The Chrysalid Conspiracy (41 page)

“Well, I see what you mean. If there’s any truth in that I won’t have to worry about these things.” She remarked. “The professor tells us that there are three opposing attitudes at work.” Continued Amelia.

“‘The Galileo Project’ we know about and confirms our original theory from Claire. They want Armageddon to happen so they can be ‘saved’, and they want the Jaxson codex and the location of the labyrinth so it can be destroyed.

Then there’s Chimera. I’m pretty sure that’s us, or at least I hope so. This is a smaller but international organisation, which believes it can recreate the Sanddancer’s society with modern technology, genetic modification and social engineering and knowledge from the Jaxson codex, (which they have). All they need is the location of the labyrinth to find the lost land of the Sanddancers.

Galileo see Chimera as a threat and is working to stop them, by any means necessary. He claims there have been many deaths.

“This next bit he doesn’t know much about but he warns us of the world of commerce; mainly the pharmaceutical companies, which refuses to believe the outcome but see an opportunity for world economic domination using the information in the Jaxson Codex and the labyrinth itself.

“This last bit is in Melkins own words.” Amelia said, “They have more impact.”

“
Knowledge of the location, or even of its existence, will put your life in grave danger. Your enemies will do anything, and I really mean anything, to obtain what they want. They even have someone on the inside at Chimera, so be very careful.”

“So, in the memory of dear Mary Metcalf, find Billy, take my life’s work and deal with it as best you can. Good luck”.

***

By the time Amelia had finished, Rayn was sitting upright on the edge of the bed. Her face was white and her body tense. She didn’t speak or show any sign of comprehension.

“Say something,” Amelia prompted. “What do you think?”

Rayn cleared her throat. Her voice was trembling and hoarse. “There’s a range of emotions, actually,” she said. “It’s one thing to know we were on the right track, it gives some sense of satisfaction. But this is very scary and thoroughly depressing. Oh Amelia, what’s the point of anything if it’s all going to end?” Rayn’s voice broke as if she were near to tears.

Amelia quickly sat beside her on the bed and put a protective arm around her. “Hey, come on girl,” she said soothingly. “We’re okay. Hold it together.”

“I really need a drink,” said Rayn.

“So do I,” replied Amelia. “But it’s getting light out there, and we can’t go to school smelling of alcohol. We’ll have extra strong coffee for breakfast instead.”

“You’re right. Good thinking,” said Rayn. She looked at her friend for a moment. “Are you going to tell me this location?”

“I must admit I hadn’t planned on it,” Amelia explained. “I feel the need to protect you from it.”

“That’s all well and good,” responded Rayn. “But, as I understand it, you’re the only person in the whole world who knows where it is. What if something happens to you?”

“Hey, hang on a minute,” Amelia argued. “I don’t know where it is. I know how to find it. There’s a difference, you know.”

“No difference to the outcome if anything does happen to you, is there?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. I’m going to have to tell Claire though; we need her for the next clue. But it means she’ll know as well,” Amelia confessed.

“What clue? Oh no Amelia, not another riddle, surely?”

“Not really,” said Amelia, smiling at her friend’s frustration. “It’s just a bit, er, cryptic. That’s all.”

“Oh no, not again.” Moaned Rayn. “Why did he make it so difficult to find anything out? It’s as if he didn’t want us to know anything.”

“On the contrary,” Amelia replied. “I think it’s designed to look like gibberish and only someone who knows what to look for will find anything of interest. He’s really very clever.”

“But just what are we looking for Amelia? I mean he’s pretty well confirmed you and I are being ‘manufactured’ by someone for some specific purpose, but why all the secrecy? Surly they should be telling the world that civilisation is in trouble so we can all work together to fix it.”

“I think it’s that phrase ‘all working together’ where everything breaks down.” said Amelia. “Look at the number of differences in colour, race, creed and politics there are in the world, multiply that by fear and greed and we don’t have a working framework for any kind of consolidated action. Professor Melkins predicted this and left the story in his book in such a way that only someone who knew what to look for would understand it.”

“And I suppose you’re that someone,” responded Rayn. “And judging by the effort he made to get it to you he must have known, which makes him part of the conspiracy.”

“It makes you wonder who else is involved. Surely there must be some real people out there somewhere” said Amelia. “It can’t be just us.”

