When All Else Fails (A Push of a Button Novella)

Chapter Four

He made a sound between a growl and a snort. "Are you serious? They just turn a blind eye?"

"You have to understand," Viv said. "The people here live and die on the government's whim. Too young to work? You live here with those who are too old for the labor camps or mines. Too old to do that either? You're discarded. Who would want to risk ending up like these people? There are rumors, of course, about this kind of thing happening to those who dissent, and even though no one says it, they're scared they might end up that way."

"And these people? Did they dissent?"

"No. Most were like you. Too outspoken for their own good, too freethinking. They didn't dissent. They just questioned. But unfortunately for them, none of them were from the upper class. They were from the lower class."

His lips pressed into a thin line, and he shook his head. "And they claim they take care of everyone."

"They do. But some get taken care of in a very different kind of way than others." She crossed her arms. "The Supreme Council believes they are gods, and gods hold life and death in their hands."

He scowled. "How can anyone allow this?"

Her gaze fell on a young girl sitting in an alley, her belly distended and her eyes hollow. The girl seemed familiar, and then it struck her. This was the young woman from meeting last week that she'd seen giving her own share of bread away to another little girl even though she clearly needed it. Viv's heart squeezed. If only she had a chip or two to give or even food if money wasn't an option. She glanced down at her barely touched coffee. This was all she had, so it would have to do. She hurried over to the girl and knelt in front of her, ignoring Seb's questioning stare. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

The girl's gaze fell on the coffee, and her face lit up with interest. But distrust still lurked in her eyes when she lifted her gaze to Viv's. "Evia, Miss."

"Are you thirsty, Evia?"

Evia nodded quickly.

Viv handed her the steaming coffee. "Here. I don't need it, but maybe you'd like it?"

The little girl reached out cautiously and took the cup like it was the most precious thing she'd ever seen. "For real, Miss?"

"For real. And it's Viv, not Miss. You can keep the cup too. Sell it for a handful of chips so you can buy food, you hear?"

Evia nodded with a tentative smile. "Thanks kindly, Miss Viv.

Viv reached out and slowly rested a hand on Evia's shoulder. Evia eyed her but didn't protest. She squeezed Evia's shoulder with a smile. "Don't lose heart, Evia. The Father sees."

Evia's smile brightened. "And 'e hears."

"That's right. Listen, find me at Gathering come Lord's Day. I'll bring you something better than coffee."

"Sure is a blessing to know yer kind do come round to the Light, Miss. Wouldn't have believed it if I didn't seen it with my own eyes."

Viv stood with a smile. "The Father works miracles, that's for certain."

"So 'e does, Miss. So 'e does." Evia nodded to Seb. "'E a new convert?"

She bit her lip. "Not exactly, but he won't turn us in if that's what you're wondering."

Evia looked up at Seb. "Oh, I ain't worried about that, Miss. I like 'im. 'E'll come around. I can just tell. Don't ye worry, Miss."

"Thanks, Evia. We'd better get going."

"If the Reds ask, I saw nothin'." Evia gave them a gap-toothed smile.

She nodded with a grateful smile. The little girl took quite a risk in talking to them so openly. "Thank you."