Kayleb closed the door and walked over to the window. The moonlight was so bright that the night was almost like day; it reminded him of a poem he had once read at school. It was shown to them as an example of the kind of text that was banned. They were told that, if they found anything similar while out and about, they should advise their tutors of its location. Kayleb didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about. What harm were words?
The moon, my sun at night, comes around the world to shine upon
Our leafy green Earth, chasing the misty night away, until it’s gone.
Its steady pale yellow light flies into lakes and seas,
There it lies, like a broken jigsaw. Much more it is worth.
Like a wondrous kite it throws down its light and lets me write.
School and his home seemed to be a million miles away. Kayleb wondered if he would ever see the moon from his mentors’ apartment again. He looked out into the grounds. There were no shadows, nothing hiding there, waiting for them; he felt he could sleep now.
As he climbed into his hammock, a shadow crept across the lawn and laughed at Kayleb’s complacency.
The morning came too quickly and Kayleb and Indigo were up first, followed by Cornwall, who had taken an extra-long shower. Her hair was still wet and she was drying it with a towel, marvelling at its drying ability.
Rowan was last to rise and his appearance was dishevelled. His hair was sticking up in all directions and his eyes had dark rings under them. He looked as if he had not slept for days. Kayleb was disturbed by his appearance and stared angrily at Cornwall.
Rowan whispered good morning slowly and sat himself down next to Cornwall.
‘Right,’ said Indigo cheerfully. ‘What is everyone going to do? I’m going with David as he seems decent enough and should be able to help me get into London. If anyone knows about time travel, it will be him. What about you, Cornwall? What do you want to do?’
‘I feel the same. He has saved my life and I would like to try and help him. Rowan has had a change of heart and is going to come with us. Aren’t you, Rowan?’ she asked him, nudging him. Somehow he seemed to be asleep with his eyes open.
‘Yes ... yes, what did you say? Yes, I’m coming with you,’ he said vacantly.
Rowan showed no signs of resistance and Kayleb could see that he wasn’t himself. His hypnotic state was for his own good, Kayleb thought. He looked again at Rowan; he really didn’t look well though.
Indigo, too, had noticed the state Rowan was in and was concerned.
‘Is he all right,’ he asked Kayleb. ‘Is he ill or something?’
‘I don’t know what you mean?’ Kayleb said, trying to sound uninterested. ‘He’s just not awake yet. You know what he’s like when he first wakes up.’
Indigo wasn’t convinced but was glad that they were staying together. Rowan wasn’t a morning person, it was true, but he wasn’t normally so sedate.
They spent the day wandering around the complex. Rowan ambled alongside Cornwall quiet and uncomplaining. There was much to see. The glass ceiling let in lots of light and the air was filled with the sweet scent of jasmine and honeysuckle.
They found themselves in the education wing where children were studying in classrooms. The rooms had large windows and it was quite easy to see into them. There were no computers, only chairs, desks, blackboards and teachers writing furiously with chalk. There were no voice screens to be seen anywhere. Kayleb was surprised to see children; there had been none in the hall listening to David’s speech. The children seemed attentive and were eagerly writing everything they were being taught into exercise books.
As Kayleb watched the children in the classrooms, it suddenly occurred to him that he had seen no old people. He wondered if they were kept away from everyone and sent to homes as they were in London and then he thought that they had probably been left on Veenah waiting to be dispatched to Earth when the cities had been conquered. The word conquered echoed in Kayleb’s ears; it sounded brutal and he hoped that there would be no fighting. He really needed to speak to David and find out exactly what he intended to do when he reached London. Kayleb did not want to be part of any group that used violence to achieve their goals. Kayleb shared his worries with Indigo and it was decided that they should all go and see David to put their minds at rest.
It took a while to find David. They lost their way many times. Finally, they found him sitting by a large rose bush, reading. He smiled when he saw them approach and placed his book upside down on his lap. They read the title: War and Peace.
