by Trish Moran
‘And I think it’s time we got in touch with Abe,’ Celia said, ‘we cannot work alone. All Labs must stand together.’
‘You are right, Celia,’ Keith nodded. ‘But first we must formulate a plan of action to enable all Labs to live free lives; then, hopefully, Abe will be more willing to listen to us. Has anyone ideas to offer? About the Centre and freedom for the Labs?’ Keith asked.
Johnny and Leon exchanged looks.
‘Why can’t all the Labs live in houses like we are now?’ Johnny said.
‘Yes. Can’t you get IDs for them, the same way you got them for us?’ Leon looked at Celia.
She looked thoughtful, ‘I did think about setting up such homes around the country, but how would the free Labs adapt to Non-Lab life? We can’t put them at risk.’
‘Ruby would have to stay at each new home to help them settle in, as she is doing with us,’ Johnny offered.
Celia nodded, ‘That could be done. The second problem would be finding out how many false records I can implant on the National Insurance register before suspicions are raised.’
There was a moment of silence.
‘Do the Labs have to be registered as UK citizens?’ Keith asked.
‘Ruby could not travel around the world!’ Celia replied. ‘And how could we keep a check on their security?’
Ruby looked up, ‘They could be registered as citizens of a European country, residing here as students!’
‘Yes, that might work!’ Celia nodded, ‘I could easily hack into the records of several European government offices. Hmmm. I am only proficient in Italian, Spanish, French, and Japanese. I have very limited knowledge of Eastern European languages!’
‘Det has Russian as her second language. And is fluent is several others!’ Johnny pointed out.
‘I will email Det and arrange a meeting with her and Abe,’ Celia said rising from the table. ‘Here? Or at the Caves?’
‘Here! On our own territory!’ Leon suggested.
‘Yes! It’s scary enough standing up to Abe!’ his brother added.
Ruby cleared the table as the others gathered around Celia’s laptop.
She filled the dishwasher and stood looking out of the window. A shiver went down her spine as she thought of the impending visit. Neither Abe nor Det had been at all friendly towards her, the Non-Lab. She wondered what their attitude would be this time.
She didn’t hear Keith enter the room until he was standing behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders.
‘You do not have to be afraid of Abe, Ruby. You know that we will all protect you, don’t you?’
She nodded, ‘Yes. But I don’t think he will like having me around. Or Det.’
‘They will realise that Labs need Non-Labs to survive in this Non-Lab world!’ he said. ‘And, we all like having you around.’
The door was flung open and Johnny appeared.
‘Hey! Abe and Det will be here tomorrow, as soon as it gets dark!’ he cried.
Abe made it quite clear what he thought of their new life from the moment he arrived the next evening.
‘Well, you certainly seem to be happy, living in the Non-Lab world,’ he remarked as he entered the house and looked around.
‘It’s the standard all people have a right to, Non-Labs and Labs,’ Celia said simply.
‘I don’t care about Non-Labs,’ Abe cast a glance at Ruby, ‘But I do care about my people.’
Keith nodded. ‘We also care about the Labs. That is why we asked you to come tonight.’
Ruby smiled quietly to herself as she watched Det run her hands over the smooth material of the sofa. She had spotted her earlier on in Celia’s bedroom, stroking her face with Celia’s soft dressing gown, then closing her eyes in rapture as she lay down on the bed. She had jumped guiltily as Abe had called her name from downstairs. Abe may enjoy his Spartan life, but she felt it wouldn’t take much to lure Det to a less arduous lifestyle. She brought her mind back to the present conversation. Celia was explaining the plans they had of setting up similar homes around the UK for all the freed Labs eventually.
‘How many freed Labs do you have in the Caves now?’ she asked him.
‘About five hundred,’ he replied. ‘We were thinking of starting a new colony in caves further north.’
‘A lot of hard work and time was spent getting the Caves to their present standard,’ Keith began. ‘It would take a similar time span to develop a second site.’
