Chapter Twenty
Deeta
I begin to edge away from them, and finally find myself standing beside an empty table. Sitting down I pull the ring on the can of coke Jan gave me, but it comes away in my hand, leaving the can unopened. I sit down and try to relax. Staring at the can, I try to shake off the unpleasant sensation that the last few minutes have given me.
I don’t like this.
I don’t like suspecting every Andak brother I meet of wanting to kill off all his siblings, and I really don’t like being caught up in their politics. Everywhere I can feel the segregation; the different tables have almost no interaction with each other. I have the unpleasant feeling that everyone is watching everyone else with suspicion and mistrust. I could see it in Jayden, Val, and Dagny's eyes.
Tom said that before his father’s death, and the setting up of the council, he had been unaware that he possessed any brothers but Ryder. Had that been the same for all of Paul Andak’s children? Had they all lived in ignorance of one another?
I feel sick with apprehension, with the knowledge that one of the men in this room is a monster whose lust for power has driven him to commit unspeakable evil.
“Would you like me to open that for you?”
I look up to find a young man with his hand held out toward me. His brown hair is parted slightly to the side and smoothed back neatly. Shy brown eyes look down at me, but it’s not these things that stir my memory. In truth his looks are quite unremarkable. It’s his voice, soft and quiet yet somehow carrying, that is instantly recognisable to me.
“Thank you.”
He takes the can from my hand and picks up a knife from the table. A moment later I hear the hiss of gas escaping.
“An object is only as strong as its weakest point.” He smiles down at me. “My name’s Jimmy Brook.”
“Deeta Richards.”
We shake hands, and he gestures to the seat across from me.
“Would you mind if I joined you?”
“Sure; we’ve met before haven’t we? That first day, in the town hall?”
Jimmy Brook looks startled.
“I… yes. I’m surprised you remember me, I didn’t think that you would.”
“Why not? You were the first person, after Ryder, that we met.”
“And Nova was the second.”
“Yes.” It’s my turn to look surprised, then I laugh. “I guess we must have looked a bit… unusual… walking through the hall in our pyjamas!”
“A little.”
“So what is it that you do here, Jimmy Brook?” I ask. “Sorry, was that an impertinent question? I’m just not used to… all of this.” I gesture to our surroundings. “I’m not sure quite what I’m supposed to say.”
Jimmy Brook smiles, and his face relaxes. I notice that his features, although plain, are rather nice somehow. He’s not handsome, his face doesn’t have the strength to be called that, but friendly and warm. Nothing like the Andak brothers, who seem to have been gifted the sort of good looks that make a girl feel threatened. Against such an unfair advantage, how can a girl possibly be expected to think straight enough to act wisely?
“I’m a techy,” answers Jimmy. “And a bit of an odd job man.”
“Techy? I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I’m not sure what that is.”
“I’m a technical adviser, give me a computer and some time and I can do pretty much anything.”
I spread my hands.
“I’m afraid I’m not really any the wiser.”
“Never mind; girls aren’t very interested in that sort of thing, not pretty girls anyway.”
As he registers his own words he blushes, and looks over to the other side of the courtyard. I see his lips tighten into a thin pale line, and turn to see the object of his consideration. Nova is sitting on the top of a table, her long legs stretched out in front of her and her already short dress hiked up alarmingly.
As we watch I see her laugh at something Jayden has said to her, and she tosses her hair over her shoulder, simultaneously running her hand down her thigh. I hear Jimmy’s sharp intake of breath, and watch an angry flush suffuse his face.
“She’s very pretty,” I begin softly.
“What? Who is?”
“Nova; she’s very beautiful.”
“Yes, she is.” He looks up from the table cloth with a twisted smile. “Too pretty, she knows that she should be some sort of a princess.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jimmy shifts in his chair, his eyes travelling back to where Nova sits. In his face I see longing and devotion.
“Nova has her eyes on a prize, not a second rate souvenir like me.” His voice is bitter, but he manages a self deprecating smile. “I can see where she’s coming from. I can hardly talk can I, picking her; she’s not exactly a dog, is she?”
I repress the urge to tell him that some would say that’s exactly what she is.
