Waiting in the Shadows (7 page)

Det had been quite happy with the new name of Bernadette.

‘It's quite common for a Non-Lab with the name Bernadette to be called Dette,' Ruby had explained. Johnny couldn't believe Det would want to settle for a one-syllable name and pulled out his book of boys' names to show Abe.

Abe said he had no wish to be called by a Non-Lab name.

‘You must!' Celia had insisted. ‘We must fit into the Non-Lab world, for our own safety and that of all the other Labs!'

Ruby had suggested Abel, as it was the full name closest to his original name, and he had pulled up his sleeve to reveal his code,
ABE 32498
.

‘I don't have a
name
; I have a
code
printed on my arm! I am a
Lab
!' he had almost spat out.

‘I have some special plastic things to cover that up. So you don't get spotted,
Abel
!' Celia had said bluntly.

Ruby shuddered as she thought of him sleeping on the sofa downstairs.

The house was quiet when she woke up the following morning. She pulled on her dressing gown and padded down the stairs. Gently pushing open the lounge door, she could make out the sleeping figure of Abel on the sofa. She quietly made her way to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. She stood by the open French windows, looking out at the hillside that stretched beyond their garden. A flock of birds wheeled in the blue sky. The sun beat down warming her face. Everything looked so calm and peaceful. She decided she would go for a long walk over the hillside later that day. Relax before she began the next part of her life as Non-Lab instructor. She smiled to herself as she thought back to her earlier life at school. She had had no idea about how things were going to work out then. In fact, her future seemed pretty uncertain now.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she wasn't aware of Abel's presence until he stood beside her.

‘It's a beautiful view, isn't it?' she commented.

‘Labs don't get to see much daylight. Except in this house!' he answered sharply. He looked at her, a sneer on his lips, ‘So, you are to be our new instructor in Non-Lab life, are you?'

She sighed, ‘I just want to do anything I can to help.'

He clicked his tongue, ‘I've never felt I needed help from a Non-Lab.'

She went back into the kitchen and made a second coffee for herself and handed one to Abel, who took it from her ungraciously.

‘Say “Thank you very much for the coffee!”' Ruby told him firmly. ‘Your first lesson on living in the Non-Lab world! Good manners!'

They both stood glaring at each other. Finally a look of amusement flickered across Abel's eyes.

‘Thank you very much for the coffee, Ruby,' he said.

‘You're welcome!' she replied, turning and leaving the room.

Later that day, Abel was dismissive of the new clothes and items Dette had bought with Celia.

‘If we are to merge in with Non-Labs, we have to look the part!' Celia told him sharply.

‘Where does the money come from?' he asked her.

‘It is paid monthly from funds from the Centre,' Celia replied. ‘I transfer various amounts from several accounts under different expense headings. Then it's filtered through several other accounts before it reaches the individual accounts I set up. So there's no way it can be traced to us.'

‘Won't they begin to notice money going missing as you set up more and more accounts, Celia?' Keith looked worried.

‘I can easily cover up to five million per year. I would be nervous about going over that, though,' she replied. ‘And I have a separate portfolio for our shares. Making a nice profit too!'

‘Have you been studying the stocks and shares, too?' Dette asked her.

‘Not really. I don't take any risks. I just hack into the companies that look promising,' Celia admitted.

Dette looked at her admiringly. ‘I have so much to learn from you, Celia! We must make out a budget for the new homes we are to set up. Abe … l, come and look at our plan for the students to go to Manchester, to study music. Celia and I were thinking of the twins, Min and Jay, and Saf. We thought the boys Url and Pel could live happily with them. All their subscribers are musicians. We will set up the second group as soon as Ruby feels they are settled.

‘We have decided on two houses in London as the second group. They will live near each other, so they can communicate easily. And Ruby can get to see them too,' Celia continued. ‘We have chosen Zaf, Oll, and Peg and Joe for the first house, and Ben, Dil, Lok, Hal, Cal, and Fay in the second house. They will study European Government and Politics.'

‘That's fourteen Labs at once!' Ruby looked pleased.

‘With five hundred freed Labs and six released on average weekly, that doesn't sound so good, does it?' Abel said, the sneer returning to his face as he looked at her. ‘And don't forget, the Nursery Ward is being replenished daily!'

‘Where do you get … the replacements for the Labs, now, Abel?' Keith asked him.

He shrugged, ‘Things were getting difficult nearby; but Fil discovered a new source: Brookwash Open Prison. So far we've made it look like the men have escaped, so we haven't been associated with them at all yet.'

He gave a laugh as he added, ‘We've reintroduced the death penalty for Non-Labs!'

Ruby walked quickly up the steep hillside. Since she had joined the Lab household, she had become much fitter. She sighed. She wished her mind felt in such good shape. Abel's joke about the death penalty for Non-Labs had left a bad taste in her mouth. It was hard to condone the killing of others, even those who had committed crimes against their own society.

