The House Next Door Trilogy (Books 1-3)

by Jule Owen

  Beyond the hall is the hospital or clinic. It has twenty beds, most of which are never used, and a permanent staff of four, including two qualified doctors, one a former eminent London surgeon. They have the latest equipment and techniques available to them. Everyone in Elgol has a medibot, but it is not hooked-up to the Panacea system. Like all of their networks, they are unique and fairly private. Also on this flat plateau, beyond the hospital and the other public buildings, are the hydroponics buildings, vast warehouses covered in solar panels, full of tanks of plants and fish that the whole community takes turns to maintain.

  The Panacea men, Littlemore and Ludewig, are in the Elgol hall office, sitting with Craig Buchanan and Isla Kier, when Mathew, Isaac and Ju Shen enter. Isla is saying, “I own this land and Craig is the democratically elected mayor and head of our council. We have agreed for the time being that Isaac will be ward of the Elgol community. We are fully willing to take responsibility for his education, his shelter, food, all healthcare costs associated with his injury and his ordinary everyday health. Our lawyer drew this up, Mr. Littlemore,” Isla shares a document with the guard and projects it on a wall for everyone to see. “It absolves Panacea of any responsibility and you and your companion personally. I hope all of this satisfies you.”

  “We’ll need to get our lawyers to look at it. There was another matter,” Littlemore says. “Concerning the Erlang boy.”

  “This is the contract you want him to sign regarding his mother?” Buchanan says.

  Littlemore nods.

  “He won’t be signing,” Ju Shen snaps.

  Isla glances across at Ju Shen and says, “Ju is Mathew’s legal guardian, next of kin of the deceased and executor of her will. Our community legal team will be supporting her.”

  Littlemore looks uncomfortable. He spent the night in the community bunkhouse, an unnerving place full of students, hippies and radicals. The communal canteen was not much better. He is out of his depth with the Kier woman and Buchanan and is keen to be away and out on the road again. He stands and Ludewig follows his lead. “Head office will be contacting you,” he says.

  “We’ll look forward to it,” Isla says, smiling brightly. “Craig, I wonder if you would be so kind as to show these gentlemen the way back to their car. We have taken the liberty of recharging your vehicle,” she says. “I hope you don’t mind. We didn’t want you detained here any longer than necessary.” She puts out her hand for Littlemore and Ludewig to shake in turn and watches them leave.

  “I won’t sign that document,” Ju Shen says, when they have left.

  “Well, of course you won’t,” Isla replies. “But you shouldn’t tell them that.”

  “Did you mean what you said about using your legal team?”

  “Of course. If you send me the contract they gave you, Mathew, I’ll have them look at it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Pleasure. Really,” she says. Looking at Isaac, “Now, young man, I believe you have an appointment with Dr Hucks. Do you mind if I walk you to the door?”

  In fact, when Isaac arrives at the clinic, he is greeted by the entire medical staff, Dr Hucks, Dr Elders and the nurses Jim Dove and Ella Rubinsky. He is taken into an examination room.

  “We’ll come and fetch you later, Isaac,” Ju Shen says.

  Dr Hucks helps Isaac climb onto the examination table. “Can I take the dressing off?” he asks.

  Isaac nods.

  “Do you have any pain?”

  “Yes.”

  Jim Dove, who is scanning Isaac with a reader, says, “He’s clean. He doesn’t have a biochip or a medibot.”

  Dr Elders sucks in his breath though his teeth. “So he’s not getting any painkillers.” The medical people look at Isaac. “You’re a brave young man,” the doctor says.

  “We should sort the pain out, pronto,” says Jim.

  Dr Hucks nods, “Ella, can you prepare a medibot for Isaac? I think the sooner we get it in him the better.” Ella Rubinsky goes to a white surface at the side of the room and starts to work.

