by Adam Steel
Ellie walked past the busy shuttle bus platforms and headed towards the entrance of the domes to meet up with Bridget. Bridget had told her to go to the largest dome in the centre of the cluster. She stepped inside the first, and smallest, of the domes and was instantly reminded of the one she had visited at the reception of Genie when she had attended the tour. A turmoil of thoughts, poured into her mind of the time she had met Jon Li for the first time, of her excitement and passion for him. That day had started off so happily until they had reached the generator room. She recalled in detail the monumental size of the chamber which housed Genie. Then she began to traverse back into thinking about the horrific assassination attempt on Mason Henson and the grilling by TALOS that had followed. She shuddered and, as if by an unconscious command, gooseflesh appeared on her arms. It seemed to her that even the horrors of that day had been eclipsed by the death of Irene.
Ellie tried to dispel the terrible thoughts of the incident and to untangle the maze of confusion that had overtaken her mind in the last few days. Before she had realised it, she had reached the central dome.
She heard a voice that sounded very familiar.
‘Ellie,’ the voice called, ‘Over here!’
It was Bridget and she was standing on the balcony of a cafeteria. The balcony ran around the circumference of the central dome and was full of places to eat and drink. The balcony looked down on the central floor of the dome which had an enormous round pond in it. The pond was full of the most exotic coloured giant Koi-Carp and the fleshy pink flowers of floating water lilies. In the middle of the vast pond, was a white marble statue of eight, charging horses. They formed a circle, with each of their heads pointing outwards. Water sprang out of each of their panting mouths. Their eyes were full of fury and fire. The horse statues were life sized and the lower half of their bodies disappeared under the depths of the water in the pond. Their front hooves appeared to beat at the froth that was being produced by the fountains which rushed from their mouths. Crowds of Utopians were taking pictures of the glorious white steeds and pointing at them in awe. Children sat on the edge of the pond admiring (and trying to touch) the Koi-Carp that came up to the surface.
Ellie waved at Bridget above her and started up the metal steps to the balcony. She arrived at the top of the winding staircase to see Bridget waiting for her. Bridget looked tired and strained. She put her arms around Ellie and for a few moments they stood at the top of the balcony holding each other as though they would never let go.
Ellie whispered into Bridget’s ear, ‘Thanks’ Bridge’.
Bridget squeezed her shoulders and said, ‘That’s what friends are for Ell.’
Bridget smiled and led Ellie over to the table where she had been sitting. Ellie peered over the balcony and looked down on the backs of the galloping horses. The spray from the fountain drifted up in a fine mist towards the balcony.
‘Quite something aren’t they?’ Bridget said, searching for a way back to normality.
‘They sure are, Bridge. This place is beautiful. If it hadn’t been such a bad time I could have really appreciated it – but – not today,’ Ellie said.
Her voice sounded very subdued.
Bridget studied her as she sat down at the table overlooking the balcony. She could see that even behind the dark glasses Ellie had been crying a lot and it disturbed her greatly. Bridget had always thought of Ellie as being the strong one: the one that rarely showed her emotions and now she didn’t really know how to react. It was much easier on the phone.
‘I know what you mean. Normally I love coming here with Brian. He loves to treat me you know. We’re both feeling just awful about all this business with Irene,’ she said softly.
Ellie simply nodded.
Bridget caught the waiter’s attention and ordered a drink. When he had retreated from the table Ellie put her hand on top of Bridget’s hand and squeezed it. Bridget bowed her head and sniffed.
‘I can’t believe it Ell. It’s like a horrible nightmare. Who could ever do such a dreadful thing: to Irene: our Reenie…and…the baby too…and Audrey…and…’ she took a deep breath and tried to contain herself.
‘What kind of monster could…’ her voice trailed off, and she wiped a tear from her eyes using the napkin from the table.
Bridget was looking at Ellie, who also looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
‘Sorry,’ Bridget said in a choked voice.
