22 Serialisation of the book 'Uprising' 1st book in the 'Corpalism' series - by Arun D Ellis

Freedom

Sometimes, even to live is an act of courage
Seneca

Clay perched on the edge of his bed, he knew the real violence would start soon and he had to be mentally prepared. He understood his limitations: he could and had stood up to physical beatings, no problem but he’d never kidded himself about his resistance level to real torture. He’d had sight of the implements of inflicting pain, had even been privy to their use and he knew that he’d cough up eventually if he ever found himself on the receiving end, so why wait? He’d considered suicide but at the moment he wasn’t desperate enough, and as yet he hadn’t the means; that time would come later. He heard voices and then footsteps. Then he heard an unexpected yet familiar sound, a dull thump of air, a sound designed not to be heard. The door opened, an armed man appeared in full SAS black kit. Clay didn’t know whether this was the end or help.

The man threw a black hold all on the floor of the cell, “Put these on.” Clay ripped open the bag and pulled on the clothes as quickly as numb fingers would allow. “With me,” said the man, “now.” Clay left the cell, counting two men, both identically clad. They ran through the corridors passing the occasional dead guard as they went, then they were outside the building. Clay was shoved into the back of a waiting van which was moving before the doors fully closed. They drove for what seemed like hours before stopping, then the rear doors opened and Clay was kicked out, rolling as he hit the floor. The van sped away, one of the doors still open, banging.

He got up in a crouch and looked around him. He was in a lay by of a busy duel carriageway; sharing the space with an old Volvo and a brand new Mercedes. Clay felt in his pocket and pulled out some keys. The driver’s door of the Mercedes opened and Rob got out. Clay moved towards him.

“Clay.”

“Rob.”

“I guess we’re even now,” said Rob.

“Guess so,” said Clay.

“I’m sorry about Sir Phillip, if I’d been in charge it wouldn’t have happened like that.” Clay cocked his head, nothing to say. “He was like a second father to me, you know, I would’ve chosen anything but that for him.”

“I know,” said Clay, although he didn’t, in truth he hadn’t known they were that close, “but it would’ve still happened.”

“I like you Clay,” said Rob, “but if it wasn’t for Helmand we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Clay nodded, “I know, you’re a company man.”

“Don’t let there be a next time,” said Rob.

“There will always be a next time,” said Clay.

“You can’t beat them,” said Rob, “nobody can, they’ve been here forever and they’ll always be here.”

“You make them sound invincible,” said Clay, “they’re just people.”

“No …they’re not,” said Rob, “they’re society, they’re a culture. The individuals change, but the system goes on, always has, always will.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this…” said Clay.

“Yes it does,” said Rob, “Think of it like the Cavalry versus the Indians. People like you, you’re the Indians and people like me…we’re the Cavalry.”

“But I have to try.” said Clay.

“Then you’ll lose,” said Rob, “like those before you. Whoever you remove will always be replaced by another, it’s the corruption of power, it’s always there. You will never win.”

“Well, perhaps I’ll win for a little while,” Clay grinned suddenly.

Rob nodded once, “Perhaps you will, if anyone can, it would be you, just for a little while anyway.”

“Then join us,” said Clay.

Rob smiled, “No, it’s not for me, Clay… just keep safe and stay away from me.” He went to shake hands then withdrew before completing the movement, “we’re even now, remember that.” He turned, threw “the Volvo’s yours, by the way” over his shoulder, got into his car, typed a quick text ‘Pigeon is flying home’ and then he was gone.


Homecoming

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
James Dean

Clay dumped the Volvo a mile outside Boro, in the barn where he and Don had sheltered. In the night it was easy to imagine it would stay hidden, during the day who knew? He sneaked back in the way he and Don had come, heading for Donald’s, hoping Sandra would be there. It was still dark when he arrived and he made a space for himself behind the shed in the back garden and waited until he saw early morning movement inside the house. Cautiously he approached the back door and knocked; banking all he had on Sandra and Don knowing nothing of Donald’s death and his part in it.

Don threw open the door, reaching out “Terry! Shit, man!” he said, pulling Terry into the kitchen “Get inside quick in case someone sees you, Christ … where’ve you been? How did you get here?”

