UK2

by Terry Tyler

  We can't hear them, either.

  Nothing.

  Suddenly the night is peaceful and silent, and I can almost hear our hearts beating.

  An owl screeches.

  I can smell the water, hear the waves lapping in the distance.

  "Down," Jez says. "Down the steps, now."

  We clatter down, just as I hear the van heading our way. Fast.

  "Back!" shrieks Mac, and we scuttle back to the side of the road, away from the barricade.

  Boom!

  They've done it. They've crashed into the wall. And it's hardly moved.

  Crack. Thud. I hear wooden panels break, and fall. And then a few screams.

  "Fucking hell," says Mac.

  "They could be seriously injured," Ruby says. "We can't just leave them."

  "Yeah, we can," says Dan, rubbing his shoulder. "They can lie there and die in agony for all I care."

  "Let's take a look," Parks says.

  We hare back up the steps and look over; the spotlight has broken off but Parks shines his torch down; we all do the same.

  We wait.

  There's movement inside, and then van's side door opens and four get out, holding up their hands. One of them is staggering; I'm guessing it's the one who got shot.

  "Don't shoot!" shouts one of them.

  Mac leans over. "Anyone seriously hurt?"

  "What, apart from the one you shot?" He pauses, takes a look in the driver's side. "Rich ain't moving, and Jonas is fucked."

  "Drop your weapons, where we can see them," Parks shouts, and he and Jez go back down and raise the panel that lets vehicles through; up here, the four of us keep our guns on them.

  I'm so hyped up; in situations like this you can't let your guard down for a minute, 'cause you never know what sort of trick some idiot might pull.

  We stand in total silence and watch them inch the van doors open; the vehicle is buckled in front. Parks keeps his gun on them and Jez gets in and pulls out the driver who looks kind of dead. Then he gets back in and leans over to the passenger seat; after a minute or so he leans his head out and shouts up.

  "Aye, driver's had it, Jonas is a mess, but I don't reckon he's badly hurt, he's still conscious an' he told me to fuck off when I moved his limbs; can't be broke if he can feel them."

  Parks gathers up their weapons and chucks them in through our side. Result!

  "We're not taking them in," Dan shouts.

  "Well, what are we going to do, then?" says Ruby. "Leave the driver to rot and Jonas to die of his wounds?"

  "It's 'cause of him that Ash was killed," Mac says.

  "Yeah, but you can't just leave injured people," says Ruby. "It's not human."

  "Fuck 'em," says Dan. "If you go about driving your van into solid brick walls you can't expect to stay healthy."

  I agree with Ruby, but for once I'm keeping my mouth shut. I don't want them to think we're silly girlies who want to show mercy to mates of the retards who got our people killed.

  I make myself think about poor little Rosie, sitting in the road crying because her dad was lying dead from stab wounds. Dan's right. Fuck 'em.

  We shut up, and listen.

  Jez gets out of the van. "You got medical shit where you are?"

  "Yeah," one of them says. He's still got his hands in the air, and looks up at the four of us; he raises them higher. "Like, bandages and antibiotics and drips an' that."

  "Right." Jez walks back through to our side, gets in a car and drives it through. He gets out and chucks the keys to Hands Up Guy, who doesn't catch them but bends down to pick them up from the ground with one of his hands still in the air.

  "Don't know how much petrol's in it, but you can siphon your own. Tube in the boot."

  "But that's just one car. There's six of us."

  Jez goes to take another look at Jonas, then at the driver.

  "This poor shite can go in the boot. You'll work it out."

  They lift the body and carry him over, and then attend to Jonas. Mac shines his beam onto him. Fucking hell. Yes, he's a mess. As well as looking like a filthy mountain man, he's covered in blood. He's moving, though, and swearing his head off when they help him out of the van.

  Jez and Parks stand in silence, waiting for them to siphon the petrol and load themselves into the car.

  We think they're all done, but as soon as they feel safe, Hands Up Guy gets a bit brave and makes a last stand.

  He leans out of the car. "This ain't finished!"

  "Yeah, it is," Dan shouts.