I smile feeling more relaxed than I can remember feeling for a long time. I think it’s because Jimmy doesn’t want anything from me. I have no need to worry that I might let something slip that could endanger Tom and Dec.
“How long have you lived here?” I ask.
“Since I was six years old; I was brought in as a captive along with my mother.” He looks down at the table cloth. “It seems so long ago now.”
“Do you remember living outside Andak city?”
“I remember some things; the struggle, everyone always being worried about food and water,” he smiles. “You know, all the grown up things that a boy of six didn’t fully understand.”
“It must have been strange when you got here and everything was so different.”
“Not really, children have a wonderful ability to adapt. I took it in my stride with creditable ease. When you learn your place in the scheme of things as a child, it’s much easier to accept.”
“Accept what?”
“I don’t know.” He smiles again, that same self deprecating half grin. “That you aren’t all that important, I suppose. It’s not quite the same for you though, you look like Andak material.”
“I don’t think so.” I shake my head, and for a second there is a pause. “Jimmy you’ve seen what it’s like out there in the City, you’ve lived there. Don’t you think it’s… wrong somehow, for all of us to live in here like this, with all of this, when out in the City there are people wondering if they’ll be able to survive for much longer? Don’t you think it’s wrong to just pretend that it’s not happening? Ever since I came here I’ve been asking myself why nobody seems to notice. Why does no one care what’s going on outside their perfect little world?”
“Such a very deep and meaningful conversation, not really suitable for a barbeque. It kills the party atmosphere, don’t you think?” Ryder’s voice is pleasant enough, but I detect a faint tone of anger. “Thanks for keeping my seat warm, Jimmy.”
Ryder takes a grip on the back of Jimmy’s chair, and for a second I think that he’s going to tip Jimmy onto the floor. Jimmy, it seems, has learnt his place in ‘the scheme of things’ very well. Without a word to either of us, he slips from his chair and melts into the crowd. Ryder sits in the vacant seat and lounges back, balancing on two legs.
“Perhaps you’d like me to explain what I meant when I told you to keep as quiet and as uncontroversial as possible?”
“I was only asking,” I reply defensively. “If you don’t want me to ask anybody else, why don’t you answer my question?”
“Where the heck do you get off?” Ryder leans forwards across the table, his voice dropping to an angry whisper. “You don’t know anything about us other than what you’ve heard, and I wouldn’t set much store by those old stories.”
“For your information I wasn’t told any vile stories about the Andaks’ misdeeds. My father had no wish to sully my mind with such seedy filth! And I see no reason why my perfectly reasonable question shouldn’t be answered. You have everything here that’s needed to rebuild th
e City, but instead of helping you stand by and let innocent people die! So tell me, Ryder; how do you sleep at night?”
“I count sheep as I drink my horlicks.”
“I find counting backwards from a hundred a few times much more effective,” interjects Jan, joining our table.
Ryder stands and pulls out a chair for her. His calm face belies the anger that I know simmers just beneath the surface.
“Why do you have trouble sleeping?” continues Jan conversationally.
“Apparently because I have the blood of countless innocents on my hands.”
I see Jan look across at me with sudden insight, and her eyes narrow momentarily in concentration. Then she turns a bright smile on Ryder.
“That doesn’t sound too nice,” she observes. “Perhaps it’s an exaggeration?”
Ryder’s eyes meet Jan’s and their gazes hold for some time. I’m not sure what it is that he sees in her face, but he stands suddenly and excuses himself.
“Not at your tactful best today, are you, Deet?” asks Jan, watching Ryder’s departure from half closed lids.
“I didn’t mean to… I just don’t understand!”
“I know, Deeta.” Jan reaches out and pats my arm. “You know it bothers me too.”
“Then why don’t you ask him?”
For a moment Jan is silent, considering her rose hued finger nails, her head to one side.
“Deeta; nothing is as clear cut as it seems at first. I don’t know why things are the way they are here; why no one seems to care about the suffering outside in the City. However, I’m ready to believe that there is something standing in the way that we don’t know about.” She shrugs slightly. “You saw how Jayden, Val, and Dagny were together! You saw the mistrust, how they watched each other like gladiators in an arena. How can they solve everyone else’s problems when their own are as basic as trust?”
