by Eliza Green
Ben passed by refugees from West, North and South wandering around Central Square, carrying bags of clothes under their arms. The school entrance had been barricaded, and resident volunteers stood guard to stop new refugees from entering. Ben had helped Sal and Albert all night to prepare for more people, even though the life support barely supported the people already there.
With Isobel and Albert out meeting Jenny Waterson, and Sal in the school helping out, Ben and Kevin returned to the tavern to open up. But the trade was non-existent, due to the refugee crisis that took precedence.
That afternoon, Ben asked Kevin to keep an eye on things while he grabbed some stock from the storeroom. But when he came out, Kevin was gone.
He was sick of his stepbrother’s disappearing act. He dropped the stock on the counter and asked Sofia to watch the place.
‘Of course, Ben. We will take care of it.’
Wearing a thick coat and scarf, an angry Ben stomped across Central Square to the school. He’d no idea why he thought Kevin might be at the school, but it was as good a place to start as any. A regular from the tavern guarded the entrance to the new barricade.
‘Is Kevin inside? I need him to come back to the tavern.’
The regular shook his head. ‘He’s not here. Sorry. Try Greyson at the market. Kevin’s been seen hanging around there in the afternoons.’
☼
Twenty minutes later, Ben walked along the centre aisle for the market. He rarely shopped at the stalls; that was Albert’s thing. Everything was overpriced and no matter how much Ben told him not to waste his money there, Albert still bought things they couldn’t get in Waverley neighbourhood, like replicated fruit and vegetables. Their meals came from catering-sized cans of food that the criminals replicated and dropped off each month.
At the first stall, he asked for Greyson and a vendor pointed to the back of the room.
Ben stopped at a fruit-filled stand and saw a black man with short grey hair bending down to pick up a box.
‘Greyson?’
The man stood up, surprised. ‘Who wants to know?’
‘I was told you might have seen my brother, Kevin Lee. Is he here?’
Greyson’s expression softened and he smiled. ‘You’re Ben, right? Albert’s grandson?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I’ve met your grandfather. I’m a friend of Jenny Waterson’s.’
Ben nodded and looked around. ‘Have you seen him? Light-brown hair. Skinny.’
‘He was in here a second ago looking for Marcus. I think he’s out back. Bit of a troublemaker, if you ask me.’
‘Thanks.’ Ben walked away.
‘Wait. Where are you going?’ Greyson grabbed his arm. ‘You can’t just go back there.’
‘Why not?’
‘If your brother’s meeting with Marcus, you should wait a while. There’s never a good time to walk in on one of his meetings. Marcus doesn’t like to be disturbed.’
Ben snatched his arm away. ‘I’ll be fine.’
‘This isn’t some game. You’ll live longer if you stay out of Marcus’ affairs.’
‘I’ve no interest in Marcus. I’m just looking for my broth—’
A car pulling up outside drew his attention away. Marcus got out, followed by a second man with red hair and bad teeth; Ben had seen him before, at Isobel’s auction.
‘Don’t let Marcus see you,’ said Greyson. He pulled Ben behind the counter and forced his head low.
Ben followed Greyson’s instructions. Using the boxes to hide him, he crawled along to the front of the building while Marcus and his associate walked further inside. He wouldn’t leave until he’d found Kevin.
Marcus shouted orders and one vendor whimpered. Greyson said something to Marcus, and Ben looked up just in time to see Marcus backhand Greyson across the face.
Ben reached the entrance and slipped out and down the side. He heard a door opening at the rear of the property, then muffled voices, including Marcus’. There was a loud thud as something—or someone—was thrown to the ground. Ben scampered to the front of the market, and hid behind a tall neighbouring wall.
Marcus appeared at the entrance few moments later and opened the car door. He was about to climb in when a walkie-talkie crackled in his hand.
‘I have him,’ said a voice on the other end.
‘Where was he?’
‘Hiding behind the storage unit.’
Marcus turned and strode down the side of the market building.
