The Cure, стр. 39

on their TV’s. Some watched in their homes whilst others watched on giant screens in the streets. Everywhere in the country that still had electricity and access to a television, and who had been watching the same apocalyptic messages of hope from the President, were now watching an eighteen-year-old girl telling them that they would be murdered. There was silence everywhere and gasps from the people watching Tallulah give them the news that not only was help not coming, but they were expendable too. Human beings, some who hadn’t eaten in weeks, bodies wasted away, faces like skeletons stared at this girl holding onto every word she spoke.

McGregor looked at Danny and then back to the screen. Danny’s eyes had not left the screen since Tallulah had started speaking. He wanted to know what she would say next.

‘I’m sorry for the crimes of our fathers. They truthfully think that what they are doing is right, but they are wrong. When The Cure happened, we were put in a position that we couldn’t have known was coming. We rejoiced in something amazing as we watched our loved ones become well again. We forgot the other things that are important. The basic principles of life. But for that we can be forgiven. I have seen someone I love taken away from me because of an insidious disease that got inside her and slowly turned her into a different person. Everything I held dear about her drained out of her as this horrid wicked disease spread throughout her body. I do not judge anyone who had seen another human being go through this or any other disease rejoice in seeing them fit and healthy. But now know that we face that uncertainty again. We have turned against one another, whether it be on the streets fighting for food, or as a government against the people that we vowed to keep safe.’

***************

Goldsmith and the President stood in the meeting room watching everything unfold on the giant screen above the very table they made the decision that led to Tallulah’s stand. ‘Get her out of there,’ Goldsmith waved away two soldiers. As they left the room, Wanikiy walked in ‘I knew nothing about this,’ he said.

‘Does it matter?’ said Goldsmith ‘The damage is done.’

‘Shall I stop the soldiers delivering the toxin,’ said Wanikiy,

‘Yes,’ said the President.

‘No’ said Goldsmith ‘The plan goes ahead as normal. Not everyone will believe her and not everyone will see this communication. The plan goes ahead.’

***************

Tallulah sat down at the desk. ‘But now more than ever we must turn to the person next to us and call them brother or sister, because we are all that is left and we’re family. We can get through this together, but it won’t be easy. We have spoken to people out there who can sustain a normal healthy life and put food back on the table. We can grow as a nation again, but we must trust each other and the only way we can do that is by showing that we will do whatever is necessary to give you back your lives. Your government may have failed you, but we will not and the only way I can prove to you what I am saying is true is by making a sacrifice for you. In this test tube is an undiluted amount of the toxin they plan to put into the water that you drink to survive’.

Tallulah placed the test tube to her lips, closed her eyes and swallowed back the toxin.

As McGregor saw her ingest the poison on the monitor he turned to Danny and started to run towards him ‘Nooooo!’

But it was too late. Danny closed his eyes and the detonator fell to the floor.

Chapter Sixteen

31st December 2020 - 11.02 pm - George Washington University Hospital

‘Breathe Mrs. Mathers, breathe,’ said the nurse sucking and blowing out her mouth in time with the lady on the hospital bed.

‘It’s fine Honey. Just take it easy,’ said her husband by her side.

‘If you tell me take it easy one more time Nathaniel J Mathers, I will take this oxygen tank and stick it where the sun don’t shine,’ said the man’s wife.

‘OK, OK,’ he said, as she gripped his hand leaving nail marks in it as he pulled away.

Another man put his head around the door and beckoned to Nathanial.

‘Senator Mathers can I have a word?’ said the man.

‘Really Nathanial? You can’t just take one day away from the office. Let alone having one of your minions poking his head round the door looking at your wife in a hospital gown every five minutes,’ said Brianna Mathers, wife to the Senator.

All the time a young boy sat in the corner of the hospital room reading his comic only occasionally looking up to see what the noise was about. All he knew was that he was getting a baby brother or sister and that surely meant he would have a new friend to play with.

‘Five minutes Brianna, I’ll be right back,’ said the Senator.

He gladly left the room and rubbed his hand until the nail marks disappeared ‘What is it Cole? What is so important you must interrupt me whilst my wife if about to give birth. This is supposed to be one of the most important moments of a man’s life watching his children being born and here I am talking to you about what? How many times the bins get collected each week? When the May Day parade will take place?’

‘Actually’ said Cole ‘I’ve got the president on the phone for you.’

‘Oh,’ said senator Mathers ‘Well why didn’t you say so? Give me the phone,’ and he grabbed it out of his assistants hand. ‘Mr President. How can I help you this evening? Rather late to be calling isn’t it? Everything ok?’

The voice on