by S. M. Wilson
Lincoln blinked – nothing like getting straight to the point. But he was cautious. “Fine. You’ve just arrived?”
The young man sitting next to him nodded. “Trial this morning and a move to this Camp this evening.”
“How many made it to the top of your cliff?”
“Fourteen. How many made it to the top of yours?”
“Eight.” The words stuck in his throat. It felt like a defeat. He changed the subject quickly. “How far did you travel?”
Leif shrugged. “Who knows? Half a day maybe? We came on the silo trains.” Now that was interesting. The silo trains didn’t usually carry passengers, only freight, but they moved at speeds faster than any other transport system.
The guy across the table looked at Lincoln. “Rune,” he said simply and nodded. The third guy looked up, his mouth still full of food. “Kronar,” he mumbled before starting to eat again. A smile appeared on Rune’s face. “You might have guessed we come from the North.” He looked around the hall, scanning the range of faces, skin and hair colours. His eyes settled back on Lincoln, as if he couldn’t quite decide which part of the continent he was from. “When did you get here?”
Lincoln hesitated. If all three of them had made it to the top of a cliff similar to his, they were possible allies. But it was difficult. Like Stormchaser and Dell, they would have allegiances to each other. They’d probably be reluctant to welcome anyone else into their group.
He gave a weary smile. “I’m from here. This is my city.” His blond colouring frequently confused people. Most of the city dwellers here had dark hair and dark eyes.
Rune nodded. “So, if only eight made it up the cliff, why are so many of you still here? When we arrived today, one of the cabins was still full. They’ve kept around fifty?”
Lincoln frowned. “They called back those that made it part way up. I’m not quite sure how they worked it out. The people who fell early on seem to have been sent home.” His eyes caught on Dell. As usual he was at Stormchaser’s side and they were laughing together. Her hand was wrapped in some tight strips. His stomach flipped. Had she broken some bones? Or was it just a strain? Would she be able to compete? “The rest of these people must be new arrivals – like you,” he finished. He spooned some food into his mouth; it was getting cold quickly.
Leif looked suspicious. “There were around twenty extra people on our silo train, but none of us could remember how they’d fared in the Trial. We thought some of them hadn’t completed it.” Lincoln saw glances pass between the three friends. “It doesn’t seem fair.”
“You’re from Norden? Was your first Trial there, or here?”
Rune talked through mouthfuls of food. “It was at Tarribeth City.”
Tarribeth was another coastal city. Lincoln was thoughtful. Everyone knew that the Norden part of the continent was almost completely flat. From what he could remember from school there were virtually no mountains or cliffs there at all.
“How did you manage the cliffs then?”
Leif looked at his friends and smiled. “We practised.”
“On what?” Lincoln was confused.
Rune spoke in a low voice, as if he didn’t want those around him to hear. “We constructed our own wall. Not quite as high as a cliff, but it was good enough.”
He could sense their competitive edge. They weren’t here for the food. They were here to qualify and they were rapidly beginning to fascinate Lincoln. It was almost a relief. Stormchaser wasn’t his only possible ally in the room.
He lowered his voice to match Rune’s. “Did you know what the Trials would be then?” He tried to make the question sound innocent, even though it clearly wasn’t. He’d managed to buy a Trial list, why couldn’t someone else?
Rune looked horrified. “Of course we didn’t.” He waved his fork in the air. “It was logical. We know some of the Trials that have been set before, we decided to make sure we could fulfil them all.”
It sounded plausible enough. But Lincoln wasn’t sure he could believe Rune.
He’d heard rumours about previous Trials, but he didn’t remember any like this. Recently they’d been about foraging for food or building a shelter. But this time their mission wasn’t just to survive on the edges of Piloria. This time they had to go right into the heart of things, to plunder, to steal, to scale cliffs to reach pterosaur nests. And there was every chance they’d come face to face with some of the most dangerous creatures in the world.