‘And they are still pretty basic,’ Celia added.
Abe bristled. ‘The Caves are a place of sanctuary to many of our people! And don’t forget, they were once your home, your shelter, not so long ago!’
‘Abe, when Miranda was taken by the authorities, you took us from danger in the farmhouse and led us to safety in the Caves!’ Keith said. ‘We will never forget that!’
All the others nodded in agreement.
‘We are not here to quarrel. We are here to plan the closing of the Centre and freedom for all Labs!’ Celia added fervently.
‘So, tell me; what are your new plans to save the Labs?’ Abe sat back.
Heated discussions went on long into the night. It was finally decided to trial two new homes, one in Manchester, where four Labs would enrol as students of music at the university, and one in London, where five Labs would enrol to study Law and Politics. Ruby and the twins were to stay in Manchester for the first month, then move to London when the second home was set up.
‘All Labs must continue to maintain a high level of fitness. We cannot allow any of our people to descend to the fitness levels of the average Non-Lab. Our training programme will continue at the Caves,’ Abe insisted.
‘We have no problem with continuing our fitness regime,’ Johnny said.
‘Yes!’ his brother nodded. ‘And there are many sports clubs we can join when we start our college courses!’
‘We all follow a strict training regime; Ruby included!’ Keith added.
‘I will need Det to work with me to input data into the Eastern European government offices’ websites, as my knowledge of Eastern European languages is limited,’ Celia continued. ‘She can move in here and enrol on the same computer course as myself.’
Abe looked as if he wanted to object, but Det readily agreed to the plan.
‘You’ll get one of these, too!’ Johnny said excitedly, holding out his driving licence for her to see.
‘How did you get these?’ she asked Celia.
‘You just have to know where to look on the internet,’ she gave her a slight smile.
‘Do you all have driving licences?’ Abe asked taking the licence from Det.
‘Yes. Nearly all Non-Labs drive. It’s a necessary skill.’
‘How did you all learn so quickly?’ Det asked.
‘I downloaded a series of simulated lessons used by many driving schools. We practised on those, then we just needed an hour or so of practical experience.’
‘And then you all could drive?’ Det looked surprised.
‘Yes. Except for Ruby. She is a slow learner, I’m afraid,’ Celia said.
Keith noticed Ruby’s embarrassment.
‘Don’t be so harsh, Celia! It is more difficult for Non-Labs to acquire new skills. And Ruby has many good qualities that we have yet to acquire!’
Ruby’s head was buzzing as she climbed into her bed that night. In the next room she could hear the low voices of Celia and Det. They were to share the room, with Det on a small guest bed. Abe had also agreed to stay for at least one more day as Celia had arranged for new IDs for both of them, due to arrive at the local post office in a day or two.
Det had been quite happy with the new name of Bernadette.
‘It’s quite common for a Non-Lab with the name Bernadette to be called Dette,’ Ruby had explained. Johnny couldn’t believe Det would want to settle for a one-syllable name and pulled out his book of boys’ names to show Abe.
Abe said he had no wish to be called by a Non-Lab name.
‘Y
ou must!’ Celia had insisted. ‘We must fit into the Non-Lab world, for our own safety and that of all the other Labs!’
Ruby had suggested Abel, as it was the full name closest to his original name, and he had pulled up his sleeve to reveal his code, ABE 32498.
‘I don’t have a name; I have a code printed on my arm! I am a Lab!’ he had almost spat out.
‘I have some special plastic things to cover that up. So you don’t get spotted, Abel!’ Celia had said bluntly.
Ruby shuddered as she thought of him sleeping on the sofa downstairs.