  “So let’s take a look at this…” Dr Hucks loosens the tape matted in Isaac's hair and stuck firm to his cheek. He uses some small scissors to cut it away and removes the dressing. “There,” he says. With his good eye, Isaac is watching the doctor’s face closely. He doesn’t flinch like everyone else has. He leans in and peers closer. “Fascinating. The doctor who helped you with this has done a tolerable job. They were pretty primitive conditions, I understand.” Isaac’s right eye strains to look at the doctor. “Right. Good. Want to see, Elders?” Hucks steps back to let the younger doctor take a look. She smiles at Isaac as she leans in. “What do you think?” Hucks asks her.

  “I think it’s doable,” she says.

  “We’ll need to gather some retinal cells.”

  “He still has one good eye.”

  “What is the risk to that, do you think?”

  “Negligible. We’ll take our time and be careful.”

  Isaac sits jacked-up on the edge of an examination plinth looking at the adults surrounding him with ever greater worry.

  “I think we’re confusing him,” Dr Elders says.

  “Yes, of course. You’re right. We should explain,” Dr Hucks says. “Do you want to?”

  Ella Rubinsky comes over from where she is working, looks impatiently at Dr Hucks and says, “Isaac, we’re going to grow you a new eye.”

  “It will be like your old one,” Dr Elders says. “The same colour. No one will be able to tell the difference.”

  “Except, if you’d like, we’ll make it better than it was,” Dr Hucks says.

  “Better,” Isaac says. “A whole new eye?”

  All four medical people nod.

  “Wow.”

  “You can come in and see it grow.”

  “For real?”

  “Yes, for real.”

  “How will it be better than before?”

  “It will do what Lenzes do for you. You know, see in the dark. See a long way if you choose to. Even connect to the Nexus. Would you like that?”

  Isaac nods enthusiastically. “So I would be superhuman?”

  “Exactly!” Dr Hucks says, grinning.

  “We will need you to come in again and have a small operation, so that we can get the cells we need to start to grow your eye.”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “Not at all. You will go to sleep for a few hours, and then, before you know it, you’ll be awake and we can start work on your eye.”

  Ella says, “Isaac, I’m going to insert a biochip now. It’s not like the ones most people have. Only the people here will be able to see your data if you ask them to. What it will do is give you pain relief pretty immediately. Are you okay for me to carry on?”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “It will sting for a second but then your eye won’t hurt so much.”

  Isaac says, “Okay.”

  Ella injects the chip in the back of Isaac's neck.

  The two doctors and two nurses watch him, waiting for it to work its way into his bloodstream. Ella is checking the data coming back from the chip on a handheld Paper. Suddenly she smiles, “It’s active,” she says. “Isaac, you should start to feel better in a few minutes.”

  Dr Hucks says, “Shall we dress this wound?”

  Jim Dove says, “How about a black patch, like a pirate?”

  Isaac grins.

  17 Hack

  Aiden Fitzackerly is an Elgol technologist who, years before, had worked for the multinational StyX. Thirty-seven years old, red-haired, freckled, roguishly handsome. He has a thick Scouse accent and is never to be seen out of cowboy boots and a Stetson. He is working in one of the advisory huts now, being paid for his time and efforts in barter goods.

  “Dun blink,” he says.

  “Sorry?” Mathew says.

  “Dun blink,” Aiden repeats, blinking his own eyes to demonstrate.

  “Oh, you mean don’t blink?”

  “That’s what I sai
d.” Aidan bends over Mathew once again with the eye scanner. “Did yous say yous ’ad Lenz before?”

  “What?”

  “Na mind,” Aiden says, shaking his head. “I'm go'n ter graft yous X-Eyte. Okay? Er me version o' it.”

  Mathew nods and smiles, not understanding a word.

  The door behind them opens. In a burst of light, Ju Shen slinks in.

  “Ariite Ju?” Aidan says.

  “Hi Aiden,” Ju Shen says.

  “Sit down if yous like,” he says. “We're nearly boxed off.”

  Ju Shen perches on the edge of a table. “Thanks for working on a Sunday.”

  “Yer ariite.”

  “Do you have any e-Pinz?” Ju asks.

  “Yous don't want e-Pinz. Dee won't weerk wi' de X-Eyte. Yous need Studz.”

  Ju Shen doesn’t seem to have any problem understanding Aiden. Mathew is amazed. “Whatever you think is best.”

