The Phoenix Project

by M. R. Pritchard

  “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to keep your wounds clean,” the doctor instructs me in perfect English. “Your leg wounds are just on the surface, but your back wounds are very deep.” He hands me an envelope of medication. “Antibiotics twice a day and take pain medications as you need them. The stitches can come out in about a week.”

  I thank him as he collects his things and leaves.

  “How did you report what happened?” I ask Adam as I stand up slowly and pull the bloody ragged shirt back on.

  “Your phone,” he tells me, pointing to the white phone on the wall. “Didn’t you check it? Because it works, you just press any number and it directs the call to a switchboard.”

  I never thought to check the phone. I just assumed they were all out of service.

  “What did Baillie mean by needing someone with your experience?”

  He crosses his arms and leans against the wall. “I’m not sure I can tell you. At least not right now. We aren’t supposed to talk about it,” he responds mimicking my comment from this morning. I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry after this evenings events and I can’t deal with the tension between us anymore. Maybe I could try to get over being mad at him for betraying me, because really, I have no one else here.

  “Thank you, for saving us,” I tell him. “I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t show up.” I can feel the pressure of tears welling up behind my eyes. Breathing in deep I swallow them down.

  “I think you should stay away from the woods and don’t go walking alone in the evening. After all that’s happened, you never know what’s hiding in the woods.” He runs his hands through is hair and sits down across from me. “Make sure you keep your dog around, she seems to be pretty good at trying to protect you two.”

  I look back at Stevie who is now sleeping on the floor next to where Lina lays on the couch. When I turn Adam is staring at me. The furrow between his eyebrows is back. “What?” I ask.

  “Did you look at those wolves?” I shake my head no. “They were just skin and bones, like they hadn’t eaten in days.”

  “That’s strange. There’s been plenty of wildlife around here, squirrels and deer.”

  “I went back out to check the woods, near where you left the bicycle, while you were upstairs. There were crates, four of them, back in the trees. “

  “What? But that doesn’t make sense. Who would crate wolves in the forest?”

  “Andie, I think someone crated them there on purpose.”

  “What do you mean? Like they were waiting for us?”

  “Yes.” Adam looks into my eyes, he’s right, I know it.

  And now it hits me, harder than before, that now I must be unyielding in my efforts to keep my daughter safe, because someone is planning to harm us.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  There has been a steady stream of Volker assigned to watch us around the clock. I see them parked outside my house at night and during the evenings when we’re dropped off. Crane has forbidden me from going anywhere without a Volker. Including trips to the grocery store or while playing outside. It’s starting to make me feel more like a prisoner.

  Because of the details of the wolf attack Crane changed the guidelines to the Volker duties. They are now required to monitor and protect all Sovereign committee members as though they are our personal body guards. Like now, as a Volker drives us across campus, to another meeting. I look out the window and see a stream of people filing into a large building, adults and children. The children will be assigned to educational training, attending schooling during most of the day and returning to their parents in the evening. That is, if their parents are deemed fit.

  Yesterday, Crane made the decision that all those residents with criminal histories will be sterilized and assigned menial labor jobs, without testing, jobs such as building the stone wall. I thought of arguing with him, and the rest of the committee, but deep down, I knew it was what I wanted. As much as I didn’t want to make these decisions, sometimes I feel like Crane was right when he pointed out why he chose me. So far, with minimal effort, I have helped decide the course of a few thousand people’s lives.

  After the residents are assigned occupations then they will undergo health exams. DNA samples will be taken and placed in a deep freezer until a lab is ready. The younger residents showing excellent health and athletic ability will be assigned to Volker training and weaned off the medication. Children showing similar abilities will be assigned training in their last few years of schooling. My heart breaks for those gifted children showing exceptional learning abilities. Those children with high IQ marks, they would be taken from their families and assigned to a program to train them to take over running the District. They will receive more schooling than the other children, the training required to become the next generation of Sovereign. I guess I’m lucky that I get to keep my daughter with me during her training.

