The Disappearances Read Free Page A

nature, its back-to-basics philosophy, about his own determination to ensure that everyone could be fed, clothed and cared for, their bodies and minds nourished, ‘what is it that you think you can contribute to our community? What is it that you two will bring to the Settlement?’
    Evie had looked up at Benjamin worriedly; even though this was not the City, even though she was no longer ruled by the System, by Labels, by a mother who constantly criticised her and berated her, she still found it hard to shake her fear of those in charge. ‘We will work hard,’ she managed to say. ‘We have skills. I can sew. And we’re determined.’
    ‘I’m please to hear it,’ Benjamin had said gently, then turned to Raffy. ‘And how about you, young man?’
    Evie had held her breath at that point; if she had a residual fear of those in power, Raffy had only loathing and resentment; whenever he had been asked a question like that in the City, his answer, always insolent, had often landed him with some punishment or other. But instead, Raffy stepped forwards.
    ‘What will we bring?’ he asked, looking Benjamin right in the eye. ‘We’ll bring ourselves. Completely. Wholeheartedly.’ And Evie felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, because she’d never heard him sound so sure of anything.
    Benjamin had laughed. But not unkindly. ‘That’s all I can ask,’ he’d said, his eyes twinkling. ‘In which case I am happy that you are joining us. As a matter of fact, I am always delighted when young people join our Settlement, because we need youth here; we need your energy, your ideas. But we also need the next generation. Do you two intend to get married and have children?’
    Evie had looked over at Raffy, not sure what to say, but he showed no such reticence. ‘Yes,’ he’d said immediately. ‘Yes, we do.’
    And if there had been an opportunity for Evie to step in, to say that nothing had actually been decided yet, then she hadn’t seen it; couldn’t see it now, either. Because to contradict Raffy would have been to say that he wasn’t telling the truth – hardly a good start for two people looking for acceptance.
    And anyway, she was in love with Raffy. Had always been in love with Raffy. She wanted to marry him.
    Didn’t she?
    She opened her eyes again; back in their bedroom, Raffy was still staring at her, just like he always did, dark curls framing his face. He grinned. ‘Just wait till everyone sees us on our wedding day,’ he said, his eyes lighting up. ‘Just wait till everyone sees once and for all that you’re mine.’
    Evie exhaled slowly. She couldn’t let this one go, however hard she tried. ‘Raffy,’ she said, in a tone of voice she seemed to use a lot lately, a tone that was considered, careful. ‘Raffy, I wish you wouldn’t keep talking about me like that. Like I’m a possession––’
    ‘I know,’ he said quickly, his brown eyes wide and warm like a dog’s. ‘I’m sorry. But I can’t help it. I want to belong to you; I want you to be mine. Want everyone to know it.’
    He looked so earnest, Evie found herself melting. ‘And they will,’ she promised. ‘We will totally belong to each other.’
    Raffy smiled. ‘And then no one else will ever look at you again,’ he said, lightly. ‘No one will ever look at you and think they’ve got a chance.’
    Evie stared at him, all the warmth suddenly gone. ‘No one looks at me,’ she said, her voice strained now. ‘No one, Raffy. It’s all in your head.’
    Raffy stared at her incredulously. ‘You have no idea how beautiful you are,’ he said, sitting on the bed and watching her as she got dressed. ‘You don’t know what men are like.’
    Evie didn’t reply; she walked instead towards the small bathroom they shared with four other couples, who they often ate with, talked and laughed with. At least Evie did. Mainly with the girls. If she spoke to their partners when Raffy wasn’t there and he found out, he would fly into