Astra

by Naomi Foyle

  Klor clasped her fingers. ‘Forgive me, Samrod,’ he said. ‘I hadn’t heard of an antidote.’

  ‘No. For obvious reasons, we haven’t wanted to publicise its existence. It was developed by a renegade scientist on the GeneIsis team who made it available for a fee to a handful of misguided parents. They have all been appropriately dealt with now, and the children involved re-Sheltered. We thought we had rounded up everyone, but I worry now that Astra was carefully schooled to avoid triggering an automatic investigation. All her anomalies are very slight, but taken together, especially in light of the current situation, they are deeply suspicious.’

  No one spoke. Nimma’s chest was heaving. Astra could barely breathe and her hand felt like granite beneath Klor’s. The antidote story: she remembered now, that’s what Hokma had told her to say. But she couldn’t do it – if she did, Hokma would go to the well.

  ‘You must forgive me, Klor and Nimma,’ Dr Blesserson went on, ‘for not reaching out to you after the banquet. But for all that Hokma and I have had our differences over the years, it honestly didn’t occur to me that she would have deceived us like this. Though, looking back now, I suppose when I relieved her of her School Spoke post I was unconsciously registering alarm at the amount of power she had accrued over Astra.’

  ‘It is almost impossible to investigate family members,’ Dr Wolfson said as Dr Petaldott lifted a black briefcase onto the table. ‘We are entirely unsurprised that the Superintendent suppressed that particular hunch. But I hope you’ll both agree that the use of an antidote is an entirely reasonable hypothesis. Astra, did Hokma give you anything to eat or drink right after you left Dr Blesserson’s office?’

  ‘No,’ she declared, pulling her hand out from Klor’s and gripping his arm. ‘Everything was fine. I had my shot, then we came back to Or. I didn’t eat anything.’

  But her voice sounded tinny and Klor was staring at the table, where Dr Petaldott was clicking open the briefcase, taking out a syringe. ‘It was a long time ago, Astra,’ she said. ‘You might easily have forgotten. Or perhaps Hokma doctored your hydropac. To confirm that you had the full dosage of Serum, we would like to take some blood samples today.’

  Her last shred of poise had been blasted away. Astra was trapped in her chair, trapped in the room. She pushed herself backwards, the chair teetering on its back legs. ‘Klor,’ she begged, ‘don’t let them put a needle in me. I don’t want a booster shot.’

  ‘Astra, you’re not a little girl any more,’ Nimma hissed. Dr Petaldott unwrapped the needle and examined the tip. Behind the IMBOD officers, Dr Blesserson’s green face gleamed with sour satisfaction.

  Klor reached for the back of the chair. ‘Come, Astra. We have to co-operate,’ he murmured.

  Dr Petaldott stood up. ‘We’re not going to inject you with anything, Astra. It’s just a blood test.’

  ‘No.’ She leapt up, knocked Klor’s arm away and swung the chair in front of her, a shield against the advance of the needle.

  ‘Astra?’ Nimma’s voice sheared through the air. ‘Why don’t you want them to test you? If you’ve really had your shot, everything will be fine.’

  She flung the chair aside, ran to the door and shook the handle. It was locked. She couldn’t get out. Dr Wolfson was standing up now too, and Klor was reaching for her, to hold her down while she was punctured. She was a wounded animal, surrounded by hunters aiming bows and arrows at her heart. All she could do was lash out, try to hurt them too before they closed in.

  ‘Okay,’ she shouted, ‘okay. I didn’t have it. I didn’t have my shot. But Dr Blesserson helped Hokma. He gave me a teaby injection instead. You can test me for that!’ She held out her arm, with the scar from the injection. ‘Go on, test me for teaby antibodies. And ask Ahn – he knew too. Lil figured it out, she told him. Go and ask Ahn – he’s been keeping it secret for years. Why isn’t he in trouble too?’

  No one was listening to her. Dr Blesserson’s smug smile flinched not a millimetre as her accusations splattered the walls. Dr Petaldott walked smartly back to the table and exchanged knowing glances with Dr Wolfson, who made a note on his Tablette.

  Nimma was virtually hyperventilating, slumped back in her seat, her hands crossed on her chest. ‘You didn’t have your shot! I knew it. I knew it! All these years, all these years …’

  Klor tried to put his arm around her, but she elbowed him away and, sobbing, buried her face in her hands. Dr Petaldott returned the needle to her briefcase and closed it with another slick click. Dr Wolfson took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, waiting for Nimma’s hiccoughs to subside. Klor started towards Astra, but she backed against the wall, her arm in front of her in a judo defence position. He implored her with his eyes, but she held the pose.

