The System Read online

  Thomas appeared to consider this; then he laughed. ‘You’re right. But it doesn’t matter, because I know you, Linus, that’s the thing. I know you. I know everyone.’ He turned to Benjamin, who looked at him stonily. Raffy tried to imagine Benjamin as the young boy who had worked for Thomas, the gang leader who Thomas had tried to recruit, who had eventually resisted. But he couldn’t see it; he could only see Benjamin, brave, thoughtful leader of the Settlement that Thomas had destroyed, just like he’d destroyed everything else.

  ‘Where’s my room?’ Evie said suddenly.

  Thomas pointed to a door and she rushed towards it, opened it, then slammed it behind her. Raffy felt his stomach clench; he knew that she needed to be behind closed doors because the pain of what had happened, what was happening, was overwhelming her.

  And it was his fault. It was he who had led Thomas to them, driven by anger, by envy, by jealousy. Of Lucas. Always his brother, Lucas. Lucas, who was so noble and strong. Lucas, who Evie loved. Lucas, who was now alone because Raffy had stopped Evie from escaping with him, making her hate him even more than before. Thomas knew how to manipulate, and he had manipulated Raffy. He had manipulated him to the point where Raffy had lost sight of who he was, of what he believed in. To the point where he had betrayed his friends, betrayed everything he thought he had stood for.

  But he’d been a willing participant. He’d been easy prey.

  ‘Teenagers,’ Thomas said with a little sigh. ‘So, Linus. What do you think? Bit better than that cave you were working in, right? I’ve even got you a kettle. Loose-leaf tea. I know how much you love your tea.’

  ‘I do like a cup of tea.’ Linus nodded, a little smile on his lips. ‘So I guess it’s just like the old days then.’

  ‘Exactly!’ Thomas said happily, his eyes shining. He was looking so pleased with himself, Raffy found himself thinking. Like a child. Were they all just like toys to him? Was all of this just some elaborate game? ‘Well, I’ll leave you to get to work shall I? The computer will talk you through the operating system. Obviously yours mirrors, but isn’t connected to, the mainframe. Just in case you get any ideas,’ he said lightly.

  ‘Obviously,’ Linus said.

  ‘And you, Devil, what would you like?’ Thomas asked, turning to Benjamin, using the street name he had shed many years before.

  ‘My name is Benjamin, and I would like to leave this place. I would like to go back to my people,’ Benjamin said, his eyes thunderous.

  Thomas looked pained. ‘Yeah, I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. So, second choice?’

  Benjamin glared at him. ‘You used me,’ he said, his voice low and angry. ‘Many years ago you used me, but I fought back. I escaped from your clutches, Thomas. And now you think you will use me again. You think that by threatening me, my friend Linus will do your bidding. But I will not be used, Thomas. I will not.’

  Thomas raised an eyebrow ‘No? And exactly how do you expect to escape from me this time, Devil? There are no police to run to, no prison that will protect you. You’re in my world, Benjamin. I control everything. And I control you. The sooner you accept that, the better for us all.’

  Benjamin appeared to contemplate this. He turned and stared at Thomas. Then he smiled. ‘You like to control people, Thomas. You always have; that’s all you’ve ever wanted to do. Manipulate, control, create order. You think so little of people, Thomas. You think we are all like you, that we are all susceptible to bribery or punishment of some kind or another, that our morals are changeable or even non-existent. You have never understood people who believe in something, who stand for something. We unnerve you; make you want to control us even more. But a controlled life is not a life, Thomas. The human spirit needs more than what you can offer. You think you have control of the world but I can tell you that you don’t. There will be pockets of people across the globe who are conspiring against you. Pockets of people right here, wherever we are. Little weeds pressing up against the concrete you have laid. And they will find a way through. They always do, Thomas.’

  ‘Giving me a sermon are you, Benjamin?’ Thomas sneered. ‘What on earth makes you think I am interested in anything you say? You were a drug-running lowlife when I met you. In my eyes you still are. You’re pathetic, Benjamin. You stand for nothing but self-preservation.’