“I wish Dad was here, Jan.”
Jan’s hand tightens convulsively on my arm, and I see her beautiful eyes fill with tears.
“So do I, Deet, more than you know.” She manages a half smile through her tears. “Come on, let’s get something to eat, then we won’t have to talk to anyone else.”
We make our way to the sparsely populated buffet table. I look at the many beautifully presented dishes and feel the weight of depression settle over me, a guilt that pervades my whole body.
It takes a few moments for her voice to penetrate the miserable fog around my brain. The nagging insistence of Nova’s tone is hard to ignore, and I find myself eavesdropping.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw you and Val at the same party! Oh no, wait, of course I do! It was the night you broke up, wasn’t it, Charlotte?”
Jan’s eyes meet mine and our jaws drop; Nova has managed to take spite to a whole new level. I remember back to what Mari had told us of Val and Charlotte Brennan’s failed romance, and of Nova being the primary culprit. I sneak a quick look behind me, curious as to how Charlotte is taking this. She has straight, rich chestnut hair that reaches to her waist, and large grey eyes which are currently filling with tears.
“He’s looking great, isn’t he? Like his old self. I don’t think being engaged suited him at all. He looked so worn all the time; it’s just as well you didn’t marry him, he wouldn’t have been recognisable.”
She puts her unopened can of coke down on the table, so that she has a free hand to reach for some delicacy that has taken her fancy from a loaded tray.
“You haven’t been to the dining room for an age, but you’ll be pleased to know that he’s not still hung up on you or anything. In fact he’s back to his old tricks. The babe table has officially made a comeback, and he looks right at home sitting slap bang in the middle of it.” Nova laughs, and I practically feel the waves of hatefulness flooding from her. “What were you thinking Charlotte? Did you really imagine that he would choose you over me?”
I see Jan’s lips compress into an indignant line, and then a sudden sparkle of mischief enter her eyes. She reaches a surreptitious hand past me, and slides Nova’s can of coke from the table. Nova has her back to us, and is so intent on torturing her quarry that she doesn’t notice the action.
At first I don’t grasp her intention. She holds the can between us, looking up at me with eyes that gleam wickedly. A smile tugs at my lips as I catch on. I love Jan dearly, but you do not want to get in her bad books. Without a hint of trepidation she shakes the can violently, and then places it next to Nova.
We move away and sit at our table watching as Nova, finished with Charlotte for the moment, threads her way back to her seat. She sinks into the chair next to Jayden, her smile filled with dazzling sweetness.
“Any second,” remarks Jan, folding her napkin across her knee, and reaching out to take her glass of orange juice.
Nova is laughing at something Jayden has said, leaning forwards and making spectacularly flirtatious eyes at him, when she opens the can. The explosion of fluid is quite phenomenal; it sprays straight into her face and hair, and travels down her face to drip from her chin.
For a second there is complete silence, and then Jayden begins to laugh. He has the good manners to try and disguise the sound as a choking cough. Nova stands, subjecting the gathered people to an incredibly hard stare, as if daring them to find her amusing. Even under the fierce anger in her eyes I feel the need to bite heavily on my lip. Her hair is clinging to her cheeks in a sticky mess, and mascara and eye shadow streak her face. Very slowly she picks up the glass in front of Jayden, and pours it over his head.
“No one laughs at me, pal!”
Jayden is silent, looking up at her with orange juice dripping from the end of his nose. For some reason I have no wish to laugh at him.
“Not to your face anyway; generally we have the courtesy to wait until your back’s turned,” he answers coolly.
Nova slams the empty glass back down on the table, and strides out of the courtyard with a decided flounce. For a while Jayden stares after her, and then he turns back to the other people sitting at his table and grins.
“Pardon me.” He gestures to the orange stains on his jacket. “I’m a messy eater!”
A murmur of laughter ripples round the gathered people. The hum of conversation fills the air once again, picking up where it had broken off abruptly a few moments before.
“So this is lunch with the Andak?” Jan looks across at me, a faintly satirical gleam in her eyes. “Makes you wonder about dinner, doesn’t it?”