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by Trish Moran

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Zig had taken Ruby’s younger child, Zac, to the park while Ruby worked with Celia in the office. After playing for an hour he was back in his buggy, falling asleep. She decided to walk a different route back to the house.

  The Compound was bigger than she had first thought. There were several groups of small houses, the schoolhouse and play area, the community hall, the medical block, the research block, and the vegetable gardens. As she walked past them she saw a young man struggling to tie bamboo canes to runner bean plants. She stopped and smiled.

  ‘You need to make a tripod shape, that means the canes support each other,’ she said.

  He looked up and shrugged. ‘I was trying to follow this diagram, but I don’t seem to be ending up with the same shape.’

  ‘Here,’ she put the brake on the buggy and went to join him. ‘Put the first cane this way, and the next … here … then hold the third as you put the twine … here. There you are!’

  ‘You make it look so easy! Are you a gardener?’ the man asked her.

  She shook her head. ‘No, but I used to work with my granddad on his allotment when I was little. He grew all his own vegetables.’

  ‘You’re Zig, aren’t you? You came with Angus,’ the man said. He held out his hand. ‘I’m Bailey.’

  She shook his hand. ‘Are you the Compound gardener?’

  He gave a rueful smile, ‘Not really. I’m trying out different species of GM vegetables.’ He pointed to a low building bordering the vegetable garden. ‘They will be grown in there. The vegetables grown out here are the control version – the ones that haven’t been modified.’ He sighed. ‘But I think the sowing season will be over before I get these planted.’

  ‘I can give you a hand!’ Zig smiled. She gathered up a handful of canes. ‘Do you want these sown in lines along here?’

  ‘Yes, I have a plan here,’ he answered, holding out a crumpled piece of paper.

  ‘Let’s get going then!’ Zig said. ‘I’ll do the runner beans, you start on some of the other plants.’

  They worked alongside each other for an hour, talking only to ask for equipment or tools. Finally Zig looked at the buggy as Zac stirred.

  ‘Oh, I’d better get Zac back home. I think he’s ready for his lunch.’

  Bailey stood up and smiled. ‘Thanks so much, Zig. I wouldn’t have got this far without you.’

  ‘I’ve really enjoyed myself. Perhaps I could come tomorrow morning?’ she replied.

  ‘Would you?’ the young man beamed, ‘That would be really useful. At the rate I’m working at, I’m not going to get on to the research side of things at all!’ Over the next few days Zig and Bailey worked together each morning. After planting out the vegetables Bailey showed her around a greenhouse.

  ‘In this room they have propagated normally developing plants,’ he explained. He led her into the adjoining room. ‘This is my team. Here we are developing the same plants but with different characteristics than normal. For example, these plants are resistant to several common insects. Over here Freda is working on a method to accelerate the development of these plants, so we could actually have three crops per year.’

  ‘Wow!’ Zig commented. ‘But many people are against GM crops, aren’t they? They’re afraid that the stuff you do to the plants might not be good for us.’

  ‘No one has died from eating GM crops,’ he replied, ‘but many people around the world die from lack of food. We need to find ways to increase the world’s food production.’

  One afternoon Zig explained to Angus how she had been spending her mornings.

  ‘What’s up?’ she asked him as he sighed.

  ‘Nothing, just a bit tired, that’s all,’ he said.

  ‘Oh, sorry, love, and here am I chattering on and on.’ She got up and bent to kiss him, but her lips landed on his cheek as he turned his head away. ‘I … I’ll see you tomorrow, OK, love?’

  As she walked out of the room Adam and Abel were entering.

  ‘I think he’s a bit tired today,’ she told them.

  Angus sat up. ‘Hey, Adam, Abel! I’ve been thinking about our earlier ideas, Adam, the ones based on Takir’s research. If only I could get out of here and get started again! I had a new idea …’

  Adam gave her a withering smile. ‘Perhaps he’s just tired of certain company.’

  Zig bit her lip as the door closed behind her. She went back to work in the garden that evening. She was examining some of the plants and making notes when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her.

  ‘Ruby told me you were here,’ Adam said. He leaned over and read the notes she had made. He gave a short laugh. ‘Hmm – size of leaf, texture, colour. Very scientific observations, Zig.’

