Star of Hope

by Moira McPartlin

  Ishbel wiped her snot on her cuff.

  ‘We should tie him up and feed him to the wolves.’ Then she shook her head. ‘Tie him and take him to the control room.’

  Scud came over and hugged both Ishbel and Sorlie to him.

  ‘This wasn’t meant to happen.’ He nodded towards Kenneth. ‘Ah shouldn’t have encouraged him.’

  ‘What are you doing here, Scud?’ Sorlie asked.

  Scud

  ‘Tell us,’ Ishbel said.

  Scud’s mutant eyes were red-rimmed but the tears had dried.

  ‘It’s ma fault.’

  Reinya took his hand. ‘It’s not, grandda. Tell them.’

  He dry sobbed and began again.

  ‘Kenneth and I had been workin on the teachin modules together. We were bored. We wanted tae fight. Stupid dreams really. We both knew it was impossible. And then out o the blue, Vanora arrived on Black Rock.’

  ‘Uh hate Vanora,’ Reinya mumbled.

  ‘Shhh,’ Scud said, smoothing her hair. ‘She said it was tae check up on progress but ah think she really came tae goad Kenneth.’ Scud embarrassed coughed. ‘We both behaved and didn’t give her the pleasure eh seein us rattled.’ He bit his lip and looked at me with mischief in his eyes. ‘We stowed away on her Transport.’

  ‘No way!’ I said.

  ‘Aye, way.’

  ‘But Kenneth’s murderous intent towards her?’ I reminded him.

  ‘Ah forgot.’

  ‘You forgot?’

  ‘Sort of.’

  ‘What do you mean, “sort of”?’

  ‘Oh you know, Sorlie, aw that DNA dilution stuff sort o mashed ma brain.’ He was lying. He also, at one time, had murderous intent towards Vanora. Maybe it was convenient amnesia.

  ‘Anyway, ah wanted tae see Reinya. Vanora made sure tae mention she’d be seein Reinya.’ Scud looked towards the blood patch where Vanora had fallen. ‘She was an evil bitch.’ He sighed and shrugged his native shrug. ‘So we came. The rest you know.’

  Reinya sat up and brushed her hair from her face. Noni remained separate , watching them both.

  ‘It’s not your fault, Grandda.’

  ‘No, it’s not, Scud,’ I assured him. ‘Kenneth would have got to Vanora somehow.’

  ‘But…’ Scud pointed to the bloodstains.

  I took his hand and squeezed it. ‘We are where we are.’

  I looked into his tired old eyes and remembered all the courage and wisdom he had shared with me.

  ‘We have a clean page to start again, Sorlie. Let’s dae it right.’ He placed his other hand on top of mine and nodded. ‘Ah telt ye tae get it sorted and ye are.’ He patted my hand then let me go before turning to Noni. ‘So, Reinya, tell me, what are we are goin tae dae wi yer wee pal here?’

  My comms buzzed – 15 seconds to surge.

  The Switch-On

  The main cylinder crashed alive.

  ‘What the snaf?’ Reinya screamed.

  ‘The surge.’ Vanora’s destruction had started. ‘I have to stop it.’

  I shouted above the cacophony. ‘Ishbel, you stay with Reinya and Jacques.’

  ‘No. Scud can look after them. This time we go together.’ She looked around, avoiding the bloody scene. ‘Where’s Skelf?’

  ‘I’m here.’ He hirpled down the stairs from the control room. ‘The bot is trying to shut down the turbines. We need to get to the servers to cut the connection there.’

  We rushed from the building into the searing heat outside. The sound of the straining turbines followed us into the still air. A gap like an open mouth had appeared in the mound since I last passed it. Skelf headed straight there and we followed.

  Inside was cool. Skelf stumbled into the depths and disappeared.

  ‘Skelf!’ Ishbel roared.

  The place was massive. Little busy contraptions whizzed over the floor, tripping us up. They attached themselves to the housings of black boxes arranged in shelves and ran up and down them like rats in a sewer.

  ‘What are they?’

  ‘Fixits,’ Ishbel said.