‘It’s okay Bridget. It’s okay,’ Ellie soothed.
She watched, while Bridget scrambled for her bag and took out her Info-Pad. Bridget flicked up the screen and turned the device upside down. She pressed a button and the screen turned into a mirror. Bridget took a lipstick out of her bag, twisted it open, and applied it expertly: smacking her lips together after she had finished.
Bridget had the perfect pout.
The pale pink lipstick contained a substance which replaced the ancient method of collagen injections to plump up the lips. A tiny trace of the substance kept things looking perfect.
When Bridget had regained her composure Ellie answered.
‘I can’t believe it either Bridget. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Worse than anything we saw at Brighton Beach, or at Arethusa. It was dreadful in those days. Yes it was, but I didn’t know those people except for him,’ she said, and drew a breath in sharply.
Bridget knew that she was referring to Corporal Richards and there was a moment of absolute silence between them as they both remembered the dreadful day that Corporal Richard’s was brought back to the base – or what was left of him.
‘It wasn’t the same thing at all - this business with Irene. She was our best friend,’ Ellie stuttered.
Her exhausted body had no more tears left to shed. All that was left was a terrible aching feeling in her chest. A heavy, hard, lump that refused to budge.
‘You look awful Ell. I hope you took Jon Li’s advice and let the Doctor give you something,’ Bridget fussed.
‘Sure, but I don’t think it’s helping much. My head hurts and I feel sick all the time.’
‘Stick with it Ellie. It will get better. I know Jon Li’s doing his best for you but it’s not like he really knew Irene is it. Not like my Brian did. My Brian’s been a darling. He’s so sweet. I guess it’s a bit different with your man, ‘cause my Brian knew Irene from back in the old days…so he really understands how it’s affected me. We were all looking forward to having a little niece to spoil and now it’s all been ruined. It was an evil thing to do to them, evil,’ Bridget said, with anger in her voice.
Ellie looked up at her and (trying to ignore the fact that Bridget was comparing Brian to Jon Li, a fête which even Bridget couldn’t do justice too) chose her reply with some consideration.
‘Jon Li’s been great, I know, and I’m sure your Brian’s been a rock, but it has been terrible. I know he means well, and so do you, but I cancelled the counsellor. I don’t want to do that. Besides I have you don’t I?’ she said and shrugged her shoulders.
She wanted to make Bridget feel better, even though she was at the depths of sadness herself.
‘Ellieeeee,’ she tutted, ‘I can’t give you professional counselling. I’m not your counsellor. I’m your friend, and anyhow, what use would I be? I’m just as cut up about the whole thing as you are. No Ell. You need to go back and re-book that session. They know best.’
Ellie was wondering who ‘they’ were, but she shrugged her shoulders again, pulled her hands back and said firmly, ‘It doesn’t matter. Forget it. I’m not taking that session. I don’t need it. I’ll deal with it in my own way. I just need to get away for a bit that’s all.’
Bridget shook her head and shot a glance at the new marks on Ellie’s arms.
‘Stubborn, as always,’ she muttered.
The waiter had placed two tall glasses full of a pink juice over ice in front of them. He had placed a long straw in each one and had coated the rim of the glass with sugar and had placed a
tiny platter of frosted fruits on the space between them. Bridget was visibly relieved to get off of the subject of Irene. The conversation was too intense for her liking.
‘They grew that here – the grape juice. They grow everything here, it’s lovely,’ Bridget forced a smile, and took a sip through the straw.
Ellie put her hand on the cold glass. The condensation ran down over it and spilled over her hand. She could see that Bridget was finding it difficult to discuss the subject and was skirting around it. She looked very uncomfortable as if she was hiding something.
‘The domes are incredible. You must have seen the wonderful stuff they have in them on the way through. They grow everything here,’ Bridget repeated.
Ellie nodded.
