by T. C. Edge
Oddly, though, the warmer air feels out of sync with the surroundings. The entire aesthetic here is cold and lifeless, a place that fits in perfectly with the detached demeanour of the Savants. It’s clear that this place was designed by, and for, such people.
I actually feel sorry for the rest of the Enhanced who have to endure it. At least in Outer Haven, for all its problems and dangers, there’s some vivacity and soul to the streets and districts, a lived-in feel that serves to animate the world. Here, it’s dull and empty and there’s a cold that no amount of underfloor heating can fix.
We wander a little closer to the High Tower, and from various avenues and side streets I see people beginning to gather. All wear similar clothing: men in suits similar to that worn by Deputy Burns, women in dresses with cardigans and jackets. The colours range from dark tones of grey to light, with plenty of sky blue on show as well.
I immediately feel some affinity with those wearing the latter, knowing they were once, like me, living across the wall. Those with the darker tones of grey I can get on board with too – they’ll be regular Enhanced, modified and evolved, but still human.
Those in light grey, however, are the aliens to me. Savants with their detached eyes and cold stares. How I’d like to get inside one of their heads and have a fiddle about, see what the hell they’re thinking.
As the people gather, and begin hovering into position, it becomes evidently clear that the concept of hierarchy and class are once more at play.
Like with the living arrangements here, the Unenhanced are afforded the worst viewing positions at the rear of the stands, furthest from the stage. Then, the order is once more based upon an Enhanced’s particular worth, with Savants of the Court given the best positioning, and their most esteemed members right at the front.
The show of colour, or lack thereof, is actually quite fascinating. From the sky blue at the back, to the darker tones of grey, all the way to the lightest of greys at the front. It’s one of the only things I’ve seen here that’s actually quite striking and beautiful.
It does draw a question to my lips, though.
“Can Unenhanced marry Savants?” I ask. “Or do they only marry among themselves?”
Somehow, their natural air of superiority makes me think it’s the latter.
“No, Unenhanced can marry them,” Sophie informs me. “However, it’s usually quite rare, and only the most exceptional of Unenhanced are given such an honour.”
Honour? Being married to a cold, heartless Savant is hardly what I’d consider an honour. Jeez, they’ve really done a number of Sophie over here, haven’t they…
“Naturally,” continues Sophie, “given the limited numbers of Savants, breeding with Unenhanced is something that’s unavoidable. However, mostly they try to manage with what they have.”
“Can’t they just, I don’t know, make more Savants?” asks Tess. “You know, like they did hundreds of years ago, when they were first created. Why do they bother breeding them naturally?”
“Because, as far as I know, the natural resources aren’t available for such things,” answers Sophie. “I’m sure if they could simply create modified people they would. It would certainly be a lot easier.”
“Well, lucky for us they can’t,” I say. “If they could do that, I’m sure we’d eventually become extinct…”
For a brief second, Sophie’s eyebrows drop into a questioning frown. Then, remembering herself, they rise up again and that inane smile returns.
“Enough of that talk, Brie. Let’s change the subject, and please, make sure you smile and don’t frown so much. Remember what we talked about.”
I plant the biggest smile I can on my face and look straight at her. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
“Ah, caught you!” I say. “No negative expressions, Sophie…remember!”
Tess laughs loudly. Sophie struggles to prevent her expression from turning even more sour. And for the first time, my smile becomes genuine.
As the square begins to fill more quickly, Sophie leads us over towards the right where I notice a few other men and women, all dressed in sky blue, have gathered. Our guide appears to know several of them, quickening her step – in a suitable manner, and maintaining perfect posture, of course – to meet them.
As we mesh into a group, it becomes clear that these are the other Unenhanced here to be honoured, along with their guides. By the looks on the people’s faces, it’s obvious which are which.
The guides are all very much like Sophie, smiling constantly and holding their posture perfectly. The rest are more like Tess and me, staring around in awe and looking quite out of place.
As we stand there, the various guides perform some quick introductions. I shake hands and try to see if I recognise anyone. One man stands out from the video footage. If I recall correctly, he went charging straight into the fray at about the same time as Tess and me.
Brave souls, all of them.
Truth be told, the honour today is not in being invited here to Inner Haven. Nor is it in meeting any of the luminaries I’m sure to encounter later. Certainly, I have no feelings whatsoever about being looked down on, literally, by the Consortium and Director Cromwell.
No. For me, the true honour in today is meeting these brave people. It’s a trait that the Savants seem to admire, but can never possess.
Because to be brave, you need to first feel fear.
As we stand in our huddle, watching the huge square fill with a sea of people, a familiar face appears.
“Good to see you all here today,” says Deputy Burns, wandering towards us from near the front stage.
Immediately, the guides stand up even more firmly and turn completely still. One or two of the Outer Haveners attempt to do the same. The rest of us just stand there like normal human beings.
“As you will have been told, I will be presenting the ceremony today, seeing as I’ve met you all already. You will be called up, one by one, and presented with a ceremonial plaque. I may also invite you to answer a question or two…”
Jesus Christ. Did I zone out during that bit too?