She sat down with her back against a stone wall and looked out at the landscape stretched out before her. It was a beautiful summer's day. The sky was a perfect blue with a few wisps of white cloud drifting across it. On the opposite hillside a herd of black and white cows were dotted around a field. Among them several sheep also grazed, both species living side by side peacefully. Ruby wondered how many of the animals would last until the end of the year. Neither species were ever aware they were to be sacrificed to satisfy the human species.

She picked a handful of daisies and started to string them together into a chain, as she used to when she was a child. She was so engrossed, she didn't notice Keith until he sat down beside her. She looked up at him and smiled.

‘I wondered where you were at lunch,' he said. ‘Johnny told me you had headed up this way.'

They sat silently for a few moments.

‘Ruby. What Abel told us; I know it is difficult to accept; especially for you …' his eyes scanned her face. ‘But you do know that it is necessary, at the moment, anyway, don't you?'

Ruby remained silent for a while, stringing the daisies together carefully.

‘I do know that, Keith. But, like you say, I find it very difficult to accept,' she finally replied.

Keith took one of her hands, ‘You must forgive me for asking you this, Ruby, but you must also understand that I must put the Labs first,' he took a deep breath. ‘Is there the slightest chance, the very slightest, that you will feel you must betray us, the Labs, to protect Non-Labs?'

Ruby looked at his face and felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

‘No, Keith, there is not the slightest chance that I could ever betray any Lab,' she whispered.

Keith brushed the tears away from her cheeks gently, ‘This dilemma causes you sadness. Let me hug you.'

They sat for a long time in silence. It was getting dark when they finally rose to go back to the house. Ruby looked down at the daisy chain she had made. Already it was wilting. She tossed it gently into the grass and turned away.

Chapter Four

‘Well, Simon, you're looking in great shape! Have you completely recovered from your last accident?' the television presenter said to the young man sitting beside him.

‘Yes! Right back to normal again!' the young man grinned. ‘Thanks to modern medical developments!'

‘So, are you planning on slowing down a little now?' the presenter continued.

‘Not if I have anything to do with it! Although my mom and dad aren't too keen on me going back to motor racing, unfortunately!' Simon Armstrong shrugged.

‘And you say you're planning a longer trip to England soon, to look around colleges in central London?'

‘I'm really keen on taking a postgrad course in London! The course looks great. And the social life! But don't tell my dad I said that!' he laughed.

Celia got up and turned off the television.

‘It wasn't a replacement for a Lab, was it, the last time?'

Keith shook his head. ‘No.'

Chapter Five

Though Ruby was feeling more confident about her driving, she had decided to take the train on her first visit to the newly set up house in Manchester. The twins were accompanying her and were very excited travelling by train.

‘Johnny, sit down!' Ruby whispered to him. ‘Don't touch those switches!'

He sat down as Leon arrived with cans of soft drinks and several bags of crisps. He pulled out bags of sweets from his jacket pocket as he joined them. Both boys eagerly tucked into them.

‘Celia would go crazy if she saw you now!' Ruby said.

‘She can't see us, though!' Leon grinned, tossing a sweet up and catching it in his mouth. Two teenage girls nearby looked around at him and giggled. Johnny gave them a wink.

‘Johnny! We are on serious business today!' Ruby reminded him.

He leaned forward, ‘Don't worry, Ruby. We know. They'll need all our help getting used to their new life.'

Leon also put on a serious expression, despite the bulge of toffee in his cheek.

When they arrived at the house Min, Jay, and Saf nervously opened the door and ushered them inside.

‘Jed!' One of the girls exclaimed as all three hugged Johnny, then Leon. A tall blond boy appeared followed by a shorter, dark-haired boy.

‘Let's go into the lounge,' Ruby suggested, smiling at them.

They sat down, the girls looking nervous.

‘I'm Ruby,' she introduced herself, ‘As I'm sure Celia has already told you. And you must always call the boys Leon and Johnny.'

‘And you are …?' Ruby turned to the first girl.

‘Jay. I mean Jade!' she replied.

‘And I, Miyu, originally Min,' her twin said.

‘I am Saf, now Sakura,' the third said.

All spoke perfect English with a trace of a Far Eastern accent.

Ruby turned to the boys.

Leon pointed to the tall blonde boy, ‘What is your name now, Url?'

‘Yuri,' he replied. He sat very straight with a serious expression on his face.

‘And you, Pel?' Johnny asked him.

‘Pellier! Easy to remember!' the French boy smiled.

‘It's lovely to meet you all!' Ruby continued. ‘We'll be here for a week or two, or as long as you feel you need us to help you settle in!'

‘It's a bit tricky at first, living like a Non-Lab!' Johnny said.

‘But you soon get used to it!' his brother added.

‘Any questions to start with?' Ruby asked.

The three girls looked at each other, Sakura cleared her throat, ‘Our main concern is mixing with Non-Labs and remaining inconspicuous.'