‘Eden is far superior to Coney City in every way. The Link for a start. What did I tell you! I bet that’s something you won’t forget in a hurry?’
‘I won’t. It was… uh, different,’ Ellie replied.
‘You would love it here, perhaps you could persuade Jon Li to move up here. We could do loads of stuff together,’ Bridget pleaded.
‘Doubt it. He loves his penthouse and he loves Diamond Square. However, I get the impression that (given a chance) he might move, if only to get away from Mason Katcher,’ Ellie replied.
‘Oh…Why is that then?’ Bridget asked.
‘They have a mutual dislike of each other. I think it’s got something to do with Mason Royale.’
‘Why do you say that?’ Bridget probed further.
‘I saw Mason Katcher with her at the Masquerade Ball and they obviously had something going on. He seemed edgy and he was anxious if anyone so much as looked at her. At the ball – that night – it was a bit obvious that Jon Li didn’t like him.’
‘Jon Li seems very reserved over stuff like that. I’ve never heard you mention anything related to his work,’ Bridget added.
‘No. He never talks about work,’ Ellie answered.
‘I like it in the penthouse Bridge, but after what’s happened to Irene, I don’t feel as safe as I used to. She lived in a good sector you know. It wasn’t like she lived over in Sector Seven,’ Ellie said.
Bridget looked at her seriously.
‘Eden doesn’t have any unfinished Sectors. It doesn’t have any Sectors at all. Everything is contained behind the wall, or underground. Fully enclosed, and there aren’t any reformers here either, so there’s even less chance of crime. Crime might be low in Coney City, but there are still no go areas no matter what they tell you. I don’t see us going for a night time stroll down to the Docks area to admire the lights do you?’ Bridget prompted.
‘No I don’t. Not after what was in the news last week. They found a body down there. Just before…You know. That’s what’s odd about all of this. Irene lived in a really classy area in Sector Five. Nothing ever happens there,’ Ellie said solemnly.
Bridget shifted uncomfortably and looked around, trying to change the subject.
Ellie sipped at the grape juice cocktail. It tasted delicious. What is up with her? She’s behaving very oddly. What is she not telling me? Ellie thought to herself.
Bridget could see the look of approval on Ellie’s face as she drank the juice, and looking for any opportunity to change the subject, she said, ‘They grow everything here that we need. Why don’t we go for a wander around the domes and you can see the vines where they grew the grapes for that juice. Course a lot of the stuff they grow here is underground as well. I have a friend, Theo, he works down under. That’s what we say here in Eden, ‘Down Under’. Anyhow, he took me on a trip around the area where he works where they grow the fish. Theo is a fish fanatic. He looks after the Koi-Carp in that big pond down there.’
Bridget pointed down at the pond, where the colourful Koi-Carp circled endlessly around each in their own miniature aquatic worlds.
‘Theo showed me these great big tanks full of fish. Don’t know what sort they were. I think he said “Tilapia”. I saw some long ones in one big tank that looked like eels. It was cold and wet down there and smelled pretty horrible too. Still it was interesting – if you like fish.’
Bridget was going on and on about Theo, and the fish, and Ellie got the distinct impression that her endless chatter was her way of avoiding talking about her feelings concerning Irene. She didn’t want to press her further with people looking on. She would wait until they had moved to a more private area.
‘If you’re finished, we could go and have a look around. You can show me the sights of Eden. I have plenty of time. The Link doesn’t return until tomorrow evening,’ Ellie said, and thought, and if you think I’m leaving here without finding out what it is that you’re avoiding telling me, you’re wrong.
Bridget smiled. She looked a little more relaxed.
‘Sure. I’d love to. You won’t see all of it in that amount of time, but we can have a good look around today,’ Bridget said, getting up and collecting together her things.
They started off down the metal stairs and passed the white marble horses. The two friends headed off through a series of different sized domes. Bridget was giving Ellie a full commentary on what it was like to live in Eden. Ellie tried to listen, but couldn’t concentrate on the words. She took in the sights instead. Eden was every bit as fantastic as Bridget had insisted during their many phone calls.
