The Beneath (17 page)

“Farmer, I would say a few words.”

There is a gasp from the crowd, and all of them are straining to see who is standing up. I can hear the whispers.

“It’s Dane!”

“Dane?”

Dane. My heart almost misses a beat. Just what is he going to say? Part of me wants him to confess, to admit that he and I were working together to kidnap Lily. I want them to know that the whole thing was part of a plan to bring down the Farmer. Lily has no idea that she is one of us, and as the Farmer’s daughter the only one who can take on the Farmer’s role. Without her to control it, the Crop will kill us all.

I try to speak, to stop him from revealing his part in our conspiracy, but my mouth is so dry that nothing comes out, and then it is too late.

“Farmer, I would stand for one of the prisoners.”

“I will hear you, Dane. Which of the prisoners do you defend?”

“I stand for her.”

I gasp. Dane is pointing at Lily.

CHAPTER 16

There was utter silence after the gasp, which echoed round the chamber. Dane continued to stand there, pointing in my direction. I could see Will looking confused, and then I looked at Aria. She had been utterly composed up until then, staring impassively at the wall above the Farmer’s head, but as Dane had spoken she’d turned to look at me. It was as if someone had put the light out inside her.

The Farmer was still on his feet. His tone was icy.

“As is the custom, any of us has the right to stand for any accused. What would you say to the Community in her defence?”

Dane lowered his arm. His voice carried clearly around the chamber.

“She is a female of a certain age. Our women can’t
carry our children any more, so I think we should try an Above. I want her as a Breeder.”

As he said the word, Aria’s head snapped up and she shot him a look I couldn’t decipher.

How can Dane possibly want her to be his Breeder? Did he want this all along, or is he adapting the plan to suit the events?

I see his face and I know. She is what he wants, and I’m to be the sacrifice. I feel my heart breaking.

The Farmer spoke up.

“This is unacceptable. The girl is an Above, and therefore completely contaminated. She can’t possibly join the Community. The rules are very clear.”

“Farmer, I understand that, and I wouldn’t want her unclean ways infecting our world or our people, but I believe that she can be kept in isolation and used for breeding. Wouldn’t it be good to have some healthy babies in the cots for a change?”

At this he looked around as if inviting responses from the rest of the audience. There was an indistinct mutter and a few heads nodded, but most people seemed to be waiting for the Farmer’s verdict.

My head was swimming. Dane said he wanted to save my life, but only so that I could join his breeding programme. Death, or a life locked up and pregnant? I didn’t want either. Was he serious, or was this some
elaborate double-bluff to help us all?

“What proof do we have that she’ll breed true?” challenged the Farmer, crossing his arms as he stood facing the crowd.

“We have no proof, Farmer. Just the knowledge that the women Above seem to have very few problems in delivering healthy children.” Dane hesitated for a moment. “It’s a chance we would have to take, but really, what do we have to lose?”

“How do we know that she isn’t already carrying a child from Above?” This time it was one of the men in the crowd who spoke.

Dane laughed. “I know that you think she looks otherwise, Farmer, but for an Above, she is a mere child. No one will have touched her, I guarantee it.”

“What about him then? Wasn’t she with him? How do we know he hasn’t touched her?”

The shout from the crowd caused all heads to turn towards Will, who blushed scarlet and shook his head.

“Really, I mean, of course not! I wouldn’t – I couldn’t!”

The people in the chamber roared with laughter, and I felt sick. The Farmer held out his arms to quieten the crowd and started to speak.

“People…”

“I will speak!” I called out.

The people nearest to me heard, and turned to look at me in surprise, nudging their neighbours. The silence radiated away from me like a ripple in a pond. I was
almost paralysed with fear, and I could feel the sweat breaking out on the palms of my hands. Wiping them quickly on my jeans I tried to stand up as tall as possible, facing the Farmer.

“I will speak,” I repeated more quietly, glancing at Aria, who was watching with her hands over her mouth.

“I don’t believe we have invited you to do so,” said the Farmer.

“And I don’t believe that you can volunteer me for a breeding programme either! I’m only a child. Why would you possibly want me to breed? You have dozens of women here. They can have your children – pure, Community children.”

“You are unaware of our customs so I will be lenient. But remember, girl, here people on trial only speak when they are spoken to.”

“From what I’m hearing, I don’t have a great future here anyway, so you might as well tell me what’s going on. Why do you need me?”

It was Dane who spoke up.

“Farmer, may I explain to her?”

The Farmer nodded almost imperceptibly, so Dane turned to face me.

“The women here are no longer able to breed as they used to. Only one out of every five or six babies is born alive, with many others dying in infancy. We are now not producing anything like enough children to sustain the Community.”

He turned back to the older men.

“If this experiment works, if she can produce three, four or five healthy children in the next few years, then we can try getting some more Aboves. Within ten years we could be back up to pre-crisis levels.” He opened his arms to the crowd immediately around him, palms up. “Don’t you men want children who’ll live? Children who will take your name and secure the future of the Community? She can do that for us!”

There was a murmur of agreement from the front of the room. The women at the back all looked appalled, and a few of them shouted out.

“She’s contaminated!”

“Send her back!”

“I have another question!” I shouted over the rising clamouring. “Why don’t you just ask up Above for help? Aria can tell you that we are not evil. If people knew you were here and needed medicines, they would bring them.”

The chamber fell silent as I spoke, and as I finished the people all started turning back towards the Farmer. I could have heard a pin drop as I held my breath, waiting to hear what he had to say.

He shook his head.

“How little you know about your own people,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “The Community was set up because the Aboves didn’t want our ancestors in their society, and when we have asked for help in the past,
none has been provided. So we will never ask for help again, but we will take revenge and take back what is rightfully ours.”