  She blushed and pulled the notebook to her. ‘I’m not the scientist, Bailey is. I just tell him what I see.’

  ‘Angus is moving to my house tomorrow. He’s joining a team of Labs from the Compound. You won’t be seeing him again.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Why don’t you face up to things? You’re just wasting your time around here. You don’t fit in. It’s time you moved on.’

  ‘I told you, I can speak to Zig myself!’ They both looked up as a voice shouted.

  ‘Angus?’ Zig stood up, turning her back on Adam.

  ‘Give us a few minutes, please, Adam.’ Angus waited for the older man to walk away. ‘I’m leaving tomorrow morning, Zig. It’s a great opportunity. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.’

  ‘So … you won’t be around much, then?’ Zig’s throat felt dry as he shook his head. His face was impassive as he turned to look at her.

  ‘Well, we knew this wasn’t going to last for ever, didn’t we, Zig?’

  Zig busied herself with a plant, pulling off the dead leaves. ‘Oh, I wasn’t planning on anything long-term … in fact, I was thinking I might be moving on myself soon.’

  ‘Yeah, I thought you might be. Well, I’d better go and sort out my things. Bye, Zig,’ he patted her shoulder.

  She kept her face turned away from him. ‘Bye, Angus.’

  Ruby found her sitting on the veranda later that evening. She sat down beside her.

  ‘Do you feel like talking?’ she asked her gently.

  Zig shrugged her shoulders, ‘I was thinking it’s time I moved out of here. Angus is OK now. And, well, things aren’t going any further with … us … so it’s probably best if I made a move now. Thanks so much for putting me up.’

  ‘It’s lovely having you here, Zig. What were you thinking of doing?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Maybe go to Edinburgh, maybe London,’ she shrugged again, ‘I’ve a few friends here and there.’

  ‘Wait until you have a clear idea of what you want to do. There’s no hurry. Don’t go just yet.’

  Zig began to cry softly. ‘I thought Angus loved me! I loved him, and he really needed me! I’ve never had anyone depend on me before. Now I’m back to being useless Zig. No education, no talents, good for nothing!’

  ‘Hey, that’s not true! You’re really good with the children. And Bailey said he wouldn’t have managed the vegetable garden without you.’

  She sighed and patted Zig’s arm, ‘I know a girl who was just like you – she felt she had no one in the world that cared about her, and no real future.’

  ‘What happened to her?’

  ‘Things didn’t look too good at first, but she eventually found her way and went on to prove herself to herself.’ There was silence for a while. ‘Though even now, at times something small can knock her back a bit, well, temporarily.’

  ‘Is she OK now?’ Zig asked.

  Ruby nodded. ‘She’s more than OK now!’ She looked at the forlorn figure beside her. ‘Stay here for a while, Zig. You’re just getting to know people and finding your feet. Angus is an ambitious young man. He doesn’t know what he’s capable of himself yet. And neither do you. Abel and I were talking the other evening. If you want to continue working with Bailey, you could make it into a full-ti
me paid job. You could even go to college if you wanted. There’s room in one of the houses with two Labs, you know Rachel who works in the medical wing? She’s looking for someone to share the rent with her and her friend. Why don’t you think about it for a day or two? And later this week an old friend of ours, Sakura, is coming to stay for a few days. Perhaps you’ve heard of her? She’s a Lab, married to the former US president’s son.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I saw her on TV playing with those two other Japanese women,’ Zig said. ‘I’m not really into classical music, but they were great!’

  ‘Yes, they are. She’s taking a break from music for the moment as she’s expecting her first baby soon. She’s coming here for a rest. We’re planning a picnic with some of my old friends, Non-Labs. You’ll enjoy it!’

  Zig was relieved to think she didn’t have to make a decision on her future straight away. It was also a huge relief to know she was really welcome – by some people at least – on the Compound. For the next few days she worked hard in the garden. Most afternoons Ginny came to see her after school, always quickly followed by her mother ready to take her to an activity.

  ‘Ginny! Your hands are muddy, and look at your shoes! You know we have to get to ballet in half an hour,’ Amanda said one afternoon.

  ‘Oh, Mum! Can’t I miss it just once? I want to help Zig plant out these beans,’ she said.