Lincoln spooned more food in his mouth as he thought about that. His knowledge of dinosaurs was practically zero. Were they intelligent creatures, or just ferocious beasts? Information like that would be crucial to his survival.
But schools didn’t teach much about the other continent. Lessons concentrated on new energy sources, new food sources and, any day now, whatever population-control measures parliament decided to employ.
Health care was already neglected. Someone from his school died virtually every week.
His stomach tightened. If he didn’t focus, his sister would be next.
He stared at the uneaten food on his plate. Such a waste. But he couldn’t eat another mouthful.
He nodded at Rune as he stood up. “You were lucky then. You obviously picked the right Trial to practise for. Excuse me, tomorrow will be another long day. Maybe I’ll see you all then?”
He gave a polite nod of his head and walked away.
Out into the cool night air. Out, away from the buzzing noise and yakking voices.
From a corner of the Camp he could see smoke rising. Someone had obviously picked some of the rushes from the beach. He could almost guarantee that tomorrow he would be able to pick that person out of the crowd by their heavy eyes and shuffling walk. What a waste.
Then he heard it. Laughter.
He didn’t even need to turn round to know who it was. He flattened against one of the cabin walls. He’d come out here for some thinking space. He didn’t want to get involved in another conversation.
But the laughter died down quickly, followed by some slow-moving steps and quiet murmurs. They were almost on him, just around the corner when they stopped dead.
They obviously thought they were alone. Lincoln cringed. Should he clear his throat and walk away, making it obvious he was there?
But the hissing of their voices made his mind up for him. He was too curious to move.
“What’s the problem, Storm? We only came here for the food.”
“I know that.” Dust was floating around the corner – she must be kicking the ground. She paused and took a few steps further away. Lincoln could see her profile, outlined by the white moon in the dark sky above. She was staring back towards the food cabin, watching people around the doorway. “But how did you feel today on the cliff, Dell?”
“What do you mean? I was pissed. I was stuck. How do you think I felt?”
Lincoln smiled. Dell hadn’t understood Storm’s meaning. He couldn’t see past the here and now.
But Storm was persistent. She walked back and pressed a hand on his chest. “But how did you feel here? Didn’t you feel anything? Didn’t you feel a rush of excitement, a need to win?”
Dell’s brow furrowed. He just wasn’t getting it at all. “Hungry,” he replied. “I felt hungry.”
Storm sighed and shook her head. “We started out coming here for the food, but now I think…well, I just don’t know. Up on the cliff, it was tough, it was painful – but it was exciting too. I felt, for once in my life, like I was really alive.”
Dell lifted his hands to her shoulders. “What are you talking about, Storm? You can’t possibly want to go to Piloria? It’s a death sentence. Everyone knows that.” There was panic in his voice.
“But what if it isn’t?” The volume of her voice was increasing. “What if it means we get to hang on to that feeling? What if it’s a chance?”
“It’s a chance to get eaten by dinosaurs!”
She flung up her hands in obvious frustration. “What if it’s a cha
nce to experience something completely different? No grey buildings. No work regimes. No school. How do we really know what the dinosaurs are like? Maybe they’re not all horrible people-eating monsters, maybe some of them are fine. How do we actually know? Maybe this is the only way we’ll ever get to find out…” She rested her hands back on her hips and started to pace. “I don’t care about the DNA stuff. I want to know more about the dinosaurs. I’m not sure I believe everything the Stipulators tell us.”
“Oh no.” He waggled his finger at her. “Don’t you start your crusade. I’ll tell you exactly how we know they are horrible people-eating monsters. How many people came back last time? Three. Three! Out of a hundred. How many the time before that? Why don’t you go and ask Lucca Cran what she thinks about Piloria? She lost her son there three years ago, remember?”