Sandra heard the commotion, heard Don speak and ran in, “Terry!” she cried, and “Oh my god I’ve been so worried.” Terry threw his arms around her as she hugged him, “where’ve you been?”

“They had me banged up somewhere down south,” said Terry, “but they let me go.”

“Same here” said Don, “though they released us months ago.”

“Guess they forgot about me then,” said Terry.

Sandra hugged him and sobbed gently.

“How’d you get here?” asked Don.

“They dropped me outside Boro,” said Terry, “told me if I didn’t report in at the station ASAP then they’d bang me up again.”

“Right,” said Don, narrowing his eyes, “see they roughed you up a bit.”

“Yeah,” said Terry, “but not as much as I thought they were going to.”

“Same here,” said Don, “bit strange really, not what we were expecting.”

“Yeah, well don’t put any store by it,” said Terry, “next time they’ll be sure to give you a good thumping, believe me.”

“Guess so,” said Don.

“Where’s Donald?” said Terry, knowing it would be odd if he didn’t ask.

“We don’t know.” Don’s voice was flat.

“He hasn’t been seen since 28th June and we’re out of our minds….” Sandra’s voice broke and Terry’s arms went round her.

“Did they mention him?” asked Don.

“No,” said Terry, “nothing. They said they’d held me long enough and let me go.”

“We should ask again at the station.” said Sandra.

“Is that wise?” asked Terry, “I mean after what happened an’ all.”

“Oh, they’ve been really helpful down there,” said Sandra, “nothing like you’d expect.”

“Isn’t that a bit strange?” asked Terry. Sandra frowned so he continued quickly to avoid argument, “Well, my experience of them isn’t like that, unless they’re after something.”

“They know all about us, what more could they want?” asked Don

“You told ‘em about your contacts here and on the outside?”

“Course not,” said Don indignantly, “I’d never tell them that, what are you getting at?”

“Maybe they’re just waiting…” said Terry.

“Waiting for us to start up again, you mean.” said Don.

“That’s right,” said Terry, “so you’ll lead them right to ….”

“Yeah, well, someone along the chain must’ve sold us out. If that happened the plan was always to lay low until the heat died down and start up again with a whole new set of people,” Don sounded depressed at the thought.

“What happened with the O’Connells?” asked Terry.

“They botched their exit,” said Don, “so they turned around and came back again.”

“Oh, so it was all for nothing.” said Terry, smothering the urge to talk about what happened to Dale or to ask what Donald had meant about Tom. Curiosity killed more than the cat.

“Are you hungry?” asked Sandra, suddenly, “you must be starving.”

“Look, you two eat, I’m going to nip to the station and ask more questions, someone has to know what’s happened to Dad.”

Terry’s release had fired him with new hope.

∞

Jimmy opened the door, “Don? What you after?”

“Terry’s back,” said Don.

“Did you say anything?”

“No, I played it cool,” said Don.

“What about Sandra?” asked Jimmy.

“She doesn’t know anything about it, anyway,” said Don.

“Right, I’ll get my brothers then we’ll fix this fucker once and for all,” said Jimmy.

“Wait until I get the others,” said Don, “you know what happened last time you lot tried to take him on, and you’re short Dale now.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Jimmy, “you’d better hurry up then ‘cause I want this son of a bitch.”

Don headed down the path, “And you’d better run,” yelled Jimmy, “’cause we ain’t waitin’.”

Don turned and pointed, “Don’t start anything without us… I mean it.”

“Fuck you,” muttered Jimmy under his breath as he closed the door.

∞

Terry sat back in the settee; contraband ham in white bread, washed down with a hot cup of tea, nothing like it. Sandra came back into the room and snuggled up to him; they sat like that for several minutes before either spoke.

“I really missed you,” she said.

“I missed you as well,” said Terry.

“How much?” asked Sandra.

Terry frowned, “a lot.”

“What’s a lot?” asked Sandra, “like you miss football? Or like you miss roast dinners on a Sunday?”

“I missed you a lot.” said Terry, tensing imperceptibly at the sound of a door opening.

“Well I’m sure that’s not why you came back,” said Sandra, “although I think I can safely say I’m the only girl you know in Boro.”