“Now, I can sense a lot of nerves among you. There is no need for them. This is your day, and you should enjoy it. Your seats are reserved for you over to the right of the stage, set out in alphabetical order.”
I glance at Tess. With a surname like Bradbury, she might well be up first.
Better to get it out of the way early, rather than endure the wait.
“Well, good luck to you all. And remember, the world is watching.”
Great. What a way to sign off to a bunch of nervous people. I thought these Savants were meant to be super-smart?
Deputy Burns moves off, now without his guard of Brutes - here, there’s no such need for them – and moves towards the side of the stage. With a little prodding from our guides, we follow, moving right to the front and a little section of seating set out beneath the stands.
“OK girls, this is where I leave you,” says Sophie. “I’ll be seeing you after. Good luck!”
Off she goes, along with the others, leaving behind a rather confused trail of ten or so Outer Haveners. We move towards the seats, and see that our names are laid out on them. I glance to the front to see that Tess is, as it turns out, up first.
“Nervous?” she asks me.
“I’m fine,” I lie. “Don’t set the bar too high up there.”
She laughs as she wanders over to take her seat, and I drop into mine about two thirds of the way down the line.
From the shadows beneath the stage, we’re pretty much out of sight of the crowd above. I’m happy for that. I had a vague idea that we might all be seated up on the stage, all lined up for so many thousands of eyes to inspect.
Instead, I just need to get my time on stage out of the way. Then I can relax. A bit of socialising here, some chit-chat there, and I’ll be back home before I know it.
From our position, however, the stage is visible, straight off to the left. We a
ll watch as Deputy Burns appears, walking towards a little podium in the same efficient yet rigid fashion that everyone here seems to adopt.
He attempts another of his odd smiles as he goes, his lips rising but his eyes remaining flat. When he reaches the podium, he stands straight and turns his head to the left, then right, like some sort of robot.
Behind him, a giant screen shows a close up of his face, giving those at the back a better view of his awkward attempts to display emotion. I just hope the more easily frightened kids aren’t watching this back at the academy. It’s the sort of thing that will give them nightmares.
“Good afternoon to you all,” he begins, his voice booming through a microphone hovering above the podium. “To all of you present here, and to all of you watching across Outer Haven, I offer you a warm welcome. Today, we are here to celebrate ten brave men and women who acted valiantly in the face of adversity, and to further extend the hand of friendship across the two parts of this great city.”
He pauses suddenly for dramatic effect. It’s jarring. And yet the crowd begin to applaud, clapping in unison, prompted to do so by signs that light up with instructions on either side of the stage.
When the signs turn from ‘Applaud’ to ‘Stop’, the clapping ends abruptly. It’s unnatural and odd, but very much in keeping with what I’ve seen around here.
Deputy Burns continues as soon as a complete silence has fallen once more.
“Before we meet our special guests, let me introduce you to our most esteemed members of the Court. Please welcome, the Consortium.”
More canned applause begins as I look up and see several men and women appear at the balcony above, several storeys up from the stage. They line up, all dressed in pure white, looking down upon the crowd with empty eyes. They appear to have little interest in attempting a false smile.
It’s such a rare sight to see them, these people behind the curtain who pull all the strings. It speaks volumes of this event that they’re here, displaying themselves to the public in a show of solidarity. It suggests that they’re taking the threat of the Fanatics seriously.
In their centre, I see the man who must be Director Cromwell, his hair neat and short and almost as white as his suit. Like all men I’ve seen here, he has no facial hair, his skin pale and yet strikingly smooth given his age.
In fact, were it not for his elderly hands, wrinkled as they are, I’d consider him a much younger man. The same goes for many of the Savants, their faces so lacking in expression that wrinkles are less inclined to develop.
There’s little to differentiate him from the other members of the Consortium but for the small letter ‘D’ that sits within the centre of his insignia. Like all city officials and servants, he wears the badge of Haven below his collar, the inner circle coloured white to indicate that he’s a Savant. On his badge, however, there’s a little ‘D’ in the middle, while the rest of the Consortium have the letter ‘C’.
For a brief moment, the cameras show them all, standing up on their balcony, displayed to the whole of the city across the giant screens that dot it. I look closely at the huge screen behind Deputy Burns as a fresh applause greets their entry, inspecting them closely before the cameras once more centre on our presenter for the day.
The applause dies again, and Deputy Burns continues.
“Three days ago, a terrible atrocity was committed in Outer Haven, at its centre of art and music. We here in Inner Haven are all horrified by this event, and are here today to not only celebrate those who acted so bravely, but to assure you all that everything is being done to prevent any further loss of life.
“This city stands alone as a beacon of hope for all people. Here, we are dedicated to the sole aim of rebuilding this world that has seen so much chaos and turmoil. The fate of the people living here is paramount to us. We will not tolerate wanton acts of destruction and murder.”
He stops, and turns his head to the left, his eyes levelling on us all hidden away in the shadows.
“Now, without further ado, let me introduce our first special guest. Please welcome, Tess Bradbury, a labourer from the western quarter.”