  ‘Perhaps you can help me tomorrow, you don’t have school on Saturday, do you?’ Zig suggested.

  ‘No, that won’t be possible, Ginny has lessons all morning and will be with her father for the remainder of the weekend,’ Amanda replied crisply.

  ‘Hey, you could come and join me and Dad and Angus; like before!’ Ginny interjected.

  Zig looked down. ‘No, Gin; that won’t really work anymore. I’ll see you next week, OK?’

  She watched the two of them walk away, Ginny turning to give a last wave. Zig gave a sigh.

  Bailey appeared carrying a tray of small plants and set them down beside her.

  ‘That woman could make problems for herself in the future if she doesn’t ease up with Ginny.’ He shook his head then looked at Zig. ‘And you need to ease up a bit too! Perhaps you’d like to join us this evening? We’re going bowling.’

  Zig smiled. ‘I’d like that, Bailey. Thanks.’

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  ‘Frankie, you spread the tablecloth out on the trestle table in the garden. Ginny, Grace, you carry these plates out, carefully now! Ness, can you manage the salad bowls?’ Eve Gardiner was readying everything for the picnic. ‘Delia, I think that’ll be enough bread; Ruby, are those sausages about ready?’

  ‘There’s enough food here to feed an army, Ruby!’ Delia laughed.

  ‘Well, Frankie, Grace, and Hugo all have good appetites, and my two are close behind them. Plus Ginny is staying with us for the weekend as both her parents are busy, and then there are the two girls from next door. That’s before we think about the adults!’

  ‘You just sit back, Sakura. You need a bit of spoiling.’ Eve handed her a cup and sat down beside her. ‘When is your baby due?’

  ‘The doctor thinks in about a month’s time,’ Sakura smiled, rubbing her swollen stomach.

  ‘How is uni going, Delia?’ Ruby asked her old schoolfriend.

  ‘The MA is really hard work, but I’m enjoying it.’ she replied.

  ‘Better than school, then?’ Ruby smiled.

  ‘Absolutely!’ Delia shook her head, ‘And they say they’re the best years of your life! It got worse when you left, though the sixth form wasn’t so bad. Once the glam girls had left!’

  ‘Rochelle and co!’ Ruby nodded.

  ‘We had our group of glam girls, too. They could make anyone’s life a misery.’ Zig nodded.

  ‘Those girls weren’t so bad at junior school, were they?’ Delia said. ‘Remember our camping trip in year five?’ She shrieked with laughter. ‘That canoe trip!’

  ‘And Mr Grogan fell in the river!’ Ruby added.

  ‘His face!’

  The two young women laughed and reminisced about happier early days.

  Sakura looked wistful. ‘It must be wonderful to have memories of yourself as a growing person.’

  ‘Yes, memories are important,’ Eve said. ‘Still, you will have lots of lovely memories of your children as they grow up.’

  A sudden shout from the children made them all look up. Ness and Ginny were standing and facing each other.

  ‘You just take that back!’ Ness shouted.

  ‘No! It’s true!’ Ginny shouted back.

  Ruby hurried down and stood between the two children.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Ginny called Maria from next door a …’ Ness began hesitantly.

  ‘A stupid Non-Lab!’ Ginny finished the sentence. ‘Well, she is, isn’t she?’

  ‘It’s OK, Ness; you go back to the others,’ Ruby said, taking Ginny to a quiet place in the garden.

  ‘You can’t say that, Ginny! First of all it’s very rude, and secondly it’s not true. Don’t forget, I’m a Non-Lab, and so are Zig and Mrs Gardiner. You don’t judge a person by their race!’

  ‘Yes, I know,’ Ginny looked down at the ground. ‘She just made me angry. My mum says I’m like a stupid Non-Lab when I make her angry.’

  Ruby bit back the comment that sprung into her mind: how dare Amanda, a Non-Lab herself, use the term in a derogatory way? She took a deep breath. ‘Look, why don’t you forget about who’s a Lab or a Non-Lab and just enjoy playing together as children? You might be surprised how much you can all enjoy yourselves.’

  ‘Hey! I could pretend to be a Non-Lab all day. And see what it feels like. That would really help me with my research into brains!’

  Ruby shook her head and sighed.

  ‘Well, first of all, you must apologise to Maria.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘And mean it!’