‘Well, you're dressed appropriately, so now you just have to get used to mixing with Non-Labs. Why don't we all go for a walk now? We can go past the university campus, too. It isn't open for students yet, but there will be some people around,' Ruby suggested.

Soon they were all walking around the town centre. The eyes of the girl twins widening as they saw the tall buildings in the town centre.

‘Girls! Relax!' Johnny sidled up to them. ‘Don't act as if you've never seen a building before!'

The two girls nodded as Johnny continued to advise them in a low voice.

Ruby smiled to herself, thinking of the first few trips into town she had made with the twins and their barely contained excitement.

Leon was showing Sakura, the young Japanese girl, a map of the town centre. She studied it earnestly.

‘You don't look too worried, Pellier,' Ruby said to the French boy.

‘No,' he shrugged. ‘It must come from my subscriber!'

He smiled at Ruby, ‘I am looking forward to studying music. To be quite honest, life was often boring in the Caves. Except for the times when Abe had us training!'

‘Won't it be good when all Labs can live a free life; doing the things they enjoy doing?' Ruby said.

‘Do you think that day will ever dawn?' Pellier asked her with a wry expression.

She looked at him, ‘Was your subscriber by any chance a philosopher?'

‘No. He is an officer in the French army. I was created from his son's cells,' he replied.

‘How do you feel about … being created in that way?' Ruby asked him.

‘How do you feel about being created in the way you were?' he shrugged again. ‘I'm here. I don't really think about it.'

Ruby gave a smile and looked ahead to where the twins and the other three were standing. They joined them.

‘Jade was saying she'd like to try out a new instrument. There's a music shop here,' Leon told them.

Pellier's eyes lit up, then he then he looked down, ‘Celia has already bought us each an instrument and a piano for the house. She told us not to waste money,' he kicked at a stone.

‘This wouldn't be counted as wasting money!' Ruby told him and enjoyed watching his face light up again.

They spent an enjoyable few hours looking through the instruments and trying out several of them. The shop assistants were obviously delighted to have such talented musicians in their shop. The girls and Yuri tried out several stringed instruments. Pellier disappeared into the wind section and was soon torn between a saxophone and a bassoon. Ruby drifted in and out of the two rooms, until she realised that an impromptu performance by the three girls had drawn quite a crowd. She nodded at them to select their instruments and soon after that ushered them out of the shop. So much for being inconspicuous!

They walked back to the house with all the new students happily smiling and chatting to each other. They would probably fit in quite easily, Ruby thought. Musicians and arty types were allowed to be a bit different without arousing suspicion.

Each evening the house rang out with music, sometimes the students performed together, sometimes individually. During the day Ruby and the twins took them to the supermarket, on buses and trains, and walked around to get to know the town. She was pleased to see the girls becoming more confident. She was glad they had Pellier with them. His laid-back character never caused him to feel unsure of himself.

Once they had been attending university for a fortnight, Ruby felt she and the twins could return to their own house. On the last evening the twins cooked a special meal.

‘I am so full!' Leon said spreading himself out on the sofa afterwards.

‘It was good!' Pellier agreed, pressing the television remote as he sat down beside him.

‘Well done to the chefs! I'll get us some coffee,' Ruby said, carrying a pile of plates out to the kitchen.

She returned ten minutes later to find the others watching the television with wide eyes.

‘Why is he pulling her clothes off?' Yuri asked as the couple on the screen exchanged passionate kisses and stumbled towards the bedroom.

Ruby gave a short laugh, ‘It's pretty obvious, isn't it?'

Seven blank faces turned towards her.

‘Oh, no!' she shook her head. ‘You really don't know, do you?'

‘Could you explain, please?' Pellier asked her.

‘Well, they're going to …' she glanced at the screen where the woman was now pulling the man down onto the bed beside her, ‘They're going to … have sex!'

Leon frowned, ‘Is that when they mate?'

‘Yes,' Ruby could feel her face burning. ‘Well, not always. Sometimes people do it for fun! Like those people!'

The girls exchanged looks as if doubting that what was happening on the screen could be fun.

‘Didn't you talk about this at all in the Caves? At least about mating?' Ruby asked them.

‘We did not think of mating. The Nursery Ward is full of developing young,' Yuri told her.

Ruby steeled herself, ‘Well, now you are in the Non-Lab world, especially at parties and other social gatherings at university, you are going to need to know something, quite a lot actually, about … sex. And protecting yourself.'

‘You mean it can turn violent?' Sakura whispered. The other girls' hands flew to their mouths.

‘No, well, hopefully not,' Ruby cast her mind back to the sex education lessons she had had at school over the past few years. She took a deep breath and began to explain the basics.

The next morning Ruby hugged each of them in turn as they stood beside the train to take her and the twins' home.

‘You must telephone immediately if you need any help or advice. Anything at all,' she told them.

‘We will,' the girls said.

‘This new life promises to be most interesting,' Yuri gave them a slight bow.

Ruby turned to Pellier, ‘You will all look after each other, OK?'

He gave her a solemn nod, ‘Labs always stand together!'