The Alliance (3 page)

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
7

There are no cars on the road with drivers. We have passed several empty vehicles. None of my group will say what we are all thinking. The war overseas is over, but the apocalypse took place stateside.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

“You didn't say anything about separating from Mia,” Andrew said.

“Look,” Zack said. “Once we got into France Affinity wasn't in charge anymore. We're lucky the prime minister shares an interest in our cause. She agreed to take all of us over the border and we need to respect her decisions.”

“You've spent the past few weeks telling me over and over again how Mia needs protection, how everything is done if she gets hurt. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to convince her to stay out of the way? I knew she was bored out of her mind, wanting to help, but I listened to you. Then we just hand her off like she's nothing.”

“You did a great job,” Zack said. “The prime minister is looking after her tonight. Nothing bad will happen to her.”

“Affinity must be so pleased with themselves,” Andrew said, “that they stumbled upon this great weapon. A girl who can symbolize everything that's wrong with the Registry.”

“There's no way you're serious,” Carter said.

“Excuse me?” Andrew said.

“Mia's not a symbol of what's wrong with the Registry,” Carter said. “She's just a girl. One that too many ­people have deemed important. But if you take away Grant's interest in her, then she's nothing. A spoiled brat who whines all the time and thinks she's special.”

Andrew's protective instincts rose.

“I seem to remember when you thought she was pretty special,” Andrew said. “But then she decided I was the one she wanted and now you're bitter.”

“Cool it, guys,” Zack said.

The group of five was in a mid sized open room with two double beds. Carter didn't make an effort to stand up from the one he was currently sitting on. Andrew's words had no effect on him.

“What is going on with you?” Andrew asked. “Why are you even here if you hate Mia so much now?”

“I don't hate her,” Carter said.

“Then what is it?” Andrew asked.

Zack lost interest in Andrew and Carter and walked over toward Jesse and Bryan.

“Nothing,” Carter said. “I should keep my mouth shut.”

“I can read you,” Andrew said. “You need to tell me what's going on.”

Carter's face went blank. He lowered his voice before speaking.

“My dad is alive,” Carter said.

Andrew felt the blood rush out of his face. He admired Roderick Rowe but had seen him fall out of a helicopter to his death. He shook off the feelings of hope Carter had; there was no way his father had survived. Andrew made sure he answered in a hushed tone.

“I know it's hard to admit,” Andrew said. “But he's dead. You need to move on.”

“No,” Carter said. “He's alive.”

“Let's stop the insults,” Zack yelled from the other side of the room.

“Don't tell anyone,” Carter said. “Especially Mia.”

There were so many questions Andrew wanted to ask, like how Carter could be holding on to such an insane belief, but Zack walked back over before the conversation could continue.

“Mia is in capable hands and you three will get reunited in the morning. Can we focus on tomorrow? Tell me our cover again.”

“We're servants,” Andrew said.

“They don't have servants here,” Zack said. “This is a much more modern country. We're employees.”

“Sorry,” Andrew said. “We're escorts of the prime minister. New bodyguards assigned to escort her overseas.”

“What does that mean?” Zack asked.

“It means for the next week we need to play the part,” Carter said. “We can't let on that we're up to anything or that we're acquainted with Mia, who's posing as a member of her entourage.”

“What are we doing for the next week then?” Andrew asked. “Just following them everywhere?”

Zack walked over to the wall of the small hotel room and pulled out a bag. He took out his computer and sat on the bed. “Part of the time,” he said. “The rest we need to spend going over our plans for once we arrive in America.”

“You mean once we get to the capital,” Andrew said.

Zack gave him a look.

“Our contact will meet us outside the city,” Zack said. “There we wait for Rex to come with Mia's file. Hopefully by then someone will have cracked the password to enter the secret room and we'll destroy the master servers.”

“What if the password isn't cracked?” Carter asked. “I mean, it's not on a system. The only place it's stored is the grand commander's head.”

“Then Florence Martineau will gift the grand commander with this,” Zack said.

He held out a small pin of the American flag.

“It holds a tiny camera,” he said. “We'll watch every move he makes and once he decides to punch in the code we'll get a front-­row view.”