  Crane informed us that one hundred helpers from the Japan District would be arriving soon, to help with the organization and documentation of these changes. It seems strange to me that in a few short days all this will be taking place. The medications they are feeding the people of this town have prevented any uprisings. People walk calmly, smiling, some even chat quietly as they wait. It’s hard to believe that over the past few days, during the committee meetings, this was all determined and today I see it taking place before me.

  We stop in front of Culkin Hall. The sign has been replaced. It now reads “Phoenix District Headquarters.” The last committee meeting was cancelled the day after the wolf attack. So Baillie could do a full investigation. I’m not sure what he investigated, because I never spoke to him.

  I get the feeling that Baillie doesn’t care much about our safety here, just as much as I can tell he doesn’t care about my suggestions during the committee meetings.

  The Volker that drove us also escorts us to the Committee room.

  Ms. Black is there to work with Lina again. Alexander and Morris both stand and greet me with smiles. Morris is closest to me and pulls out a chair for me to sit in. I notice more changes, the table is now large, round and made of dark wood. The floor looks different also. The only seat left is opposite Baillie. I’m not happy that I have to go through the entire meeting with this pain in my back and watching him stare me down. Crane starts the meeting. The only things on today’s agenda are Genetic Research and Breeding.

  “Andromeda, are you sure you are ready?” Crane asks. He’s staring at me, trying his best to look concerned. I gaze around the table. Alexander and Morris have their eyes on me also. As well as Baillie and Ms. Black is even watching me from the corner where she works with Lina.

  Somehow, I know that one of these people tried to kill me and Lina. And I need to find out who it was.

  “I’m fine,” I say as I try and straighten my back, without pulling the stitches.

  “Ok then, let’s begin. We will discuss the details of the genetic research program. The lab for Andromeda should be completed soon, as well as the samples from all of the residents. Here are some examples of Andromeda’s work for you all to look over.”

  I watch in dismay as Crane passes thick packets to Alexander, Baillie, Morris, even Ms. Black. I lean over and watch Morris shift through them. Crane has compiled a collection of every research paper I’ve ever published: articles, abstracts, presentations, everything.

  “Why are you handing those out?” I can feel the humiliation of long ago, from all those research meetings I attended in which I was ridiculed, told my work was worthless, no good. I want to try and stop Crane. “These are old papers. They don’t apply to what you are trying to do here.”

  “Andromeda, the Committee needs to see what you are capable of.”

  I watch the committee members glance through the stack of papers, hoping that I can remember how to analyze the data, hoping that I can remember how to do what I did before. It’s been four years since I analyzed anything. I know that I have to remember, if I want to
keep us safe, it is the only thing keeping Crane from sending us to a fate similar to that of the other residents. Medicating me into oblivion and splitting us up.

  I sit and wait for a long time as they review the papers. They take notes, make lists. Eventually Crane interrupts them. “Let’s move onto the details of the Genetic Research of the District and what we would like to see is the organization of residents who are related. We want to create the greatest genetic diversity possible. This will help decrease genetic diseases, mental instabilities, etc, etc. I’m sure you all understand the benefits. Also, a major goal of ours is to locate the genetic link to pro-social behavior and less dominant personalities, once this is complete we can decrease the amount of medication the working factions are receiving, and ensure cooperation with all residents.”

  Deep down, I feel like this is an unattainable goal. This is going to take an insurmountable amount of digging into the human genome to find these traits and even more to try and develop a method for humans to continually express these traits as a dominant. Years ago, I attempted something similar in rats. I was even successful, but these are not rats we are talking about. These are human beings.

  Crane continues. “This brings us onto the next topic, which is breeding. As you know, there are only about 10,000 residents left after the blast. There are some children here but not enough to support the Phoenix District into the future. Once Andromeda has determined the residents’ genetic backgrounds then she will be responsible for pairing them. Creating couples with the ability to produce genetically sound children, ensuring the growth of the district.” Suddenly all of them are staring at me, aware of the task that has just been placed upon my shoulders. I control the urge to run out of the room, collecting my daughter along the way. “You will all be notified of when the next Committee meeting will take place, we are finished for the day.” Crane slams his hammer down, ending the meeting. As he collects our trays he stops next to me. “We need to talk when we are finished here.”