  He turned back to the officers. ‘Dr Wolfson—’ He sighed. ‘How could we not have known? What must you think of us?’

  ‘Dr Grunerdeson,’ Dr Wolfson said warmly, replacing his glasses, ‘please, don’t worry. I appreciate that this comes as a terrible surprise to you and Ms Shipdott.’

  ‘It’s not a surprise to Dr Blesserson. It’s not a surprise to Ahn,’ Astra hissed. ‘They knew. Ahn knew. If Hokma’s a traitor, they’re traitors too.’

  ‘Astra, stop trying to get other people in trouble!’ Nimma’s voice was rough with phlegm. She cleared her throat. ‘Samrod, I’m so sorry. She’s always been jealous of Ahn. Perhaps she was jealous of your relationship with Hokma too.’

  Dr Blesserson shook his head, as if to say, ‘Not at all.’

  ‘That may be,’ Dr Wolfson said kindly, ‘but in fact, Astra’s right. Ahn did know about her condition.’

  ‘Ahn knew?’ Nimma blanched. Klor turned to Astra, his eyebrows knit together in a thick, tufty rope.

  ‘I told you!’ Astra shouted triumphantly. ‘Why don’t you arrest him too?’

  ‘No, Astra.’ Beneath Dr Blesserson’s massive, bilious smirk, Dr Wolfson regarded her indulgently. ‘Ahn’s not in trouble.’ He turned to Nimma and Klor. ‘As a matter of course, we investigated Astra’s records and when we discovered these anomalies we discussed them with Superintendent Blesserson. In his interview today, we asked Ahn his opinion. Ahn was hugely relieved – he told us he had discovered the truth when Astra was twelve, but Hokma begged him to keep Astra’s condition secret. He was deeply worried and conflicted, of course – he thought it was atrocious that Klor and Nimma didn’t know, but he had a long bond with Hokma, who worked hard to convince him that hers was a ‘victimless crime’. He’s not a father or a Code scientist, and the whole situation felt far beyond his capabilities to judge. He agonised over reporting it, but when Astra became the Gaia Girl, he felt that she was sufficiently integrated into Is-Land life not to pose a threat to her siblings. At the same time, he couldn’t trust Hokma any longer and as you know, their bond irretrievably broke down. He’s apologised profusely for his error of judgement, an apology we’ve happily accepted. Ahn, of course, knows a great deal about Hokma’s character and motivations, and he’s also going to give evidence in court that will help us understand the extent of her animosity against the state.’

  She was speechless. Ahn had told, just as she had known he would – but on top of that, just like that gloating, carnivorous Dr Blesserson, he was going to help convict Hokma – help condemn her to a life sentence in the worst jail on earth. She wanted to smash something against Dr Blesserson’s monstrous visage, but there was nothing to throw, no vase, no sculpture, no lamp, just a potted orchid, and even in her fury, even to rip that sick triumphant mask down from the wall, she couldn’t kill a helpless plant. She stood there shaking, impotent, the adrenalin coursing in her ears.

  ‘How could she have done this to us?’ Nimma was bleating. ‘We’ve been raising a cuckoo, Klor. A cuckoo in our nest.’

  ‘Shh, darling, shhh,’ Klor hushed. ‘Dr Wolfson,’ he beseeched, ‘Dr Petaldott, this is a grave shock, a grave shock indeed – but surely it’s not Astra’s fault?’

  ‘No, of co
urse not,’ Dr Petaldott replied. ‘Astra, you are the victim here. Why don’t you come and sit down and let us take care of you?’

  ‘I don’t want to sit down.’

  ‘Astra,’ Dr Petaldott repeated, ‘Hokma exploited you when you were far too young to understand the implications of your actions. What did she tell you? That the Security shot would limit your chances in life?’

  Klor and Nimma had turned in their seats and everyone was looking at her now. She had no exit, no option except silence – but she couldn’t let anyone think that she was a victim, or Hokma a criminal.

  ‘She was trying to help me,’ she declared. ‘Look at the Sec Gens: they’re happy, but they never ask questions, they never have an original thought, they just do what they’re told. They’re not like me.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear you say that, Astra,’ Dr Wolfson interrupted. ‘The success of the Security Generation depends on trust. By instilling in you contempt for your siblings and friends, Hokma has ripped you out of this circle of trust. She has damaged not only your own chances at happiness, but theirs too.’

  Her words were being twisted. She addressed Klor. ‘I love Yoki and Meem – you know I do. But I’m not like them, am I? I’m the same as the older kids.’