“That's if he wears it,” Carter said.

“He will,” Zack said. “It's made from the finest diamonds in the world.”

Zack put the pin away.

“Next Mia goes live on every television set in the country. She proves that she is Grant's first wife, that she's not dead, and shatters lots of Americans' faith in the system. Then they find out the system doesn't exist anymore and will see her as a symbol of hope and freedom. Things they never dreamed possible.”

“This whole thing is too rushed,” Andrew said. “We needed more time to plan.”

“We need to act while we can,” Zack said. “If Grant actually becomes grand commander the ­people of America will be even farther out of reach. Besides, this is the first time in years foreigners have been invited into American borders. We couldn't ask for a better cover.”

“What happens next?” Andrew asked. “For us?”

“We escape again,” Zack said. “Make our way back to Affinity and wait for further instructions. Crossing the border will likely be easy. America will be in disarray. Without the records ­people can't be forced to behave a certain way anymore.”

“So we are going to create chaos and then abandon the ­people?” Andrew asked.

“The chaos will die down,” Zack said. “And a new America will be born. One where all are treated equally.”

“How?” Carter asked. “Will the rest of the international community that has done nothing to help for the past hundred years step in?”

“Affinity will step in,” Zack said. “When the time is right.”

Andrew's job kept changing. From soldier, to shipper, to bodyguard. He had too much on his plate to help Carter with his crazy delusions. But one of his tasks was constant: keep Mia safe. And right now he felt like he was failing. He hoped wherever she was, she was staying out of trouble.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
8

I gave every cent I had to the ship captain. He didn't bother getting off his boat to inspect the shores. None of my fellow travelers have any money to pay their way home. Never in a million years did I think I'd resort to this, but I am hoping to hitch a ride from a stranger.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Mia lay on her bed. She stared at the ceiling, studying the children's faces. They were painted in a way that made it impossible to tell whether they were happy or sad. The shower had felt amazing. Mia was so dirty and was happy to wash away the scum of the sea. She chose a pair of black pants and a red ruffled shirt, unsure what the dress code for dinner would be. There was a knock at her door and Mia sat up on her elbows. She was surprised when Flo walked in.

“I'm sorry,” she said. “Did you decide you would rather sleep than eat?”

“Oh no,” Mia said.

She stood up.

“I was admiring the painting. I've never seen one like it before.”

“This is one of my favorite rooms in the estate,” Flo said. “The angels watch over you while you sleep.”

“These are angels?”

“Yes,” Flo said. “You see their wings and the halos over their heads?”

“I've never heard of an angel before.”

“They're religious icons of the old world,” Flo said. “Mankind has been fighting for as long as they've been breathing. Many wars were over religion.”

“I don't know much history,” Mia said.

“You're about to become part of it,” Flo said. “Once your mission is successful you will be remembered as the girl who stopped injustice in the western world.”

Mia was unsure how to respond.

“I know Albin warned you about speaking of these things,” Flo said. “But I want you to feel free to express yourself when you are on my property. We kept your name as Jeanette Freeman. My employees believe you are the wife of an American diplomat stationed in France.”

“Are there American women over here?”

“Not many,” Flo said. “If they are here they live as free ­people. We have fine relations with America, but I will not deport any women back to them.”

“Then won't your employees find it strange I am here?”

“Not at all,” Flo said. “You're going to act as my guide on my American trip. A country I have never been to before. Once we land, your story will change though.”

“How?” Mia asked.

“The Americans will believe you are French,” Flo said. “A trusted young student eager to show the world America is not as bad as it seems. Don't worry, I have plans to train you for the part, there will be a few opportunities over here for you to test out your new skills.”

“How did you get invited in?”

“I am the leader of this country,” Flo said. “The grand commander, as your ­people call it. I was voted into my position though.”

“A woman in the highest spot in her country is invited to one where the women are treated as property?”

Flo let out a light laugh. “I know it is strange,” she said. “But I have kept all American bases open since my appointment, and have quieted down many campaigns calling for France to step in and stop the Registry.”

“Why?”

“I say it is not France's fight and we should leave the American ­people to govern themselves,” Flo said.