  A muffled explosion sounded somewhere deep in the bowels of the mound, or maybe it was coming from the power plant.

  ‘There must be a cut-off switch somewhere, that’ll be where Skelf’s gone,’ Ishbel said.

  ‘But what happens if he shuts this down? Will the power build up in the Star?’

  ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘Pa might know.’

  ‘You can’t communicate.’

  ‘We can, Ishbel. Remember what Skelf said. I reckon if any Military pick up the signal, they probably won’t bother to act.’

  Another explosion burst from within and some of the boxes crashed from their casings, knocking a little Fixit off as they fell.

  I could smell burning, sharp and stinging.

  Skelf staggered down the rows, grabbing hold now and then.

  ‘We’ve lost the back section,’ he said. ‘The smoke is too dense. The bitch was right, they’ve tampered with the fuses. The whole place is going to blow. We need to cut the connection here.’ He lurched to a rectangular box on the wall and tugged at the door. It stuck.

  My communicator buzzed on my wrist. ‘Sorlie?’ Pa’s voice cut in.

  ‘Pa, we need your help. Vanora set up a power surge from the Star to the servers. So much power coming through at once will destroy them.’

  ‘You must stop the flow.’ Pa looked like shit.

  ‘But if we do won’t we risk The Star?’

  ‘Not if you divert it. Is there not a power exchange with the nearest Urban? Direct the full flow to the Urban. You must save the servers.’ I remembered the exchanger, the bot only needed to move the dial. But the consequences?

  ‘Divert!’ Skelf roared, taking out the device to contact the Star bot.

  ‘Ishbel, stop him.’

  Ishbel grabbed the device off Skelf. He threw his arms up in frustration.

  ‘Damn your Star. There’s a trip here.’ He went back to tugging the panel on the box.

  ‘Divert, Sorlie!’ Pa roared. He seemed desperate.

  ‘Divert where?’ I still couldn’t believe he meant what he was saying.

  ‘Sorlie, listen to me, you must divert. It will go to the nearest Urban.’

  My mind was racing. I had no idea how powerful the Star was and the type of damage it could do.

  ‘We can’t do that, Pa. There might be casualties.’

  Skelf had the panel open. He had a lever in his hand.

  ‘Sorlie, you must let me contact the bot,’ Skelf said. ‘If I trip this switch it could blow up the Star.’

  ‘No!’ I hear Pa shout. ‘Sorlie, an Urban is a small sacrifice.’

  ‘For what?’ My cheeks were wet.

  ‘We can save millions with power.’

  ‘Then save The Star. Dawdle said the data was harmful anyway.’

  ‘Dawdle is a fool,’ Pa said. ‘I’m your Prince and I order you to divert the current to the Urban. We need this data.’

  ‘You’re only thinking of yourself. Your cyborg self. Pa, Merj has good limbs. Vanora’s technicians up north worked wonders on him. You can go there.’

  Something dark passed over Pa’s face and I knew the truth. What may have begun as a noble fight for him had morphed into something else. His injuries had twisted his desire inwards. He wanted this victory for himself. His needs had overtaken the needs of the natives.

  The back wall crashed down. Skelf strained to push the lever up to the OFF position. It stuck halfway. He made a grab for his device from Ishbel. It flew from her hand and skittered across the floor.

  ‘Sorlie, please, save the data.’ Pa pleaded, defeated.

  ‘I’m sorry, Pa.’ I flew to the panel and yanked the lever back down in place, allowing th
e juice to flow unhindered into the building. Sparks erupted. Skelf screamed. Ishbel dragged him outside. Black plumes belched toxic fumes up and around the rows. Flames licked the casings. Tears streamed from my eyes.

  ‘Sorlie, Sorlie.’ I could hear Pa’s voice above my choking. I stumbled outside. Ishbel held Skelf by the arm, she grabbed me with her other hand and all three of us dived into the lavender field as the mound blew its top, scattering debris. It pattered around us sending clouds of angry bees into the air.

  Ishbel held Skelf by the throat. ‘Get the bot to close down the Star.’

