The Resistance

think you’re doing the right thing. But the problem is, your decision doesn’t just affect you, does it?’
    Anna wished he would go, wished he would leave her alone. ‘It’s still the right thing,’ she managed to say. ‘My parents . . . They died because of the Declaration . . .’
    Richard Pincent nodded. ‘Of course. Your parents. It was very sad. Tragic, in fact. But they signed the Declaration themselves, didn’t they?’
    ‘Only because they didn’t know what it really meant.’
    ‘You believe that?’ Richard frowned. ‘They were your age, weren’t they? Or older? I’m sure they must have understood it?’
    ‘No,’ Anna said fiercely. ‘They thought they could Opt Out later. They wanted to have children . . .’
    ‘Ah, children.’ Richard nodded, thoughtfully. ‘I understand. But if they couldn’t have had children – then everything would have been OK, wouldn’t it? There wouldn’t have been anything wrong with them signing?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Anna said tightly. ‘I know they didn’t want me to sign, though. They joined the Underground to fight Longevity.’
    Richard raised an eyebrow and Anna flushed at her realisation that she’d mentioned the Underground in front of Peter’s grandfather. She clenched her fists to regain control over herself.
    ‘Yes, the Underground,’ Richard said levelly. ‘Of course, you know that they are all criminals? And that association with such activity brings a prison sentence?’
    Anna nodded. ‘I know. Peter and I . . . we wouldn’t . . . I mean . . .’
    ‘I know you wouldn’t do anything like that,’ Richard said generously. ‘And I’m sure your parents only turned to them out of love for you. They loved Peter, too, didn’t they?’
    Anna nodded again.
    ‘And he risked his life to come and save you from Grange Hall. Isn’t that right?’
    ‘Yes, he did,’ Anna said, drawing her knees up on to her chair, pulling them into her chest.
    ‘Yes, indeed,’ Richard Pincent continued. ‘Now, do you think it’s possible that it’s time for you to save Peter’s life?’
    ‘Save Peter’s life?’ Anna’s eyes widened in fear. ‘What’s happened to him? What . . .’
    ‘Oh, no, nothing. Don’t worry,’ Richard smiled. ‘I meant that he listens to you. He cares about you. And as long as you won’t sign the Declaration, he won’t. But refusing to sign, you’re cutting his life short. You’re effectively killing him, Anna.’
    ‘Killing him? No, I . . .’ Anna said anxiously, then dug her nails further into the palms of her hands. ‘Humans aren’t meant to live for ever,’ she managed to say eventually. ‘They’re just not.’
    ‘I see,’ Richard Pincent said, nodding slowly. ‘Is that what you think? Really?’
    Anna nodded uncertainly.
    ‘I thought you loved Peter.’
    ‘I do!’ Anna said, her eyes widening. ‘I do love him!’
    ‘I doubt that,’ Richard Pincent said sadly. ‘If you loved him, you’d know that he’s spent his entire life hiding, hampered, weighed down by his Surplus status. Now he’s got the chance to reclaim his life, to really be a someone, but instead, he’s being held back by you and your brother.’
    ‘I’m not holding him back,’ Anna said fretfully.
    ‘Oh, but you are. And you will continue to do so if you don’t sign the Declaration,’ Richard said, his voice grave. ‘By Opting Out, you jeopardise his health, your own health. I know what that means, Anna – my own wife died of cancer when she was just thirty. I spent a year watching her die, watching her waste away and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. It’s what made me so determined to fight illness, to fight nature’s relentless onslaught. Could you do that to Peter? Could you allow him to suffer if you were to get ill? Could you let him watch you die, knowing that it was your fault?’
    Anna flinched. ‘I wouldn’t let him watch me die,’ she said quietly. ‘And I’m not stopping him from signing. He can if he wants.’
    Richard Pincent shook his head. ‘Peter is deeply committed to you and your brother,’ he said softly. ‘He’s an honourable young man. A loyal one. He would never sign the Declaration, however much he wanted to, if you chose not to.’
    Anna hung her head. ‘But . . .’ she whispered. ‘But we have to be Opt Outs. We have to . . .’ She felt her shoulders slump. Had to what? She asked herself miserably. They couldn’t have children. They couldn’t start the Next