by G F Cusack
“No sir. I serve at your pleasure. I just wanted to ensure that you received a report of the results of the assaults in person and in a timely manner.”
“As soon as you knew that the results of the assaults were successful,” Brand said with a wry smile. “That’s okay, I appreciate that you are bringing me good news for a change. For this, you don’t just get to live another day. As a display of my trust, I have another task for you. Captain Smit seems to be having some trouble controlling the Norms living in the capital. Riots and disturbances are becoming more and more frequent. I realise that policing is not the best use for your particular talents so I am tasking you to evaluate Smit. I have told Smit that some of your elite forces will be supplementing his security forces around the capital.”
Will took this in. “As you wish.”
“Your men will be primarily protecting the council buildings but you will personally observe Smit as he carries out his other tasks. You will spend a couple days with him and will then report back to me with suggestions on how we can improve matters. Look at his subordinates and let me know if you think any of them could do a better job. I am not prepared to throw resources at Smit if he is going to waste them.
“The masses are not a real physical threat to the elite. However, incompetency such as Smit is displaying could make matters worse and impact on their revenue streams. None of the council leaders would defy me openly, but any opening in which they can feel emboldened could inconvenience me. As you are aware, William, I do not like to be inconvenienced.”
“I will task two of my troops to immediately bolster the guards in the council buildings. At the same time, another troop will be tasked to accompany me with Captain Smit, giving me oversight and also ensuring that I do not meet some kind of freak accident.”
“Yes,” Brand said. “Take precautions. Smit may be incompetent but he is not stupid. He will see you as a threat and, like any cornered animal, that is when he is at his most dangerous. He won’t openly shoot one of my representatives but if a simple accident were to befall you, he would get rid of the oversight that you are providing and blame you for your incompetence. And by proxy he would try to push back and blame me”.
“My troops are loyal to you, sir,” Will replied. “They will be briefed on the potential threat from Smit and he will not be given any opportunity to hurt you or myself.”
“Good to hear. I’m glad we are on the same wavelength at last. I require an update from you in three days – that’s seventy-two hours. Do you understand?”
“I will have my first recommendations for you within seventy-two hours,” Will stated. It wasn’t long but for once Brand seemed in a good mood and this was not the time to sour it.
“Just to show you that I do reward loyalty, I have a gift for you.” Brand gestured towards a female assistant. This was a different woman from Will’s earlier visit. She wore the same plain robe but had a much curvier body and filled it out well. “You will be starting the task tomorrow morning but tonight, as a reward for today’s success, you have the company of Lola. Lola, you belong to William for the evening. Do whatever he says and I will see you back here tomorrow evening,” Brand said casually to the woman.
“Thank you for your generosity, sir,” Will said as he exited the office with Lola.
Will knew there was always subterfuge in Brand’s decisions. To anyone else, this might seem like he was being given a simple reward of a woman to use for sex. But everybody Brand employed spied for him. Will would have to be cautious in taking Lola to his quarters. He wasn’t stupid enough to have anything incriminating left out in the open but anything could be misconstrued and lead to his demotion or execution.
He was aware of the possibility of being drugged by such a tantalising companion. He would be sure to pour and monitor any drinks that they consumed and before he retired to go to sleep he would get Lola escorted from his apartment. He didn’t believe he spoke in his sleep – he had recorded himself sleeping on several occasions to verify this – but one could never be sure what minor piece of evidence could incriminate you.
Of course, Will wasn’t plotting against Brand but in order to survive in the political environment of the capital, he had to keep some secrets. Information is power and, because of his proximity to Brand, he was sometimes rewarded for favours from the other council members.
Currently nobody had the power to rise against Brand but if at any stage one of them saw weakness, and an opportunity to take down Brand, this would put Will in danger.
Hedging his bets was a very dangerous game to play, but the capital was also a very dangerous environment. It was not just dangerous for the poor, who were treated like cattle and fed to each other. It was also dangerous for any elite who displayed weakness. All of the other elites were like vultures looking for the next carcass.
38
Debs’ convoys head for the border
16 September 2202
Debs and her convoys had been following the scouts, who had been following the Company forces for the last three days. They had maintained a safe distance from the scouts while remaining in radio contact.
The radio began to squawk. “Hello, Convoy one, this is Forager.”
Debs grabbed the handset. “Hello, Forager, this is Convoy one. Send your message.”
“The Company forces have disappeared. I say again, the Company forces have disappeared.”
“Please confirm: have you lost contact or have you lost the Company forces?” Debs asked.
“We have arrived at the toxic wastelands and there is no sign of them. Do you want us to continue into the wastelands?” The scout’s voice wavered.
After quickly analysing this information, Debs issued her orders. “Find cover and wait for us to reach your location. Do you understand?”
“Message received and understood. We are still on the same road so just continue to head north and you will see us.”