I feel my heart thud as Tess stands up. The world goes deathly silent for a second. Then, when Tess steps into the light, the signs come to life with the word ‘Applaud’, and the artificial clapping fills the air again.
I can barely watch as Tess wanders up to the stage, moving with grace given the unfamiliar heels she’s wearing. She looks calm and assured, her face glowing bright with a smile on the big screen as the cameras follow her towards the podium.
When she arrives at Deputy Burn’s side, he reaches out with his hand and she takes it. Then, from the other side of the stage, a young woman appears carrying a small commemorative plaque. It’s passed to Deputy Burns, who hands it straight over to Tess.
“Congratulations, Tess. It’s quite fitting that you are first up, seeing as you were one of the first on the scene to help. Tell us all, how did you feel when you saw the devastation?”
The little microphone hovers over from Deputy Burns’s mouth to Tess’s. She seems to think for a moment, but somehow maintains her smile, fading a little but still clinging to her face.
Then she speaks, breaking the short silence.
“I felt…like I needed to help,” she says, her voice spreading and echoing down the wide street. “There was blood everywhere. People were screaming. I wanted to help wherever I could.”
Deputy Burns nods.
“And you did. Bravo. A fantastic job.”
This time, the crowd appear to begin applauding before the signs have lit. Tess smiles again, brighter this time, and the camera zooms closer onto her gorgeous face.
“And can I just say,” she calls over the din, “that it’s such an honour to be invited here to your wonderful city.”
The applause grows louder. Deputy Burns’s smile threatens to become genuine. And with a little bow, Tess cups her plaque to her chest and is ushered from the stage, soaking up the adoration, false or otherwise, of the masses as she goes.
I shake my head, happy that Sophie isn’t there to reprimand me.
Damn it Tess, I told you not to set the bar too high…
11
Before it gets to me, four further Outer Haveners are called up to the stage.
I barely focus on their introductions, and the very brief interviews that Deputy Burns conducts. I’m too nervous right now to do anything but focus on myself.
By the time the middle-aged man next to me steps up into the limelight, my chest has gone as tight as a drum, and my heart is pulsing with such ferocity that I fear it might well break free from its confines.
My eyes shift in all directions, and my breathing rattles along at a frightening speed. Through my muddled hearing, I’m just about aware of the voices on the stage, and the applause of the crowd.
I focus as hard as I can, take several deep breaths to control my rapid intake of air, and blink hard several times in an attempt to reacquire my vision. Then, as the latest applause fades, I look to see Deputy Burns turning to look at me.
“So, who’s next,” he says. “Ah, yes, we met the charming Tess Bradbury a few minutes ago. Now, it’s her partner in crime, Brie Melrose.”
A new applause begins, and I stand shakily to my feet. Suddenly, my heels feel like they’re about ten inches high, my body trembling as I take my first steps towards the light.
Come on, Brie, get it together.
Just act like Tess did. You don’t want to look a fool, do you?
My little internal pep talk has some effect. I stop for the briefest of seconds in the shadows, take a final breath, straighten up my posture and plant a smile on my face.
Somehow, it seems to do the trick.
Then, I step into the light, and around the corner the wide street and high stands come into view. A sea of faces greet me, all melting into one and spreading far into the distance.
Above the stands, large screens televise my every move, some p
roviding wider angles as I walk, others zooming closer to my face. I note the nerves in my eyes and attempt to lighten up my smile, before turning my attention straight on Deputy Burns ahead.
I manage to reach him without tripping or falling over. I consider that a small victory.
I’m greeted by his unnatural grin, although I’ve seen it enough by now to not be put off by it. At least he’s trying, which is more than can be said for the Consortium above, casting their dull eyes down on me as they trace my steps.
I take Deputy Burns’s hand as I arrive at the podium, and the applause begins to quieten as my plaque is brought out and presented. I take it, happy to have something for my hands to do, and see that it’s nothing but a basic sheet of metal with an engraving of my name on the front, along with the date and location of the attack, and the number of people I helped.
Apparently, it was 8. I hadn’t realised.
When the applause dies, an eerie silence follows. I turn again to look at the crowd, and notice how still everything is, how quiet. Even from towards the back, the tiniest shuffle can be seen and heard.
My eyes shift up again, and I see my giant face plastered across the screens. My smile appears to have evaporated. I quickly revive it, but it doesn’t look as natural and relaxed as Tess’s did.
Deputy Burns’s voice breaks the strange calm.
“Well, Brie, congratulations. How does it feel to be here in Inner Haven? Are you as enthused about the place as your friend?”
I nod, and try to speak, but my words fail me. A second attempt brings a nervous croak from my throat.
“I am,” I say. “It’s an honour to be here.”
“The honour is ours,” says Deputy Burns magnanimously. “Now tell us, Brie, what life is like in Outer Haven?”
I take a breath, and try to hold my trembling body together. My mind rushes fast. I don’t know what do say.
In the end, I give these people what I think they want.
“It’s loud and busy,” I say. “Not calm and tranquil like it is here.”