  ‘It’s already started doing it,’ he sobbed. ‘It knew the danger but it takes time to stop.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Pa, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t destroy an Urban. The server’s gone.’

  The sound of his bawl would haunt me for the rest of my life. In time I hoped he would understand that this was for the best for everyone, that his initial dreams, the ones he’d lost sight of, could be achieved and he would be alright. I was sure of it… I had to be.

  ‘We are going to start with a clean sheet.’ I said in a voice that was firm and definite. I cut the signal to shut out his pitiful sound. It wasn’t until I saw the blank screen of my communicator that I realised he didn’t know of the carnage that happened here.

  We dragged our sorry butts back to the plant. The bot was back at its station on top of the stairs. Things had quietened down.

  Ishbel pushed Skelf towards the bot. ‘Ask for the status of the plant.’ He looked broken as he climbed the stairs. ‘Make sure the systems are secure and kept running at low capacity. Ask for a list of all amenities with open links to the plant. Are they operational and if not, what will it take to make them work?’

  ‘It might not have that information,’ Skelf said. ‘I’m not a miracle worker.’

  ‘Try,’ she said.

  Ishbel was taking control and I was glad she was so focused, presumably to keep her mind off Dawdle. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep for the rest of my life. But I’d been there before and knew it would pass.

  The bodies had been removed, leaving dark patches on the floor to step round. Judging by the bloodstains covering Noni and Scud, they had managed the removal between them. They sat together on the floor and stared at me. Reinya was huddled between them, her thumb in her mouth. Jacques sat wrapped in a blanket, his huge legs bent and his head rested on his knees.

  ‘I’ve instructed safe passage for your father,’ he said when he lifted his head.

  I sat beside him. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said.

  ‘Your father will forgive you. When he is crowned king.’

  ‘King? He will not be king.’ I pointed to the top of the stairs where Ishbel had returned to interrogate the bot.

  ‘She is the new ruler.’

  Jacques nodded. ‘She will be a good ruler. And you? Will you be in her government?’

  ‘No. I am going back to Steadie.’

  We remained silent until Ishbel joined us and sat. She draped her arm around me.

  ‘You did the right thing, Sorlie. Scud told me once that the only solution was to start with a clean page. That’s what we have. By starting with a clean page we can build our world again but with checks and balances in place to protect the citizens of Esperaneo and the environs they inhabit. This is our chance. A clean page.’

  New Steadie 2095

  ‘Pa, Pa, come and see – the lights are on already. The castle is all lit up.’

  The voice hollers through my open window, yanking me from my chronicling. I should have been angry. I only set aside one hour a day for the task and yet I never tire of that sweet voice, even when it yells at me like a banshee. I lift my head and catch sight of grey clouds shifting across the watery sun. It will rain later. Maybe that’s why the celebrations have kicked off early.

  The door flings open and the bundle of energy we named Kathleen, after my mother, rushes in.

  ‘Come on!’ Her five-year-old legs, spindly but strong, brace as she tugs my arm, trying to pull me from my seat. Her dark eyes flash urgently.

  ‘Kathleen, darling, hold on.’

  ‘No Pa, come on. Everyone’s waiting.’

  ‘Everyone?’ I haven’t heard a Transport so doubt the dignitaries have arrived yet. I place Ishbel’s pebble on top of my loose leaf of paper. Paper. The thought of it still thrills me. All the books from the Black Rock library had been returned there, and all the blank pages had been retrieved and given to me as a gift by the government. It’s a minimal amount but enough to write this history in the ancient way.

  We leave my study and Kathleen tugs me the short distance to the front door. Although I’m Chief Elder at New Steadie, our accommodation is on a par with everyone else. It’s the way the community started and it’s the way it will continue.

  ‘Where’s your Ma?’ I ask as we enter the main square. Harkin is nowhere in sight.

  Kathleen turns and frowns at me. ‘Up at the castle. I told you. Everyone is there. Come on.’ She stamps her foot in frustration. ‘Look.’ She points towards the old castle that sits high on the hill, dominating our small urban clustered round its base. All dwellings are positioned well above the flood water; it is a good place. I see lights now, burning bright on the battlements. Electric light, at last brought to New Steadie, something we’ve been working on for the last six years. Since we successfully powered up The Star of Hope, electricity supplies have been added to the grid across mainland Esperaneo; Esperaneo Lesser is the last link to have this glorious opportunity. This is the beginning of phase two. Even this small child recognises the importance it will bring to our lives. Our clean page.

