We sit at an empty table and I turn to Adrian. “Does everyone eat here?” I ask.
“Yeah. This is the only mess in this part of the city,” he says before digging in. I begin to eat as well. It may be relatively tasteless but I can’t be picky.
“How do you feed the entire city?” I ask when I can no longer contain my curiosity. In England, the wealthy always have food because they can afford the inflated prices but my plate has never been this full. Why would the Texans give so much valuable food to someone they barely know?
“We control large sections of the rivers,” he explains between mouthfuls. “They provide us with the water and fertile land that our farms need. Only certain crops can thrive here anymore. This is pretty standard fare.” He looks at his plate distastefully before shrugging and piling food into his mouth once again.
Once we finish, Adrian drops us off at our room and leaves, promising to return in the morning.
“How the hell did they get in here?” Gabby yells as soon as she unlocks the door and we enter. I look inside and see the reason for her anger. A stack of clothes is waiting for me on one of the beds. They are exactly the same as Gabby’s.
“Do you think they have a key to every flat?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she says and I can tell she’s worried. I’ve seen that look before.
Chapter 8: Dawn
Adrian returns in the morning just as he said he would. We are up and have taken our two-minute showers by the time he knocks. I’m starting to feel like myself again. My head isn’t so foggy and I’ve got my legs back, mostly.
“Morning Adrian,” I hear Gabby say as she opens the door.
“Hey guys! Ready to go?” he asks.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“On a walking tour of the town. You okay to walk Dawn? If you get tired, we can call for a wheelchair.”
“Sure,” I say as the three of us head out. I’m kind of excited to see more of this place. Everything is so orderly and clean. It’s way different than anything I’ve ever seen before. Most of the buildings look the same but a few stand out. The church is beautiful. After my experience with Ma and the group at the caves, I am mystified by religion. I have so many questions about it but I don’t dare ask them in front of Gabby. She thinks it’s better not to know.
As we’re walking by, a bell begins to ring and people start to descend on the church.
“Come on,” Adrian says. “I can’t have people see me walking around out here during church. We are not allowed to skip it and there would be consequences.” We duck into a building nearby and they help me climb the stairs. “This is the library.”
“Really?” I say. “There are libraries in England but only certain people have access to them. The only books I’ve ever been able to read are the ones my teachers would give me.” We walk through room after room filled with shelves and the books that sit upon them. I glance over at Gabby and she looks bored. I don’t know how she could be. I try to think back to London and realize that I don’t remember ever seeing her read a book.
I run my hands along dusty spines and feel the grooves of the lettering. Adrian looks back at me and laughs.
“You should see your face right now,” he says. “Priceless.”
“There are just so many,” I say quietly. I don’t know why but I feel like I need to whisper. It’s so still and quiet in here and I don’t want to ruin that. I had less than two years before I would have gone to uni if that was my assignment. In uni, I would have had access to many more books.
Gabby sits at a table in the middle of the room and leans back in a chair, not paying attention to us at all. Adrian plucks a book from a shelf and brings it to me.
“This is my favorite,” he says. “I love history.” I don’t tell him that the only history lessons I’ve ever liked are the ones about the colonies. I take the book from him. The Republic of Texas: a history. I open it and begin to read. I stop after the first paragraph.
“Texas was part of the United States?” It’s more of a surprised statement than a question because the book already told me it was.
“They didn’t teach you that in England?” he asks.
“I don’t know anything about this place at all,” I admit. Gabby has perked up slightly and is now watching us. She wants to learn as much about these people as possible. Adrian and I sit near her at the table.
“What do you want to know?” Adrian asks.
“Everything!” I say. “Start at the beginning.”
“Do you know about global warming?”
“Yeah,” it’s Gabby who responds quickly. She doesn’t like to be taught things or told things. It’s why she had so many problems in school. As always, I try to smooth over her rudeness.
“What I don’t get,” I begin, “is that if it’s called global warming, why is England so cold.”
“I didn’t know it was. I’ve never met anyone that’s actually been there. I guess it makes sense though.” He pauses.
I lean forward in my chair. “Why does it make sense?” I ask. Adrian gets up to grab another book before sitting down again and flipping through the pages. He stops at a flattened picture of the earth.
“You see here,” he says, pointing at an arrow making its way from the United States around to England, “there was once a warm stream of water called the Gulf Stream. It wound its way through the ocean until it got to England where it used to warm the air.”
“And that’s gone?” I’m confused.
“The ice caps melted and screwed up the ocean currents, including the one that used to warm England.”
“Brilliant,” I whisper, flipping through the book.
“What's a master race?” Gabby has opened another book and she squints her eyes in concentration.
“You don't need to know about that.” Adrian quickly takes the book and puts it on a high shelf. Gabby just shrugs before saying,
“Tell us about the war and such.”
