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Authors: Craig Saunders, C. R. Saunders
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things?’
Another man in the back spoke up. One of the canteen crew, Tom seemed to remember. He didn’t know the man well. His accent was thick, but he spoke English, the universal language of the enclave.
‘With respect…can we afford to assume that they can’t use such things? We assumed they were stupid.’
Thank you, thought Tom. Saves me making myself even more unpopular than I have to.
Jean looked tired and frightened.
‘No. You’re right. We can’t afford to assume anything. Not anymore.’ He put his head between his hands. When he raised his face to the audience, there were tears in his eyes. ‘I’m turning this over to the floor. I think we all deserve a say.’
Tom bit his tongue. He wanted to jump in. He wanted to jump all over everyone in the room. He knew it was anger, though. His blood was up and he was furious that they hadn’t listened to him. He needed to keep his council until he was calmer and wasn’t in any danger of calling the lot of them fucking idiots. They might well have killed every man, woman and child living in the complex.
He sat in silence, waiting. Waiting for calm within. Let the storm blow through. He’d have his say.
‘Do they want us for food? To use us like the poor people they already have?’
Jean nodded his head. ‘I think so. I think that is highly likely.’
Tom shook his head and sighed. He didn’t think that. Not at all.
There was an undercurrent of panic setting in now. People were beginning to shift in their seats.
‘Won’t the defence systems protect us? If they get close, won’t they just pick them off?’
‘We think so, but we don’t know what kind of weapons they have…’
Tanks, thought Tom. Tanks is the word you don’t want to say.
‘Why can’t we speak to the girl? She probably knows more.’
‘The survivors are under quarantine protocol for twenty-four hours.’
‘Bullshit!’ shouted a scientist from the back of the hall. Tom turned around to see who it was. Davis Crane, one of the oldest of the survivors. He still wore a white coat. He was a figure of fun among the youngsters on the science team, but Tom respected him. He might be old but he was plenty sharp.
‘We don’t have time to wait that long. Get them in here. Keep the net on them if you must, but we need to know what we’re facing. We might not have twenty-four hours.’
‘We can’t break protocol. It’s there for a reason. To break protocol could be just as dangerous as this new threat,’ Samson shouted, standing up. He looked like the very thought was offensive. He was intimidating, even from across the hall.
‘Calm down, Sam. I happen to agree,’ said Jean. Tom bet he wished he was somewhere else.
‘If you bring them out I’ll shoot them myself.’
‘No you won’t,’ said Kappa, and put a hand on Samson’s arm. Not many people would go against Samson but Kappa was a brave man and one of the few Samson would listen to.
‘It’s crap, Kappa. It’s too dangerous.’
‘No. We’ll keep the nets on, full suits. No more argument.’
Kappa waved one of his team from the back of the hall. Sal came forward.
‘Run a message to the guards on detail. Bring the girl up. No sense in bringing the woman, but bring the man, too. He might be able to tell us more.’
Sal ran out of the hall.
Kappa had them trained well. Double time, soldier, thought Tom. He got up and walked across the hall, took a seat next to Marie.
‘Do you think they’re here for our blood?’ he said quietly, leaning in close to Marie.
‘No. I guess you don’t, either.’
‘No. I don’t.’
‘What do you think?’
‘I think we’re fucked,’ said Tom. ‘I think it’s too late.’
‘Too late for what?’
‘For who, Marie. Too late for us.’
*
Chapter Seventeen
Dining Hall
Level 2
Tom and Marie waited in silence. Plenty of the others were talking, but Tom was lost in thought, and Marie had nothing to say. Tom’s words had
Another man in the back spoke up. One of the canteen crew, Tom seemed to remember. He didn’t know the man well. His accent was thick, but he spoke English, the universal language of the enclave.
‘With respect…can we afford to assume that they can’t use such things? We assumed they were stupid.’
Thank you, thought Tom. Saves me making myself even more unpopular than I have to.
Jean looked tired and frightened.
‘No. You’re right. We can’t afford to assume anything. Not anymore.’ He put his head between his hands. When he raised his face to the audience, there were tears in his eyes. ‘I’m turning this over to the floor. I think we all deserve a say.’
Tom bit his tongue. He wanted to jump in. He wanted to jump all over everyone in the room. He knew it was anger, though. His blood was up and he was furious that they hadn’t listened to him. He needed to keep his council until he was calmer and wasn’t in any danger of calling the lot of them fucking idiots. They might well have killed every man, woman and child living in the complex.
He sat in silence, waiting. Waiting for calm within. Let the storm blow through. He’d have his say.
‘Do they want us for food? To use us like the poor people they already have?’
Jean nodded his head. ‘I think so. I think that is highly likely.’
Tom shook his head and sighed. He didn’t think that. Not at all.
There was an undercurrent of panic setting in now. People were beginning to shift in their seats.
‘Won’t the defence systems protect us? If they get close, won’t they just pick them off?’
‘We think so, but we don’t know what kind of weapons they have…’
Tanks, thought Tom. Tanks is the word you don’t want to say.
‘Why can’t we speak to the girl? She probably knows more.’
‘The survivors are under quarantine protocol for twenty-four hours.’
‘Bullshit!’ shouted a scientist from the back of the hall. Tom turned around to see who it was. Davis Crane, one of the oldest of the survivors. He still wore a white coat. He was a figure of fun among the youngsters on the science team, but Tom respected him. He might be old but he was plenty sharp.
‘We don’t have time to wait that long. Get them in here. Keep the net on them if you must, but we need to know what we’re facing. We might not have twenty-four hours.’
‘We can’t break protocol. It’s there for a reason. To break protocol could be just as dangerous as this new threat,’ Samson shouted, standing up. He looked like the very thought was offensive. He was intimidating, even from across the hall.
‘Calm down, Sam. I happen to agree,’ said Jean. Tom bet he wished he was somewhere else.
‘If you bring them out I’ll shoot them myself.’
‘No you won’t,’ said Kappa, and put a hand on Samson’s arm. Not many people would go against Samson but Kappa was a brave man and one of the few Samson would listen to.
‘It’s crap, Kappa. It’s too dangerous.’
‘No. We’ll keep the nets on, full suits. No more argument.’
Kappa waved one of his team from the back of the hall. Sal came forward.
‘Run a message to the guards on detail. Bring the girl up. No sense in bringing the woman, but bring the man, too. He might be able to tell us more.’
Sal ran out of the hall.
Kappa had them trained well. Double time, soldier, thought Tom. He got up and walked across the hall, took a seat next to Marie.
‘Do you think they’re here for our blood?’ he said quietly, leaning in close to Marie.
‘No. I guess you don’t, either.’
‘No. I don’t.’
‘What do you think?’
‘I think we’re fucked,’ said Tom. ‘I think it’s too late.’
‘Too late for what?’
‘For who, Marie. Too late for us.’
*
Chapter Seventeen
Dining Hall
Level 2
Tom and Marie waited in silence. Plenty of the others were talking, but Tom was lost in thought, and Marie had nothing to say. Tom’s words had
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