  “It'll cost yous. We 'uv ter buy de template ter print dem wi money.”

  “How much?”

  “Three months’ goat’s milk.”

  “Robbery!”

  “Two dun and a packet o' rocket a week,” Aiden reaches out to shake her hand with a cheeky grin.

  Ju Shen rolls her eyes and shakes his hands. “You are a petty criminal!”

  “Nah! I’m an 'onest feller.”

  ‘Where’s Lea?” Mathew’s grandmother asks.

  “In de back. Why?”

  “Mat wants to ask favour.”

  “Oh, a faver is it?”

  “To help some people being starved by the government,” Mathew says.

  “Why didn’t yous say?” Aidan puts down his eye scanner and leans back to push open a door behind him with his fingertips, still perched on his stool. “Lea? Ay yous in thuz?” He lets the door go. “We're done. She's in de back. Yer tinnie bowl through if yous want.”

  “What?”

  “You can go through,” Ju says.

  “Did he say ‘she’?” Mathew is confused. Aidan holds the door for him and then lets it swing shut behind him as he passes into the room beyond.

  The room is dimly lit. The blinds on the windows are pulled down. Most of the light is coming from a large tabletop screen at the back. Someone is bent over it, deep in concentration; their hands are moving across the surface with lightning speed. It reminds Mathew of Clara playing.

  After a while the figure notices Mathew standing watching, and looks up: A girl, thirteen, perhaps fourteen, with red hair like her father, cut short in an elfin ruffled mess. She has a pointy chin and ears, and looks for all the world like a bad fairy.

  “Yes?” she says. She doesn’t have her father’s accent, Mathew notes with relief.

  “I’m Mathew. Mathew Erlang. I’m looking for someone. I thought they were in here, but…” There is no one else in the room. “Strange, my grandmother said…”

  Lea cuts him off, “Who are you looking for? If you tell me, then maybe I can point you in the right direction.”

  “Right. Well, I don’t actually know their name.”

  “Okay. What do they look like?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Interesting. Who exactly did your grandmother tell you was in here?”

  “The person who could help me.”

  The girl peers forward, her eyes sweeping over Mathew. “You’re Ju Shen’s grandson.”

  “Yes.”

  “Now it makes sense.”

  “It does?”

  “Yes. I think you are looking for me.”

  “I’m looking for a hacker. I am looking for the Lich King.”

  The girl laughs. “I get it, you thought I was a bloke.” She shakes her head. “Another guy who can’t cope with the idea that a thirteen-year-old girl is a more able technician than he is. I’m Wooden Soldier to your Tin Drum. I’m No Right Turn. You are Hard Shoulder. You are The Conjurer. I am Ship of Fools. You are Missile Crisis. I am Cold War. You are Burning Crusade, I am the Lich King. Otherwise known as Leah Fitzackerly, but only ever in Elgol and never on the Blackweb. Lea to family and friends, but we’ll have to see about what you call me, yet.”

  “Wow,” Mathew says.

  “I’m so glad I spent all those hours helping out such a grateful person. And you said you want more help?”

  “Not for me. For a town called Amach.”

  “A whole town?”

  “A town with a mysterious sleeping sickness that the government is so keen the world doesn’t know about, it’s prepared to let them starve.”

  Lea narrows her eyes. “Okay. You have me.” She stands and pulls over a chair for Mathew to sit in, returns to her seat and once she is settled says, “Tell me more.”

  Mathew tells Lea the story of what happened on the motorway, their escape to the house in the flooded field and what they found in the nearby town.

  “I’ve sent messages to the friends and family they wanted me to contact but I want the whole world to know about it. I thought you would know how to make the biggest stink on the Blackweb, get Psychopomp to pick it up.”

  “We should defo get Psychopomp onto it, but I think we can do more than that. You need to tell me everything, absolutely every detail.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  There’s a knock on the door and Ju Shen pokes her head around. “Are you going to be here a while?” she asks Mathew.

  Mathew glances at Lea, “Yes, I think so, why?”

  “I’m going over to the clinic to pick Isaac up.”

  Mathew looks guilty, “Do you want me to come with you?”