“Well, once the currents changed, so did the weather. There were massive storms all along the east coast but hardly any rain anywhere else. A drought came and never really went away. Wildfires ravaged the west and water became scarce over much of the land. People were starving but they were alive. The government was doing research on how to grow food under those conditions and it was working.” He stops.
“And then the bomb,” I say.
“Yes, but there’s more to it than that. The Republic of Texas had already broken away but the U.S. government was trying to start a war that would bring us back. A prophet had emerged in Texas though and he saved us. The U.S. government had grown corrupt and fascist. It was a Texan that took care of them once and for all. No one foresaw the ripple effects that it would cause. It was a symbol of our strength all those years ago. Our first prophet said that it was God's will that we live on and they fade away.” I detect a strange note of pride in his voice.
“But it caused the deaths of so many people,” I argue.
“Yes,” he pauses, “it touched off a civil war which, of course, we won. It saved the Republic!”
“Or what’s left of it,” Gabby says.
Chapter 9: Gabby
My sister is so gullible.
All of this global warming history is revisionist bull shite. They did something that laid waste to an entire country. A country they once were a part of and they call it patriotic.
If anything, our little library tour a couple days ago made my suspicions about this place and these people worse. They’re like sheep. They wear the same clothing. They eat the same foods as each other. They go to church at the same time every single day and think it was noble to kill 100 million people. Even if God does exist, I doubt these so called prophets actually talk to him.
Back at our room, Adrian is hurrying us along. “Shit, we’re running late.”
“Why? What are we doing?” I ask.
“We’re going to a party.” He grins and his white teeth glow in the darkness.
“I’ll be back in a few to pick you up,” Adrian says and closes the door.
Thirty minutes later we are walking down the dark streets, making a right turn and then a left. Adrian stops us in front of an apartment building. “We’re here,” he says before pushing through the door. We walk down the hallway until we reach a door. A boy is leaning on the door frame trying to look tough. He can’t be much older than ten.
“Password?” he asks, showing his teeth to seem menacing. I stop myself from laughing so I don’t embarrass the kid.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Adrian says and I almost tell him not to be such a git but the boy steps out of our way and lets us pass.
“What was that about?” I demand.
“This party is not exactly legal,” he admits.
“What?” Dawn has found her voice again but it still cracks from her nerves. “Maybe we shouldn’t be here.”
“No, it’s fine.” Adrian leads us through the door and down the stairs into the basement of the building. It is cold and only lit by candles but there are a surprising number of people here. I see Dawn shrink into herself at the sight of so many strangers. She suddenly looks like she did in London, not like the girl who came across the world to rescue me. I link my arm through hers and pull her forward through the crowd.
“Adrian!” someone booms in front of us. The voice turns out to be larger than its owner. A short, round man comes rushing towards us.
“Landon! Hey man!” They clasp hands and then Landon looks at Dawn and me curiously.
“Welcome to my party,” he says. “Are you the Brits?”
“The Brits?” I ask. “That’s all they’re calling us?”
“I’m sorry,” he responds but before he can continue, I stop him.
“I’m joking. I’m Gabby and this is my sister Dawn.”
“Well, Adrian, Gabby, Dawn let me get you guys some drinks.” We follow him to a high counter. He goes behind it and returns with three glasses. I take a sip and almost spit it out immediately. Adrian and Landon are cracking up but one glare from me shuts them up.
“What is this?” I ask as Dawn smells hers.
“Remember I told you this party wasn’t exactly legal? Landon here distills his own hooch.” Adrian drains his cup and goes for another. I see Dawn take a sip of hers and I grab it from her hands.
“Hey!” she shrieks.
“I don’t think you need any hooch little sister,” I explain.
“Well, maybe I don’t think you should be making decisions for me.” She snatches it back and takes a long drink as she walks away from me. Adrian shrugs and Landon laughs.
I spend most of the party keeping an eye on my toss pot sister. This is not what I had in mind for fun. In England, people go blind from homemade alcohol. I watch as Dawn dances and talks to people she’s never met before. Two things she would never do if she were sober. At least someone’s having a good time.
As the music changes, the little boy who was guarding the stairs comes rushing into the room. “Raid!” he yells at the top of his lungs. Everyone starts running up the stairs frantically but Adrian comes to me.
“Come on. There is no way we’ll make it out of here in time. Where’s Dawn?” he asks.
“Dawn!” I yell across the room as soon as I spot her. She doesn’t answer. She is sitting on a couch looking dazed. I run to her and grab her arm to pull her up.
“No,” she slurs, “I want to sleep.” She lays her head on the couch as I keep pulling her. I manage to get her off the couch but she slumps to the floor. I give Adrian a pleading look and he helps me get her standing with one arm across each of our backs. We manage to get through the door to another room and lock it behind us. We set Dawn on the ground and I sit next to her. She leans her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes.