‘I know why you have come. You must all be overwhelmed and need to know what I intend to do once I’ve gained access to London.’ Everyone gathered around David. ‘We will be going to London via a tunnel that has been built from the French coast to the Isle of Wight. The tunnel begins again on the far side of the island and finally finishes on the coast of London; it has taken us many years to complete. Sailing from France to London is difficult, as the Channel is regularly patrolled by the sea police. They watch out for convicts trying to escape from the Isle of Wight and would spot us a mile off. The Eurotunnel only has one service tunnel surviving since it was attacked. This would have been ideal but it is used regularly by the police and is therefore too risky for us to use.’
Kayleb was shocked. The Isle of Wight was a prison without walls. This was where the murderers, paedophiles and the insane went. There were no guards on the island and the prisoners were left to wander about on the island freely, killing and maiming each other if they pleased. The hope was that they would wipe each other out and decrease the prison’s population. This wasn’t good news and Kayleb was surprised that David would even consider going there.
Indigo was also shocked when he discovered that the whole island was a prison and Parkhurst Prison no longer existed. He told them of his childhood holidays spent at Sandown with his granny and told them about the sandcastles he had made. They looked at him blankly. This once-beautiful place was now a place of evil. Indigo’s heart filled with sorrow.
‘You are dismayed, I know, but you must not worry,’ continued David. ‘Once we reach St Catherine’s Point, I have a contact, who will get us across the island in one piece and then on to a second tunnel which will bring us to Wittering, London. I hope you are all good swimmers,’ he added, ‘the tunnels are not built to last!’ Everyone looked at each other with worried expressions and wondered if David was being serious.
‘If you want to leave, then please let me know. Those of you that want to join us should meet us at sundown at the west wing exit. There you will need to pick up a rucksack with your provisions. You are all probably afraid of setting foot on the Isle of Wight but I have full faith in my contact. When we reach Wittering you will have your welcoming committee to meet you, if you chose to go back to your old lives.’
‘How will they know we will be at Wittering,’ asked Kayleb curiously.
‘When you were born you had microchips inserted into one of your heels. The authorities are able to track you.’
Kayleb was bewildered. ‘Won’t the authorities in London realise that we are with you then? They must know that you are staying here.’ Kayleb was starting to panic. He suddenly felt like he was consorting with the enemy and that his association with David might stop him returning home.
‘No, don’t worry! Your chips do not work in this shelter. London will just think you are in a cave or ... dead. When the taskers that want to return to London without me pass through the defence shield, the rest of us will be further down the coast and will be able to enter London undetected, as a mile section of the shield seems to lift when a tasker returns. Zorder has been studying other taskers returning to London and has seen animals walking under the shield zone further up the coastline. We have a safe house arranged in Wittering if we need to take shelter. I do not believe in war or harming anyone. Perhaps it might make up the mind of any doubting Homers who are not quite sure if they want to join us or return to London themselves.’
Kayleb reddened. It was almost as if David could read his mind. He couldn’t believe that he had a microchip in his heel. He felt insignificant, just a number, as if his worth as a human being wasn’t considered at all. He was confused and felt his world was like a house of cards about to fall in on itself at any moment.
Kayleb was the first to speak.
‘We are all going to come with you,’ he said, suddenly surprised by his own spontaneous decision. ‘I have to say, though, I am worried that you put your faith in one man to see us across the Isle of Wight. The island is overpopulated and I don’t see how we can get across undetected. If the prisoners catch us they will torture and kill us.’
‘I have complete faith in Zorder. He has always been a true faithful friend and does everything he can to help our cause. Since killing my daughter, Rebecca, Zorder has always been sorry and so remorseful about this incident that he has pledged to always help me in any way he can. I forgave him a long time ago. Fortunately, we were able to save Rebecca’s life and she now lives on Veenah and looks after everyone there. I miss her terribly and long to see her again, but I know I never will as her soul has corrupted and she will not be able to evacuate,’ he said sadly.
David’s words were met with stares of amazement. How could you save the life of a daughter who had been killed? It was going to be very interesting assisting David with his crusade, thought Kayleb. He and Indigo both looked at each other and wondered what the next few weeks might hold in store for them all