by Ryan Gawley
‘Hey, it’s okay. Lucy, look at me. It’s going to be okay. Do you hear me?’ said Sam holding Lucy’s shoulders and looking right at her. Her eyes were filled with sadness and pleading. ‘It’s going to be okay Lucy, we’ll go together. We’ll find her and she’ll come with us. Whatever it takes, I’m not going to lose you.’
‘I guess I better put on another pot of coffee,’ said Arthur.
As the coffee brewed the friends all listened to Lucy’s story of how she had learned of her younger sister, the affair between her father and the wife of the head of the Elite’s Upper Council, how she had escaped from being pimped out by her former employer and how she had actually spoken with her sister through a locked bedroom door but agonisingly had not been able to see her face to face. She explained how she had arranged to meet Kathy and the risks both sisters would have to take to be united for the first time in their lives.
Sam listened to it all without speaking, trying to figure out how they were going to pull this off and escape with their lives, never mind getting Kathy out as well.
When Lucy had finished telling her story her shoulders slumped, her emotions were drained but she felt a huge relief from having opened up, telling her truth and sharing the burden she had carried alone until now.
Sam was the first to speak as he stared into the fire. ‘Arthur, I need to ask you a favour.’
Arthur looked to Alice and she nodded in silent agreement. Arthur knew that he owed Sam a lot as neither him nor Alice would have made it this far alone but they would never make back out of the city again, Alice was too frail to make another run like the one they’d just barely survived. All the same he knew Alice would risk it and both would agree to go with Sam if he asked it of them.
‘Arthur, I need you to look after Molly for me,’ said Sam who had also weighed up the options and knew what it would mean for the older couple to accompany him and Lucy.
‘She’ll be riding along with all of us Sam, we started this together, we’ll see it through together,’ said Arthur with gutsy determination.
‘Sam, you’ll need help,’ Alice agreed taking her husband’s hand and holding it tightly between her palms.
‘Thank you both, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done but where we’re going it’d be better if it’s just Lucy and me. Besides Alice, you still need to mind that wound. Really, you two should get to the coast as you planned. If you can look after Molly we’ll come and find you after we’ve got out with Kathy.’
Arthur knew that despite Sam’s confidence and reassurance a formidable challenge lay ahead of them. He realised Sam was aware he may not make it back and so didn’t push the matter any further. With the decision made the camp was broken up and the gear loaded into the rear of the truck with Molly. They took one last look at the picturesque lake as the morning sun cast a golden haze over the shimmering water. They hugged, shook hands, and exchanged sorrowful goodbyes and wishes of good luck, the group now separating perhaps never to meet again. Sam took a long time to fuss over Molly, ruffling her shaggy coat, he fed her all the remaining treats he had brought for her and gave her a long hug before closing the tailgate of the truck and signalling to Arthur he was ready.
Sam gave his helmet to Lucy even though it was huge on her small head while he wore just his black wool hat which would be useless in the freezing headwind or a crash but better than nothing. He started the bike and waited until Lucy was seated securely on the pillion seat with her arms clamped tightly around his stomach.
Arthur led the way along the overgrown track back to the main road where Sam pulled the bike to a stop alongside the truck. They all took one last moment to acknowledge each other before Sam put the bike into first gear and sped off west toward Raven City while Arthur, Alice and Molly headed back east to pick up the turn for the southern coast road.
Cruising at a comfortable speed in the crisp morning air on a vintage motorcycle with Lucy holding tight to him, this was a moment Sam had dreamt about many times. Except now up ahead the jagged outline of Raven City rose up from the horizon with the promise of turning his dream to a nightmare.
CHAPTER 17
‘No further delays will be tolerated,’ scolded Victor Henderson’s mysterious superior through a thick cloud of cigar smoke as Henderson himself trembled not with fear but anger at being spoken down to like a disobedient child.
‘What did they know,’ he thought to himself. This was his country, his command. For the Brotherhood to send their messenger like this to rap his knuckles was humiliating but he knew they had the upper hand for now so he forced himself to swallow his pride and washed it down with the remainder of his brandy.
The Brotherhood member continued. ‘Your progress report from Raven City shows promise but we had expected fewer Enforcer casualties and it seems the spread rate of psychosis in Rook City is far below your initial projections.’
Henderson knew there was little point in lying since all feeds from his own sources were in turn monitored by the Brotherhood. He attempted to explain although he barely understood the statistics he was regurgitating. ‘We now calculate a diminishing effect once approximately one quarter of the Dreg population has been turned. This was unforeseen as all simulations predicted at least a seventy percent turn rate. Currently, the Enforcers are coming under attack from manageable numbers of psychotics but what we had not accounted for was that a staggering number of unaffected Dreg citizens are not cowering in their homes where they could be easily swept up but rather are taking to the street and looting, rioting and attacking the sector barriers. Our Enforcer patrols are already stretched thin and we risk break through into the Elite sector at some of the lesser defended areas.’