  "Nah, don't you get cocky—we'll be coming back, you just wait!"

  "Aye, we're shaking in w'boots!" calls Mac.

  "Well, y'should be!"

  The one who Parks shot in the shin leans out of the other side and gives us the finger and a last torrent of abuse, then they turn the car round and drive away.

  Jez kicks at the mashed up van, and looks up. "We'll deal with this heap o'junk the morra. Best get locked up now, 'fore the tide comes in."

  The next shift arrives; the guys tell them what's gone down. Ruby lights a cigarette and wanders over to me.

  "Pretty heavy stuff, huh?" she says.

  I laugh. "Yeah." But I don't feel shaken up. Ruby doesn't seem to, either.

  We're harder now, you see.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Flora

  November 2026

  UK Central

  I'm so happy and excited!

  If only my parents were here, my life would be perfect. I hope they're looking down on me, and are pleased that everything has worked out—Daddy always said that lovely things would happen to me because I was good and kind. I don't think I am, especially, but I do try, so I hope I deserve all I have now.

  My dream has come true. I am going to be a mother!

  Chester and I knew we were in love by the second night we were together, and we went to Alex and Erika the next morning to say that we wanted to have our binding partnership ceremony immediately. I know it's old fashioned, but I wanted us to be man and wife before I became pregnant, and Chester understood this. They don't call it marriage here at Central and there is no religious blessing, which is a bit disappointing, but at the ceremony I became Mrs Flora Odenkirk.

  I invited all my closest friends, and it was just the most perfect afternoon.

  Naomi and Suzanne are a bit funny about me taking Chester's name; they say it's archaic. Suzanne says Flora Odenkirk sounds like a rich woman from the Deep South in the 19th century, whose husband owns a cotton plantation. Well, I bet Naomi would take Dex's name if she could. Naomi Northam sounds much sillier than Flora Odenkirk, which I happen to think is quite grand.

  I became pregnant straight away, and everyone is over the moon and making such a fuss of us. I recently had my ten-week scan to find out the sex; I'd hoped for a daughter but Chester is thrilled that he's going to have a son. He will be called Harlan, after Chester's father. I am not madly keen on that, but I understand that I'm carrying Mr and Mrs Odenkirk's first grandson, so it's not about what I want. I never imagined myself having a child called Harlan Odenkirk, though. I would have liked a more English name. But I don't think I should say that to Chester.

  I did tell Dex. What he said really made me think.

  "But this isn't England any more, Flora. It's UK2. 'England' is actually an imaginary concept; it's just a land mass that was, for a time, named for the Angles, a Germanic tribe who settled here some time in the Dark Ages. Now, that land mass is something different. In its new incarnation, it's UK2. We're about the future, not the past."

  "I still want to be English, though," I said.

  He smiled, and put his arm around me. "And you are. But UK2 isn't. Like all the states rising from the ashes of bat fever, it's multi-cultural. You will bring to it your Englishness. Some, like Erika and Chester, their US culture. This merging of all nations into a new world order with one central government couldn't have happened before, because the human animal is territorial, but perhaps the survivors can
cast off outdated prejudices now, be glad for the chance to live and work together, and the multi-cultural ideal can at last be realised."

  I'm not too sure about this, because I was brought up to be proud of my country, but I can see what Dex means about this island only being 'England' because some ancient kings said it was. It's a funny concept to grasp. I told Chester, and he just said, "Hey, you're all American now!" I don't think he understood.

  Anyway, the baby! The best thing of all is that morning sickness has been minimal; I dreaded being like my mother. I used to long and long for a sister, but Daddy said Mummy had such a dreadful time with me that she couldn't face going through it again. He sounded really sad when he told me that. He said he would have loved a son, but Mummy couldn't bear being sick, and she hated not being able to get into her pretty dresses with the tiny waists, so it never happened.

  I've just slipped into the second trimester, and Chester, Erika and the doctors say I'm blooming. I thought Chester would have to go out to work doing something like security or building work, like most of the men here, but Alex says no, because we are their 'poster couple', and our main job is promoting the Juno Initiative. So Chester just does a little admin work for Alex, and the rest of the time we give presentations to new arrivals and help new recruits find suitable mates.