But Storm was still shaking her head. “I know all that. I know it. But don’t you see? This is different. This isn’t about searching for new food. This is about killing the dinosaurs – wiping them out. Do we even know what DNA is? We only know what they told us in the city auditorium. Is it safe to tamper with?” She stepped forward so she was face-to-face with Dell. “Should we even be doing this?” She paused. “If we go along too we can find out for ourselves what’s happening, instead of having to believe everything they want us to believe.”
Dell let out a yell. Any chance they had of keeping this conversation to themselves was instantly blown. “Why would they be lying? Look at us, look at where we live. There’s virtually no land anywhere.” He held out his arms. “We’re living in caves, we’re living in spaces so small we’re sleeping in shifts. We can’t build any higher – it’s not safe. We’ve no food. We’ve no medicine. The dinosaurs have got what we need – space. If this” – he waved his hands about – “DNA thing is the way to do it, then I say, go for it!”
There was an aura about Storm, a building rage, a tremble of her jaw. People had appeared from all the surrounding cabins, moving closer to see what the row was about. “You’d happily destroy entire species? Don’t you care what that means?”
Spit came flying from Dell’s mouth. “I care more about people than I do dinosaurs!” Even in the dark night Lincoln could see the red fury in his face. One of Stormchaser’s hands was clenched into a fist. For a moment he thought she might actually punch Dell. But while her hands quivered, her anger faded. He could hear the hiss of her breath streaming through her pursed lips. Her voice was so quiet he was sure no one else but he and Dell could hear. “Maybe you have people worth caring about.”
She turned and walked away so quickly that she vanished into the dark night in a matter of seconds.
Dell looked stunned. It took him a few minutes to gather himself. People around him started to murmur, dispersing quickly now there was nothing to watch.
Lincoln stayed silent. He felt a little sorry for Dell. But there was no point in offering him any comfort – he wouldn’t be here much longer anyway. And, truth be told, that suited Lincoln. If Dell and Stormchaser weren’t looking out for each other any more she might be more inclined to find support elsewhere. And tomorrow’s Trial would be vital. He needed all the help he could get.
Dell let out an exasperated gasp and walked towards the nearest cabin, punching the edge of the door in pure frustration. He yelped. Another injury for tomorrow.
Lincoln folded his arms and watched Dell’s retreating back. He had no idea why he was so drawn to Stormchaser. Leif was a much better prospect as an ally.
And Stormchaser’s comments were worrying. Why was she defending the dinosaurs? He’d never heard that before – from anyone. Dinosaurs were dangerous. Everyone knew that.
But it didn’t matter how curious he was about her. His family were his only priority. Of that he was sure.
And whether Stormchaser liked it or not, he intended to snatch those dinosaur eggs as quickly as possible and get back home to save his sister.
The atmosphere the next morning was subdued. People seemed nervous about the next Trial. Maybe it was the thought of failing? Or maybe it was the thought of not failing?
She shifted position at the table. What if people had heard her last night saying she didn’t always believe the Stipulators? She rubbed her sweating palms on her legs. Her hand still smarted. Chances were, if she’d been reported, she would soon be on her way to the mines.
In the cold hard light of day it was easier to pick out the newcomers. It seemed ridiculous to think of them that way – after all, she’d only been in the Camp herself for two days. But she’d noticed three of them talking to Lincoln last night.
He seemed to be able to do that. Just sit down next to some perfect stranger and start talking. She wasn’t like him. When he’d sat next to her two nights ago her tongue had stuck to the roof of her mouth and her brain had stopped functioning properly. Snappy replies were the best she could do.
It irked her. She’d always found talking to people difficult. It was probably one of the reasons she liked the plesiosaurs so much. They didn’t care that she didn’t make sense and they didn’t talk back. At least not in a way anyone had noticed.
She was counting in her head, trying to work out how many people, from however many Camps, had passed the first Trial and been brought here. But then again, some of them hadn’t actually passed the first Trial. She had to keep remembering that.
Dell hadn’t said a word to her this morning, just stalked off to the other side of the servery to sit by himself. She was trying not to care.