“Then why help Affinity?”

“Because what I say in public and how I behave in private are two different things,” Flo said. “The ­people of France are starting to despise me.”

“How come?”

“My lack of interest in helping America,” Flo said. “They see my trip as a sign of favorability toward the American way of life. They call me names and think I don't care about human rights, but if I had been more vocal about my opposition then I wouldn't have this opportunity.”

“Doesn't it bother you?” Mia asked. “That all those ­people saying hurtful things about you are wrong?”

“My dear, I learned a long time ago that the world is bigger than myself,” she said. “I know who I am and what I stand for. That is good enough for me.”

Mia was overcome by Flo's self-­confidence. She wished she felt the same way about her own self.

“Let's get something to eat,” Flo said. “Then I can fill you in on the plans for our journey.”

Mia's stomach let out a low growl and she nodded. There were so many questions filling Mia's head, but more than anything she wanted to know how Flo achieved such a sense of peace about herself.

The chocolate mousse was the best dessert Mia had ever tasted. She had to avoid the temptation to pick her dish up and lick it clean. The dining room was smaller than Mia expected, but it was more elegant than she could have imagined. They were seated at a fine mahogany table and a giant chandelier hung from the ceiling. Conversing with Flo was simple and easy. She stuck to light topics like the weather and her favorite parts of France. Mia was too nervous to approach the subject looming over her head and was thrilled when Flo took the lead.

“We land next week in the Southeast,” Flo said. “From there our group will be escorted across the country. We take a weeklong tour and we will visit some major cities and see some of the sights your homeland has to offer. Then we will end in the Northwest, right outside your country's capital.”

“Won't it draw suspicion?” Mia asked. “I mean, you're a woman. Women aren't even allowed to travel without a man in public.”

“There will be plenty of men traveling with us,” Flo said. “I've been instructed not to reveal my station. The American ­people won't know that I am the important one. I'll seem like a wife traveling with her husband.”

“Are you married?” Mia asked.

“No,” Flo said.

In America unmarried women Flo's age were in retirement camps around the country, if they were left alive at all. A woman without a husband was afforded little respect or rights.

“I know it is hard for you to imagine,” Flo said. “A single woman running a country. If it makes it any easier I have a long-­term partner and he is quite proud of me.”

“Partner?” Mia asked.

She had only heard that term used to describe two men married to each other. The image of Frank and Alex, her onetime saviors, came to mind and Mia smiled.

“We have been together for twenty years,” Flo said.

Mia thought about Andrew. She wondered how he would feel if this were their situation. He'd spent the last several weeks being so overprotective. As if he'd forgotten Mia was capable of taking care of herself at all.

“Do you have any children?” Mia asked.

“No,” Flo said. “I have two nieces I love like daughters, around your age. They're both away at university.”

“They're students?” Mia asked.

“One is studying medicine, the other dance,” Flo said. “They couldn't be more different and I couldn't be more proud of them.”

“I've never studied anything,” Mia said.

“No woman in your country has,” Flo said.

She glanced around the dining room and leaned forward to whisper.

“Maybe you will change all of that soon.”

It was obvious Flo thought Mia had a big part to play. But she didn't feel that way.

“I'm just a prop,” Mia said.

“What do you mean?”

“I'm starting to realize I don't have much say in what's going on,” Mia said. “Affinity doesn't want my contribution. They want my face. I understand why, but I can't stop feeling helpless.”

“Well as long as you are in my care I am in charge, not Affinity,” Flo said. “And as far as I am concerned you are much more than a beautiful face.”

Mia smiled.

“It has been a long few weeks for you, I am sure,” she said. “How about starting tomorrow you tell me your entire story and we will make sure your life is in your own hands.”

“I would like that,” Mia said.

Her mind still hung on a comment Flo had made earlier.

“You said you know who you are and what you stand for,” Mia said. “Can I ask how you figured that all out?”

Flo nodded her head.

“We can discuss that tomorrow,” she said. “I have a feeling we are going to get along quite well.”

A yawn forced its way to Mia's mouth and she nodded her head in agreement. Flo stood up and Mia did the same. She was more than excited to spend the next few weeks at Flo's side.