“I really missed you, you’re the only thing I could think of in that cell, the only thing that kept me going and I really wanted to see you again.” Actually the truth of the matter was that if he’d let himself think of anything but the ordeal in front of him he’d have collapsed but he’d never thought you could say that sort of thing to a woman.

“Honest?”

“Honest,” said Terry, hearing soft footfalls and voices; bracing his feet for quick movement.

Don entered the room closely followed by Jimmy and Sean, with Paddy and Brendon clipping the backs of their heels. A moment later Lawrence and Dave joined the party.

“Don,” moaned Sandra, “couldn’t you leave us a bit of time together, he doesn’t want to talk to you lot at the moment, do you, Terry?”

Terry pulled a face and shook his head, “Not really, but if the guys have some things to clear up, then I think we should talk, after all, things got a bit crazy.”

“That’s right,” said Jimmy, “we need to clear some things up.”

“Where are the others?” asked Terry.

“Eric will be along soon.” said Don.

“And Dale and Tom?” asked Terry.

“Um,” muttered Sandra, “I should be going anyway, I’ve got work, see you later,” she leaned in, kissing Terry on the cheek. He smiled at her, apparently putting his whole self into it but at the same time noticing that Dave and Brendan had taken up position covering the door, Sean and Paddy had done the same for the window, and Don and Lawrence had placed themselves, just out of range, in front of him.

The front door shutting was the signal; Don started in on him.

“So Terry, what happened to you after we got taken?”

“Figured you guys would want a full run down,” said Terry, “surprised you didn’t ask earlier, Don.”

“Well?” said Jimmy aggressively, “What happened?”

Terry ignored him, “Guess they just split us up and sent us to different places, but it’s no longer a mystery how they caught onto us though.”

Don raised his eyebrow, emulating his father “How’d you mean?”

“Yeah,” demanded Jimmy, “how’d they get onto us? They’ve never done before, not before you joined, that is.”

“Yeah,” said Dave, “so what happened this time?”

“Don’t know why you’re so peeved, Dave,” said Terry, “you weren’t there; you haven’t just spent three months in a shit hole.”

“Yeah, but how’d they find us and how’d you get out?” demanded Jimmy.

“What d’you mean?” said Terry, “Don got out, you got out.”

“We weren’t arrested, not properly” stated Jimmy, “they pull us in whenever there’s anything goes down, an ‘cause of Dale they thought we was up to something as well…they missed Sean out ‘cause of his ankle … pretty funny when you think how he did it.”

“They still let you out” replied Terry.” I’d like to know why…”

“What are you getting at?” demanded Don, “you’re the one with questions to answer, everything changed after you joined.”

Jimmy moved towards Terry, “let’s just stop fucking around,” he snapped, “he’s the one who told the cops, he’s the one who spilled the beans, that’s why Dale’s dead, that’s why…”

“Dale’s dead?” said Terry, feigning surprise as best he could, “How? What happened? Look before you guys get too excited, no-one split on anybody.”

“What?” said Lawrence, “of course they did, someone must’ve blabbed, why else did the mission go down?”

“It was Galaxy,” said Terry, “they released a new programme.”

“What are you talking about?” said Lawrence.

“When I was banged up one of the inmates told me about the new system,” said Terry.

“That was nice of him,” said Dave sarcastically.

“I helped him out of a tricky situation,” said Terry, “a few knuckle heads had the idea they were going to gang rape him.”

“Oh what?” said Sean, “so you thought you’d save him for yourself, did you?”

“Shut up, Sean,” snapped Paddy, “leave it to Jimmy.”

“How’d he know about it?” asked Don, “Did he get an invitation to the launch?”

“One of the screws told him,” said Terry, “don’t ask me why, probably trying to scare him or something, or maybe put him off trying to escape, I dunno.”

“What are you talking about?” said Don, “what’s it got to do with Galaxy?”

“Well, I can see it wouldn’t mean much to people who’ve been stuck in a ghetto most of their lives,” said Terry, “but on the outside Galaxy controls everything...” Terry pointed to his bandaged forearm, location of the mandatory microchip implant, “with these.”

“What I want to know is when you told the pigs about the mission?” said Jimmy

“I didn’t,” said Terry, “and believe me, I was more fucked off than any of you, and after all I’ve spent longer in the cells.”