The huge room felt as though it had dropped in temperature by several degrees and even other club members seemed to sense a change in the atmosphere. Henderson’s superior said nothing for a moment but made a pretence of needing to smooth out his thin moustache and then to bring the ember of his cigar to his satisfaction before continuing.
‘Your errors in judgement and careless mistakes will not go unrewarded Victor,’ he said calmly but loudly and with venom dripping from every syllable.
The two men locked in a stare as the other club members returned their attention to their newspapers or previous personal conversations. Neither man uttered a word. The icy confrontation stopped only when a waiter happened by at that moment to collect an empty brandy glass which provided an opportunity for Henderson to rise sharply from his chair and storm off toward the exit. He had allowed himself to be angered and had shown weakness which only served to enrage him further.
‘Someone will have to take responsibility for this,’ Henderson thought to himself.
Derek Stone was very experienced in Henderson’s moods and knew now was not the time to engage in conversation so he remained professionally silent and focused intently on the task at hand which was to drive Henderson to his downtown office in the Central Control building as swiftly as possible. The sooner he could get his boss out of the car the less chance there would be of Stone being on the receiving end of his wrath. Although Stone in no way perceived Henderson as a threat he still didn’t relish the thought of a raving psychopath roaring at him from behind his seat.
While en route to his offices Henderson used his personal network tablet to summon all department heads to an emergency meeting. When he arrived at the top floor office the lift doors opened to unleash an enraged Henderson upon a trembling staff. He crossed the open plan office area and entered the large boardroom, slamming the heavy glass door behind him before using a terminal on the wall to turn the electronic glass from clear to opaque, simultaneously providing relief for those staff now left outside and further trapping and intimidating the department heads waiting around the huge boardroom table. The Enforcer commander General Curran was not so affected by Henderson’s bluster but rather extremely irritated at being called to this meeting when his men were fighting a hard battle on the streets. Even though he knew t
he real plan behind the strange events and agreed that the sacrifice of a percentage of his troops would be necessary he felt a duty to oversee the action, not to be summoned by this idiotic fat man in a poorly fitting suit. He was aware however of the power Henderson wielded and knew his attendance would serve his own best interests.
All eyes followed Henderson as he fumbled to open the top button of his shirt collar and loosened his tie which seemed to relieve some of the pressure in his swollen red face but the furnace burning behind his dark eyes only grew in intensity.
‘Welcome gentlemen,’ said Henderson attempting to restrain himself. ‘Thank you for attending at such short notice.’ He looked to each man in turn, daring anyone to utter a single word of complaint, disappointed that none did so he continued. ‘As you are well aware the Project has been initiated in both our nation’s cities and while your initial reports seemed promising I can assure you that your projections have fallen very short of my satisfaction.’
The men around the table all looked to each other for support, each waiting and hoping someone would speak but knowing none would. All feared for their lives now except General Curran who knew his role as Chief Military Officer gave him almost equal standing to that of Henderson.
Henderson continued. ‘According to my own independent analysis,’ by which he meant the report his superiors in the Brotherhood had forwarded to him, ‘it would seem the dispersal of the psychosis inducing chemicals was over-concentrated in certain areas leaving other areas insufficiently saturated. This critical element was key to ensuring the maximum wave effect throughout the Dreg sector, a serious error that cannot now be corrected.’ Henderson gritted his teeth to hold himself from descending into a fury, now turning his penetrating gaze on the unfortunate head scientist. ‘Doctor Gillan, I believe your department were charged with calculating the dispersal patterns of the required chemical agents. Please correct me if I am mistaken.’
Gillan felt like a lamb facing a wolf as he sensed a void grow around him and all attention now focus on the sacrificial pawn.
‘Please Mr. Henderson; such a thing has never been attempted on the scale we have achieved here. The variables and timing involved were always a factor to consider. We have achieved dispersal ratios in the higher margin of our expectations based on all simulations.’
‘Your excuses mean nothing to me Doctor Gillan, I hold you personally responsible for the failure of your department. Our goal was clear and you have failed,’ said Henderson relishing the power he wielded and savouring the fear emanating in waves from his chosen victim. He lifted his network tablet from the table and tapped in a command then paused for a brief moment until two armed Enforcers entered the room, snapped to attention and saluted. The fact they directed their salute to General Curran and not him greatly annoyed Henderson but he carried on as though unaffected.
‘As I was saying Doctor Gillan, you have failed me. You are to be immediately exiled to the prison farms for the remainder of your life which I assure you will be mercifully short.’
‘Please, no! No, I only did what you asked. I did my part, someone please tell him,’ pleaded the doctor in desperation as the coldly efficient Enforcers violently wrenched him from his chair. ‘I have a wife and three children, please reconsider, please I’m begging you.’
Henderson’s face broke into a purely evil grin. ‘Thank you for reminding me. I am a generous man Doctor Gillan, which is why I will arrange for your family to join you in the farms. I’ll leave it to you to explain to them why they have been forced to suffer, I’m sure they’ll understand. Guards, remove him.’
The other men sat in terrified silence around the boardroom table listening to agonising screams of protest as the unfortunate doctor was dragged to his fate.