  I love my life. Honestly, in Central you wouldn't even know that horrible virus ever happened. It's like a bad dream that's all over. Everywhere is so clean, and there is enough to eat—I admit, I do get special preferences because I am carrying the future of humankind! The Juno flats are warm, the water comes out of a tap (such luxury!), and we have films, and books; I want for nothing.

  I do get a bit tired in the evenings, so when Chester pops out for a beer, I breathe a sigh of relief, take off my make-up, get into my pyjamas and read in bed.

  I hope my parents, up in Heaven, can see that we will be just as happy as they were. Chester says if we were still back in the old world we would have had a proper wedding, and a wonderful reception with a sit-down banquet for two hundred. And confetti. I would have loved confetti.

  There are loads more people here now, around seven or eight thousand, I think. The communities south of London have all been cleared, with only the rebels left—small groups of Outliers who go into hiding rather than come here. Dex says it's important for everyone to understand that law and order is back. The recruitment teams take tours round areas where there are suspected hideouts; Dex told me that some groups live like animals and will stop at nothing to survive out in the wild.

  "Practices too diabolical to mention," he said, and shuddered, visibly. He wouldn't tell me what he meant, but his words made me glad we have such a good perimeter guard. I think of Lottie and Vicky on Lindisfarne, and hope they won't have to resort to any diabolical practices.

  The Juno Initiative has taken off in a big way, and the second block is being built on the Juno complex. It's not quite as nice as the first one as it has smaller apartments, but it's still better than living in the Rez Zones. Alex, Erika and I study the psych and medical evaluations of new arrivals. They give me a pile and tell me to look through for any possibles. We get any that meet the criteria together and give a presentation; it's lovely standing there with Chester, showing them how happy we are. We base our presentation on what Erika and Alex said to me on that first day. Afterwards, Chester and I book in one-on-ones with anyone who wants to sign up.

  This afternoon I meet Bronte, who was living in a community in Essex.

  "They found us just in time," she tells me. "It was getting harder and harder to find enough food for everyone. We grew stuff outside, but it kept getting stolen by random travellers. Fights broke out, people would steal from each other, it was all going to hell. I had a friend who got his jaw broken over a tin of potatoes." She looks really nervous and unhappy. "I did okay because our room had a lock on it and my boyfriend was a big guy, but some people were starving."

  "And is your boyfriend not with you?" I ask, in a gentle voice that I've practised.

  "He wouldn't come. He thought it sounded dodgy." She starts to cry, and I feel so sorry for her. "I didn't care. I'd had enough."

  I pass her a tissue. "I know what you mean. I couldn't get here fast enough!" She smiles at that. "You've made the right decision. So, what made you sign up for the Juno Initiative?"

  Her eyes don't meet mine. "Well, you get a nice flat, don't you? And plenty of food. And I'm lonely. I miss Ben."

  She cries again, and I take her hand. I don't know that she's emotionally stable enough to have a baby, but Erika said she's a prime candidate because of her age, weight and regular menstrual cycle, so I've got to get her paired up.

  "What sort of partner are you looking for?"

  "Dunno. Just someone nice."

  "Well, have you always wanted to have children?"

  She wipes her eyes. "I don't know. I'm only twenty-one. But yeah, I suppose I always thought I would, one day." Then she frowns, and sort of peers at me, like she's studying me. "You're pregnant, right?"

  I smile, and touch my stomach. I can't help it, my mouth curves up every time I think of my baby, growing in there. "I most certainly am; thirteen weeks!"

  "You feel okay? It's safe, to be pregnant here?"

  "Absolutely, I've never felt healthier!"

  "And your partner? You're happy with him, even though he was selected for you?"

  I take her hand. "Chester is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I think we'd have fallen in love and got married, wherever and whenever we met."

  "That's nice." She looks hopeful. "So, do you think I might meet someone like him?" Her cheeks go pink. "I mean, you're so bright and pretty, I bet all the fellas would choose you. But will anyone want me?"

