“So you’re sitting in the back with us half-arsed wannabe rebels, are you?” Dan settled into the corner.
Ed laughed. “Funny. Besides, didn’t seem right getting in the cab.”
The driver slammed the doors closed, and seconds later the engine started and they pulled away. Back to the Prime Minister, then. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. They had succeeded. The bag, now carefully wedged between Ed’s feet, held a case with ten small vials of a deadly virus. With their safe delivery, they won freedom – to live, to breed, to exist like they hadn’t before. Maybe she really would get Jack back.
“This came at such a high cost.” Liam put an arm around her and pulled her closer.
“Lucy’s going to be devastated,” Dan said. “And Maddy.”
Cassie nodded her agreement, but she didn’t actually know Lucy and Maddy. She didn’t know any of those left back at the warehouse, really. She wanted to tell everyone that she might get her baby boy back, that they would give her a life back, a ration card, a place to live. But how could she when they were mourning their losses? Ed caught her eye. There was a light of recognition, as if he’d read her thoughts and agreed with her. He couldn’t wait to get back to his life as well. It occurred to Cassie that she knew nothing about Ed. They’d just spent the last five days with this man, and she didn’t know if he was married, where he lived, what he did when not creeping subversively into other countries. Was he always so hard, did anyone get to him, the way Liam was beginning to get to her?
“What’s going to happen about France?” she asked him.
“What do you mean, Cass?” Ed asked.
“The virus, we released it.” Cassie sat forward a little. “Aren’t there going to be questions? Are we going to get into trouble?”
“Who knows, might work in our favour. Maybe the Germans will blame the French for the theft.” He shrugged. “Maybe the Germans will think whoever raided the lab broke the vials – had some kind of accident, and infected the French that way.” He scratched at his beard. “Who knows how the Brits will spin this. I wasn’t employed for my political astuteness. I was employed because only I was guaranteed to get out of Germany and back to Britain with the vials.”
Cassie shook her head. “But won’t the Germans know when vast areas of the UK fall ill?”
“And they’re going to find out… how?” Ed asked. “They’ll only know what our government allows to be reported in the newspapers.”
“Oh, come on. Newspapers are independent, they’re not controlled by the government.” Cassie glanced at Liam. “Are they?”
He shrugged.
“The newspapers are more fiction than anything else.” Dan said from the other end of the van. “I thought that was common knowledge.”
“Well, I certainly had no idea,” Cassie said.
“You know about the big rave scourge,” Ed asked her. “Where do you really think that comes from?”
Was Ed enjoying this? Tearing apart her misconceptions? But Dan – he’d said something similar. She really thought Dan had been taking the conspiracy theory too far.
“But because of us, all those people in France, they’re dying right now…”
“They would have died anyway, Cass,” Ed said slowly. Patiently, like she was slow witted. “Did you not have your eyes open?”
Cassie shuddered. “Of course I did. I’m not blind.” That woman, the one clutching the dead baby flashed before her eyes again. She tried to clear the image.
“I think we’re here,” Liam said as the van slowed and then stopped.
“Time for redemption,” Dan said as the doors opened. He held her back as Ed and Liam jumped off. “Let’s see about getting you back together with your Jack.”
“You think they might allow that?” Surprise tears sprang at her eyes. She blinked furiously.
“I’ll do my best.” Dan gave her a quick hug. “Let’s see what our Prime Minister has to say.”
“You think we’ll be seeing him again? Won’t they send an aide or someone less senior?”
Dan released her from the hug and placed a tender, fatherly kiss on her forehead. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Redemption
Chapter 29
Ed said his goodbyes, and gave each of them a brief back-slapping hug in turn. Then he left them alone in a large meeting room. Cassie looked around at them. No one had come through this uninjured. They’d lost two of their number, and they had succeeded in their mission. Was it worth it, for the lives of the two men they’d lost? Cassie took a seat at the table, rubbing her leg against the ache, feeling the heat through her trousers and bandages. She’d needed to have a doctor examine her.
Dan and Liam came over and sat on either side of her. Liam took a hand, as did Dan, surprisingly. They sat there, huddled in together, awaiting their fate at the hands of the Prime Minister.
The door opened and two bodyguards came in, each standing on one side of the door. The Prime Minister marched in immediately after. Another guard closed the door. Mr Smith stood on the other side of the table flanked by his security.
Looking at the clean shaven, smartly dressed man across the room, Cassie was suddenly aware of how dirty she was. How dried blood was splattered on all of them, their clothes stained, rumpled, and ripped. Grateful for the security the two men on either side of her gave, she waited for the Prime Minister to speak.
“You made it back with the vials.” Was that a touch of incredibility in his voice? “I am sorry for your losses.” He dipped his head at them.
“What about your promises?” Dan said. “And Cassie wants her son back, can you do that?”
The Prime Minister waved a hand at them. “As we agreed, you shall have your freedom back.”
“And ration cards, and reintegration?”
“Yes.” The Prime Minister looked pleased with himself.
“Homes for us all?”
“Of course. That’s what we agreed.”
“And Cassie, she can have her son back.”
