The Tunnels Below Nadine Wild-Palmer (tools of titans ebook .txt) đ
- Author: Nadine Wild-Palmer
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A big hunched crow shuffled slowly forwards from the Corvus Community banner lining the stage behind Jacques dâOr. Cecilia had not noticed her before. Her feathers were tattered and patchy, reminding Cecilia of when she found her favourite jumper had been munched by moths over a particularly warm summer. Violetâs presence hushed the crowd and she began.
âThe Corvus Community has worked tirelessly at trying to find ways to bring more light through to the furthest reaches of this great intricate network of tunnels in which we dwell. And the system we have come up with has not only proved to be a success, but we have found new ways to generate more light and keep the growth of the Black Forest circulating clean air around our system. However, as the lake below Polarisâthe lake of lightâcontinues to shrink, it has become even more important to encourage a sombre tone among the dwellers so that they will increase their production of tears to refresh the supplies that support the function of Mr Sparksâour generator.â
There was an outbreak of chatter among the audience.
âPlease, please, calm your beaks.â Silence fell once again. âAs a result we have decided we need to bring morale down to an all-time low in order that the output of tears is higher and the lake fuller, and thus, the light of the tunnels generated by Mr Sparks brighter. To do this we have devised a plan to put an end to the Ride or Sigh competition, to shut down all luxuries and to permit only what is necessary to sustain life among the dwellers. In the meantime, to enhance the wave of sorrow we are going to take hostage key figures of the community. You know the types I am talking about. They are the do-gooders, the respected figures, the creatives, the poets and the sigh riders, the folk whoâŠâ
Violet paused dramatically, ensuring she was in complete command of the crowd.
ââŠbring the dwellers hope!â she finished with disdain.
Applause and a chorus of caws broke out, shaking the dome above their head. Black shadows jumped into the air, swooping all around, screeching.
âOf course, we will look after our own, and committed Corvus Community members will receive ample opportunity to prove their worth and be rewarded for it. Just as these next two have.â Violet flicked her head in a robotic fashion and Julius and Marvin stepped forward into the spotlight. Cecilia bubbled with rage as Violet began commending them on their âgood workâ and retold the story of how they had captured Kuffi. Enraged, Cecilia fought the urge to boo and hiss. The situation forced her to listen to what Violet had to say.
âJulius and Marvin found a certain somebodyâs ID papers were due for renewal. Using this knowledge they closed the ID Office early because they feared there might be some sort of gas leak.â Violet gasped for effect. Cecilia could hardly bear to listen to the lies. âThe cunning Corvus,â Violet continued, âthen sought out the offending party and rechecked the papers. As the office was now closed that dweller could no longer renew their ID papers before they went out of date, and Julius and Marvin were forced to bring the offender in and hold him at the Nest!â
Violet stalked the stage, then swept back into the spotlight.
âThis is the kind of initiative we expect from you, the Corvus Community! What a cunning plan! Now letâs employ this as a method to control. We decide who stays and who goes, and all the while we are still keeping the peace and protecting the dwellers. How often do dwellers really check their papers? We have cleverly made copies of invalid documents to be switched with the originals on point of contact with these ârespectedâ types for the very purpose of removing them from our society altogether in the coming months. Because without these ârole modelsâ we can bring morale right down to an all-time low. Letâs extinguish hope, for without hope there is only grief, and the greater the grief⊠The greater the relief⊠MORE FEARS FOR TEARS!â
Violet screamed and to Ceciliaâs and Lukeâs terror the crowd roared the slogan back over and over so they too were compelled to do so. Even if they didnât agree with it, they did not want to stand out in this crowd. Cecilia felt incredibly sad. She tried not to show it, but it was at that point that she knew their plan would work to make the dwellers sad too.
âThank you, Violet,â Jacques dâOr said, hopping in and tapping her on the shoulder to reclaim his spot centre stage.
âMore fears for tears,â he said plainly.
The crowd went wild. Jacques dâOr smiled, beaming with pride, and stood there soaking up the atmosphere.
âThe unhappier our society is the more the dwellers will cry. Nothing grows in the dark except the Corvus Community. We will make history here today, remember that! We are the shadows and it is the shadows that control the light! Letâs give you a good example of the type of dwellers we will be looking to remove. Bring them on, guys!â
At this point Kuffi and Madame Midnight were escorted onto the stage. Luke visibly clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared; tears edged Ceciliaâs eyes, and she pulled a fake smile to try to mask her heartbreak.
âWelcome the first of our âmissingâ dwellers,â said Jacques dâOr. There were a few gasps of surprise and delight dotted about the audience. âWe will hold them in the Nest for the next few weeks and when they are at their weakest, lowest point, we will send them to the doldrums where weâll let the gas explosions deal with themâor worse still, theyâll wander off into the Black of Beyond⊠FOR EVER! The likelihood of their survival is next to none. During which time
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