The house was quiet when she woke up the following morning. She pulled on her dressing gown and padded down the stairs. Gently pushing open the lounge door, she could make out the sleeping figure of Abel on the sofa. She quietly made her way to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. She stood by the open French windows, looking out at the hillside that stretched beyond their garden. A flock of birds wheeled in the blue sky. The sun beat down warming her face. Everything looked so calm and peaceful. She decided she would go for a long walk over the hillside later that day. Relax before she began the next part of her life as Non-Lab instructor. She smiled to herself as she thought back to her earlier life at school. She had had no idea about how things were going to work out then. In fact, her future seemed pretty uncertain now.
She was so lost in her own thoughts that she wasn’t aware of Abel’s presence until he stood beside her.
‘It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?’ she commented.
‘Labs don’t get to see much daylight. Except in this house!’ he answered sharply. He looked at her, a sneer on his lips, ‘So, you are to be our new instructor in Non-Lab life, are you?’
She sighed, ‘I just want to do anything I can to help.’
He clicked his tongue, ‘I’ve never felt I needed help from a Non-Lab.’
She went back into the kitchen and made a second coffee for herself and handed one to Abel, who took it from her ungraciously.
‘Say “Thank you very much for the coffee!”’ Ruby told him firmly. ‘Your first lesson on living in the Non-Lab world! Good manners!’
They both stood glaring at each other. Finally a look of amusement flickered across Abel’s eyes.
‘Thank you very much for the coffee, Ruby,’ he said.
‘You’re welcome!’ she replied, turning and leaving the room.
Later that day, Abel was dismissive of the new clothes and items Dette had bought with Celia.
‘If we are to merge in with Non-Labs, we have to look the part!’ Celia told him sharply.
‘Where does the money come from?’ he asked her.
‘It is paid monthly from funds from the Centre,’ Celia replied. ‘I transfer various amounts from several accounts under different expense headings. Then it’s filtered through several other accounts before it reaches the individual accounts I set up. So there’s no way it can be traced to us.’
‘Won’t they begin to notice money going missing as you set up more and more accounts, Celia?’ Keith looked worried.
‘I can easily cover up to five million per year. I would be nervous about going over that, though,’ she replied. ‘And I have a separate portfolio for our shares. Making a nice profit too!’
‘Have you been studying the stocks and shares, too?’ Dette asked her.
‘Not really. I don’t take any risks. I just hack into the companies that look promising,’ Celia admitted.
Dette looked at her admiringly. ‘I have so much to learn from you, Celia! We must make out a budget for the new homes we are to set up. Abe … l, come and look at our plan for the students to go to Manchester, to study music. Celia and I were thinking of the twins, Min and Jay, and Saf. We thought the boys Url and Pel could live happily with them. All their subscribers are musicians. We will set up the second group as soon as Ruby feels they are settled.
‘We have decided on two houses in London as the second group. They will live near each other, so they can communicate easily. And Ruby can get to see them too,’ Celia continued. ‘We have chosen Zaf, Oll, and Peg and Joe for the first house, and Ben, Dil, Lok, Hal, Cal, and Fay in the second house. They will study European Government and Politics.’
‘That’s fourteen Labs at once!’ Ruby looked pleased.
‘With five hundred freed Labs and six released on average weekly, that doesn’t sound so good, does it?’ Abel said, the sneer returning to his face as he looked at her. ‘And don’t forget, the Nursery Ward is being replenished daily!’
‘Where do you get … the replacements for the Labs, now, Abel?’ Keith asked him.
He shrugged, ‘Things were getting difficult nearby; but Fil discovered a new source: Brookwash Open Prison. So far we’ve made it look like the men have escaped, so we haven’t been associated with them at all yet.’
He gave a laugh as he added, ‘We’ve reintroduced the death penalty for Non-Labs!’
Ruby walked quickly up the steep hillside. Since she had joined the Lab household, she had become much fitter. She sighed. She wished her mind felt in such good shape. Abel’s joke about the death penalty for Non-Labs had left a bad taste in her mouth. It was hard to condone the killing of others, even those who had committed crimes against their own society.