  I squeeze Kathleen’s hand again. Amongst everything that has happened in this life, she is my greatest achievement.

  A crowd of specials hang back from the main throng, as if frightened by the light. Not all specials joined us here in the new town. Many decided that, once the Military threat was no longer there, their old home was best. Our administration still feed and care for them and in return they continue to produce quality fibre from recycled plastic. A win-win.

  As we approach a few specials step aside to let us pass. Con, Harkin’s old guardian, is organising the cooking. He and his brother Al are barbecuing pork. The pigs Al and his wife had illegally reared in the castle had been small scale, but after the regime change and the subsequent reversal of the domestic animal ban, Con and his brother have expanded the business.

  The smell of pork grilling makes my mouth water. Kathleen’s right, it feels like everyone is here. The inhabitants of the castle settlement buzz with anticipation. I never tire of the joy I feel each time I look on their now healthy complexions and positive charge. These once-subjugated natives and Privileged reclaimed their mojo the year the regime fell and use their mojo to help themselves.

  ‘Pa, look.’ The small hand tightens its grip on mine and yanks me onwards. She points at something in the distance. I’ve no idea what or how she can see anything. She’s so little and the bustle is intense, but like the runt of a litter butting its way for its mother’s milk, this child shoulders and elbows a gap for us to pass through. Suddenly the crowd parts fully, like the curtain in the newly created theatre, and what lies before me makes me gasp.

  The President has indeed arrived before schedule and has switched on the lights. I should have been here to see this momentous event, but was too caught up trying to capture the past and set down history; I’d forgotten about the present and the future.

  And yet what lies before me is some of the cast of that history.

  Harkin sees me first. I know by the way she stands she’s waiting for me to find her. Like every good mother she probably heard Kathleen’s squeals. When our eyes meet her smile reaches every part of her face and my heart warms at the sight and blood whooshes through me as it always does when I realise we are one and always will
be.

  As a boy I never knew love could dig so deep.

  When I left the lavender fields I had only one thought in mind and, despite Ishbel and Pa’s protests and their orders to go to the Capital, I disobeyed them and returned home to Harkin.

  That time she had been at her desk in the infirmary, studying her medical books. I took one step towards her and stopped. She rose and filled the rest of the space in a rush.

  ‘Sorlie.’ The sound of my name on her lips sent my heart flipping through flaming hoops so fast I almost fainted.

  I grabbed for her and she for me. Our lips found each other before we could say another word and I knew at that moment no summons from the President would make me leave here as long as Harkin wanted to stay. Home was a word I’d always struggled with but I knew as soon as I returned to Steadie and found her in her infirmary, home would always be where Harkin was.

  Harkin’s smile remains on her face and her eyes on mine even though her hand stretches out for Kathleen to join her. They both turn and face the dignitaries and Kathleen gives a little bow to the President, seated on a throne perched on the raised dais.

  A teenage boy dressed in fine clothes climbs the dais steps and offers the President a platter of pork. She smiles but shakes her head. The President does not eat meat.

  The President rises and holds a hand out to me. Her face betrays no emotion but her amber eyes flash a welcome.

  Ishbel, President of Esperaneo.

  After the data servers had been destroyed Ishbel travelled to the Capital, accompanied by her willing army of Blue Pearl soldiers and Monsieur Jacques’s Noiri. With their help she’d taken control of the government of old men who were frightened of progress. Her only obstacle had been my pa. He remained devastated after my betrayal and sought to do everything in his power to stand against us. His good intentions for a better world had been corrupted, seduced by the power that had taken Vanora and many before her. As he grew weaker, the old Pa and his once maddening optimism I knew returned –he filled with hope, told me he was proud to see us fight for the world he once believed in. He would never live to see this world fully realised. He died within a year of that event.