“Dale’s dead,” snapped Paddy, “so believe me you ain’t more fucked off than us.”

Terry paused for what he thought would be a respectable period of time, mourning someone he’d hardly known. “I’m saying, they can now read every single chip in the country, anywhere and at anytime.”

“What do you mean?” asked Lawrence.

“They have a programme, and it knows roughly where everyone should be at any one time and it throws up a warning when people aren’t where they’re supposed to be.”

Lawrence frowned, “but that’s not possible.”

“Sorry, but it is… don’t ask me how they do it, whether it’s a satellite or masts I don’t know but all the chips are in the system already, where you live, where you buy things, where you work if you work, what you earn…”

“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” said Brendan, “but what’s that to do with Dale?”

“Everything… a warning went up the minute we stepped outside.”

“Where we shouldn't've been,” said Don.

“Exactly, they knew the minute we crossed no man’s land and scaled the outer wall.”

“Which explains why they were onto us so quickly,” said Don.

“And how they knew exactly where to find us,”

“What?” demanded Jimmy, “what’re you talking about? He’s the one who’s responsible for Dale’s death, we all said so.”

“No, Jimmy,” said Lawrence, “it doesn’t look like that now.”

“Christ,” said Dave, “what about Tom?”

“Tom?” said Don, “shit.”

“What about Tom?” asked Terry, asking in genuine ignorance this time.

“Nothing,” said Jimmy.

“We thought he’d sold out,” said Dave, “so we…”

“Jimmy…” corrected Lawrence, “We got Jimmy, Paddy and Brendan to deal with him.”

“Oh,” said Terry, “I’m guessing that’s what you intended for me.”

“It still is,” said Sean, “we don’t believe none of your crap.”

“Shut up, Sean,” ordered Jimmy.

“No!” snapped Sean, “I don’t believe a fucking word he says, Dale’s dead and it’s his fucking fault.”

“No, it’s not, Sean,” said Brendan.

“Yes it is,” said Sean, “he’s a liar, and he’s always been a liar.”

“We need to run a test,” said Dave, “see what happens.”

“And how will that work?” asked Terry, “you going to sacrifice someone?”

“Yeah,” said Jimmy, “you.”

“Really,” said Terry, “… see your thinking, but it won’t work with me.”

“Why the fuck not?” demanded Sean.

“No chip,” said Terry, waving his bandaged forearm again, “I dug it out.”

“Christ.” Sean was impressed, inflicting pain on your own self; now that’s cold.

“That’s against the law.” said Brendan.

“Like you care, Brendan, anyway it’s the only way not to be tracked.” said Terry.

“Smart,” said Jimmy, “’cept now you can’t go where the sensors can read your chip.”

“Of course I can,” said Terry, “the programme can’t read people, only the chip implant.”

“But if you go past a sensor and it sees you haven’t got a chip…” started Sean.

“That’s not how it works,” said Don, “it only reads the chip, if you’ve got no chip it doesn’t know you’re there.”

“Then why haven’t we got rid of ours?” asked Sean, not keen on pain but deeply interested in anonymity.

“Because it takes you right out of the system,” said Lawrence. “It means you can’t get into most buildings, you can’t buy anything, you can’t claim your benefits, and you can’t do anything within the system and, therefore, society at all.”

“So, why’d you dig out your chip?” asked Dave, still suspicious, “…and when?”

“I did it this morning,” said Terry, “in Don’s shed.”

“Why?” asked Don.

“Because I’ve had enough.” said Terry.

“What exactly does that mean?” questioned Dave, just as the doorbell rang.

“That’ll be Eric.” said Don.

“That’s good,” said Terry, “after what you said about Tom I was a little worried for him.”

“Shut up, smart mouth,” hissed Sean.

“Leave it, Sean,” said Paddy, “Jimmy’s got it.”

“Fuck off,” muttered Sean under his breath, Paddy thumped him on the arm, Sean winced but said nothing more.

Eric and Don entered the room and each took a seat.

“Say again - why’d you dig out your chip?” asked Don.

“He did what?” said Eric, behind the curve. No-one bothered to bring him up to speed.

“You gonna go live in the hills, Terry?” asked Brendan.

“Or kill yourself, maybe?” asked Jimmy hopefully.