She sat down with her back against a stone wall and looked out at the landscape stretched out before her. It was a beautiful summer’s day. The sky was a perfect blue with a few wisps of white cloud drifting across it. On the opposite hillside a herd of black and white cows were dotted around a field. Among them several sheep also grazed, both species living side by side peacefully. Ruby wondered how many of the animals would last until the end of the year. Neither species were ever aware they were to be sacrificed to satisfy the human species.
She picked a handful of daisies and started to string them together into a chain, as she used to when she was a child. She was so engrossed, she didn’t notice Keith until he sat down beside her. She looked up at him and smiled.
‘I wondered where you were at lunch,’ he said. ‘Johnny told me you had headed up this way.’
They sat silently for a few moments.
‘Ruby. What Abel told us; I know it is difficult to accept; especially for you …’ his eyes scanned her face. ‘But you do know that it is necessary, at the moment, anyway, don’t you?’
Ruby remained silent for a while, stringing the daisies together carefully.
‘I do know that, Keith. But, like you say, I find it very difficult to accept,’ she finally replied.
Keith took one of her hands, ‘You must forgive me for asking you this, Ruby, but you must also understand that I must put the Labs first,’ he took a deep breath. ‘Is there the slightest chance, the very slightest, that you will feel you must betray us, the Labs, to protect Non-Labs?’
Ruby looked at his face and felt a tear trickle down her cheek.
‘No, Keith, there is not the slightest chance that I could ever betray any Lab,’ she whispered.
Keith brushed the tears away from her cheeks gently, ‘This dilemma causes you sadness. Let me hug you.’
They sat for a long time in silence. It was getting dark when they finally rose to go back to the house. Ruby looked down at the daisy chain she had made. Already it was wilting. She tossed it gently into the grass and turned away.
Chapter Four
‘Well, Simon, you’re looking in great shape! Have you completely recovered from your last accident?’ the television presenter said to the young man sitting beside him.
‘Yes! Right back to normal again!’ the young man grinned. ‘Thanks to modern medical developments!’
‘So, are you planning on slowing down a little now?’ the presenter continued.
‘Not if I have anything to do with it! Although my mom and dad aren’t too keen on me going back to motor racing, unfortunately!’ Simon Armstrong shrugged.
‘And you say you’re planning a longer trip to England soon, to look around colleges in central London?’
Celia got up and turned off the television.
‘It wasn’t a replacement for a Lab, was it, the last time?’
Keith shook his head. ‘No.’
Chapter Five
Though Ruby was feeling more confident about her driving, she had decided to take the train on her first visit to the newly set up house in Manchester. The twins were accompanying her and were very excited travelling by train.
‘Johnny, sit down!’ Ruby whispered to him. ‘Don’t touch those switches!’
He sat down as Leon arrived with cans of soft drinks and several bags of crisps. He pulled out bags of sweets from his jacket pocket as he joined them. Both boys eagerly tucked into them.
‘Celia would go crazy if she saw you now!’ Ruby said.
‘She can’t see us, though!’ Leon grinned, tossing a sweet up and catching it in his mouth. Two teenage girls nearby looked around at him and giggled. Johnny gave them a wink.
‘Johnny! We are on serious business today!’ Ruby reminded him.
He leaned forward, ‘Don’t worry, Ruby. We know. They’ll need all our help getting used to their new life.’
Leon also put on a serious expression, despite the bulge of toffee in his cheek.
When they arrived at the house Min, Jay, and Saf nervously opened the door and ushered them inside.
‘Jed!’ One of the girls exclaimed as all three hugged Johnny, then Leon. A tall blond boy appeared followed by a shorter, dark-haired boy.
‘Let’s go into the lounge,’ Ruby suggested, smiling at them.
They sat down, the girls looking nervous.
‘I’m Ruby,’ she introduced herself, ‘As I’m sure Celia has already told you. And you must always call the boys Leon and Johnny.’
‘And you are …?’ Ruby turned to the first girl.
‘Jay. I mean Jade!’ she replied.