Ben’s mask fogged up as he slipped down the opposite side. He kept his back to the gable wall and tried to calm himself. He heard more muffled voices; one of them was Kevin’s.
Ben kept low as he peeked around the corner. Their discussion was already over. Marcus handed Kevin a scrap of paper and slapped him on the back. He and his red-haired associate returned to the front, climbed into their car and left.
Before his brother could disappear again, Ben stepped out of hiding. Kevin looked shocked to see him.
‘What the hell are you doing with Marcus?’ Ben stared at the piece of paper Kevin tried to hide in his fist. ‘What did he give you?’
‘None of your business.’
Kevin was not the same person he’d grown up with the last eight years. This place had changed him. Was Marcus to blame for this angrier, more secretive version?
Ben stepped closer. ‘How long have you been doing jobs for Marcus?’
‘I told you to mind your own business.’ Kevin puffed out his chest. ‘You and Albert are always doing your thing. I wanted something for myself.’
‘What has Marcus asked you to do?’
‘This and that.’
‘Anything to do with East Compound, or Waverley?’
He shrugged. ‘It depends. Why do you want to know suddenly, freak-lover?’
‘They’re not freaks. They’re humans, just like you and me.’
‘That’s not what Marcus says.’
‘Why are you listening to that asshole? He’s done nothing for the neighbourhood. He’s been making trouble for Albert. Did you know they’ve changed curfew at the gate?’
Kevin looked at him. ‘So?’
‘Don’t you even know what’s going on in Waverley? Money’s been stolen. The generators are breaking. Life support is failing. None of this bothers you?’
‘I know all about the money,’ said Kevin. ‘If you think I can’t do anything to support the family, then you’re wrong.’
Ben grabbed a fistful of Kevin’s coat. ‘What do you know about it? Did you tell Pete to take it? Jesus, Kev. Pete’s a bigot, a liar and a gambler.’
Kevin laughed, his shoulders shaking. ‘You think Pete took the money? Pete couldn’t rob drink from Albert without getting caught.’
‘Well, who was it? Marcus, or one of his associates?’ Ben refused to admit the alternative.
‘What about me?’ said Kevin, and Ben’s heart sank. ‘You and Albert think I can’t do anything. Well... I did it. Just ask Marcus. He told me to take the money for a while, then put it back.’
‘Jesus, Kevin. Why?’
‘He picked me because he knew I was braver than you. That’s what this is about, isn’t it? You hate it when you’re not the centre of attention.’
The air thinned suddenly, painfully, and Ben wheezed. He tapped the side of his oxygen canister and the flow improved.
‘When did Marcus tell you to put it back?’
‘He didn’t. But he will.’
‘And if he doesn’t?’
‘I’ll put it back, anyway. We can tell everyone Pete took it.’
Ben shook his head. ‘Don’t you get it, Kev? Putting it back may not fix things. Marcus wanted the money to disappear.’
Kevin gripped the paper tighter. Ben nodded at it. ‘Another errand?’
Kevin backed away. ‘Leave me alone. I know what I’m doing.’
‘Tell me what it says.’ Ben reached for the paper, but Kevin twisted away.
‘Mind your own damn busine
ss.’
They scuffled with each other until Ben, stronger and older, wrestled the paper from Kevin’s grip. He stepped back and unfolded it.
‘Marcus wants you to do this?’
‘So? It’s just to scare her.’
‘Sal has been good to you, to me, to Albert. You can’t trash her house.’
‘Marcus wants me to take enough parts so she can’t fix the generators.’
‘And then what?’
Kevin shrugged. ‘I didn’t ask.’
‘That’s the problem. You never know what Marcus will do next. Or why he’s doing it.’
‘I have to do it, otherwise Marcus will know something has happened.’ Ben caught the look of fear in Kevin’s eyes.
He handed back the piece of paper. ‘Fine, but I need to warn Sal.’
Kevin went to say something, but Ben stared at him until he changed his mind.
‘Warn her then. See if I care.’ He stalked off. Ben readied to follow him when Greyson appeared from around the corner.
