uncertainly. Compliments on appearance were rare in the City; they suggested too much attention paid to the look of things or people, instead of to what lay underneath. ‘Why do you say that?’ she asked. ‘What have you done?’
Evie shook her head. ‘Nothing,’ she answered. She couldn’t explain that today she wanted to talk, of anything and nothing, to stop herself having to think about what she was going to do – what she had to do – to stop the dreams and to stop evil taking hold of her.
‘Well, eat up. We’re leaving soon,’ her mother said with a little shrug, leaving the kitchen.
Evie surveyed the food in front of her, then stood up, put it into a container for later and went upstairs to brush her teeth.
At 8.45 a.m. exactly she and her parents left home, the three of them walking in a row towards the Meeting House, just like all the other families on their road. They smiled as they overtook them, their pace quickening as they got closer. Evie tried to let the excitement infuse her, and to think of happy things.
Gatherings were the highlight of everyone’s week in the City; they brought everyone together. When Evie had been younger, she could barely sleep on a Friday night because she was so excited about the Gathering the next day. Everyone looked so wonderful, and the whole occasion was so warm and loving. The Gathering made everything make sense, made everything feel worthwhile and made her feel like the luckiest girl in the whole wide world.
Today, she realised, as she walked into the Meeting House, she needed the Gathering more than ever.
The Meeting House was the largest building in the whole City, big enough to contain all 5,000 residents, and as usual it was half full by the time they got there. She happily accepted the warm Gathering drink that was always offered at the door, drank it, then found a seat at the far end of a bench towards the front, next to her parents. She watched as everyone else walked in, family after family, couple after couple, some on their own, some of the elders of the community being helped in by a carer. The A’s were all at the front, then the B’s, then C’s at the back. Some mixed groups sat at the back also; families with different labels. It wasn’t common, but it happened from time to time, usually when a young person’s label was higher than that of their parents. Wives and husbands saw their seating position change when their partner’s label changed; they were responsible for each other, influenced by each other. But children were different. Evie watched cautiously as Lucas (A) came in followed by Raffy (C) and his mother (B). No one knew quite how to treat mixed families, so they were kept apart from the others. An area at the side, meanwhile, was reserved for D’s, who walked in with their heads bowed, shifting uncomfortably until the Gathering started.
Music was playing, uplifting music that made Evie hum and smile. Sitting there, she felt protected; knew somehow that everything would be okay. Surrounded by fellow citizens, she knew that she didn’t have to worry about anything. She was safe here – they all were.
Then the Brother arrived in his long red velvet jacket. The Great Leader was too old to take Gatherings; he was too fragile to leave his house. But the Brother spread his word for him.
He walked to the front and everyone who hadn’t sat down yet found a seat. Seconds later the entire place was silent.
‘My friends, brothers and sisters,’ began the Brother. ‘It is so good to see you all here, as it always is. Let us give thanks to the Great Leader.’
‘We all give thanks,’ Evie said loudly, along with everyone else.
‘Let us give thanks to this great City.’
‘We all give thanks.’ Their voices were louder, more emphatic.
‘And finally, let us give thanks to the System, to ourselves, to our productivity, our love, and our ability to protect each other and ourselves.’
‘We all give thanks.’ Already Evie
Evie shook her head. ‘Nothing,’ she answered. She couldn’t explain that today she wanted to talk, of anything and nothing, to stop herself having to think about what she was going to do – what she had to do – to stop the dreams and to stop evil taking hold of her.
‘Well, eat up. We’re leaving soon,’ her mother said with a little shrug, leaving the kitchen.
Evie surveyed the food in front of her, then stood up, put it into a container for later and went upstairs to brush her teeth.
At 8.45 a.m. exactly she and her parents left home, the three of them walking in a row towards the Meeting House, just like all the other families on their road. They smiled as they overtook them, their pace quickening as they got closer. Evie tried to let the excitement infuse her, and to think of happy things.
Gatherings were the highlight of everyone’s week in the City; they brought everyone together. When Evie had been younger, she could barely sleep on a Friday night because she was so excited about the Gathering the next day. Everyone looked so wonderful, and the whole occasion was so warm and loving. The Gathering made everything make sense, made everything feel worthwhile and made her feel like the luckiest girl in the whole wide world.
Today, she realised, as she walked into the Meeting House, she needed the Gathering more than ever.
The Meeting House was the largest building in the whole City, big enough to contain all 5,000 residents, and as usual it was half full by the time they got there. She happily accepted the warm Gathering drink that was always offered at the door, drank it, then found a seat at the far end of a bench towards the front, next to her parents. She watched as everyone else walked in, family after family, couple after couple, some on their own, some of the elders of the community being helped in by a carer. The A’s were all at the front, then the B’s, then C’s at the back. Some mixed groups sat at the back also; families with different labels. It wasn’t common, but it happened from time to time, usually when a young person’s label was higher than that of their parents. Wives and husbands saw their seating position change when their partner’s label changed; they were responsible for each other, influenced by each other. But children were different. Evie watched cautiously as Lucas (A) came in followed by Raffy (C) and his mother (B). No one knew quite how to treat mixed families, so they were kept apart from the others. An area at the side, meanwhile, was reserved for D’s, who walked in with their heads bowed, shifting uncomfortably until the Gathering started.
Music was playing, uplifting music that made Evie hum and smile. Sitting there, she felt protected; knew somehow that everything would be okay. Surrounded by fellow citizens, she knew that she didn’t have to worry about anything. She was safe here – they all were.
Then the Brother arrived in his long red velvet jacket. The Great Leader was too old to take Gatherings; he was too fragile to leave his house. But the Brother spread his word for him.
He walked to the front and everyone who hadn’t sat down yet found a seat. Seconds later the entire place was silent.
‘My friends, brothers and sisters,’ began the Brother. ‘It is so good to see you all here, as it always is. Let us give thanks to the Great Leader.’
‘We all give thanks,’ Evie said loudly, along with everyone else.
‘Let us give thanks to this great City.’
‘We all give thanks.’ Their voices were louder, more emphatic.
‘And finally, let us give thanks to the System, to ourselves, to our productivity, our love, and our ability to protect each other and ourselves.’
‘We all give thanks.’ Already Evie
Similar Books