His conversational tone made the words all the more chilling. Tenting his fingers he looked at me with a slight smile.

“We will take it back,” he repeated. “And soon.”

The cry from the crowd made me jump.

“That’s right, take it back!”

“They don’t deserve it!”

“It’s ours!”

The call continued around the chamber.

“Take what back? What is it that you want?” I shouted.

The Farmer fixed me with an unblinking gaze as the room fell silent again.

“London. We will take back London.”

Lily has asked the question that proves my point – the Farmer is utterly deluded. However big the Crop is – whatever it is – it can’t take out all of London. I wonder for a moment if he has ever been Above and seen the scale of it for himself. Will some of the others join us now and rise up against him? I look around the room but all I can see are people congratulating each other. Howard is even slapping Dane on the back. The Elders have approached the Farmer and they are having some sort of discussion. While they are busy I steal a glance at Will. He is looking towards Lily and as I watch he mouths
a word to her. I can’t be sure but I think that it is “Sorry”.

I felt so alone standing high above the crowd, watching my fate being discussed. I couldn’t quite believe that those really were the only choices available to me. There had to be some alternative that would allow me to go home.

For a second the thought of Nan made my eyes prick with tears, and my hand automatically went to the necklace she gave me. What would she think if we never returned? When they realised Will had gone too, would she believe that we had run away together? Would she think that I would do that without leaving a note?

Whatever she thought it was better than her knowing the truth. Somewhere up above us she would begin to get worried. When would she realise the note about the choir trip was a lie and start to call the girls in my class, the hospital, the police? And when would she actually pick up the phone to tell my parents?

Thoughts were crowding around my head and I was finding it hard to breathe. I really needed to sit down, but I didn’t want to seem weak. Soon, though, I was going to keel over. The crowd were still looking up at me and whispering to each other, and the general level of noise in the room was rising. And it was getting hot, I realised, as I felt a drip of sweat run down my back. If I fainted and fell off the column I would be horribly injured. Sitting down with my feet over the edge might work. I didn’t
want to kneel in front of Dane and the Farmer.

I sat down on the column and swung my legs over the edge, trying to appear nonchalant. The whispering increased but the roaring in my ears started to ease. I really wanted to put my head between my knees, but that was out of the question. I glanced over at Will and saw him copy my lead. Even from a distance I could see that he looked pale and was shaking.

The group of men talking to the Farmer turned away, several of them nodding at each other then glancing up at me as they went back to their places in the crowd.

Whatever the Farmer had decided about my future I was about to find out.

I have to be strong. The Farmer is about to announce his decision and if I am to have any influence, I have to speak out. The thought of interrupting him is terrifying, almost more terrifying than what is bound to come, but if Lily can do it, then so can I. I must stay calm and remember what she has taught me about everyone being equal.

The Farmer stood motionless, his hands spread wide towards the crowd, and I could almost feel their reverence. I gripped the stone edge tightly, trying hard to appear calm, but I was scared stiff. I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to get my breathing under control, desperate not to miss something vital.

“People of the Community,” the Farmer started. “This has been an extraordinary gathering and I know that emotions are running high. There are three people on trial. The charges are clear, the punishment less so. A petition has been made to keep this female from Above and use her to breed from. I have spoken with the Elders and made my decision. But first we must have the vote.”

There was a murmur around the chamber before everyone fell silent again, watching the Farmer.

“Please stand if you believe the prisoners to be guilty of the charges.”

A sea of people got to their feet.

“Be seated. And those who say not guilty?”

Not one person stood up.

“Dane, please rise.”

Heads turned to look at Dane, and for the first time I saw him look nervous, flexing his fingers as he stood up before wiping his hands down his trousers.

“You asked to stand for this woman accused of violating our home. Do you confirm this request?”

“Yes, Farmer. Yes, I do.”

“In that case I grant your request, with certain conditions. The woman will be Assigned to be your Breeder. You will take full responsibility for her security in the cells. There is to be no contact between her and the people – none whatsoever. If she fails to produce a healthy child in the first year, she will be re-Assigned to Feeder.”

I couldn’t believe it. I felt breathless, my heart racing as I thought of the implications. This couldn’t be happening. Maybe it was part of another one of Dane’s plans. There had to be some way of making it stop.

The Farmer was still speaking. “As for the other prisoners, the punishment is much clearer. You are a trespasser,” he said, pointing at Will before turning his stare to Aria. “And you, you have flouted some of our most sacred rules. You are well aware of the consequences. The Crop will enjoy your nourishment before I send them Above. You are both re-Assigned to Feeders. Take them away.”

There was a low murmuring from the crowd, rhythmic and chilling.

“Feeders, Feeders, Feeders, Feeders…”

Will leapt up to stand on his column as people started to reach up for his legs. I could see him shaking his head and trying to back away. But there was nowhere to go.

“As a member of the Community I have the right to speak.”

Aria’s voice cut across the mantra, and the chanting faltered. The Farmer turned towards her looking slightly surprised.

“Lily and Will are not about to let an army of people down from Above. No one knows that they are here and so it’s not time to release the Crop.” I saw her take a deep breath. “And while I’m here, I’d like to tell you all the truth. Having seen Above, the Crop would never be
able to take over the city. London is huge, with more people than we can begin to count, none of whom have done us any harm at all.
It will not work!
”

I glanced over at the Farmer, and could see his colour rising. Some of the men near him looked very nervous, glancing between him and Aria. She was getting more confident as she talked, her voice getting stronger and clearer.

“People of the Community, please listen to me. He is wrong, so wrong. The Crop cannot do what he says, but the people up there can help us. They have medicines that can make you well when you are sick, and can help you to live to be a hundred!”