‘So this is the kid you were looking for?’
‘Yeah.’
‘You two have a fight?’
‘Something like that.’ Ben walked away, but Greyson grabbed his arm. ‘I’ve seen you with that Indigene from Waverley. Isobel, right?’
‘Yeah, so?’ Greyson let go of his arm.
‘You two seem close. Jenny, my wife, thinks you share a bond.’
‘Jenny Waterson?’
‘Yeah. We met with Isobel and your grandfather today.’
‘Is he back?’
‘Should be. He’s probably at home by now.’
Ben turned to leave, but Greyson blocked his path.
‘Listen, it’s important for Waverley that Isobel helps. But I understand she’s on the fence about it. Do you think you can convince her?’
‘Isobel doesn’t take orders from me. Why would she? She’s a free citizen, even if she’s not allowed to act like one.’
Greyson leaned in closer, forcing Ben to step back.
‘Did Albert tell you about the encrypted message running on the DPads?’ Ben shook his head. ‘We think it’s linked to the failing life support. We think there’s an IT expert hiding in the Fortress. One of your house guests knows where it is, and Isobel may be the key to convincing the skilled workers to help. Do you know what her Indigene skill is?’
Ben shook his head, trying to hide his blush, but Greyson caught it.
‘Well, it seems as if you’re the only one who does. We need your assistance. Not just Jenny and I, but your grandfather, Sal, Kevin. And many more besides. Including Isobel.’
Ben tapped the side of the canister when the air thinned again. ‘I’ve got to go. I don’t have much air left.’
‘How about we trade?’ Greyson reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny new canister. ‘In exchange for your help. There’s more where this came from.’
‘Where did you get that?’ He hadn’t seen a new canister since... ever.
‘Do we have a deal?’ Greyson held out the canister.
A new oxygen canister would remove the unpredictability of not knowing how much air was left. The factions had ruined the neighbourhood’s canisters which the residents then refilled using a weak percentage of oxygen supplied by the associates.
Ben unhooked the worn canister and handed it to Greyson. He connected the new one. The untainted oxygen flooded his lungs and he felt woozy and light-headed. ‘This oxygen is good. Where did you get it?’
‘I’ll take that to mean we have a deal?’
Ben nodded as Greyson slipped his old canister into his pocket.
22
Jenny had the vehicle drop Albert and Isobel off at the point where it had picked them up. They walked back to Waverley. The guards at the gate were in a lenient mood and didn’t bother them as they passed. Back at the tavern, Albert paused when he saw an extra ten Italians on top of the twenty already staying on his ground floor. There was no sign of Ben or Kevin.
‘What’s going on?’
Sofia stood up. ‘The door was unlocked. They just came in. I couldn’t stop them.’
He shook his head, keeping his mask on. Isobel took off her coat, hung it up, and busied herself behind the bar. Albert sat down on one of the stools. Where was Old Pete? He hadn’t seen him for two days now.
‘You didn’t say much on the ride back,’ Albert said to Isobel.
‘I was thinking.’
‘Will you help us with the Fortress workers?’ The time for giving Isobel space was over.
‘I would rather speak to Stephen, to verify this Jenny woman. But there’s no way to do that, is there?’
Albert didn’t see how. He shook his head.
‘Then I don’t see that I have a choice.’
‘I’m sorry, Isobel. If there was another way...’ Albert took off his coat and mask, and rubbed his two-day-old beard. He caught his breath in the thin air. ‘I know the life support problem doesn’t affect you, but I’m a hard-working man and I don’t like to see people in trouble, no matter where they come from. I’d like to believe you care about some people living in Waverley.’
Isobel’s lips thinned. She stared at one of the beer taps and nodded. ‘I’ll help, but I can’t promise I’ll be of any use to the skilled workers.’
The front door opened with force and Sal burst in. ‘What happened after I left, Albert?’
Isobel dashed from behind the bar to stand in front of Sal. Albert blinked. It still unnerved him to see her move at an unnatural speed.
‘I’d like to help out at the school. I can’t be here right now.’
