The Resistance

perfectly sound way to run businesses and households. A bit like the attitude to Surpluses now. Most people didn’t have the vote and women were considered the property of their husbands.’
    Peter looked down. ‘Do I have “please give me a history lesson” written on my forehead?’ he muttered. ‘Because you’re the second person to give me one in as many days.’
    Pip raised an eyebrow. ‘Many people lost their lives fighting for these rights – to vote, to be free, to work, to be able to get on the same bus as someone considered their superior. And it was the next generations who embedded these changes, who came to view women as equals to men, who came to understand that skin colour is of no relevance. Young people are the future. Without them, the world stands still.’
    ‘I know that,’ Peter said, a little too quickly.
    ‘Good,’ Pip said seriously. ‘Because people like your grandfather don’t see it like that. They think that youth can be dispensed with, that the world won’t suffer.’
    ‘I know.’ Peter looked down, trying to push the image of Anna dying, in need of Longevity drugs, from his head. ‘I know Longevity is wrong. Unlike Dr Edwards. He thinks it’s beautiful.’
    ‘Dr Edwards?’
    Peter nodded. ‘He’s the one who’s been teaching me. I work in his lab.’
    ‘You’re in Dr Edwards’ lab?’ Pip, for once, looked slightly shaken.
    ‘Do you know him? He’s Head of ReTraining.’
    ‘ReTraining.’ Pip frowned, then nodded. ‘You know, Dr Edwards used to be one of Pincent’s most powerful scientists. Be very careful, Peter. Dr Edwards is dangerous.’
    ‘Dangerous? Dr Edwards? He couldn’t scare a crow,’ Peter said incredulously.
    ‘Danger manifests itself in many ways, Peter. Brilliance of mind can be as dangerous as a loaded weapon.’
    ‘Well, you’re wrong,’ Peter said. ‘Dr Edwards isn’t dangerous. He’s all right, actually. He’s just a science geek. And he said he likes young people because he likes being contradicted.’
    Pip didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and Peter found himself reddening slightly – he’d never told Pip he was wrong about anything before. He looked up tentatively, to see Pip’s reaction.
    ‘A science geek,’ Pip said, his tone more insistent than before. ‘Yes, I suppose you’re right. But you see, Peter, the trouble with science geeks, as you call them, is that they put discovery before anything else. It was a science geek who discovered the atom bomb. He didn’t intend to cause mass murder, but he did nonetheless. Believe me when I say that you can’t trust Dr Edwards. You can’t trust anyone.’
    ‘Except you, you mean?’ Peter asked, raising his eyebrows. Then he shrugged, shot Pip a sheepish smile. ‘Look, I am careful. And honestly, I can handle Dr Edwards. He’s OK.’
    ‘OK?’ Pip’s voice was still insistent. ‘Peter, Dr Edwards is not on our side. Those not for us are against us, are a danger to us.’
    Peter felt himself getting impatient. ‘You always say that. But it isn’t true,’ he said, irritation creeping into his voice. ‘Just because someone isn’t in the Underground, doesn’t make them evil. Things aren’t always black and white, you know.’ His flush deepened as he realised he was repeating his grandfather’s words, and he crossed his arms defensively.
    Pip didn’t say anything. Then he nodded, his eyes full of concern, and put his hand on Peter’s shoulder. ‘If I’m overprotective, Peter, it’s because you are so important to us. You and Anna represent the new beginning, our hope for the future.’ He looked intently at Peter; Peter found he couldn’t see anything but Pip’s eyes boring into his. ‘You represent so much to the Underground, Peter,’ he said softly. ‘And so much to me personally. I have seen you grow from a child; soon you will be a man. I only wish to guide you, to point out the dangers. That’s all.’
    Peter’s eyes moved downwards. ‘I know. Look, I’ll be careful,’ he said quietly.
    ‘I know you will. I’ll make contact soon,’ Pip said, walking towards the door, and then he was gone.

Chapter Ten
    Anna was at the stove when Peter got back that evening, and when he saw her earnest expression, the lines of concentration etched into her forehead, it reminded him of the first time he’d seen her, staring up at a Grange Hall instructor, desperate to please, to Get Things Right. She turned when she heard him come in, her face