“What number have you got?” The low voice in her ear made her jump.
Lincoln was right behind her, a grin stretching from one side of his face to the other. Didn’t he realize this wasn’t a day for grinning?
“Six hundred and twelve.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “How long have you been counting?”
She stirred the food in the bowl in front of her. “About an hour. I figured everyone would come to breakfast. It might be the last meal they get here.”
“They?” The implication was clear. He thought she wanted it to sound like she was sure she would qualify.
But her head was all over the place. One minute she wanted just to pack up and go home, the next, she would wait until the Trials were finished. Then there was the thing she was trying not to think about after her argument with Dell – the thing that was so big, she didn’t have space in her brain for it. The fact she might qualify and actually go to Piloria.
“How many did you get?”
He shrugged. “About the same. But I didn’t count on some people going up twice for breakfast.” He pointed to a larger-than-average boy in a bright blue T-shirt. “That’s his third visit.”
She choked on her breakfast. “Really?”
“Really.” The grin disappeared and his face grew serious. “Do you think they brought everyone here?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said there were other Camps. Have they all been brought here for the last Trial?”
She paused. She could almost see his brain trying to make the calculations. Was this it? Six hundred people down to one hundred. A one in six chance of making it onto the boat?
He wanted it. She could tell how badly he wanted it and it almost made her feel guilty for being unsure. Her competitive edge battled with her rational mind.
“What did you and Dell fight about?”
Dell. Her eyes shot over to the corner of the room. But the table where he’d been sitting was empty. “Nothing.” The word came out automatically.
Lincoln took a bite from the fruit he was holding. “Didn’t sound like nothing.”
“You heard us?”
“I might have heard something. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but you were pretty loud.” He rolled his eyes. “I think the whole Camp heard you.”
Storm sighed and let her spoon drop in her bowl, sloshing half of the contents onto the table. “This seemed like a good idea at the time,” she said.
“And now?�
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“Now, I’m not so sure. Dell’s all I’ve got. I hate the fact we’re not talking.”
Lincoln kept eating. “Are you worried about the Trial?” He looked so cool about everything.
She shook her head. “Not so much. If I can do it, I can do it. If I can’t, I go home.” It seemed so simple when she said the words out loud. Maybe she would luck out. Maybe the Trial would be something impossible for her to do, especially with her injured hand. She tried to flex it underneath the tight bandages but it was held fast. One of the servery staff had wrapped it up for her. She wasn’t so sure it was broken now, just bruised and very sore.
“Does it hurt?” Lincoln’s voice had lost its easy tone. Guilt was written all over his face.
She could be mean. She could tell him she hadn’t slept last night for the pain. But she knew his action hadn’t been intentional. Would any of the other candidates have helped her the way he did?
She was conscious of the leap he’d taken. He’d put himself at risk for her.
“Sometimes. Hopefully the Trial today won’t require much manual dexterity.”
He gave the strangest kind of smile. “I’ve got a feeling today might be your day.”
What an odd thing to say. But there was no chance to ask him what he meant, because the alarm sounded for the transporters. It was time to head for the next Trial. She stood up and took her dishes over to the counter, searching the room to see if Dell had reappeared. But there was no sign of him, so she walked slowly behind the others, filing their way out of the servery towards the vehicles.
The journey this time was much shorter. And the view even more familiar.
A loch. Her loch.
She glanced sideways at Lincoln. Was this what he’d meant? Had he known this would be the next Trial? Did he know she swam in this loch?
For a second she felt uncomfortable. Just exactly how much did Lincoln know? About her and about the Trials?
The Stipulators were standing nearby, Reban Don in front of them. He didn’t waste any time addressing the crowd. “Today’s Trial is based on your abilities in the water. We want you to dive, we want you to recover some items from the bottom of the loch. You have to work in teams of five this time.” He waved his hand towards another Stipulator. “Juke Altair will give you the list of items you are to retrieve. Find the items you’re assigned and bring them back here.”