Utopians passed them on both sides carrying drinks, food and newspapers.
Newspapers.
Jon Li hadn’t read the paper all week. It had been curiously missing from the penthouse. Even when she woke from sedation, the ‘tell-tale’ paper had been missing from the coffee table, after he had left. The pieces clicked together for Ellie, as she leaned in to try and read the headline on a passer-by’s paper:
“LOOSE IN CONEY CITY!”
It was all she could make out, as the man passed.
She frowned.
‘Bridget. Is there something you’re not telling me?’ she said suddenly.
Bridget fell silent and looked at the floor.
Ellie read her face, turned on her heel and headed for a news stand next to a small café’s at the side of the dome. Bridget raced after her.
‘Ell! Don’t!’ she cried, as she tried to intercept her.
She was too late.
The Daily Utopic’s headline stuck out on the front page in a huge black font:
“SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE
IN CONEY CITY!”
It yelled the message out from the page.
‘I’m so sorry Ell,’ apologised Bridget.
‘I didn’t tell you because I thought I was doing the right thing. I mean you’ve been through so much…’
Her words trailed off as Ellie scanned the headline story. It seemed from what she gleaned from the article, that there had been a spate of killings across Coney City. More bodies had turned up in the week since Irene had died. Two in Sector Seven, two more in Sector Five, one each in Sectors Three and Six. The press had nicknamed the perpetrator the Slash-Knife killer.
They had a list of the victim's names:
Ted Owens - School Teacher.
Jim Baker - Engineer
Irene Sharpe - Nurse
Audrey Stapleton - Homeowner
The list went on but Ellie didn’t read any further. The article was sensationalist, very unlike the usual straight up reporting style of the Daily Utopic. It read like a cheap supermarket tat-rag: the kind with alligator babies and Satan appearing on toast.
She felt sick.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she said quietly.
Bridget looked as though she would cry again. Her eyes were puffy.
Ellie turned on her angrily.
‘Why? How could you keep this from me! Everyone knows what’s happened to her except me!’
‘I’m sorry!’ Bridget cried ‘Me and Jon…We just thought you couldn’t handle it!’
Ellie paused when she realised that Jon Li had known too. He knew that Irene had been murdered by some sick-twist for some degr
aded reason. He knew and he never said anything. Her stomach turned in knots. Privately she knew that Bridget and Jon Li had been looking out for her, but she hated being kept in the dark. It smacked of betrayal but seeing Bridget so upset, she couldn’t bring herself to be mad at her.
Bridget was crying again.
‘Irene. She never did anything to anyone!’ she wailed. ‘She didn’t deserve to be stabbed by some psychopath. I hope they catch him and put him down! He’s an animal!’
Ellie paused, ‘What did you say?’ she queried, as she checked the article again.
Bridget sniffed and looked up, ‘I said he’s an animal! He’s scum!’ she cried.
Ellie scanned the article for the details.
‘No I meant...you said she was stabbed?’
Bridget gave her a stern stare, her eyes wavering.
‘Yes…They say he stabs people. That he’s insane, maybe some failed rehab from the asylum, or one of those gangsters down in Sector Seven. He’s sick.’
Ellie dropped the paper and looked across to Bridget.
‘But Bridget. Irene wasn’t stabbed. Nor was Aunty Audrey. They were-They were shot.’
Bridget frowned hard. Her face was full of perplexity.
‘No Ell. I’m sorry that’s impossible. The system never lies. They would have been screened by F.R.E.D. It’s never wrong. The report in the paper said they all died from stab wounds. No gunshots. Nothing like that. Stabbed to death.’
Ellie looked at the paper again. She quickly read the article relating to the actual cause of death of the victims. It confirmed what Bridget was telling her.
“All of the victims were the result of multiple stab wounds.”
