Beyond the Crystal City

by Logan Brookfield

  The pod’s orange ambient lighting radiated a relaxing glow which seemed to touch everything. It was a good place to relax and the only place to get away from the noise and other people. Most of the time was taken up with sleeping, eating rations or reading instruction manuals for forthcoming work modules.

  Edmond was on the screen talking about environmental issues. It was always the same person, always the same boring trash. Carl took a small screwdriver he had taken from a maintenance class and started to undo the four screws holding the front cover on the monitor. He glanced at the door; nobody was knocking and no warning messages were flashing on the screen so he guessed that he was safe. The cameras were probably just for checking that you watched the daily TV show and to ensure you were tucked up in your pod at night and not wandering around the facility. They didn’t seem to record stuff that humans would watch as they’d be getting a lot of toilet video if they did.

  The last screw came out and the cover popped off. Carl could see where the speaker was wired to the circuit board and he tugged one wire a few times until it broke away from its solder mounting. He had to watch this crap but he didn’t have to listen to it. He placed the cover back on and slowly replaced and tightened the screws. The fourth one was very tight and the corner of the cover didn’t seem to fit right. He removed the other screws, swapped them round and tried again but the fourth one wouldn’t fit. He was now starting to feel very warm as the comfortable temperature to aid sleep and relaxation was starting to feel like a cooking pot where he was basting in his own sweat.

  The last screw wobbled as Carl tried to insert it. In frustration he banged its head with the handle end of the screwdriver but it flew across the room and hit something metallic.

  ‘Damn it,’ Carl said as he pulled back the bedcovers and piles of clothing to try to find it. He got on his hands and knees and tried looking under everything but it was nowhere to be found. The corner of the case was visibly raised without the screw to fix it down and it would be spotted during the regular pod cleaning and inspection visits. Maybe he could get another screw from somewhere or maybe some kind of tape to fix it down but he needed to be quick as the inspections were every other day.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and wiped the sweat from his face with the tips of his fingers. The cool air dried his skin as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the floor. The stress and pressure was starting to get to him and the comfort pod was feeling more like a prison. He had no idea how Amy and Pete were and his mum would be worried too and be thinking the worst. She also wasn’t the best at getting supplies so unless a neighbour picked up her rations she’d slowly starve to death or die of thirst more likely. He was more alone than ever and wished he’d never stepped foot anywhere near the Crystal City.

  He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.

  ‘Carl, Carl wake up,’ the softly spoken voice said.

  Carl sat bolt upright and wiped his bleary eyes. Standing in front of him was Amy.

  ‘Come on, sleepyhead, it’s time to go,’ she said.

  ‘How did you get in here?’ Carl asked leaving his mouth wide open.

  ‘Does it matter? They’ve opened up the city to all the Wretches and we are free to go and do what we want.’

  Carl shook his head. ‘Since when? Has the rebellion been successful? How did you escape?’

  ‘Stop worrying, it’s time to leave and end this nightmare,’ she said stroking her blonde hair and giggling.

  ‘What happened to your hair? It looks much more blonde. Did you colour it?’

  The grin on Amy’s face was huge. ‘We’ve got to leave.’

  Carl’s heart was now racing. ‘Leave to go where? Is your mum OK? Where’s Peter?’

  ‘No silly, not leave that way, leave this way,’ she said pulling a gun from behind her back and placing it to her temple. ‘It’s the quickest way out.’

  ‘No!’ Carl shouted as he lunged out of bed crashing into a heap against the pod door. Sweat cascaded down his face and his heart felt like it would explode as he looked around frantically. The pod was empty, he was alone once again as the night terrors continued.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Carl’s absence was felt by many in the neighbourhood, not least his mother Rose. She’d eaten the last of her rations and hadn’t felt well enough to venture out to get more, and the small amount of water she had stored was also diminishing. She wouldn’t last long once that ran out and without her son there was nobody to replenish the supplies.

