Chapter Fourteen
"Am I a prisoner?"
"No ma'am." The soldier pushed open the double doors marked 'authorised personnel only' and strode through. I followed, watching at all sides cautiously. I'd always wondered what that sign really meant…
The soldier continued. "We only want to ask you a few questions."
"What's wrong with asking them here? I have a plane to catch."
"I understand that ma'am, but this is very important. We won't take up too much of your time."
How could you argue with that? Besides, there was nothing so far to indicate any type of hassle. They'd me shown nothing but politeness so far.
I was ushered into a small room and I sat on one of the cheap, plastic seats indicated by the horribly orange colour. I could see the back of the guard's head through the small window as he stood watch over the door. So I was a prisoner. If I wanted to leave, that was tough.
After a few minutes the door was opened and another girl, a tall person with long red hair, was shown in. She smiled at me nervously. "What's going on?"
I shrugged indifferently. "Beats me." I glanced at my watch absently. "I've missed my flight. I needed to be on that…"
She slumped down in the seat to my right. "Tell me about it. I need to be in Tokyo in a few hours. I might just make it if they hurry up." She checked herself and stuck out a hand. "Nancy Willows. Soon-to-be Tokyo exchange student."
I smiled back as I stuck out my left hand at an awkward angle. The first name that came to mind. "Liushu Maxwell. Very ticked off traveller of the world."
She cocked her head to one side as she took in my worn features carefully. I suddenly became acutely aware of how beaten up I must look. "What do you do?"
My mind suddenly raced ahead of itself. What would I be doing? If I were normal? "Trainee computer technician. The school's in London, but I wanted to do a little travelling in my free time. Unfortunately I have a lesson first thing the day after tomorrow. If I don't get my flight, I'll be out-cold in the lesson. If I'm there at all."
"Yeah." Nancy folded her arms across her chest crossly. "The system sucks, huh?"
Absently I gripped the edge of my elbow, feeling disquieted with the absence of the sling. "You don't know the half of it – believe me."
*-_-*
By the time they sat down to question us, there was about five of us in the room. All female, and all with red hair. They questioned us for several hours. Asking us where we were and when we were there. It drove me up the wall. One girl was clamping at the bit by the time they released her.
"Look," I said, rising to my feet. There was only, myself Nancy and another girl – Jane – left. "What is this all about anyway? I've missed at least the next two flights to where I need to be in a day. I'm sure none of us wants to be detained any longer. You told me I wasn't a prisoner, so I'm leaving."
I made towards the door. "I wouldn't do that ma'am."
"Why not?" Jane also rose to her feet in support of what I was doing. Her mother was waiting for her in France, and she had said her mother worried easily. "I'll walk if you will."
I smiled gratefully. "Count me in on that too." Nancy smiled at me nervously. She seemed like a fairly quiet girl to be making such a bold statement.
"Please seat yourselves ladies." The gun was pointed into our midst. I could tell he didn't intend to fire it, but the others started looking very uncomfortable at its very presence. "Don't force me to repeat myself. For your own safety."
Obediently, Jane and Nancy sat, much to my disappointment. Spineless… Grumbling, I followed their example. A sickening silence lingered in the air between us. I could only guess that they could feel my disappointment. I could certainly feel their apologetic nature. Or maybe that was just me…
The interrogation continued for mere minutes before Jane was dismissed. She grabbed her bag and literally ran out of the door, letting it slam in her wake. Or had someone else slammed it?
The guard, a few moments after letting Jane leave, rose dauntingly to his feet. I was suddenly suspicious. He wanted the height, I could tell. What was about to happen now? As though I hadn't been through enough already…
"Someone in this room," he muttered, beginning to pace dramatically, "is a murderer."
I felt the hairs on my arms stand straight in indignant outrage. How dare he?! Me murder Gershom? Why not try the ever-valiant officer!
"We have a civilian dead and an officer injured." He spun to face us. "Which of you killed today?"
Both of us gasped a negative. I had to keep this up. I just had to. If I didn't it would cost me my life…
We continued like this for several minutes. He ranted and raved at us, and we ranted and raved back, protesting our innocence. He paused, and studied us both carefully. Then he proceeded with echoing steps to the door and tapped on it. Two more soldiers joined us in the room. He pointed at Nancy. "Shoot her," he commanded, almost enjoying himself. "She is a murderer."
"But sir, mustn't we take this through the courts?"
"Who's going to know? Shoot her – now!"
"But what about His Excellency's orders…?"
"Are you questioning my judgement? Shoot her now!"
Doubtfully, one of them brought up his weapon to Nancy. She blinked several times. She couldn't believe it was happening. The exchange student to Tokyo. Shot dead in Newark Central Shuttleport. Ludicrous! An innocent girl, my age, with a home and a family, who wouldn't find out about this for a long time – if ever.
Unacceptable…
"Liushu…" she whispered. The eyes! The eyes were shattering from her soul. Why the eyes?!
"Shoot her!"
"Stop it!" I jumped to my feet and stepped in front of Nancy defiantly. "You cannot shoot her."
"Why not, pray tell?"
I took a deep breath. "I will not have a second person die for my sake today. Let her go, and I'll come quietly." I hung my head in raging submission.