“You’re going to have to tell me, you know, sooner or later. I just don’t think we should wait till later, do you?”

“I can’t argue with your logic, Rayn, as usual,” relented Amelia. “Well, it goes like this. Melkins says, in his own words, ‘The Jaxson Labyrinth is at the sixth point of the Sanddancer’s Pentacle’.”

“Er, you’d better run that by me again my friend. Isn’t a pentacle a five-pointed star? How can there be a sixth point?” said Rayn. “Unless you go into three dimensions, but that would give you, er, an awful lots of pointless points.”

Amelia laughed. “Yes, that’s why we need Claire’s mind on this. Now, no more. It’s coffee, shower, breakfast for us and Mum; then school. Give Molly a ring, and tell her we won’t be running this morning. Let’s see what today brings.”

“It can’t get much worse than a mass extinction, can it?” concluded Rayn.

“I’m not so sure, my friend, I’m not so sure.”

The girl’s school day started well below zero on the enjoyment scale, and then plummeted. Neither of them could concentrate on their lessons and they knew that any efforts to stay out of trouble were, on the whole, futile.

After dinner break, Amelia found herself struggling up the stairs to the Headmistress’s office with a heavy box containing the discipline books. There was one for each pupil in the school, which the staff filled in daily to record individual misdemeanours.

As she reached that long corridor, which she had come to know well, she saw Rayn sitting on the pew and looking miserable. Dumping the box on the seat she joined her.

“Hello, what brings you here?” she asked, in a manner in keeping with the mood.

“I lost control,” said Rayn.

“You didn’t hit anybody, did you?” said an alarmed Amelia.

“No, of course not,” answered Rayn scornfully. “We were doing biology. It was that exciting subject, the reproduction cycle of crustaceans.”

“Wow, did I miss that?” Amelia’s sarcasm was evident. “I’ll try not to lose too much sleep over it.”

“Anyway,” continued Rayn. “For some strange reason I couldn’t concentrate, and when Mrs. Robinson asked me a question I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. She started shouting again so I stood up and told her I wasn’t interested in prawnogrophy.”

Amelia exploded into laughter. “Rayn, that’s a great one. Well done.”

“Not so great. I’m in some serious…well, let’s just say that this time it’s deep. Oh Amelia, get me out of here.”

“Well, in light of what we’ve learned in the last few hours, I’ve got an idea.” She picked up the box, which suddenly seemed much lighter. “Follow me.” Rayn did as she was told and followed her into the utility room. Amelia placed the box in the sink, pushed in the plug and turned the tap on.

“Amelia, what are you doing?” cried Rayn. Without a response Amelia grabbed a tea towel and rammed it into the overflow, then stood back to admire her work. “There, that should do it,” she said, ignoring Rayn’s question. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Er, where are we going?” called Rayn as Amelia headed down the corridor at a run.

“Home. After a well-earned coffee at Connie’s Sewer,” she called back.

“Don’t you mean the Connoisseur Restaurant?” Rayn called to the figure ahead of her.

“You’ve obviously never seen the kitchens, but who cares, they’ll never think of looking for us there.” Answered Amelia.

Both girls, now wide awake and running on high octane adrenalin, raced down the stairs. Rayn was uttering minor expletives almost non-stop. They tore open Amelia’s locker, which they’d shared since that first day, and grabbed their bags. Amelia looked at the environmental health hazard that remained.

“Nothing I want there. You?”

“No way, leave it to rot,” gasped Rayn, thrilled with rebellion.

They were nearing the end of the corridor that led to the reception area when the caretaker appeared in front of them, blocking their way.

“Oh no. Watch out,” Amelia warned her friend. Rayn’s reaction was somewhat more dramatic. She grabbed the oily little man by the shirtfront and slammed him against the wall pushing her face at him threateningly.

“Listen, you slimy creep. You lay one finger on me and I’ll have you charged with assault. On the other hand, I can beat the crap out of you and claim self-defence. Now, are you going to try and stop us or what?”

“N…n…no,” he stuttered. Rayn’s actions had intimidated him so much that he couldn’t move, even after she had let him go. “There you go,” she said. “Prime example of girl power.” And the two friends ran out onto the steps. It was raining hard.