  I feel sad for her. Bronte is, I'll be honest, a bit plain. She's got dull brown, stringy hair, and a long nose. She has thick legs and wide hips, with a small waist and an almost flat chest, and sloping shoulders. I could do so much with her, though. Makeover time!

  "You'll feel much better with a bit of make-up and some nice clothes," I say. "And what really matters is what you're like on the inside."

  She pulls her hands away from mine. "So you're saying I'm ugly?"

  Oh dear. I got that wrong. "No, of course not! But I'm nothing special; my hair hasn't got enough body and I've always wanted to be taller. None of us are perfect, are we? What matters is that you have love to give, to a partner and a child. Because we're special, Bronte. We've been chosen to ensure the future of this country. The future of our species—isn't that more important than the shape of your nose?"

  She frowns. "What's wrong with my nose?"

  Oh dear, oh dear. "I didn't mean your nose! I mean anyone's nose, or ears, or mouth, or whatever!" She doesn't look convinced, so I get my folder out. "Tell you what, shall we look at some of the lovely guys I've selected for you? Come on, it'll be fun."

  She sniffs. "Sounds like online dating. I used to be on PrivateDate, and it was awful. The only men who wanted to meet me were creeps and liars."

  I stop, and put my hand on hers again. "Yes, but these aren't after one night hook-ups. They want to be part of the Juno Initiative. They're looking for a binding partnership." I stress those words, though I don't think it would be too much of a tragedy if she does back out. We've got more girls than boys.

  I open the folder, and the first one is Zack, who is almost as good-looking as Chester. Erika tells me to put him on the top of everyone's selection so the girls will think they're all going to be like him. It does seem a bit dishonest.

  "I'll take him. Don't need to look any further!" Bronte perks up all of a sudden. I laugh, but I need to keep it real, Alex said.

  "Well, if you're interested in Zack—and you need to read his bio first, to make sure you're compatible—I'll add you to his list."

  "Add me to his list?" Her face falls again. "I thought we got to choose."

  "You do," I say, "but other girls have expressed an interest in Zack;
he's going to make a decision soon, after he's met you all." The truth is that every single girl has selected him.

  "Okay," she says, quite brightly, and carries on flicking through. I watch her expression change. By the end there are some that Alex suspects are only there 'to get laid'.

  "But surely they have to abide by the terms of the Juno contract?" I asked him.

  "Indeed they do. If any Junos shirk their responsibilities, we'll get them back on track, don't you worry about that."

  Bronte doesn't show much interest in any of the profiles, and I'm scared she's set her heart on Zack, but she stops near the end.

  "Him." It's Nish, from Lindisfarne. She taps on his photo. "I'll take him."

  "Really? That's great!"

  "Well, Indians, it's all about family, isn't it? I remember these Indian lads at school, they were really, like, polite and respectful. He'll be good to me."

  "It's a great choice." It is. I don't know anything about Indian boys, because Nish is the only one I've ever met, but he's lovely. I've been worried about finding a mate for him because no Indian girls have signed up, and no others have shown any interest in him. I don't think they're being racist, because everyone knows that's wrong; he's quite good-looking, too, so it must be a religious thing, because he's put 'Hindu' in the 'religion' box. Most people put 'none', which I find very sad. A few of the boys put silly things like 'Whovian' or 'Gamer'.

  After Bronte has gone I go to see Alex, who is very pleased with me; we set up a meeting for Bronte and Nish, the very next day.

  "Do me a favour, love," he says. "Get her to wash her hair, show her a bit of blusher and lippy. And I'll get Chester to help Nish make himself look like something approaching every woman's dream."

  After Nish and Bronte's introduction, which went very well indeed, I nip to the Supplies Zone to get a few necessary household items, and bump into Davina and Paul, with Julie.

  Paul's just finished work on the site for the new Juno block, and was there to meet Davina and Julie, who've just finished their shifts inside. I beam at them, and put my hand to my stomach. Erika says I should always do this to remind everyone that I'm UK Central's first Juno mother.