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THE SAVAGES VIEWED the Infomedia report with keen interest. Darcy allowed the loop to repeat for several cycles before stopping the replay.
Connor’s attention was divided between the footage, and observing the savages’ reaction. They tried to be coy, but it was clear they were fascinated and belittled by the Enclave’s superior technology. As you should be.
“Protesters inside the Enclave,” Garr mused, rubbing his jaw. “That’s a new phenomenon. What were they protesting about?”
“Trouble in paradise?” Amos made no attempt to hide his sarcasm. Connor couldn’t decide which of the two savages he detested more. Garr, who as their leader was responsible for Megan’s abuse, or the cocky Amos. They both need to learn some respect.
Darcy answered, ignoring the bait in Amos’s barbed remark. “They’re protesting the Anodyne Initiative, of course. They show more common sense than the average Citizen.”
He stood behind the savages, hands clasped behind his back, compelling them to ask questions by volunteering no additional information.
Reinforcing his dominance. Connor smiled to himself. Darcy knows what he’s doing.
Sheila eyed Darcy with open skepticism. “Are you with-holding information for any particular reason? To keep us in suspense, perhaps?”
Connor’s smile, slight as it had been, was wiped from his face. It took a great deal of self-restraint to remain silent. All three savages were getting on his nerves now.
“Forgive me, Sheila.” Darcy gave her a pitying look. “I forget, sometimes, how unsophisticated life can be outside the Enclave. You have so little access to information—beyond gossiping over the back fence, I suppose.”
He pressed on, not giving her an opportunity to respond.
“The Initiative is the latest treachery of the Givers and their boot-licking sycophants on the Council.” His voice rose as he warmed to his favorite subject. “All Citizens will be given a security chip, capable of transmitting their exact location—anywhere, inside the Enclave or out—to our security forces, the Peace Wardens.”
“That’s supposed to make us feel safe.” Connor made no effort to mask his contempt. He continued, mimicking the Infomedia report they’d just watched. “‘Imagine the peace of mind you’ll enjoy, knowing Peace Wardens can be at your side the moment you need them . . .’ As if the surveillance cameras weren’t enough.”
For once, Darcy did not reprimand him for speaking out of turn. If anything, he seemed pleased Connor was bolstering his argument.
Darcy took control of the narrative. “Once the Initiative is implemented, it will be impossible to enter the Enclave unless you have a security chip. Or any public place for that matter, or even to buy groceries.”
Darcy paused, his jaw clenched as he radiated hostility. “According to their rationale, if a terrorist incident occurs, or border security is breached, it would be child’s play to isolate the perpetrators.”
Garr propelled himself out of his chair, pivoting from the flatscreen to confront Darcy. “And by ‘perpetrator,’ you mean somebody from outside. Because no true Citizen would ever betray the Enclave.”
“You mean us.” Sheila’s soft accusation was no less biting for its low volume.
“We have to protect our way of life.” Tony’s bitter voice drew their attention to him. He had retreated to the far side of the room, sulking because Darcy denied him his weapon. “Border security is the only thing keeping the rabble outside where they belong.”
Darcy silenced him with a wordless exclamation, pivoting to glare at his chauffeur with open menace. The blood drained from Tony’s face, and he sat down, staring at the floor.
Connor wondered privately whether Tony had crossed the line, and become a liability in Darcy’s eyes. We all know how that ends, don’t we, Tony?
The other savages jumped out of their seats, crowding together in a tight cluster, their backs to the hearth. Connor edged closer to Darcy, putting distance between himself and the unpredictable trio by the fireplace.
Mateo roused himself from his vantage point just inside the balcony door. He’d lingered there, watching with shrewd attentiveness ever since the savages returned from their exile on the balcony.
Connor kept a wary eye on him—it was no secret Mateo still possessed all the enhancements the Givers bestowed on their Trackers.
“The security chips have enjoyed the benefit of some rather brilliant marketing.” Mateo stepped in front of the savages, shielding them behind his body. “I daresay one of the most effective propaganda campaigns to be carried out in years. They’ve been nicknamed ‘anodynes’ by the Infomedia, selling the premise they’ll improve border security and restore peace to the Citizens of the Enclave. The Council was quick to seize upon the quaint nickname, and belatedly decided to market it as the Anodyne Initiative.”
“They call them nodes for short.” Connor said, unable to hide his disgust. “You should hear the university crowd—they act like it’s the latest hot trend.”
He caught the look Darcy shot his way and shut his mouth, chagrined to realize Mateo had successfully baited him into speaking out of turn.
The three savages—Connor could never think of them as anything else—faced Darcy in a combative formation. Theirs actions reminded Connor of cornered animals, which made them even more dangerous.
“It wasn’t enough for you Hoarders to take control of all the resources.” Sheila’s eyes flashed with indignation. Mateo’s wordy speech hadn’t been enough to distract her from Tony’s outburst. “Or that you built the Enclaves to hoard everything for yourselves. You just had to drag us into your private little war with the Givers.”
Darcy rewarded her with a scornful look.
“What would you suggest? That we Implant our fellow Citizens instead?” He punctuated his outburst with a mocking laugh. “For the record, the Givers were the first to make use of your kind. In any war, there are always expendable foot soldiers. Ask your Colonel to explain the concept of ‘cannon fodder,’ if you’re really curious.”
Garr lurched forward, eyes blazing and fists clenched. He held himself in check with great effort, holding out one arm to block Amos. Darcy met his gaze with equal fire, neither of them willing to back down.
Mateo stood apart from either group, figuratively and literally, looking back and forth at their tense faces.
“I’m sure the Givers would be pleased with your current level of cooperation,” he said, his calculated placidity giving way to exasperation. “I remind you—the Initiative is already underway. We have a limited window of opportunity. You’ve got the rest of your lives to vilify each other. Perhaps you’ve heard of the old adage, ‘first things first’?”
“Enough with the lame quotes,” Amos snapped at him, turning to address Darcy and his companions. “But he’s got a point. We’re wasting time. Any suggestions, Councilor?”
Connor marveled at Darcy’s self-control. The belligerence of the scruffy savage—incongruously clothed in a Citizen’s attire—was appalling. Connor was now convinced which of the rabble he hated the most. I’ll be there, Amos, when Darcy Implants you again. That’s a promise.
Darcy studied the hostile trio with calculating eyes, the muscles along his jawline clenching and unclenching.
“The Infomedia has only limited access to the raw video footage,” he said at last. “We have a friendly resource inside the Surveillance Monitoring Division. It’s possible we’ll learn more about the Gallery bombing by reviewing their footage.”