  Ginny’s brow furrowed as she looked over at Zig chatting happily to Sakura and the other adults. ‘OK. I do mean it, Ruby. I know there are a lot of nice Non-Labs. You’re really lovely!’

  Ruby watched her walk up to the girl and talk to her. Hugo stood by as Ginny apologised, then picked up a ball and followed her.

  He glanced around and whispered to her. ‘You had to apologise; but you know what you said is true, don’t you? We know that Labs and Hybrids are superior in intelligence. We are the future! One day we’ll show them, Ginny! People like you, me, Ethan, and Mariella. For the moment we have to play along.’ He turned back to the others with a smile and soon had a game arranged involving all of them as Ginny stood with a puzzled look on her face.

  ‘Are you three ready for bed?’ Ruby called up to Ginny and the other girls. ‘Frankie has the story to read to you before you go to sleep.’

  ‘Ready!’ Grace called back, climbing into bed. ‘Frankie promised to finish the Froggy story tonight.’

  Ruby appeared in the doorway, holding a sleepy Zac. Frankie came up behind her with a brightly covered book.

  ‘All ready to see what happens to Froggy?’ he smiled.

  ‘He’ll get free!’ Ness’s eyes shone. ‘He always does!’

  ‘Don’t you want to hear the story, Ginny?’ Ruby asked her.

  ‘I have my own book here,’ she replied.

  ‘Not the brain one again!’ groaned Ness.

  Ruby’s eyes widened as she looked through Ginny’s book.

  ‘Pretty heavy stuff for bedtime reading, love! Is this what you read with your mum before you sleep?’

  ‘Not always. Sometimes she tests me on my French vocabulary or some maths formulae,’ Ginny said.

  Ruby tried to hide her astonishment. ‘Well, if you want to listen to the story tonight you might enjoy it.’

  ‘Read, Frankie!’ Ness urged. ‘How does Froggy escape from the wicked Lizard Lords?’

  Ruby sat with the baby falling asleep in her arms. She watched as slowly Ginny became more interested in Froggy’s adventures and her own heavy book s
lid from her hands. By the end of the story all three girls were wide-eyed as they heard how the brave-hearted amphibian escaped from the clutches of the tyrant lizards.

  ‘Those lizards were really mean!’ Ginny commented as Frankie closed the book.

  ‘But Froggy’s so clever; he always gets away!’ smiled Ness.

  Ruby leaned down to kiss the girls good night.

  ‘Being a Non-Lab can be quite fun sometimes, can’t it?’ Ginny murmured to her sleepily.

  Once all the children were asleep Ruby sat down with Sakura and Zig.

  ‘Tired?’ she asked as Sakura rubbed her stomach.

  ‘Yes, but I have enjoyed the day with your friends. They are very kind.’ Sakura smiled.

  ‘Are Simon’s parents getting used to you?’ Ruby asked.

  ‘His father is a bit more welcoming, but his mother still resents me,’ Sakura sighed. ‘I hoped when we told them I was pregnant that they would be pleased – but sometimes I catch her looking at me as if I am expecting a monster. She still holds me responsible for Simon joining a special department involved with Labs in the New York Police Department, although it was entirely his own decision to work with them. And now Zig has been telling me about the Independent Lab groups. Wait until this becomes public knowledge!’

  Ruby nodded. ‘Yes, we don’t know enough about them yet. Abel thinks it’s better if it’s kept out of the news for the moment at least. We are trying to get in touch with some of the groups, build up some links with them.’

  ‘I think that is for the best, though I’m sure there must be Independent Labs going through the same ordeal of finding a place to fit in as we did not so long ago,’ Sakura sighed. ‘Once I found out I was pregnant I had dreams of doting grandparents. I want my baby to have happy childhood memories. All those memories you have. I envy you!’

  ‘Maybe when the baby is born things will get better,’ Ruby suggested. ‘Everyone loves babies!’

  ‘And not all childhood memories are good ones,’ Zig said.

  ‘You must have some good ones,’ Sakura prompted her.

  ‘Oh, yeah; stuff I did with my mum. But when she died … nothing good after that. My dad was usually drunk; I bunked off school, got into trouble.’ She pointed to her eye patch. ‘It was only when this happened that I came to my senses.’