  “No, no. I’m sure whatever you are doing here is important, otherwise Lea would have thrown you out by now.”

  Lea grins. “Hi Mrs. Shen,” she says.

  “Hi Lea. Mathew, I’ll meet you in the cafe at,” she checks the time in her Lenz, “eleven? Lea, can you point him in the right direction or join us for a smoothie, if you like?”

  “Sounds good!” Lea says.

  An hour later, after Lea has recorded Mathew’s thoughts and memories of Amach, they go outside for a walk in the winter sunshine and fresh air. They walk along the wide road that separates the two rows of shops and community buildings. Beyond the plateau they stand on, the forested hillsides and mountains loom against the sky. Turning in the other direction, they look down into the valley and the sea beyond. On the wooden veranda outside the hall, there’s a group of people standing talking. They stare at Lea and Mathew as they pass. One calls out, “Afternoon Lea, who have you got there? It that Ju Shen’s grandson?”

  Mathew recognises the woman speaking. He waves to her.

  “They’re worried,” Lea says. They stand in the road, facing the group of adults.

  “About what?”

  “Cadmus Silverwood.”

  “He’s coming, isn’t he? My grandmother told me.”

  “Should be here this afternoon. There’ll be a big party in the hall tonight to welcome him.”

  “Why are they worried?”

  “Because of what he might bring with him. He’s watched constantly. The people here are worried that the whole town will be under surveillance. They are worried that Cadmus and therefore the rest of us will effectively be under house arrest. It is impossible for him. This place is his home. He is isolated in London. He is an old man and he wants to come home to rest, but if he does he makes problems for the rest of us. There are many people here who would like to be forgotten by the government.”

  They start walking again. She asks, “Have you thought about sharing that stuff we found on Panacea? About the bio weapons. It sounds like it might be connected to what you found out at Amach?”

  Mathew’s face freezes, “I can’t. Hoshi Mori, that woman I asked you to investigate, she was my mother. She died, Lea.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Did my grandmother tell you?”

  “No, I realised after I heard about Ju Shen’s daughter dying. But by publishing that stuff, you might prevent other deaths.�
��

  Mathew says as he looks around, “Let me think about it?”

  Lea nods, “The cafe’s here.”

  They climb some steps leading to a wooden walkway that runs the length of the shops. There’s a picture window with a chalkboard outside, advertising the day’s specials. Inside, a large room is split in two. Half of it is closed and dark, with chairs stacked on tables; the other half is open. There are a handful of customers, including Ju Shen and Isaac. Mathew and Lea go over to them and take a seat.

  Isaac and Lea eye each other curiously and suspiciously as Ju Shen introduces them. A real-life human waiter comes over and takes their order and five minutes later smoothies with real ingredients appear for Lea, Mathew and Isaac.

  “I love these,” Lea says, coming up for air from her green cocktail.

  “The kale comes from my polytunnel,” Ju Shen says.

  “Does it really?” Lea is impressed.

  “What do you think of yours?” Ju Shen asks Isaac.

  Isaac has a raspberry and ice-cream shake. “It’s so good,” Isaac says. “Is it real fruit and real cream?”

  “Yep.”

  Isaac's eye is wide with amazement.

  “How long have you lived here, Lea?” Mathew asks.

  “About two years.”

  “Your Dad has a strange accent.”

  Lea smiles, “He’s from Liverpool. That’s where I was born. You know, the whole place flooded. It’s so flat and low. We moved to Manchester, when Dad still worked for StyX. But he saved and a plot came up for sale here. After my mother died, he wanted to get me away from cities and people, the leaches and the old way.”

  “Your mother is dead?” Three motherless children.

  “It’s a bit of an epidemic around here isn’t it?” Lea smiles sadly. “I have my Dad. I’m lucky.”

  “What are the leaches?” Isaac asks.

  “They’re the men in suits, the ones that make the laws, that run the corporates, that bleed the rest of us dry,” Lea says. “They’re the ones who killed our parents.”

  “A gang killed my parents,” Isaac says. “They weren’t wearing suits. They were kids in hoodies and jeans.”

  “But why did they kill your parents?”