Children of the Cull Read Free Page A

been attacked before.”
    “ But never in such quick succession. This has to be the work of a gang. The guns recovered today match those on Monday .”
    “Are you telling me we have an army at our gates?
    “ We many never know, unless we go and look .”
    “I’m not going to repeat myself, chief. No one goes off base. There’s no need. You’ve proved that you can handle anything they throw at us.”
    “ Three or four at a time, but if they attack en masse... ”
    We were going around in circles. A change of subject was required. “Was anyone hurt?”
    “ Eckstein, but not badly, thank God. He’s in the infirmary .”
    “Could have been worse. And the raiders?”
    “ No longer a threat. I’ll have a full report with you in an hour. ”
    “You do that,” I said, putting down the phone.
    “Do you get the feeling he’s enjoying himself just a little too much?” Allison asked, leaning back in her chair.
    Tension was working its way up my neck, a headache beginning to form. I looked out at the rain lashing against the window.
    “Little boys playing soldiers.”
    “Was he complaining about resources again?”
    “What do you think?”
    “Have you thought about requesting”—she snorted at her own melodrama—“reinforcements?”
    “And make Moore’s role any bigger than it is?”
    Another laugh. I sighed, marshalling my thoughts. The truth of the matter was that the Cabal would be over us in a flash if I so much as suggested that the project was in jeopardy. It was hard enough keeping them at arm’s length at the best of times.
    No, better to keep quiet and see where the next few weeks led. Moore was probably right. The attacks we’d suffered in the past had been opportunistic. A former MoD base was always going to be a hot target, especially in a relatively remote location. Places like this suggested weapons and supplies, even after Operation Motherland and the Americans had cleaned most of them out. And it was obvious that the base was occupied, in a sea of empty fields and derelict housing. No wonder interested parties got cocky from time to time, chancing their arms.
    This felt different. Our defences were being tested, by someone who didn’t care if their men came back dead or alive.
    But we were safe, I was sure of that. Whatever Moore claimed, the Cabal had provided more than enough. Weapons, supplies, even a lorry-load of books and DVDs.
    “ All work and no play leads to exhaustion and poor results, Dr Tomas. Remember, you are running a scientific community, not a work camp. ”
    Our benevolent masters.
    Enough. I pushed the chair back and rose to my feet, Allison mirroring the action, surprised by my sudden movement.
    “Are we leaving?”
    “I want to check in on Ruth,” I replied, turning to leave the small office, “make sure the attack hasn’t unsettled her.”
    Olive stepped forward from where she had been hovering by the door, my constant shadow, as silent as a ghost until required. Some days I even forgot she was there.
    “Dr Tomas, the morning briefing...”
    I ignored her, opening the door and emerging into the windowless corridor.
     
     
    T HE CHILDREN’S DORMS were on the top floor of Neighbourhood Three, one storey up from the heads of department. We took the stairs, Allison regaling me with the argument she’d had with Bets last night. I made all the right noises and nodded in what I hoped were all the right places, barely taking in any of the details. I had no problem with relationships among staff members; it was inevitable, living in such proximity. But I didn’t need a blow-by-blow account of their domestic bliss or otherwise. There was a reason my personal quarters were in the east wing of Neighbourhood Two, while the rest of the staff had taken over the west wing. Allison said that all the empty corridors would give her the creeps, knowing that she was alone in a wing at night, but I didn’t mind. I was only there to sleep. Why would I need anyone near?
    It suddenly