  ‘Self-preservation?’ Benjamin laughed. ‘Nothing could be further from the truth, Thomas. I stand for many things, but not that. I stand for freedom. I stand for allowing people to achieve their potential, for encouraging independence of thought. I stand for hard work and duty. I stand for loyalty. I stand for forgiveness. And I stand for making a stand. When required. To make a point. To remind people who they are, what they àre capable of.’ He turned his gaze to Raffy, who reddened. ‘You remember the Bible, Thomas? Remember you liked me to recite it to you? You like this, Thomas? “Because you despise what I tell you, and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly – like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.”’ Benjamin’s eyes were flashing; Raffy had never heard him speak like this, like he’d been possessed, like his silence in the past few hours had all built up to this huge eruption. ‘“In an instant it will collapse”,’ he said, almost shouting now, ‘“and come crashing down. You will be smashed like a piece of pottery – shattered so completely that there won’t be a piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from the well.” That is what lies ahead for you, Thomas. That is what you have to look forward to.’

  Thomas smiled uncomfortably. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve turned back to religion in your old age, Benjamin? You really think I’m going to be intimidated by something written thousands of years ago?’

  Benjamin shook his head. ‘I have never needed to follow the path someone else has set out for me,’ he said. ‘Nor have I ever needed to believe in anything to give my life meaning. But I do believe in redemption. And I do believe that sometimes, through death, can come life. From weakness can come strength. From an ending can come a beginning.’

  He was staring at Thomas, but every so often he glanced meaningfully at Raffy, making it clear that the words were intended for him as much as Thomas. It brought Raffy out in goosebumps.

  Thomas cleared his throat. ‘All utterly fascinating, Benjamin. And I hope you felt the sarcasm in that comment because truly, you have none of the ability of your father. You are a very dull man. So, moving on …’

  ‘I would rather be dull than a tyrant,’ Benjamin interrupted him. ‘And I would rather be dead than see you triumph. But you won’t triumph, Thomas. I know that.’

  He started to walk towards the windows, his eyes boring into Raffy’s. Thomas watched him warily. ‘Benjamin. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. I’ve told you, the windows are electrified.’

  ‘I do not fear death,’ Benjamin said, continuing to walk. ‘And I do not fear you. But you, Thomas, what do you fear? Failure? Being revealed as the pathetic, insecure man that you really are? I have lived a full life. I have done what I set out to do. And now it is the turn of others.’ He was still looking at Raffy. ‘Now it is time for the prodigal son to return.’ He reached out to the windows. ‘I know he won’t let me down. And I will be watching. From wherever I am, I will be watching.’

  ‘Stop him,’ Thomas shouted, but it was too late; Benjamin had grabbed onto a handle. Immediately there was a buzzing sound, which got increasingly louder.

  ‘No!’ Raffy screamed and rushed towards him, but it was too late; Benjamin’s entire body was convulsing and there was a sickening smell of burning. Linus reached out and grabbed Raffy’s arm, holding him back. ‘Let him go,’ he whispered. ‘Let him escape what we can’t.’

  ‘Get him off,’ Thomas was shouting, but Milo appeared frozen to the spot.

  ‘I touch him and I’m fried too,’ he managed to say, his eyes wide with confusion. ‘Why would he do that? Why?’

  The buzzing stopped and Benjamin’s body fell to the ground.

  ‘Becaus
e he was mad,’ Thomas said, looking at his body in disgust. ‘Get rid of him, someone. Get rid of him now.’

  ‘He wasn’t mad,’ Raffy seethed, rushing forwards. He tried to wrap his arms around Benjamin, drag him away, but an electrical volt shot through him, forcing him back. Steeling himself, he reached out again and closed Benjamin’s eyes.

  He heard a sound behind him, a muffled cry, and he turned slightly to see Evie standing in the doorway, her face white, her eyes wide in shock. From the look on her face she had seen everything.

  Linus crouched down beside him. ‘He couldn’t face prison again,’ he said quietly. ‘We all have to fight in different ways, Raffy. Benjamin wanted to go out shouting. And he did. He did.’

  Raffy nodded miserably. ‘He was talking to me,’ he said, his voice choking up. ‘I’m the prodigal son, aren’t I? He still believed in me. After everything I’ve done.’

