The Novida Code Read Free

turned back towards me. For once her mask of sweetness slipped and she glared furiously at me:
“Just calm down right now! Smile and act normally.”
She smiled as she spoke and her face remained perfectly calm. Only her eyes and her harsh tone of voice betrayed her irritation. Besides, she was more than just irritated. She was scared. For me. I calmed down and did as she asked. Maintaining what I hoped was an impassive expression, I pressed her:
“I know you're up to something, Lauren. I know you. But there's too much at stake this time, Lauren. This isn't about getting back at a teacher for unjustly punishing a student. You're risking your life if you have a go at these people.”
“And d'you think I don't already know that? I'm not doing this on a whim. I'm simply not going along with it, that's all.”
“Going along with what?”
“Giving up. Surrendering. With the Earth abandoning the fight unconditionally and wagging its tail to welcome its new masters.”
“I know it's hard, intolerable, even, but it isn't up to you to put up a fight!”
“So who then, Auxana? Who should put up a fight? Those who won't sit back and allow such things to happen”
“At any rate, not a girl who turned eighteen only a couple of months ago.”
“Other people, then. OK. And have you any idea who you're then leaving responsible for saving our lives? Some unknown person endowed with the requisite qualities? In the hope that he or she doesn't hide under their bed and actually dares to do something?”
    I looked blankly at Lauren. “You mean that as far as you're concerned, no-one is going to fight them?”
    “No, Auxana, I mean that as far as I'm concerned, everyone should fight them. The days of girls, war veterans and heroes are over. Anyone on Earth who can think and can still move should fight now. But that's not happening. Nobody is lifting a finger.”
    “ Maybe you don't see it but…”
    “ No, Auxana, I refuse to sit back and leave it up to others to do what needs to be done. I can't rely on other people. Where would I be right now if I'd waited for the authorities or the police or whoever to come to my aid? I no longer believe in heroes, Auxana, I only believe in myself.”
    I gazed at her for a moment, then shook my head:
“OK then. What do you have in mind? I presume you have a plan…”
Her affected calm evaporated:
    “ I do have a plan, but you're not part of it. This time, there's no question of you following me.”
“Act normally”, I replied somewhat ironically. “In any case, you know full well that you can't stop me following you!”
    I detected a calculating gleam in her eye and decided to put an immediate stop to any complicated plan she might be about to hatch for tying my hands. “Listen Lauren, if you try to do this on your own, I'll go before the headquarters and scream insults at the Efeghis until they chuck me into a hole.”
“You wouldn't dare.” But now I could sense her backing down. She tried again to dissuade me: “You've no idea of the hornet's nest I'm about to stir up. You'll be risking your life and that of all your family.” 
    “ So will you.”
    “ I don't have any family, as you well know. My mother died last year and I'll shed no tears if they take Léon away because of me.”
    “ And what about your life?”
“I prefer to die fighting than live as a coward.”
“Well, so do I, so that's settled. How do we go about it?”
“Auxana, I don't think you really understand what you're doing.”
    “ Don't be condescending, please! I'm not doing this just for you. It's my decision and I'll face the consequences.”
She stared at me for a moment. It was the sort of scrutiny for she would later become renowned, her eyes delving to the depths of your soul, sizing you up, weighing up everything. Then she turned away with a sigh. And I knew I had won.

3                Lauren
    “ So, how do we go about it?” Auxana had asked.
    I couldn't bear to see her