We are not the only people in here. Landon and a few others are sitting in silence. Adrian listens at the door for sounds of the police.
The room is rather small and half of it is taken up by machines. Each one has a screen on the front with a number showing.
“What are those?” I ask, pointing.
Landon is the one to answer. “Each roof in Texas has solar panels on it. We get our energy from the sun. Those machines keep track of it all.”
“Cool,” I say before whispering, “Why do they send so many police to bust a party just because there is alcohol?”
“That's not why they're busting the party,” Landon explains. “There is a strict law against gatherings, other than church of course. The prophet thinks that disease is spread when too many people are in the same place.”
“But you say that church is excluded? Couldn't people get sick there?”
“Most people believe that could never happen in God's presence or even in his prophet's presence.” I can tell Landon isn't one of those people but I don't get a chance to ask him.
“Shhh, everyone quiet,” Adrian commands. We hear the sound of many footsteps and someone barking orders. This continues for a while before we hear someone speak.
“There’s no one here sir,” a voice says.
“Yes, but there was. Check the energy room.” My breathing speeds up. If they check the energy room they’ll find us. The doorknob turns and someone pulls. It doesn’t open.
“It’s locked sir. I don’t know how they could have gotten in.”
“Check it anyway.”
“Yes sir.” We hear scratching and then pounding as they try to bust the lock.
“It’s only a matter of time before they get that door open and then we’re toast,” Landon whispers.
Adrian sighs as he gets to his feet. “I’ll take care of it.” He unlocks the door and slips out. Everyone stays silent so we can hear what’s going on.
“Is there a problem officer?” Adrian’s voice is stern and commanding.
“Sir,” the officer sputters, “we didn’t know you were here.”
“Obviously,” Adrian chastises. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Sir, there were reports of an illegal gathering,” the officer explains quickly.
“Do you see such a party?”
“No sir, but…”
“Do you expect me to be at such a party?”
“No sir.”
“Good,” Adrian pauses, “then I will not mention this… mistake and neither will you. You may leave now.” We hear footsteps on the stairwell before Adrian opens the door. He does not look happy as he beckons us out.
I look around at the mess and laugh. Those soldiers had to ignore everything they saw here because Adrian told them to.
Out on the street, I breathe a sigh of relief. Now I just need to get Dawn home and in bed and we can forget all about this night. Dawn is stumbling as she walks so I hold onto her arm to guide her. Adrian bids us good night and leaves us to find our own way back. After a few turns we are standing in front of our dormitory. I lead Dawn inside and she collapses into bed.
“Gabby?” she says in a slur.
“Yeah Dawn?” I answer, annoyed, trying to get the shoes off my drunken sister.
“Drew is dead.”
“I’m so sorry.” I don’t know what else to say.
“He is gone and he isn’t coming back.” She hiccups a sob and shudders.
“I know sis, I know,” I whisper.
“I just didn’t want to feel. I wanted to forget, just for a night. I didn’t want to be sad anymore.” I don’t say anything to her as I lean over to stroke her hair and wipe tears from her eyes. “It didn’t work, Gabby,” she stammers as she speaks. “I miss him so much and I got him killed.”
“Of course you didn’t,” I whisper and my heart breaks for her.
“I…I wasn’t fast enough. If I
had run faster; if I hadn’t try to get to Sam after he had been shot maybe Drew might be alive.”
“Don’t say that. You didn’t kill him. The British soldiers did.” I want her to hate them more than she hates herself but I know it won’t work. Her eyes drift shut as she falls asleep and I hear her mutter,
“Drew.”
Chapter 10: Miranda
The “day of reckoning” as they’re now calling it, was a brilliant day for the rebels, just not so good for me. I have been stuck in the east end for weeks. The rest of the rebels are out there fighting for our cause and I am not allowed to leave headquarters. I am a forty-year-old woman and my father can still tell me what to do. Maybe I need to stop thinking of him as my father since he hasn’t really been like one since I was little. He is my rebel commander and he has commanded me to stay put.
Apparently, the cameras in the tube station caught me putting the pack into the locker and the bomb experts have determined that’s where the explosion started. I can’t ever go back to my military post or walk the streets of London again.
I guess I was luckier than some of the other bombers that day. Two of them died with their targets. The man sent to one of the government buildings was caught by the guards while he was trying to leave. He was still being detained when the building went up in flames. One of the smaller targets was a city bus. There was a soldier on board who caught sight of the bomb and shot the rebel trying to set it off. The bus exploded while he was dying of his wounds.
“Do not mourn our fallen comrades,” my father said, “their deaths were heroic.” We are supposed to use their deaths to fuel the fire within ourselves. That’s what I would have done if I were to be allowed to fight. They would have had to kill me to make me stop coming at them. But no, I am stuck here, tending to the wounded.
Day of Reckoning (Dawn of Rebellion Series Book 2) Page 3