  ‘No, Astra, you’re not,’ Dr Petaldott answered, in a tone of icy finality. ‘The older children haven’t been living a terrible lie.’

  Nimma was weeping again, her face buried in a hanky, but Klor put up his hand as if to halt the advancing glacier of IMBOD logic. ‘Dr Wolfson,’ he asked, ‘what’s going to happen to Astra?’

  ‘Dr Grunerdeson, Astra is not culpable for Hokma’s abuse of her parental role – but Dr Blesserson is correct: this crime has caused unknown damage. Astra will need to be quarantined while we assess her and her siblings.’

  It was a punch in the solar plexus. ‘What?’ she whispered.

  Klor stood up again, and came towards her. ‘Astra,’ he said. She didn’t return his embrace, but hugged herself and let him put his arms around her. His touch was light and dry on her shoulders. His chin rested briefly on the top of her head. He smelled of Klor: of warm stone, of afternoons in the sun. He was the wise old man of the woods. Somehow, even in this terrible, endlessly escalating trial, he was still Klor.

  ‘Astra won’t be able to continue at school or do her IMBOD Service with the rest of her Year,’ Dr Wolfson continued. ‘If, Klor and Nimma, you both agree to continue in your roles as Shelter parents and Astra’s Shelter siblings are rehoused, Astra may keep living in Or and finish Year Twelve via Tablette learning. She will also have to have daily sessions with an IMBOD psychologist. If Sheltering her is too difficult under the circumstances, she will have to go to an IMBOD school in Sippur for re-education.’

  ‘Rehouse Yoki and Meem?’ Nimma gawped over her hanky. ‘But—’

  ‘Of course we agree,’ Klor immediately overrode her, giving Astra a little squeeze. ‘Yoki and Meem can live with their Code parents. Astra’s a good girl, officers, and we love her. Of course we’ll look after her during her rehabilitation.’

  The assault was too relentless, too well co-ordinated. She stood in Klor’s arms, trembling, no longer able to rebel.

  ‘Is it really too late?’ Nimma pleaded. ‘Can’t she have the shot now?’

  ‘It wouldn’t be effective, I’m afraid.’

  It couldn’t be happening. Why was only she being punished? ‘What about Dr Blesserson?’ she pleaded, breaking out of Klor’s embrace to thrust her arm towards the table. ‘You haven’t taken my blood. Test it – you’ll see. He gave me a teaby injection. He knew the whole time.’

  Dr Wolfson shook his head. ‘There’s no need to test your blood, Astra. It’s clear from your behaviour that you didn’t have your shot. Dr Blesserson has agreed to also act as a witness for the prosecution. He’s certainly not on trial here.’

  Dr Blesserson’s impassive face was an enormous toad waiting for its next fly. Klor put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. Once. A warning. Somehow she knew she should heed it.

  ‘Astra,’ Dr Petaldott said, ‘you were only seven when Hokma abused you and your memory of events is unreliable. As you’ve heard, your choices now are to co-operate with your Shelter parents and stay at home, or resist them and be taken to the IMBOD Shelter school in Sippur. I suggest that you consider these options very carefully.’

  ‘What about the questioning?’ Nimma had stuffed her hanky in her hipskirt band, ready for her next set of histrionics. She twisted her emerald ring round and round on her finger. ‘Are you going to call her in again?’

  ‘We appreciate that she will be hostile to questioning about her Shelter mother,’ Dr Wolfson said, ‘but at the same time, we are concerned that Hokma may have misled her in serious ways. The purpose of the counselling will be to ascertain the extent of the damage she has sustained. In the meantime, if she tells you anything we ought to know, then you are duty-bound to report it.’

  The IMBOD officers stood up. ‘Of course we will.’ Nimma clasped Dr Petaldott’s hand and shook it until the officer’s teeth must have been rattling in her head. ‘Thank you, Dr Petaldott, thank you, Dr Wolfson, thank you so much, Dr Blesserson.’

  ‘I’m sure Astra will benefit from having her secret out in the open at last,’ Dr Blesserson pompously intoned. ‘My best wishes to you all.’ Then his face was gone, replaced at last by the pastel yellow standby screen.

  Klor pulled Astra to him. ‘Come on, Astra, let’s go home and have a cup of hot chocolate,’ he said as Dr Wolfson crossed the room and unlocked the door.