“Isn’t this where we came in?” said Rayn, looking up. The girls linked arms and, laughing like crazy, they skipped, danced and splashed through the puddles and out the front gate, wallowing in their own audacity.

***

“Amelia! How could you?” was Lucy’s shocked reaction when they told their mothers what they’d done.

“Rayn!” thundered Bridie. “What the hell do you think you’re playing at? What brought this stupidity on?”

“Sorry, we had some bad news,” apologised Rayn.

“What? You’re not pregnant, are you?” Bridie was horrified.

“Bridie! Shut up,” shouted Lucy from her wheelchair. “That’s enough.” She calmed down at Lucy’s uncharacteristic outburst.

“Oh Rayn,” continued Bridie. “When I think of all the trouble I went to just to get you into school after all that nagging you gave me. It’s not…”

“But was that really my idea, Mum?” said Rayn, in a strangely gentle voice.

Amelia saw the look that passed between their two mothers. Lucy had an ‘I told you so’ half smile on her face. Amelia’s next statement wiped it away completely.

“Mum, I know there was more to my father’s death than you’ve told me,” she said. “I think it’s time we all sat down and had a good talk, don’t you?”

Lucy stared at her daughter, unable to speak. She was dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events.

“As for you, mother dear,” Rayn said to her bewildered mother.

“I know that our name is not Mgee and you’ve been lying to me for years.” Rayn’s voice was getting louder and higher.

Amelia knew she had to take the sting out of the situation. “Okay!” she said, matching Rayn for volume. Then, toning her voice down, continued, “It’s all right if you don’t want to right now. If you need more time then that’s fine. It’ll be all right, for now, to know that the answers are coming. Is that okay, Rayn?” Rayn stayed silent.

“Is that okay, Rayn?” Amelia repeated more firmly.

“Yeah, okay,” Rayn managed reluctantly. “That’s fine, for now.” There was an embarrassing silence, and Amelia could feel the four of them drifting apart as she turned to Bridie. “Can I ask a favour of you?” she asked.

“Yes,” said a very distant Bridie. “What is it?”

“Could you help Mum out this evening, please? Rayn and I stayed up all night talking and we really need some sleep.”

“Yes, that’s fine,” answered Bridie. “Is that okay with you, Lucy?”

Lucy, stunned and confused, gave a nod and willingly retreated to the sanctuary of her workshop.

“And could you let Nigel and Molly know we won’t be in the gym tonight, please Bridie?” added Amelia.

Bridie went over to the girls and gave them both a hug. “Don’t give up on us. You’re not ready for this yet, and neither are we. You’re too early,” she whispered to them. Then, in her normal voice, she continued. “Off you go now. See you later.”

“Sorry Mum,” said Rayn. “Were you seeing Antonio tonight?”

“No,” said Bridie. “He’s working. He started his new job today.”

“What’s he doing?” asked Amelia.

“He started as head chef up at Tetherington Hall. Isn’t that great?” she explained, proud for him.

Amelia and Rayn crawled up the stairs, utterly deflated. Neither could think of a single thing to say to the other.

***

The barbecue that Sunday was a great success. Everybody had an opinion on the girl’s behaviour. Molly, backed up by Nigel, was quite adamant, and vocal, on how they had ruined their chances of a good education and future prospects. That wasn’t surprising, considering their own upbringing, living in care, on the edge of the law.

Lorraine and Sambo gave them ‘high fives’ and lots of encouragement. George didn’t make any remarks either way. He just chuckled, and their mothers refused to discuss the subject with anyone.

Rayn contrived to get Claire into the woods as soon as she could and, when they were alone, she told her about the pentacle problem. She also told her not to write anything down or discuss it with anybody, even her sister. Claire’s confidence had been boosted by her success with the riddle.

“Don’t make it easy, will you? Why can’t I tell Caz?”

“Because there’s a certain amount of danger and we need to be very careful,” Rayn told her, not going into detail. Claire’s eyes widened at the prospect of real intrigue and agreed to the conditions.

“Okay, I’ll see what I can come up with.” She said.

It was later in the week that they were made aware of what they had instigated. Having thrown themselves into hard physical exercise to help quell the secret sense of elation that had developed, Amelia came back from a run one morning and found her mother at the dining room table with a pile of open letters strewn in front of her. “What’s this, Mum?” Amelia asked.