“We will be with you in approximately thirty minutes,” Debs said. She’d heard of the toxic wastelands before. Supposedly it was a remnant of the Water Wars, the old border area between what had been the two countries of Canada and the USA, now scarred by nuclear and chemical fallout.
If the Company forces had disappeared in this area, they may have taken a safe passage she was unaware of. Until she had a chance to observe this for herself, she was not going to put her scouts in harm’s way. Having determined her next moves, she had to brief the other convoys.
“Hello Convoy two, this is Convoy one.”
“This is Convoy two, send your message.”
“Convoy two, I am heading for a rendezvous with our scouts, I need you to halt at the next safe location you find, take cover and wait for my message. Do you understand?”
“Loud and clear, we will find cover and wait for your call,” Cenk replied.
“Thank you, stay safe and we will talk soon.”
Debs next called Convoy three with an almost identical message to Lacey.
Lacey, having listened to her conversation with Cenk, had already begun searching for a safe location to park his fighters.
“We’re just coming to a halt now,” Lacey told her.
“Thank you, stay safe and we will talk soon.”
Debs pondered that it was fortunate that she thrived on a challenge. Every time she thought she had prepared for the next eventuality, things changed. She looked around at the other occupants in the vehicle. Eric was asleep but Pepper was listening intently.
“What’s this toxic wasteland?” Pepper asked.
“It’s a place that was destroyed during the Water Wars. It’s said that this area used to be a border between the two countries of Canada and the United States of America. It was bombed from both sides to stop their opponents using it as a staging post for attacks. Any plants and wildlife that live there are deformed or toxic.”
“I have to admit that I’ve never been this far north before. Not even when I was a Company trainee,” Pepper said unguardedly.
>
“You were a Company trainee?” Debs asked suspiciously.
“I was with the Company but then they decided that they preferred me dead. As I preferred me alive, I decided that we should part ways,” Pepper said with a smile.
Debs seemed to accept this on the surface but still eyed him with some wariness.
“It’s strange,” Pepper said. “We are supposedly heading to a toxic wasteland, yet the wildlife and the vegetation seem a lot more vibrant the further north that we go.
“I know,” Debs agreed. “It is a bit of a conundrum. I’ve noticed some birds overhead and the headlights have reflected off the eyes of several critters during our night drives. Why would there be more wildlife heading to a wasteland than further south?”
“Maybe because fewer predators are up here? Humans can’t survive in the wastelands, but maybe smaller animals can?” Then he smiled. “So do you still want to go north?”
“I don’t think we have much of a choice. Our resources are running low and we need to find out where the Company troops have gone. Hopefully we can still locate their trail and follow them.”
“Hello Convoy one, this is Base one over.” Debs was amazed to hear Frank’s voice over the radio.
“Is that you Frank?” Debs blurted out without any thought of security.
The voice that came next seemed quite jovial. “Yes, yes it is I! We heard your messages a while back but for some reason you couldn’t receive our transmissions.”
“Where are you?” Debs asked.
“It seems like we’re heading to the same location as you.”
“I have so many questions but that can wait until we meet. For now, where will we rendezvous?”
Frank was cautious as he understood that this channel could be monitored by the Company but the main thing was that they were alive. “We have no maps but we have intelligence and if you are heading on the main north road, we’ll meet you at the border. As we get closer, I’ll contact the scouts if I need further directions.”
“Okay, see you soon.” Debs was elated. Although she had competently taken on the role of leader, it was reassuring to know that she would have Frank’s support going forward.
Even Pepper seemed to perk up. “Wasn’t that a nice surprise? It seems they weren’t all killed at the compound.”
“I wonder how many of our people survived,” Deb said more solemnly. “We’ll have to wait and see. It’s not safe to pass that kind of information over the radio but at least we know that we have some back-up on the way.”
Eric had been listening quietly to the exchanges. “Ask him about Flo. Is she okay?”
“We need to restrict chatter over the radio, we’ll see them soon,” Debs countered.
Eric didn’t reply but it was obvious from the way his shoulders sank and the look on his face that he wasn’t satisfied with the delay.
The rendezvous was set but Frank left the bulk of his people under cover along the route. He had them prepare two defensive positions in case they had to suddenly retreat. Not knowing what they were heading into, it was nice to have his own back-up plan, should they suddenly be pursued by a Company convoy.
This plan was okay to take on a ground assault but it was hard to fight death from above.
At the clearing, the wheels on Frank’s Jeep had hardly stopped turning before Eric came bounding forwards. He yanked open the door and threw his arms around Flo.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? How are you?” Eric said, like a mother worrying over her child.
“I’m fine,” Flo said. “But you’re crushing me.” Eric realised then that he was exerting a little too much pressure. He eased off slightly but still held her close.
Behind Eric, Debs and Pepper were walking towards the vehicle at a more rational pace.
“Well hello there,” Pepper said to Frank. “You are looking well for a dead man.”
“I could say the same about you,” Frank said. “Rumours of my death have always been an exaggeration.”