  Linus caught his eye. ‘Benjamin always understood people who got lost,’ he whispered. ‘Maybe he was hoping you’d find your way back.’ He stood up and walked away, leaving Raffy to stare at Benjamin, a thousand questions circling his head, questions that he knew Benjamin could never answer.

  ‘Get rid of him,’ Thomas hissed at Milo, who was standing now, and immediately started talking into his palm, his face still white, his hands still visibly shaking. ‘Get rid of the body now, do you understand?’ Thomas continued. ‘And you …’ He stared angrily at Raffy and Linus. ‘Both of you get to work. Now.’

  ‘Whatever you want, Thomas,’ Linus said quietly, as he walked towards his cubicle, leaving Raffy staring down at the father figure he had loved, respected; the man who had believed in him.

  Benjamin would not have died in vain, he told himself as he slowly stood up. He would repay his trust, prove that he was worth a second chance. Like Benjamin had said, he wouldn’t let him down.

  2

  Lucas felt the glare of the sun hit his face and he opened his eyes and squinted.

  ‘You really should be getting up,’ Martha said, her usual warm smile filling her face. ‘I’ve brought you a cup of tea.’

  Lucas looked at the mug on his bedside table. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Time to get going,’ Martha said. ‘Time to get up and eat some good food and go to work.’

  Lucas raised an eyebrow. It had been his idea for Martha to move in to his old house with him; after Thomas had taken Linus and the others, he had taken it upon himself to go to Base Camp and break the news to Martha, Angel and the others. Angel had immediately gone north with most of the men to tell the people of the Settlement that it was time to come out of their caves, time to rebuild their township; Martha, meanwhile, had told Lucas she was coming back to the City with him. And at first he’d thought it was because she didn’t want to be left alone, because she was afraid. But increasingly he was realising that in fact she had come to look after him; to make sure he ate well, that he slept, that he had someone to come home to. And he kind of liked it, but he also found it tiresome sometimes.

  She always wanted to talk, kept telling him how strong he was, how lucky the City was to have him, like he needed building up or something. The truth was he didn’t need anything. As the days went by, any hope that Lucas might have had was diminishing, any belief that Evie would come back, that life would resume. She was gone, and now there was no point to anything. It had taken him a long time to accept, to digest what Thomas had told him, but he knew the truth now, knew that the City was just a little experiment, a means to an end. Nothing was real. And Lucas suspected – no, was certain – that Thomas would want to destroy his little experiment before too long. Before anyone else found out. Before his little plan started to unravel. With Linus tasked with rebuilding the System, Lucas knew that things would unravel pretty quickly. Thomas had no idea what he was dealing with.

  For a moment he allowed himself a little smile as he imagined Linus stealthily pulling apart everything Thomas had built, those twinkly blue eyes of his revealing nothing of what was going on inside his head. Linus was the most infuriating person Lucas had ever met, but there was no one else he’d want on his side more.

  Except Evie, of course.

  But the truth was, he hadn’t had a message from Linus in weeks. No signal at all.

  And that’s why his hope had gone. That’s why he didn’t care anymore.

  He closed his eyes, felt his chest clench with desperate rage that she had been taken away from him yet again, rage at his brother for bringing Thomas to Linus’s cave, rage at himself for escaping and leaving her behind. He didn’t know what had happened; he had followed Linus’s instructions faithfully, expecting Evie to follow … He should have made her go first. He should have held back, waited, watched. It had all happened so quickly, under Thomas’s watchful eye, but he should have known, should have held onto her, should have been better, stronger …

  He had failed her. And now, now he had no idea where she was. If she was even alive.

  ‘Lucas, your tea is getting cold,’ Martha said sternly, picking up his clothes from the day before and bundling them into the laundry.

  Lucas pulled himself up. ‘Leave those,’ he said. ‘I can do it.’

  ‘You can lead the City, Lucas. Let me take care of the washing. Now, breakfast will be ready in ten minutes. Don’t make me come and get you.’

  Lucas heard her walking down the stairs, and let his head fall back against the pillow again. Lead the City. He’d dreamed of doing just that for most of his life, dreamed of leading it towards freedom, banishing the System, destroying all the lies that had held its people captive for so long.