  I wait in the hallway with Lina after the rest of the committee members leave. Crane locks the door and walks to us, smiling. “I have something very exciting to show you, Andromeda. Come, follow me.” He reminds me of an excited puppy the way he bounces as he walks, smiling more than I’ve ever seen him smile. The last time I saw him this excited was when he showed me the blast radius. I’m afraid of what he plans on revealing to me now. We walk out of the building to a waiting SUV, the thought of being stuck in there with him sends my stomach churning. I sit in the back with Lina and roll the windows down. We drive down a few winding campus roads, heading to the science buildings. They’re hard to forget, large, wide buildings with shimmering glass fronts facing the campus center and the lake. The SUV stops in front of the Chemistry Hall. Crane gets out and holds the door open for me. I notice there are Volker guards standing at the main entrance and a group of recruits runs by us in a cluster, humming a harmony to keep the pace with each other.

  “Come, this is very exciting,” Crane beckons me.

  I take Lina’s hand as we walk into the Chemistry Hall. There’s a large atrium as we enter the building. Each of the four floors is visible all the way to the glass roof.

  “Wow,” Lina whispers as she looks all the way up. Her eyes large, taking in the massive windows.

  “I would like to welcome you, Andromeda, to your new laboratory,” Crane exclaims. “Come, follow me.” We walk through a set of glass doors. “The entire first floor has been set aside as work space for you. I think you’ll find it quite accommodating.” I take a moment to look around. There are lab benches, all of the equipment on my list, even the expensive microarray instrument, computers, freezers, it’s a fully stocked lab. This is unheard of, especially acquiring all this in such a short period of time. “The best part is over here.” Crane reaches for my hand, but I force a cough and cover my mouth. I follow him to the middle of the room where there is a large wooden desk, rows of low filing cabinets. The best part is the computer. Three large computer screens line the wall behind the desk. I always complained in the last lab that my computer was never fast enough to handle all the data, the screen never big enough, but there was never money in the budget to replace anything at my workstation. This is unbelievable. Crane must have seen my mouth hanging open. “You like it don’t you? I knew you would.” He clasps his hands in front of him.

  “Crane, this is too much. This lab, it must have cost a fortune.”

  “As I told you, Andromeda, we have a lot of funding and we want you to succeed with your work.”

  I walk away from him, running my hand over the smooth desk surface. Lina jumps into the office chair, spinning herself and giggling. “What about Lina? Where will she be while I work?” I ask Crane, concerned. I don’t want her far from me. I don’t trust these people.

  “Yes, I knew you would be concerned with her location. A classroom will be set up in the atrium right outside your doors. And for your safety, living quarters are being constructed on the fourth level.”

  “What do you mean living quarters?”

  “Due to the recent events I think it would be best to house you somewhere safer. Here you will have Volker security and you will be able to work whenever you want.”

  “I’m not sure I like this, Crane. It feels like you are trying to keep me captive.”

  “No, Andromeda, I’m just trying to keep you and Lina safe. You are both very important to me and to the District.”

  --

  Crane has informed me that lab assistants will be arriving from the already established Japanese District, with the other helpers. They are expected to arrive in a few days. Until then, I am free to do whatever I want. Except go anywhere by myself.

  Lina and I sleep in, she plays with her toys, we play board games, and throw sticks for Stevie to fetch. One day, Lina tells me she wants to read to me. She pulls out one of her books and proceeds to read the entire thing out loud. She never pauses to sound out a word, or asks me to pronounce something for her. I tell her I am very proud of her, and that she did such a good job. But deep down I am sad at the fact she is growing up and learning so much, so fast, without her father here to see it.