  The queue snaked its way around the corner and the blazing sun seemed merciless and relentless as she stood there, waiting to be called. Rose had managed to muster all her strength to make it to the City Liaison Office located near the main fence on the East side: a small but heavily guarded makeshift building where residents could go and talk about their complaints or ask about missing loved ones. It was an attempt by the authorities to lessen the chance of revolt, but often added to people’s sense of hopelessness.

  Rose was almost at the front after two hours of waiting but it was becoming too much. Her knees were buckling as she leaned against a nearby ruin to stop herself collapsing.

  A hand lightly touched her on the shoulder. ‘Would you like some water?’

  Rose turned her head and tried to focus her swollen eyes which had almost dried out in the heat. ‘Thank you, my dear, that’s so kind of you,’ she said taking small sips from the cup of water.

  The fresh-faced girl smiled. Her short but thick brown hair and wide bright blue eyes gave away her young age. ‘You really need to find yourself some shade, it’s so hot out here today. Please take my place at the front of the queue, you’ll be seen quicker.’

  ‘Oh, that’s so sweet of you. Are you sure? Are you here looking for someone too?’

  The girl nodded. ‘Yes, my father was taken a few weeks ago and I’m trying to find out where he is. How about you?’

  ‘My son went missing and I’ve no idea where he is. He wouldn’t leave me by choice so I’m hoping they know and can help.’

  ‘I hope so too.’ The girl smiled. ‘There you go, it’s my turn but you carry on. I hope they can help you.’

  ‘Thank you, dear, good luck to you too,’ Rose said gripping the girl’s hand as she walked past.

  She entered the small building though a double doorway passing two armed Black Hats. The cool air inside, aided by electric fans and air filtration units, hit her straight away. The right side and back of the office were actually the walls of a long-derelict building while the other walls and roof were metal corrugated sheets. The interior was brightly lit with electric strip lights and Rose looked longingly at the water dispenser and the coffee machine over the back. Two female Crystal City representatives sat behind desks with small computer terminals in front of them. Both wore city issue dark suits and had their hair tied up in a bun. Their smooth powdered faces and red lips sat behind black thick-rimmed glasses. More Black Hats were inside and ensured security for the reps as well as the continuation of law and order.

  ‘Over here,’ one of the girls said while signalling with her hand.

  Rose walked over to the desk and perched on the edge of the chair. She noticed the rep’s clean clothes and healthy complexion. She was clearly someone who wasn’t used to scratching a living or eating contaminated biscuits.

  The rep peered over her thick glasses. ‘Yes?’

  Rose cleared her throat. ‘I wondered if you could…’

  ‘Wait,’ the rep said showing the palm of her hand. ‘I’ve not logged in to my computer yet.’

  Rose waited and rubbed her eyes, trying to adjust to the bright artificial light.

  ‘OK, what’s the problem?’

  ‘My son is missing and I think he might be in your towers. Can you check for me, please?’ Rose asked.

  ‘Name?’

  ‘His name is Carl Parkhill.’

  The woman tapped her keyboard then turned the computer screen round to show a photograph. ‘Is this him?’
>
  Rose leaned forward. ‘Yes, that’s him. What have you done to him? Why is his face bruised? Why did you take him? He’s not a bad person. Can I see him, please?’

  The rep turned the screen back. ‘No, you can’t. He’s in a lot of trouble.’

  ‘What’s he done? He’s just a boy. Can you please let me at least see him?’

  The woman shook her head. ‘He’s guilty of trespassing, theft, breaking and entering, illegal accessing of computer files and much more. He’s being held for questioning and won’t be coming home for a while.’

  ‘No, please,’ Rose begged. ‘He’s a rascal, I know, but he’s still a youngster and he’s all I’ve got. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near the towers again if you can just see it in your heart to be lenient, for the sake of the boy and his future.’