‘I think it only fair to warn you all that I treated the good doctor with leniency in this circumstance. If I have to deal with failure again from any department the punishment will be execution for those responsible, including the execution of their immediate family,’ said Henderson in an almost giddy mood having massaged his wounded ego. The General was disgusted to see such weakness but kept his thoughts to himself.
The remaining Upper Council members were still reeling in shock at what they had witnessed and from the threat they had received. Such an abuse of power was unheard of but none the less each knew their elected leader had the right by law to carry through with any action if he felt he had due cause. They could have voted to overturn his decision and remove him from office but not a single man among them trusted another enough to risk facing accusations of treason.
‘Since it is obvious to me now that I am the only person with whom such responsibilities can lay I am hereby demanding that full control of the Project be directed to me personally and for the short-term at least I shall be taking overriding command of all system functionality. I expect you can manage to do your jobs without need for me to intervene but never the less please all now enter your authorisation codes to divert high command of each of your sectors to me.’
Henderson stood up sharply from his chair and leaned heavily on the huge table, balling his fists until his knuckles whitened as he stared down each man in turn until they silently took out their tablets and entered the required codes to transfer command to their insane leader. All except General Curran complied.
‘I’m afraid Victor I must insist that military control remains under my final command,’ said the General in casual defiance of Henderson’s order.
Henderson turned his head to look at the General with such ferocity that the other men thought his neck may have snapped there and then. The contest between the two leaders made for another uncomfortable moment but the General’s relaxed demeanour in the face of Henderson’s efforts at intimidation bordered on mockery and Henderson knew it so to avoid humiliation for the second time that day he acceded to the General’s request.
‘Very good General, I know your men are quite overrun at present so under the circumstances I suppose it best to defer tactical command to you. For now,’ he replied feeling as though the comment had won him this bout.
With ultimate control of the entire city’s surveillance network, sector gate controls, water and power systems all now transferred to central access from his personal tablet Henderson felt more relaxed knowing he had sole command and could now do as he pleased without consulting other members of the Council. The Enforcers would defer to orders issued by General Curran but since they had their hands full dealing with the civilian threat he felt he could safely ignore them for now.
His objective completed Henderson decided to return to his penthouse to consider his next move. The day had been taxing and a troubling pain in his chest told him he needed to relax for the remainder of the evening.
‘Mr. Stone, I’d like you to accompany me,’ he said as his driver pulled the car alongside the door to the lift in the underground car park beneath his penthouse. ‘Please see to it that my daughter is sedated. I’ll require her to be kept out of my way until morning.’
‘Certainly sir, are you expecting company?’ Stone asked since he was usually only requested to administer the sedative when Henderson planned to allow guests or service personnel into his private domain and wanted Kathy’s presence to go unnoticed.
‘Not that it’s any of your concern Mr. Stone, I’m simply in need of some peace and quiet for the rest of today and I’m in no mood to deal with my troublesome offspring,’ replied Henderson grumpily.
Stone silently released a long breath to control his patience and said nothing further as he stepped out of the car and opened the door for his employer. Both men entered the lift and Henderson slid his heavy gold watch a little up his arm so he could expose the subdermal chip implanted in his wrist and waved it over the scanner embedded in the lift controls.
‘Be ready for her,’ Henderson told his henchman in expectation of another of his daughter’s repeated escape attempts.
When both men stepped out into the entrance hall they waited
until the lift doors had closed before going further into the huge living area where they found Kathy hard at work rearranging Henderson’s vast collection of tasteless antiquities. She looked up at her step-father and his driver but said nothing to either instead focusing more intently on positioning a gaudy gold figurine Henderson had brought back from some business trip or other.
‘A pleasant surprise to find you behaving yourself for once,’ said Henderson. ‘I think you’ve been working hard enough for today, it’s time for you to sleep. Mr. Stone, if you please.’
Kathy made no attempt to run; she knew there was nowhere to go and to do so would only result in angering Henderson which could wreck her plan. Stone clamped his hand gently but firmly around her arm and coaxed her reluctantly toward the stairs leading to her bedroom as Henderson looked on grinning before turning to fix himself a drink.
Kathy had been through this on many occasions and knew that although Stone was a forceful man he would not hurt her. She could see he didn’t share the sick pleasure her father enjoyed from treating her badly. That was of little comfort now though as she sat on her bed behind the locked door and waited for Stone to return. A moment later she heard the lock click and Stone reappeared carrying the familiar black leather case containing hypodermic needle, syringe and vials of potent sedative cocktail.
‘Please don’t do this,’ she implored. ‘Just lock the door again if you must but please no more needles. I’ll be quiet, I really will, you don’t need to use that.’
Stone was impassive ‘I’m sorry Kathy; your father wants you to be quiet for the rest of the night, you know I hate to do this but I promise I’ll be gentle. You’ll just have a nice sleep is all,’ he said opening the case and noticing one of the syringes was missing along with a vial of sedative.
He looked to Kathy questioningly but just at that moment Henderson’s voice boomed angrily from downstairs. ‘Stone, I need to see you immediately.’