“I’m going to fight back,” said Terry, “and my first act was to get rid of their chip.”

“Get rid of the means to exist, you mean,” said Don, “nobody can survive without a chip.”

“How will you buy food, ‘n’ water, clothes, an’ shoes? Anything? Everything?” asked Dave.

“What’s been happening?” asked Eric, “What are we talking about? I thought…”

“Yeah,” interrupted Don, “things might not be how we thought.”

“I’m going to fight back,” said Terry.

“What d’you mean by, fight back?” asked Dave.

“I’m going to attack them,” said Terry, “I’m going to wage war on their arses, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Jimmy burst out laughing, “Oh you’re going to war, are you? And on their arses, no less?”

“I’ll bet they’ll be quaking in their boots when they hear that,” added Brendan, also laughing.

“No they won’t,” said Terry, “I know that, but what else are we meant to do other than just sit here taking it?”

“We can carry on as before.” said Dave.

“Wait a minute,” said Sean, “we don’t know if he’s telling the truth yet, we should test him or something.”

“What do you mean?” asked Eric.

“Apparently, according to Terry anyway, or should I say Terry’s friend inside the nick, Galaxy can now track us all wherever we go,” said Dave.

“What here, now?” asked Eric, “what all of us? Even me?”

“Everyone in the country, Galaxy can track everyone in the country, all the time.”

“Fuck.”

“Which is how they caught on to us,” added Terry.
Eric frowned, “Wait a minute,” he said, “…what about Tom?”

“We know,” said Don.

“You know,” said Eric, “what does that mean exactly? You know? Since when?”

“Since just ten minutes ago when Terry told us,” said Dave, “it looks like Tom was telling the truth.”

“What!” said Eric.

“I know,” said Dave, “I know.”

“You know? You know? Is that all you’re going to say?” demanded Eric, “We ki….”

“Alright Eric,” snapped Jimmy, “We all know what happened okay, no need to go shouting about it.”

“Yeah, take it easy, Eric,” said Lawrence.

“Take it easy?” continued Eric, his voice rising “I said we shouldn’t’ve done it, I said he was innocent…”

“Okay,” snapped Jimmy.

“At the time I said it,” continued Eric, “remember? But nobody would listen to me, no….”

“Eric,” snapped Don, “that’s not how I remember it, you were all for it...”

“Dave just kept on and the rest of you…” continued Eric.

“ERIC!” shouted Dave, “leave it, we all know, okay?”

“No, I won’t leave it.” He too was shouting. “We need to have this out, you can’t just ignore it, just brush it under the carpet, we killed him, we killed Tom and we were wrong.”

“Eric,” said Don, “we made a mistake but it’s done now, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“We can at least have the decency to acknowledge out loud that we fucked up,” pressed Eric, “he was our friend, and he was one of us.”

“He wasn’t my friend,” said Sean, “And he wasn’t Jimmy’s or Paddy’s or Brendan’s or Dale’s either I know ‘cause they were always slagging him off.”

“Shut up Sean,” snapped Paddy, “you never know when to keep your mouth shut.”

“Don’t know why you’re being so sanctimonious, you two faced git,” snapped Dave, shoving his face in Eric’s “you put up your black straw like the rest of us.”

“Black straw?” said Terry, “what is this, Treasure Island?”

“Shut up you bastard,” roared Jimmy, “I still don’t fuckin’ trust you.”

“That’s right Jimmy,” yelled Sean, “let’s kill the fucker.”

“Shut the fuck up, Sean,” snapped Jimmy.

“Yeah shut up Sean,” said Paddy.

“Keep him off my back, won’t ya?” said Jimmy to Paddy.

“God, what have we done,” moaned Eric.

“For Christ’s sake,” shouted Dave, “will everyone just shut the fuck up.”

“Who are you to give orders?” demanded Jimmy, “who appointed you boss?”

“We need to give each other time to…” Lawrence tried to intercede.

“Dad’s in charge and when he gets back…” said Don.

“If he gets back,” said Brendan, voicing the doubts of the whole room.

“What the hell does that mean?” demanded Don.

“Jesus Christ,” shouted Dave, “shut up, everyone, just shut up and take a few seconds to think won’t ya?”




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