Sal nodded. ‘They could always use an extra pair of hands.’
Isobel put her coat back on and left through the open door.
Sal removed her gel mask and massaged her throat. She took in the room, strewn with towels, clothes and blankets. ‘The air’s more than a little thin in here. Since when did you agree to take in more refugees?’
Albert closed and locked the door. ‘They moved in when I wasn’t here. He hooked his finger at Sal. ‘Come on. We need to talk.’ He brought her upstairs to the kitchen.
‘Where are the boys?’ said Sal, as she took a seat.
Albert sat down in the chair opposite her, feeling every second of his eighty years. ‘I have no control over what those kids do any more. I don’t know how to keep them safe.’
Sal touched his arm. ‘The boys will be fine. And we’re in this together, even the refugees living in the bar.’
Albert nodded at her and rubbed his tired eyes.
‘Isobel didn’t look very happy,’ said Sal.
‘She thinks I tricked her into helping.’
‘She’ll see reason. She’s a smart woman. When will you go to the Fortress?’
‘I need to speak to Sofia. She’s the only one who knows where it is. But tomorrow, first thing. Jenny will come with us.’
‘And I’ll be there of course.’
‘No. It’s too dangerous. I need you to watch the boys.’
‘Dangerous? I thought the plan was to speak to them, not fight them.’
‘It is. But we don’t know what defences they have in place. I’m just preparing for the worst.’ He paused. ‘Jenny wants me to bring Ben.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he has a connection with Isobel. Because Jenny doesn’t trust that Isobel will help.’
‘She wants to use him as bait.’
‘Something like that.’
‘Are you going to bring him?’
Albert shook his head.
Sal sighed and examined her grease-smeared nails. ‘Every day, more refugees stream in from the other Compounds. It kills me that we have to turn them away.’ She looked at him. ‘Just make sure it goes well.’
‘How is Hans?’
Sal shook her head. ‘There was nothing we could do for him. We don’t have medical supplies or doctors here. He didn’t make it.’
‘Another decent man killed by Marcus.�
� He stood, and anger rippled through him. The chair tilted back then righted itself.
‘Take a deep breath, Albert. What’s done is done.’
Albert yanked the kitchen door open and stomped down the stairs. Sal followed.
The floor of the tavern looked like a drop-in centre. He stepped over makeshift mattresses and blankets and ducked under clothes lines packed with airing shirts and trousers.
‘We need to get some order in here. I can’t live like this.’
Several of the Italians looked up in alarm.
‘Tidy this space up.’ He shook the clothes line. ‘This all needs to go outside. We don’t have room in here. I’ll see if I can free up some space upstairs.’
Sofia came through the back door, carrying a basket of wet clothes. She stopped when she saw Albert.
Sal guided him away from the refugees. ‘That sounds like a great idea, Albert. You go back upstairs and make a cup of tea. I’ll explain the situation to everyone.’
‘And where the hell are Ben and Kevin? I need to speak to them. I’ve had enough of this silly fighting between them.’
‘I’ll send them up when they get home.’ Sal gestured upstairs. ‘Now, get going.’
‘No. I need to speak to Sofia.’
‘I’ll do it. Albert, you’re scaring everyone.’
He stomped back up the stairs, but by the time he’d reached the first floor, the fight had drained out of him.
He sat at the kitchen table with the door closed. A cold cup of tea sat in front of him. Albert wished he could rewind time back four days to before the auction. Everything had changed since Isobel’s arrival.
The door creaked open and Ben stuck in his head.
‘There you are. Where’s Kevin?’ Albert half stood.
Ben opened the door further to reveal Kevin standing beside him. ‘We need to speak to you.’
‘I don’t.’ said Kevin. He looked nervous.
A stony-faced Ben pulled him inside the room and closed the door. They both joined Albert at the table.
He sat back down and looked from one boy to the other. ‘What’s going on with you two? Why are you always at each other’s throats?’
Ben nudged Kevin. ‘Do you want to tell him or should I?’