  After she reads to me I have one of the Volker bring us to the large park by the docks. There are a few children playing. The Volker stands off to the side, watching us. Mothers stand off to the other side, watching the children, talking quietly amongst themselves. Usually there is at least one inappropriate mother yelling loudly at her children, smoking near the garbage cans or hollering into a cell phone, but not today. They all act eerily controlled. I notice them watching me. I let Lina play with the children for an hour or so as I stand there alone, feeling strange and uncomfortable.

  When we get back to the townhouse Adam is getting out of a black SUV parked in his driveway. He’s in full Volker uniform with a badge on his chest and a gun on his hip. I haven’t spoken to him since the wolves attacked us almost a week ago and I haven’t even seen him in almost three days. Whatever Baillie is doing with him, it’s keeping him very busy.

  Lina is helping me cook dinner when there is a knock at the door. I open it fid Adam standing there, hands in his pockets.

  “Hi,” I greet him, holding back a smile.

  “Hi Adam!” Lina shouts from behind me. “We are cooking dinner. Do you want to eat?”

  Adam looks to me smiling, “I’m not sure, that’s up to your mom.”

  “Mom! Mom! Can he stay?” Lina asks, bouncing on her chair.

  “I guess,” I respond, watching Adam, trying to figure out what he’s up to. “Besides we made your favorite, vegetables and rice. So it would be rude not to invite you in.” I tease him while opening the door wide so he can enter the kitchen.

  “At least it smells good,” Adam laughs.

  Lina and I set the table for dinner. It’s the first time there have been three people at the table since we lost Ian. I listen to Lina tell Adam all about our day, how she got to play at the park with some other kids.
Then she tells him about the lab we toured a few days ago, and that we are moving there soon. Adam stops, lowering his fork to his plate he looks at me, concerned. I nod yes at him to indicate that she is, in fact, telling a true story. After dinner Lina drags Adam to a stack of playing cards in the living room and they play go-fish while I clean up. Lina beats him each time, finally, after the fourth game, Adam gives up. I suggest we go throw rocks by the lake while the sun sets.

  “Are you sure moving into that building is a good idea?” Adam asks me when we get to the rocky lakeshore. Stevie follows us, jumping into the shallow lake waves and biting at them.

  “I’m not sure what you want me to do,” I tell him. “I don’t like the idea of it. But we aren’t safe here. I’m not sure we are safe anywhere.”

  Adam turns to me, staring into my eyes. I hear Lina tossing rocks behind us.

  “I can protect you, Andie.” Adam reaches for my hand. His feels warm and strong. I want him to protect us, but I relied on Ian to protect us and look where that got me. I can’t make that mistake again, I have to be able to rely on myself to keep Lina safe.

  “I got promoted today,” Adam changes the subject, “to the head of the University Unit. I will be responsible for patrolling this area, assigning guard duties and training.” This is not what I was expecting to hear from him, that he’s moving up in the ranks, quickly becoming one of them. If he is the head of a unit that means he works directly under Baillie. He will be taking orders from Baillie. Just as I was starting to think I might be able to trust him again. I try and pull my hand away, but he squeezes it. “I was hoping you would be happy for me Andie.” Then he pulls my hand, forcing me to move towards him. I don’t recognize the look on his face. He reaches out with his free hand and pulls me towards him as though he is hugging me. He smells like the Adam before everything changed, when he was in my house, and I was waiting for my family to come home. I stop trying to pull away. I can hear Lina still throwing rocks behind me. At first it feels nice, to have his arms around me, to have contact with another adult. “Andie,” Adam whispers in my ear, “I need you to listen, I need you to listen because they are watching and listening at all times. Your townhouse is bugged, so is mine. Crane is looking for rebels who might be trying to destroy the district he is working so hard at creating. He is looking for anyone who might not cooperate. I want you to know that I’m with you. I have to get close to them, so I can find a way out for us. I need you to trust me.” He pushes me back so I can see the seriousness in his eyes. I search his face. I have that gut feeling that this is the truth, and even if it may be the first truth he is telling me, right now he is our only hope at getting out of here and back to the real world.