped outside and dodged an oncoming punch from his ally.
Alyn scrambled up, eyes wide, to witness Pyra vault across the bonnet and deliver a kick to the side of his head.
Anton blocked a second punch with his forearm, and whirled round, elbowing his attacker in the side of the face.
The man fell to the ground, dazed, as Anton spun in the opposite direction and threw another elbow into his mouth.
Alyn winced at the cracking sound, and the sight of their slumped attacker fumbling with a mouthful of broken teeth.
The pair darted back inside the car. Anton slammed his foot on to the accelerator and steered the car on
to the grass.
Alyn looked out of the back window at the two fallen men; one was barely conscious, the other was trying to rise unsteadily to his knees.
‘That stuff I was saying about being surrounded by crazy people,’ Alyn said, wide-eyed, as the car tore down the lane. ‘Just so you know … I was kidding.’
13
It was almost ten o’clock at night. Elsa and Harlan had been sitting against the station wall in silence for the past few hours, enviously watching the shuffling queues in the food court.
Elsa wrapped her arms round her groaning stomach. ‘Can’t we find somewhere else to sit, Harlan? It’s like we’re torturing ourselves …’
Harlan shook his head. ‘We’ve got a clear view of the platform. If Jes and Ryan took the train, we’ll spot them straight away. Or they’ll see us. That’s why we’re here, remember?’
‘Hope you’re right,’ she mumbled, burying her mouth inside the coat. She watched enviously as a young girl walked past devouring a burger, licking the spilled sauce from her fingers.
‘I am. But you know who else is right, Elsa? Julian. We have to adapt.’
‘But then we’ll be just as bad as they say we are …’
‘They haven’t left us with much choice, have they?’
As he said this, a passing man tossed a couple of coins on to the floor in front of them.
Elsa clawed the money towards her. ‘A pound!’ she said excitedly. ‘We can use this to call our parents, Harlan. I don’t care what the others said. We can’t do this by ourselves. We have to call them. They could come and get us. I swear we’d be all right –’
Harlan closed his eyes. ‘We’ve already talked about this. Do you really want to put them in danger?’
‘What about us?’ she cried, with tears in her eyes. ‘We’re already in danger. I’m tired and hungry. I want to go home!’
Harlan patted Elsa’s shoulders sympathetically and got to his feet.
Elsa went to stand. ‘Where are you going? I don’t want to stay here by myself …’
Harlan struggled with a smile. ‘Just wait here for me.’
Harlan rested his forearms on a railing across the road from the station. The closest he had come was stopping someone to ask for the time. But even then he’d lifted his hand leadenly and froze. As he slunk away, Harlan accepted, with some regret, that he lacked the fluency of touch that seemed to come so easily to pickpockets and thieves.