  * * *

  Back at the Earthship Nimma flew into a tornado-sized fit. ‘All these years,’ she announced, her arthritic forefinger ripping through the air as she paced in front of the sofa where Astra sat huddled with a cushion in her lap beside Klor. ‘All these years, you’ve been lying to us. Staying up there with Hokma, laughing at us, laughing at Yoki and Meem. Who do you think you are? Who are you? Klor, I can’t look at her, I can’t look at her any more.’

  ‘I wasn’t lying,’ Astra pleaded. ‘You never asked me if I had the Serum. You just asked if the needle hurt. Dr Blesserson’s lying – test me for the teaby shot, please, Klor.’

  ‘Ohhh. Don’t you ask Klor to accuse Samrod of Hokma’s crime!’ Nimma punctuated each name with a finger jab. ‘She’s embroiled enough people in her schemes already. Poor Ahn – burdened with your secret all these years.

  ‘Poor Ahn?’ Klor said it for Astra. ‘Darling, it would have saved a lot of trouble if he’d—’

  But Nimma was having none of it. ‘That man’s a complete innocent, Klor. I’ve worked with him, I know. He’s an artist. He lives on another plane entirely. Has he ever even had another Gaia partner? He was devoted to Hokma, and she betrayed and manipulated him just like she did us. What an impossible position she put him in.’

  ‘Surely that’s not Astra’s fault, is it?’ Klor stood and opened his arms. ‘Nimma, let me hold you. We must deal with this together. All together. All three of us. Astra, you too.’

  ‘No, Klor. I can’t hug her now. Don’t ask me to hug her.’ Nimma let him hold her and he made a kind face at Astra over her head. Then she burst into tears and pushed him away. ‘It’s not just all three of us. It’s everyone. Astra’s been lying to everyone.’

  ‘I haven’t been lying,’ Astra repeated dully. ‘I’ve been trying so hard, Nimma—’

  ‘Don’t you wiggle words, young lady. Your whole life is a lie and now ours is too.’

  ‘Darling, darling,’ Klor implored, reaching for her shoulders. ‘It’s the same Astra – our Astra. She should have told us, Nimma – of course she should have. But she was afraid to, weren’t you, my angel?’

  Nimma brushed him aside like a ratty bead curtain. ‘I can’t believe this is happening. What about the others, Klor? Yoki and Meem and Peat? How will it affect them? And what if it makes the news? How will it affect our Or inspection next year? And the National History Museum? Will they disqualify
Ahn’s submission now? Did you ever think of that, Astra? All the people you were getting in trouble?’

  On and on she went. Astra stared at the llama wool carpet, a gift to Nimma from the Gallery directors. ‘She said if I wanted to be a great scientist I shouldn’t have the shot,’ she muttered. ‘She said Eya wouldn’t want me to have it. How was I supposed to know it would be such a big deal? I was only seven.’

  ‘You’re not seven now! You should have told us, years ago.’

  ‘And then what? What would you have done? You would’ve told on Hokma and she would have been taken away!’

  ‘Darling, she’s right. She was only a child.’

  But Nimma ignored him. She drew herself up. ‘We would have spoken to Hokma,’ she said regally, ‘and perhaps saved her from herself. We would have reported the situation to IMBOD, of course, but we would have supported Hokma too. We would have said that she’d made the wrong decision for the right reasons. Perhaps then she would have realised that not everyone in Or is against her. Perhaps she would have decided to stop betraying us and Is-Land with whatever she was doing with Cora Pollen. Perhaps we could have prevented this whole disastrous course of events.’

  It was unbearable. ‘Oh, so it’s my fault again?’ Astra implored Klor. ‘My fault she sent Helium to Atourne?’

  ‘Now, now, darling.’ Klor was rubbing his forehead. ‘We don’t know what would have happened if we’d discovered the truth earlier. It isn’t fair to—’

  ‘For Gaia’s sake, Klor, stop defending her. Can’t you see the trouble she’s caused? Now we have to babysit her all through Year Twelve – and Yoki and Meem have to suffer too! Why should they lose their Shelter home because of her?’

  ‘They can still come here. We’ll sort out a schedule. I’m sure IMBOD will relax the quarantine if Astra co-operates with the counsellor.’

  ‘Look at her: sullen, surly, utterly unrepentant. Is she going to co-operate with anyone? I don’t think so.’

  ‘I’m sure—’ Klor began again.

  ‘We took her in after our own Birth-Code daughter died.’ Nimma’s voice split. ‘And this is how she repays us. I’m tired of struggling with her, Klor. I’m sixty-three and I’m tired. If you want to keep her in Or, you look after her. You can stay at Wise House or in a tent, I don’t care – just not here. Yoki and Meem and I aren’t going anywhere.’