Trying to seem unemotional, Debs held out her hand, but Frank clasped his arms around her tightly. Their eyes locked and they both felt her relief as she handed back the leadership role.
“You have done well, young lady.” Frank knew that Debs had stepped up but he was still her mentor and was determined to provide her some comfort. After a few moments of silence and reflection, it was time to take control. “How many of our people survived?”
“We lost over sixty at the Farm. They dropped some kind of firebombs. We didn’t stand a chance: the fields were engulfed in flame and all of our scouts that had gone to try to help the others disappeared in a river of fire. It was awful.” She was almost in tears.
“It wasn’t your fault. Flo received info about the firebombs but too late to alert you. I could only hope that you would arrive after the bombs had been dropped. There was nothing we could have done. You managed to save some – how many?”
“I left thirty of our people at the Farm to tend to another twenty-five that were either injured or dying. They should be able to scavenge enough to survive if we don’t return. I have a total of one hundred and ninety-five personnel spread over three convoys and another thirty scouts that we will rendezvous with here. How did you fare at the compound?”
“We were very fortunate. Most of our people were down in the tunnels, as we’d planned. We lost a few spotters because the planes came in too fast. A few minor injuries from small roof collapses but the underground caverns stood up pretty well. Flo told us that the farm had been lost, which is why we headed North instead of to the farm. I didn’t want to put any further pressure on any limited resources you had left.”
“I understand. You taught me that we have to remain flexible, which is why I ordered my fighters to follow the Company forces.”
“So our combined strength is now over five hundred strong.” Frank was relieved that so many had survived.
“I have about a third of my forces here and the rest waiting in two groups further south.”
“Great minds think alike. I have the same configuration of our forces,” he said smiling, proud of his protégé.
“The scouts were following the Company convoy at a safe distance yet, when they arrived here, they found no sign of the Company vehicles. It makes no sense.”
Frank was looking out at the fences. “Considering that these fences and their warning signs are supposed to be very old, they appear well maintained. Does that seem right to you?”
Debs thought for a moment before replying, “No, it doesn’t. Why would the Company have people risk exposure to the wastelands just to maintain warning signs?”
“Exactly,” Frank said. “The Company doesn’t care about the lives of the Norms and a pile of rotting bodies would be more of a deterrent than a few warning signs. No, something is not right here and I intend to find out what it is.”
Frank remembered what Flo had told him: that this was all a façade. “This is all a lie. The Company wants us to think that this is dangerous but in reality, this is just a smokescreen. Flo has intelligence that the Company regularly fuel-bombs this area to make it look more devastated. At the other side of those hills are stockpiles of resources. There is a border post so it has security but with our numbers we should have the advantage.”
Ever the pragmatist, Pepper did not hold back. “Hold on a minute. We are looking at a burnt, desolate landscape. The only things surviving out there are warning signs, telling us if we go any further, it’s at our own risk. Telling us it is toxic and our chances of survival are next to zero. The signs are pretty explicit:
CONTAMINATED LAND! ANYBODY PASSING THESE SIGNS DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. NOBODY WILL HELP YOU WHEN YOU DIE IN THIS WASTELAND.
Doesn’t sound very friendly.”
“It's not designed to be,” Frank said. “The idea is to scare off the uninformed, but we are informed and we have intelligence, don’t we Flo?”
“I agree that we have trusted her intelligence so
far, but this a big leap of faith. To suddenly head out into a toxic wasteland, in the hope that we can find a battle at the other side, isn’t my idea of safe.”
“You don’t have to come with us,” Frank said. “However, there will be no reward for you if you don’t.” And with that he smiled.
Although Pepper tried to project a mercenary image, someone who only cared about himself, Frank felt that he was wearing Pepper down. He was starting to exhibit more empathy and humanity. There was even a chance that this was the early stage of a friendship.
Frank addressed Debs. “We need to get the rest of the convoy here. I want to have a discussion with our leaders and all of our people. If they are to risk their lives, they need to know exactly what risks are involved. I am not prepared to lead our people blindly into the wastelands. We are perhaps the largest rebel force in this country. The Company has recently been wiping out our brethren and if it was to wipe us out too, it would be a large blow to the Norms.”
“I’ll go spread the message,” Deb said.
“We’ll convene here again in two hours,” Frank said.
39
The summoning of Smit
16 September 2202
Smit had been standing in Brand’s office for over ten minutes. Since the moment that the scantily clad woman had escorted him to stand in the far corner of the room, Brand hadn’t even acknowledged his presence. He felt like a recruit at the Academy being called to the commander’s office.
The security detail outside had thoroughly searched him. He had been forced to strip to his underwear and he’d not even been allowed to keep his wristwatch. He felt vulnerable and, after recent events, he knew this meeting was not going to be a congratulatory one.
Brand was reading through William’s report. Even though William had briefed him in person the day before, he always demanded a written report. He was glad that as usual this one was well written and detailed. It was apparent that Smit’s troops were loyal to him, which is why William had not replaced him in front of them.
