The Resistance

necessary to get information out of Underground operatives. I can do what I want with you. And I will, believe me.’
    He motioned to another guard, who was controlling the machine, and the prisoner screamed as his arms were pulled further away from his body.
    ‘I just need to know where I can find the Underground’s headquarters. It’s an easy enough question,’ Derek said, shaking his head sadly. ‘Tell me that and you’ll be free to go.’
    The prisoner looked at him with wild eyes. ‘Never,’ he shouted. ‘Never.’
    Derek nodded and left the room; moments later the door next to Richard opened and Derek’s face appeared.
    ‘What do you want me to do?’ he asked.
    Richard sighed. Why didn’t people realise that he would not be crossed? Why did they insist on fighting him when it was inevitable that they would lose? Did the Underground really think that they could make even a dent in his company’s success? Did they really think that he would let them score even one point over him? ‘Transfer him to the research lab,’ he said with a shrug. ‘I’m sure his organs will tell us more than he will.’
    ‘Right you are.’ Derek left and reappeared on the other side of the glass. ‘You’re going to research,’ he said coolly.
    ‘Research?’ the prisoner stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I mean that since you’re not talking, you’re no good to us. But luckily, your body can still be useful. They’re going to have your organs. We need organs to test on, you see; cells to examine. The idea is that once you’ve been cut open, the scientists will get more out of you than I managed to.’
    ‘Cut open?’ The prisoner’s face whitened visibly. ‘You can’t do that. I have rights. I have . . .’
    Richard Pincent couldn’t resist leaving his cubicle, throwing open the door to look at the prisoner in person. ‘You have nothing,’ he said, approaching the wooden bench from behind, causing the prisoner to jump. ‘You are pathetic. You tried, and failed, to destroy Longevity this morning, just as the Underground will always fail. Now I am going to show you what happens to people who cross Richard Pincent. I am going to destroy you.’
    ‘Who are you? Where’s your humanity?’ the prisoner shouted desperately.
    Richard looked at him curiously. ‘My humanity? I’m not the one trying to destroy life; you are, with your raids on Longevity.’
    ‘I have a wife. Please, don’t do this,’ the man begged.
    ‘More fool her,’ Derek said thinly, as more guards appeared to help him transport the prisoner, ‘for marrying a loser like you.’
    Richard Pincent had seen enough; he walked out of the room, ignoring the screams of the prisoner, and made his way upstairs to his office. Once there, he went over to his window, pulling back the thick, velvet curtains to look outside. His office suite, over two hundred square metres with double-height ceilings that caused people to gasp when they entered it for the first time, was situated on the third floor of Pincent Pharma, overlooking the Thames. He had chosen its position carefully – too high and the view would have missed the river completely, too low and the buildings on the other side of the river would have blocked his light. Here, his view was perfect. Here, he was constantly reminded how important he was, how successful. Here, he was never in any doubt that the years he had spent coercing, charming and tramping on others had truly paid dividends, that his efforts had been worthwhile.
    As he sat down at his desk, contemplating this thought, the phone rang and he picked it up. Few people had a direct line to this phone: only those who were useful to Richard, only those who could help him in some way.
    ‘Richard Pincent.’
    ‘Richard, it’s Adrian.’
    ‘Adrian. How are you?’
    Adrian Barnet was the Deputy Secretary General, the second in command at the Authorities. A small, squat man, Adrian had been at university with Richard. The two of them had been friends of sorts; they still were, in so far as Richard considered anyone a friend.
    ‘The attacks on Longevity,’ Adrian said, his voice anxious. ‘Are they set to continue, do you think?’
    Adrian couldn’t know about the raid that morning. The Authorities were always several steps behind, which suited Richard perfectly. ‘They were isolated incidents,’ he said carefully. ‘Naturally, we’ve upped our security measures. I think you’ll find there will be no more problems