Tremor: If your world was falling apart, how far would you go to save it? (The Tremor Cycle) Read Online Free Page A
hurt.’
‘I don’t care. You need to pay more attention.’ She pulled her long, grey cardigan back onto her shoulders.
Not bothering to reply, he accepted her arm when it came to link with his and passed the rock he’d been kicking down the street to her as they walked on. She kicked it back when they turned down a quiet road that led away from the centre of town.
They walked in silence, skipping over the numerous fissures in the tarmac, keeping the rock in play between them. William kicked it a little too hard and it shot off into a gated street. He stopped and looked through the bars at the government buildings.
‘Archive Row. It’s been locked up,’ he said, shaking the padlock chained onto the double gates. ‘I suppose that means the library’s closed too, then.’
‘Yeah, I guess it does. I think someone in the market said it was locked up when the night abductions started getting really bad.’ Althea stepped up behind him. ‘A lot of the town’s council staff live down there, too. Trying to protect themselves, I guess.’
‘Why does Terrafall keep doing stuff like this? It can’t just seal off the library! There’s going to be nothing left for us to do.’ William kicked the gate. ‘I liked the library.’
‘Shhh, look! There’s something going on down there.’ Althea pointed ahead.
Beyond the entrance, in the wide road that stretched before them, were three parked armoured trucks, each with the jagged cross of Terrafall engraved into their rusted surfaces. A group of Terrafall Peace Enforcers, wearing the official blue uniform with capes and black helmets, were carrying folders towards the large building at the end. William wondered, not for the first time, how Terrafall managed to source those uniforms, when the rest of the population couldn’t find a spare tyre or toothpaste.
‘They look a bit shifty,’ whispered William.
‘When have the Peace Force not looked shifty?’ Althea turned away, auburn hair whipping her cheeks. ‘As far as I’m concerned, they’re a bunch of idiots. They didn’t help my parents when they needed support at the farm. It should’ve been protected. They were growing food for this town, for goodness’ sake!’
William grabbed her hand, sensing the anger building in her face. He wouldn’t put it past her to go and tell them off. He could see her now, scaling the fence, fists at the ready.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
‘Makes you miss the days when the police were in charge, doesn’t it?’ said Althea, squeezing his hand.
William nodded. The Peace Force was the organisation that replaced the police when Terrafall rebuilt society after the war. Its Peace Enforcers ruled the streets. The Enforcers’ job was to keep the streets clean and safe, and boy did they do that. If you were found out after the night curfew you risked being thrown into the Prison Pit, or worse. And all because of the Scavengers: desperate souls who came out at night to forage for food and other commodities.
Making Althea step away, William gulped. It was impossible not to feel on edge whenever the Enforcers were close.
Chapter 2
School and Back
Parr secondary school came into sight as they rounded the next corner – a big old gothic pile with spires and wide-vaulted windows, surrounded by a mess of crumbling modern buildings. William trudged through the entrance archway, which he suspected might come down in the next big tremor, vigilant for any new cracks that might have appeared overnight.
‘What’s your first period?’ asked Althea, stopping in front of the main entrance.
‘Science with Mr Blobby.’ William opened the big oak door in front of them, although they’d been told to use the doors to the rear, which had been made safe. It creaked and fell inwards to the floor, sending a crescendo of noises across the school grounds as it splintered into about twenty small pieces.
‘Oh God, quick!’ Althea grabbed his sleeve and pulled him through the doorway and
‘I don’t care. You need to pay more attention.’ She pulled her long, grey cardigan back onto her shoulders.
Not bothering to reply, he accepted her arm when it came to link with his and passed the rock he’d been kicking down the street to her as they walked on. She kicked it back when they turned down a quiet road that led away from the centre of town.
They walked in silence, skipping over the numerous fissures in the tarmac, keeping the rock in play between them. William kicked it a little too hard and it shot off into a gated street. He stopped and looked through the bars at the government buildings.
‘Archive Row. It’s been locked up,’ he said, shaking the padlock chained onto the double gates. ‘I suppose that means the library’s closed too, then.’
‘Yeah, I guess it does. I think someone in the market said it was locked up when the night abductions started getting really bad.’ Althea stepped up behind him. ‘A lot of the town’s council staff live down there, too. Trying to protect themselves, I guess.’
‘Why does Terrafall keep doing stuff like this? It can’t just seal off the library! There’s going to be nothing left for us to do.’ William kicked the gate. ‘I liked the library.’
‘Shhh, look! There’s something going on down there.’ Althea pointed ahead.
Beyond the entrance, in the wide road that stretched before them, were three parked armoured trucks, each with the jagged cross of Terrafall engraved into their rusted surfaces. A group of Terrafall Peace Enforcers, wearing the official blue uniform with capes and black helmets, were carrying folders towards the large building at the end. William wondered, not for the first time, how Terrafall managed to source those uniforms, when the rest of the population couldn’t find a spare tyre or toothpaste.
‘They look a bit shifty,’ whispered William.
‘When have the Peace Force not looked shifty?’ Althea turned away, auburn hair whipping her cheeks. ‘As far as I’m concerned, they’re a bunch of idiots. They didn’t help my parents when they needed support at the farm. It should’ve been protected. They were growing food for this town, for goodness’ sake!’
William grabbed her hand, sensing the anger building in her face. He wouldn’t put it past her to go and tell them off. He could see her now, scaling the fence, fists at the ready.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
‘Makes you miss the days when the police were in charge, doesn’t it?’ said Althea, squeezing his hand.
William nodded. The Peace Force was the organisation that replaced the police when Terrafall rebuilt society after the war. Its Peace Enforcers ruled the streets. The Enforcers’ job was to keep the streets clean and safe, and boy did they do that. If you were found out after the night curfew you risked being thrown into the Prison Pit, or worse. And all because of the Scavengers: desperate souls who came out at night to forage for food and other commodities.
Making Althea step away, William gulped. It was impossible not to feel on edge whenever the Enforcers were close.
Chapter 2
School and Back
Parr secondary school came into sight as they rounded the next corner – a big old gothic pile with spires and wide-vaulted windows, surrounded by a mess of crumbling modern buildings. William trudged through the entrance archway, which he suspected might come down in the next big tremor, vigilant for any new cracks that might have appeared overnight.
‘What’s your first period?’ asked Althea, stopping in front of the main entrance.
‘Science with Mr Blobby.’ William opened the big oak door in front of them, although they’d been told to use the doors to the rear, which had been made safe. It creaked and fell inwards to the floor, sending a crescendo of noises across the school grounds as it splintered into about twenty small pieces.
‘Oh God, quick!’ Althea grabbed his sleeve and pulled him through the doorway and