Cassie stared at the Prime Minister intently, willing him to smile, willing him to agree.
“I can make that happen.”
“Oh thank you!” Cassie almost jumped out of her seat. “It means so much to me, thank you so much!”
He held a hand up to them. “You have one last task.”
Dan screeched his seat back and jumped up. “You said this was it, get the virus and bring it to you.”
“Calm yourself. It’s the last thing I will ever ask of you. I promise.” Mr Smith put a hand across his chest in a mock pledge.
Cassie glanced at Liam, and then Dan. The question of trust was on her lips, but Dan must have decided that was enough.
“What do we have to do?” he said, and sat back down. He sounded so tired. So defeated.
“Dan, your entire group is charged with living illegally, theft on many accounts, destruction of government property…”
Dan leapt from his seat again, he ran halfway around the table before he stopped. The guards stepped out of place and formed a barrier between him and the Prime Minister.
Mr Smith put up a hand. “Let me finish.” He moved his bodyguards aside with a touch.
“You’re going to charge us now, after we do all you ask?” Dan pounded his fist against the tabletop, Cassie jumped at the sound. “We risked our lives to give you this virus, Dillon and John died for you, and now you’re going to sentence us to death?”
The Prime Minister shook his head. “No. I am going to sentence one of you to death.”
Dan frowned. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“Sit,” The Prime Minister said in a tone that suggested he expected to be obeyed. He waited until Dan took his seat next to Cassie again.
“The virus spreads in a more controlled and more efficient manner if a person is knowingly infected, and moves about in certain places, like near distribution centres.”
Cassie felt her heart skip a beat as she realised what he was going to suggest. One of them
would have to be knowingly infected. How would they decide which of them?
“This wasn’t part of the deal!” Dan yelled, but Cassie could tell he was losing steam. Like her, he must know there was nothing they could do.
Liam remained silent. He maintained a steely grip on her hand. She glanced over at him to find he was crying silent tears.
“I think you’ll find as Prime Minister, I can do exactly what I please.” He cleared his throat and continued, “As the leader, we’ll be laying this responsibility at Dan’s feet. He will be taken to a prearranged destination, and given a vial to imbibe. Then he must stay at the entrance to the distribution centre until his death.”
“No.” Liam let go of Cassie. “I’ll do it. He’s got a wife, and little girls. Let me.”
Mr Smith looked at him, with an expression that could only be deciphered as one of amusement.
“You want to take his place?”
“No Liam, you’re young. I’ve seen you and Cassie. Make a life for yourselves. I’ve made decisions for the group for years, this is my burden to bear.”
“No Dan,” Liam said. Both men got out of their seats. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they embraced.
Cassie turned away from them, and shakily put her hand up to get the Prime Minister’s attention. “What if we refuse to do it?”
“Then the deal is null and void.”
“I see,” she whispered.
“The entire group would be put to death by the end of the day, children included.”
“I will do it,” Cassie said and got out of her seat. “Take me.”
The Prime Minister was openly smiling. “This is very interesting. Who would have thought you’d argue over which one of you died?”
“Don’t be silly, Cassie,” Dan snapped.
“It makes sense.” She turned to them, and joined them in a huddle. “I have already been sentenced to death. If I hadn’t escaped the Ultimate Choice, I would have been carved up days ago. Then thanks to you, Dan, I lived a few days longer. I saw the beauty of family. But I’ve felt my number creeping up on me.” She gave him a kiss on his cheek above the line of his beard. “And Liam.” She stroked the side of his face. “You taught me what it is to love, what it feels like to be loved. I’ve never known that before. Thank you.” They kissed. It was a struggle to release him. They were all crying now.
Cassie wiped away her tears and turned back to the Prime Minister. “Will you make sure Jack is provided for? Can you promise he won’t be in any of the areas where the virus will be released?”
“Cass, you can’t do this.” Liam grabbed her hands and stared at her, shaking his head. His eyes had gone a dark stormy blue.
The Prime Minister spoke up behind her, “Jack will be safe, taken care of, as you request.”
“You can’t, I won’t allow you,” Dan said.
“You’ve got a beautiful wife, two gorgeous little girls that will miss you. There’s no one to miss me once I’m gone. Let me die in peace.”
“Oh Cass,” Liam said, and grabbed her. He held her chokingly tight for a minute. “What about me?”
“You were prepared to volunteer, wouldn’t that have left me to mourn you? No matter who does it, I guess there will be people left behind. Remember me for what I am, okay?” Cassie tried to control the tears. She couldn’t lose her nerve. Not now.
“But I should do my duty as a man.” Dan said without conviction. “What about you and Jack? All you’ve talked about is getting him back. I’ve heard you, it’s your dream. It shouldn’t be you dying.” The passion had gone from his voice. She was winning.
“I don’t know my son. I had a few days with him.” She looked from Liam to Dan. “And I know he’ll be well raised by my parents. Jack’s the son they always wanted. Let me die with honour.”
Liam took a deep, steadying breath. “She’s right, Dan. Let her go. Think of Elizabetta. Think of Poppy and Honey, and the life you can give them as full citizens.”
“Cassie I’m sorry for all the bad things I did to you in the beginning.” Dan hugged her.