  And now? Now he was doing just that. Now people treated him like a hero; they looked to him to tell them what to do, tell them how they should live. The lies were behind them; the truth was known, and bit by bit the people of the City were rebuilding their lives, adapting to their new freedoms, to living without labels, without tyranny.

  But they didn’t know the biggest lie of all. They didn’t know that the very world they lived in was a lie, that everything they’d ever experienced had been orchestrated by one evil, crazy man; that beyond the sea, the world lived on, that they were not survivors of a global war, because there had been no war.

  They were nothing.

  Everything was nothing.

  There was no point even getting out of bed, because anything he or anyone else might do would be, in the end, entirely meaningless.

  ‘I knew it!’ Lucas looked up to see Martha standing in the doorway, a frown etched into her face. ‘Lucas, you have to stop this.’

  ‘Stop what?’ Lucas sighed. ‘Martha, I’m getting up. I will get up. Soon.’

  ‘And what then? You’ll wander into your office, stare into space, give no one any of the answers they crave, no vision for them to follow? Lucas, you have to pull yourself out of this. You have to, for the City’s sake.’

  ‘The City?’ Lucas shook his head wearily. ‘The City is a sham. The City is doomed. Thomas will come for us, and when he does, we’ll be destroyed. You know that and I know that. He’ll bomb us to smithereens just like he bombed the Settlement, only this time he won’t leave any survivors, unless we’re willing to hide in caves for the rest of our lives.’

  He sat forward, looked Martha right in the eye. ‘My father died for something he believed in, and I spent my life pretending to be something that I’m not, all for nothing. All for nothing.’

  He felt a lump appear in his throat and he looked away, out of the window to the grey sky framed by heavy wooden shutters.

  Martha walked towards him. ‘So you’ve given up?’ she asked quietly.

  Lucas shook his head. ‘I’m just seeing things how they are,’ he said.

  ‘You’re just allowing yourself to wallow in self-pity you mean.’ Martha shook her head. ‘Honestly, if Linus heard you … if Angel heard you, for that matter, there’d be hell to pay. So there are more lies, so you have a new enemy. So fight him. Warn your peopl
e; give them a chance to defend themselves. Fight for us. Fight for yourself. Fight for Evie. Or have you given up on her, too?’

  Lucas rounded on her angrily. ‘Given up? Martha, he’s taken her away and I have no idea if she’s even alive. I let her down. I let him take her. And I will never forgive myself.’

  ‘No, Lucas,’ Martha said, sitting down on the bed. ‘From what you’ve told me it sounds like Linus made sure you got away. And he generally does things for a reason, doesn’t he?’

  ‘He wanted us all to escape,’ Lucas said miserably.

  ‘And he thought Thomas would let that happen?’ Martha’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Lucas, just think about it. Linus doesn’t make mistakes. Nothing he ever does is random. It’s all part of a plan. So if you’re here and Evie isn’t, chances are there’s a reason for that. And chances are Linus hoped you wouldn’t just go to bed and stay there. You said there was a signal. Said he was communicating with you.’

  ‘He was,’ Lucas said grimly. ‘And now he isn’t.’

  Martha looked at him worriedly, then folded her arms. ‘If something was wrong, he’d have let you know,’ she said firmly. ‘If he’s gone quiet it’s because he’s being watched too closely. They’re alive. I know they are. If Thomas wants his System, Linus is alive, and Evie too.’

  ‘Alive for how long?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘Stop, Lucas,’ Martha said then, a note of irritation in her voice. ‘You can’t give up. You can’t. You know the System better than anyone else, except Linus. So use it. Find a way of communicating with Linus. Find out where Evie is. And prepare the City for Thomas’s attack if you’re so sure it’s coming. The people here believe in you. Maybe you should start believing in yourself, too.’

  She looked at Lucas meaningfully, then stood up and left the room. ‘Breakfast is ready downstairs,’ she called from the stairs a few minutes later.

  Lucas closed his eyes for a few seconds; then he opened them again, jumped out of bed and headed for the shower.