  The woman looked on expressionless. ‘It’s out of my hands. He’ll be dealt with by the appropriate authorities and punished accordingly,’ she said holding out a piece of paper. ‘Complete this and bring it back tomorrow and we’ll update you with any significant developments. Now you need to leave, we’re busy.’

  Rose dropped to her knees and put her head in her hands. ‘I can’t read well and I can’t write well either. I can’t go without him. Please, he’s my only child and I’m lost without him. Is there anyone else I can speak to?’

  The rep nodded to a Black Hat who came over with another and grabbed Rose by an arm each. She felt empty and overwhelmed with grief and the tears cascaded down her face. She couldn’t put up any resistance with her weak, thin body as the guards dragged her out and placed her on the dirt, lying on her side. The feelings of loss were too much and she cried into the dust and clawed at the ground in a vain attempt to grasp onto something.

  ‘Come on, you can’t stay here. Let me help you up,’ the voice said.

  Rose turned over and looked up, shielding her eyes from the burning hot sun. The girl who had given her the water was leaning over her. ‘I heard you say your name was Rose. I’m Leah, let’s get you off the ground.’

  Rose managed to get to her feet. ‘Thank you once again, you’re my guardian angel. Did you manage to get any answers yourself?’

  ‘No, it’s hopeless. No information and no help from anyone and they want us to keep the peace and not cause any problems. How about you?’

  Rose looked down at the floor. ‘No, they’ve had my boy a while now and I get more worried with each day that passes. He’s not one for confined spaces or being told what to do.’

  Leah linked arms with Rose. ‘I live just round the corner. Come back to ours and meet my mum. Rest a little and have some water before heading back. I’ll help you look at that piece of paper they gave you too if you wish.’

  ‘You’re so kind to me, thank you.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Carl opened the pod door and looked out onto the facility. The noise hit him instantly, men and women scurrying here and there, trying to avoid bumping into one another, all dressed in their white city issue cotton workwear looking like clones, wandering around in some brainwashed nightmare.

  He yawned and stretched then made his way down the steel ladder onto the main corridor area. He could barely hide his lack of enthusiasm as he breezed past the guards, or tried to.

  ‘Is there a problem with you, boy?’ the Black Hat said stepping forward.

  Carl stopped dead in his tracks and looked the burly man in the eyes. ‘I’m going to work. Can you let me past, please?’

  The soldier pointed to Carl’s chest. ‘Didn’t I see you at the market? Aren’t you that little beggar thief who stole stuff from the ration kiosk?’

  Carl’s heart sank into his shoes as tiny beads of sweat instantly formed on his top lip. ‘No, sir, not me, I’ve never been a thief. May I pass, please?’ he said stepping forward.

  The guard stopped him with a hand on the chest. ‘You’re not going anywhere until I sort out who you are and what you’ve been up to.’

  ‘Is there a problem here?’ a familiar voice said from behind.

  Carl looked round to see Hugh standing there.

  ‘This little wretch stole stuff from the ration cart and ran off before I could apprehend him. I’m taking him in for interrogation,’ the Black Hat said.

  Hugh stepped forward. ‘Just one second, he’s an essential worker and he’s been with us some time. I don’t know who you’ve seen taking stuff but it’s not him, OK? We’ve got bigger issues at hand than a few red biscuits.’

  The guard took a step closer and leaned forward. ‘My concern isn’t your spreadsheets and pretty pie charts,’ he said jabbing a finger in Hugh’s chest. ‘My concern is security and he needs to go in for questioning.’

  Hugh pushed the finger out of the way. ‘He is doing some critical work that goes directly to Edmond. If you take him in then you can go and explain yourself why the data wasn’t supplied on time. Better still, let me get hold of him for you.’ Hugh removed a communication device from his belt and pressed a few buttons before putting it to his ear. ‘Hello, Edmond, I’m sorry to bother you, we seem to have an issue down by the pods in my sector.’

  The soldier looked at his colleague then back at Hugh. He swallowed and took a step back waving a hand in the air. He then turned around and walked away.

