The Declaration

of the house to look out of the window, even though Julia had told her it was dangerous. And now, she was looking like death, her face white, little beads of sweat on her forehead, her eyes dark and full of worry. It was probably the stress of escaping, Julia decided. Perhaps she was even having second thoughts.
    ‘You’re going to stick out like sore thumbs,’ she said thoughtfully, leaning on the kitchen counter. But before either of them could reply, the phone started to ring, startling Julia and sending Anna and Peter scurrying for somewhere to hide.
    Hoping it wasn’t Barbara again, she picked up the receiver.
    ‘Julia?’ It wasn’t Barbara.
    ‘Oh, it’s you,’ she said.
    ‘I wanted to check that you’re all right. I heard about the breakout.’
    Julia rolled her eyes. ‘Anthony, I’m fine. It’s two Surpluses on the loose, not two murderers.’
    ‘Still. Don’t like the thought of it. Catchers been to the house yet?’
    ‘They came this morning.’
    Julia eyed Anna and Peter cautiously and prayed that they didn’t make a sound. Anthony simply wouldn’t understand what she was doing, protecting escaped Surpluses. She wasn’t entirely sure she did either.
    ‘What’s going to happen, do you think?’ she asked.
    ‘Happen? Well, they’ll be caught, of course. Catchers won’t let them get away, if that’s what you’re worried about.’
    Julia was silent for a moment. ‘And after that? What will happen to them then?’
    ‘Happen to them?’ Anthony’s tone was incredulous. ‘Well, they’ll be punished. Locked up. If they make it, that is.’
    Julia frowned. ‘Make it?’ she asked.
    Anthony sighed. ‘If they’re still alive,’ he said. ‘Not officially condoned, of course, but Catchers do have leeway, if they’re endangered themselves. You know the sort of thing. Apparently the boy’s trouble.’
    ‘But . . . but that’s appalling,’ Julia gasped, trying not to look at Peter as she spoke. ‘They can’t do that.’
    ‘You wouldn’t say that if you found him hiding in your house, Julia,’ Anthony said tersely. ‘You have to remember, these Surpluses have no right to life in the first place. No right at all. Each new person on this earth threatens our existence, steals resources that Legal people need to survive.’
    ‘They’re so young, though,’ Julia said quietly. ‘It seems so . . . inhumane.’
    ‘Julia, they will be caught, and they will be punished or buried and either way I hope it’s sooner rather than later,’ Anthony said briskly. ‘I don’t like knowing that my wife is in danger, and nor should you.’
    ‘You really think I’m in danger?’ Julia asked curiously.
    ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine,’ Anthony said quickly. ‘You just keep the doors locked. Why don’t you get one of your friends round for company?’
    ‘And when will you be back home?’
    Anthony sighed. ‘I was hoping to be back this weekend, but I’m going to have to play it by ear, I’m afraid. You don’t mind, do you, Julia?’
    ‘No, no, of course not,’ she said quietly. ‘Well, keep me posted.’
    ‘Right you are. Bye, then.’
    ‘It’s OK, you can come out,’ she said, putting the phone down. ‘Although we need to get you hidden again pretty quickly. Anna? Anna, are you all right?’
    Anna looked up. She looked awful, Julia thought worriedly.
    ‘I’m . . .’ Anna said, then looked fearfully at Peter. ‘I think I’ve lost. . . I mean, you haven’t found anything, have you?’
    Julia frowned. ‘Found anything? What do you mean?’
    Anna bit her lip and looked down at the table.
    ‘Nothing. I . . . nothing.’
    Peter frowned. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked concernedly, but his question only seemed to make Anna look worse. ‘Have you lost something? What is it?’
    Anna looked at Peter for a moment, and Julia thought she looked like she wanted to say something, like she wanted to unburden some terrible secret, but after a brief hesitation, she just nodded.
    ‘I’m fine,’ she said weakly. ‘Really, I’m fine.’
    ‘Right,’ Mrs Sharpe said seriously, ‘well, if you’ve had enough food, it’s just gone nine, so I think you two need to go back to the summer house and wait there for me until it’s dark. I’ve got . . . well, I’ve got some things to do.’
    Anna nodded silently, and she and Peter stood up.
    ‘Wait just a moment,’ Mrs Sharpe said, ‘while I check the coast is clear. The garden here isn’t really overlooked, but you can never