“I know. I forgive you.” Cassie hugged him back. “And thank you for understanding, Liam.”
“I don’t really understand anything that’s going on right now.” Liam shook his head desolately. “But I do know I’m not going to let you do this thing alone.”
The Prime Minister cleared his throat loudly. “I have no more time for this,” he said and stepped over to the door. “Just tell me, who’s volunteering?”
“I am,” Cassie said.
“And me too.” Liam put an arm around Cassie.
“Thank you,” she mouthed to him, and held him closer.
“Fine, have it your way. As much as your negotiations were entertaining, I have a country to run. An aide will be in shortly to brief you. Mr Olsen, someone will be by presently to escort you back to the warehouse.” With that, Mr Smith left, his body guards a step behind. Barely a moment passed and two more men came in. One of them went to Dan.
“Come on, then,” he said, and ushered him straight out. No more time for goodbyes.
Dan called out, “Thank you.” Then he was gone.
“Just you and me now.” Liam gave her a weak smile.
“You sure about this?” Cassie gazed up at him.
Liam leaned down and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. “Absolutely.”
“Finished?” the aide said.
Cassie glanced at the floor as a blush rose on her cheeks.
“Yes, sorry,” Liam said.
The aide cleared his throat. “I am Mr Clark. I am to describe to you the effects of the virus. It’s very important that you do as you are ordered. The virus is lethal, and we want to control the spread as much as we can.”
Cassie nodded and squeezed Liam even tighter.
“Sit. You may as well enjoy the little time you have left.”
The three of them sat down, the aide taking a place opposite.
“You will be dropped off in the centre of an area called Newbury. As soon as the van drives away, one of you will crack open the vial and drink all the liquid.”
Cassie and Liam exchanged a look.
“Don’t worry. The virus is infectious almost instantly.” He cleared his throat. “Within minutes, you will both be coughing. You will be near a food distribution centre. Over a thousand people pass through there each day. There is also a warehouse further down the street where end products are delivered by textile workers. Walk alongside the queues until you are too ill to walk.”
“How long will that take,” Liam asked.
“A few hours.”
Cassie felt numb. Like all her senses had been turned off simultaneously. Even the pressure of Liam’s hand on her own went almost unfelt. By this time tomorrow, she’d probably be dead.
“How many will die?” she asked.
“Ninety percent of people in about a ten mile radius. According to our informants, the new formulation of the virus is airborne. Once a decent amount of people are infected, the transmission rate increases exponentially.”
Were they not sure? What if the German’s had altered something else, and the virus had an unexpected result? An image of the starving crowds in France came to mind. Did it really matter? Whatever they did, it had to be better than mass starvation.
“Jesus.” Liam had to support his head in his hands.
Cassie stared at the aide, but her vision was almost blank. All those people. Was she going out with honour? Did a mass murderer of such enormous numbers have any honour, was that possible?
“How long will we live?” Liam didn’t raise his head to ask.
“Probably a day, maybe two.”
Liam let out a long sigh. “And what are the symptoms?”
Cassie remembered that woman, Jessica, from the British lab. That would be her soon. She must be insane to volunteer to die in so much pain.
“Cough at first. Then soon after a fever. Your glands will swell, and your throat will be so swollen
you’ll be unable to swallow much, other than drips of water.” The aide shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “The flu phase lasts the longest, maybe twelve hours. After that your body will start to break down pretty quickly. There’s a strain of Ebola mixed in, that will dissolve your organs. Blood will seep from your orifices.”
Cassie flashed Jessica with her crimson tears.
“Once you start vomiting, your time is very short. Maybe an hour.” Mr Clark had gone pale. Had he seen the virus at work, or had he merely read it on a screen? “You will die in a great deal of pain. But I can give you medicine. Inject yourselves when the bleeding starts. The morphine will hopefully last long enough to suppress the pain right until the end. The dose might even be enough to kill you outright. You’ll have done your job at that point.” He coughed and looked away from them. “No need to prolong your suffering.”
“When do we go?” Liam asked.
“Pretty much now. I will accompany you on the way to the drop zone. I’ll personally hand you the vial of virus and the pain killers. Do you know how to inject yourselves?”
“We’ll figure it out.” Cassie rose from her chair. Her legs were weak. The gash in her thigh throbbed. Liam’s grip on her hand hurt, and she soaked up the pain. These were her last moments as a healthy person. Savour what you can get, she thought. “Shall we get this over with?”
Chapter 30
In the back of a van for the last time, Liam held Cassie tight as they bumped over the roads to Newbury. They were going to kill hundreds, probably thousands of people. For half a second, she debated trying the doors. See if they could escape. Find a hide out somewhere new. Start a life together.
The van ran into a pothole, and Cassie and Liam almost fell off the bench. The roads must have been in particularly bad condition out here.
The journey was taking forever. Neither of them talked. Sat together but separate, each alone with their thoughts. What was there to say? Nice knowing you, shame it was over so quickly? What was Liam thinking? Maybe he was remembering his Georgina. Thinking about joining her up in heaven or wherever they went.
The Ultimate Choice Page 23