  Hugh put the device back on his belt. ‘Sometimes they get in the way of the bigger picture but they mean well.’

  ‘Did you really ring the big boss?’ Carl asked.

  ‘No,’ Hugh said shaking his head. ‘He’d be annoyed with me for bothering him over such a trivial matter. Come, let’s get you to your workstation before you miss too much time.’

  ‘Thank you for helping me out there.’

  ‘No problem, you’re an essential worker. You’ll understand the bigger picture one day I hope,’ Hugh said.

  Carl stopped just before the door. ‘Can I ask you something, Hugh?’

  ‘Ask me anything. Whether I can answer it or not is another thing.’

  ‘I’ve been here a while now, can you give me any update on my friends Amy and Pete?’

  ‘All I can tell you is that they are both being looked after,’ Hugh said stroking his chin.

  ‘So they’re still here? In the city?’

  ‘I believe so, yes, but I really can’t say any more so let’s get you doing some work. We need those reports finishing.’

  ‘Am I ever going to…?’

  ‘Really, Carl, we must proceed.’ Hugh sighed. ‘All will be revealed soon and you can go on your merry way when we’ve completed our critical work. It’s so important that the ultimate goal is accomplished. So many people rely on the outcome, it can’t fail.’

  Carl nodded and took a deep breath to try to hold himself together. He could feel the tears welling up and he exhaled heavily in an attempt to stem the flow, but it was too late. As he sat down at his desk he wiped the tears away, hoping that nobody noticed but they dripped all over the desk and keyboard like raindrops.

  ‘Had a sleep in, princess?’ the voice from the rear said.

  Carl ignored it and logged in to his workstation to see what the work for today was. More solar flare data needed crunching and merging with data already sorted from a previous day. He rested his chin on his hand as he tried to concentrate and began sorting the new data in order of severity.

  ‘Feeling fragile, dickhead?’

  Carl shook his head as once again the emotion and rage started to build in him.

  ‘Just ignore Thomas,’ the nearest boy whispered. ‘He has issues and the more you let him get under your skin, the more he’ll do it.’

  ‘I thought we weren’t supposed to talk?’ Carl said.

  The boy nodded. ‘We’re not talking, I’m just advising you to let it go. Now leave it or you’ll get us all in trouble.’

  Carl looked round and once again the big ginger bully was sitting there smiling, giving him the middle finger. His computer beeped to notify him that he was falling behind with the expected rate of
data input.

  ‘Damn it,’ Carl said as he started to speed type.

  The door opened and Hugh walked in. ‘Gentlemen, stop typing for a moment. We have a serious issue that needs addressing. For a short while now I’ve noticed a certain person not performing to their potential,’ he said walking over to Carl’s desk.

  Carl gulped and looked up without moving his head. His heart now thudded in his chest and his knees trembled.

  Hugh leaned over Carl and looked him in the eye. ‘Some of us seem to think that lack of output, arriving late and causing upset and disturbance to the group is acceptable. Actually, it’s a serious offence.’

  Carl nodded slowly and now his heart felt like it would burst out of his neck.

  ‘Do you know what a fifth column is, Carl?’

  Carl paused, looked down at the desk then back at Hugh. ‘Is it the one after column four?’

  Laughter erupted around the room.

  ‘Quiet boys…no, Carl, in this case it’s someone who undermines the group from within. Someone who no matter what he does, he only causes disruption and chaos wherever he goes.’

  Carl looked at the door then back at Hugh and wondered if he could get up and dart across the room before anyone else could stop him. His fight or flight hormones were now pumping around his body and his legs felt like coiled springs.

  Hugh once again looked at Carl. ‘The charges are as follows. Sedition, treason, damaging city property, theft and acting to undermine and destroy the principles and ethics we have so long strived for. These charges are punishable by death. How do you plead?’ Hugh said as he looked up towards the back of the room. ‘Thomas?’

  Thomas looked around and pointed to himself. ‘Me?’