Hurst by Robin Crumby (the reading list book TXT) 📖

her eyes narrowing, not entirely sure she had heard the sister correctly. “Wait, you said only the women were welcome to stay. What about these two? Are they not welcome?”

The sister cleared her throat, her eyes remained fixed on Riley, piercing and cold. “Oh dear. Perhaps Stella did not explain. This is a sanctuary for women. We do not usually allow men here at all.”

“Since when did men become the root of all evil?” asked Zed accusingly.

The sister laughed, seemingly amused by the naivety of the question. “Since men began subjugating women to their will. Since the dawn of time. Since Adam corrupted Eve. We have chosen a life free from violence, brutality, rape and murder. Men have no place in our lives here.”

The two nuns on either side nodded their approval, but remained silent.

“So while men, women and children are dying in their millions outside these walls, you dare pass judgement on half the population?” continued Zed incredulously. He rose unsteadily, gripping the table for support, his chair scraping on the flagstone floor.

“If we are to survive and rebuild, we all must make sacrifices.”

“It’s hardly a balanced community, is it? How do you expect to rebuild?”

“I assure you, we’re more than self-sufficient. Our residents have learned the skills they need from books. We no longer have need for the brute strength of men.”

“It’s not very sustainable though, is it? What about the next generation? How do you expect to have children?” asked Riley.

“Men still have one small role to play in our future. And for that we keep several for breeding purposes.”

“Breeding?” snorted Zed. “We’re not animals, you know? You can’t just lock people up like that, like you would a bull or a stallion and let them out when you’re ready for them to breed.”

She ignored his attempts to provoke her. “I assure you that is precisely what we have chosen to do.” She smiled, revealing even, white teeth, unblemished by the vices of nicotine, sugar or alcohol. There was something about her that struck Riley as vaguely sinister, like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

“You’re off your rocker, you are. Stark raving bonkers.” Zed wagged his finger at the sister, but his eyes had started to glaze over. He seemed to sway a little on his feet and slumped back into his chair. He winced with pain, cradling his wrist. The colour had drained from his cheeks.

Unmoved by Zed's weakened state, the sister’s thin lips relaxed a little in triumph. “You should get that arm looked at immediately. You are clearly not a well man. In the circumstances, we shall forgive your lack of manners and ingratitude. Tell Stella to take him straight to the infirmary.”

Riley was shaking with rage, incensed by the sister’s condescension and intolerance. “You really are a piece of work.”

“My child, please don’t take this personally. The world has changed.”

“Since when did the principles of kindness, charity, forgiveness, generosity and all those other things they teach you in Sunday school cease to apply?”

“We all must adapt to survive. We are in unchartered waters. God created this virus to punish mankind for centuries of wickedness. Rather like Noah and the Ark, the sickness is simply God’s way of purging the world of its vices: wealth, power and violence. We will all be washed clean, so we can start again. Here at Chewton Glen we are doing God’s work, building a new Ark, if you will.”

“Those are just Bible stories,” interrupted Adele, her childlike voice defiant. “There’s no such thing as God.”

“Silence, you impudent child.” The sister stiffened, ready to strike the girl before she noticed Riley primed, on the edge of her seat. She softened her tone. “Children should be seen and not heard.”

“Don’t you see? The virus doesn’t discriminate between good and evil, between black and white, between men and women. The virus doesn't judge. It kills everyone. The few that survive run and hide, like you, here.”

“God watches over us and protects us. We’re not hiding from anything or anyone. We’re simply waiting until the purge is complete and we can start again. Stella is very much a part of that regeneration.”

“I don’t know who you think Stella is. But I can assure you she’s not the person you’re making her out to be. She’s seen things no girl her age should see. They had her locked up at the hospital, at the mercy of her captors. She was abused, mistreated, God knows what.”

Riley pulled up Adele’s sleeve, revealing the collection of red marks that covered her arm. “They experimented on them, took their blood, injected them. They had hundreds of prisoners there. These two are the lucky ones.”

“What they do in the name of science is their business. There’s nothing I can do about that,” replied the sister, adjusting the folds of her dress. “Now she’s back with us, Stella’s safety and wellbeing is my responsibility. Stella means a lot to us here. She is one of the chosen few, and we are very relieved to have her back with us. It’s out of the question that she should leave again.”

Riley leaned over the table and glowered at the sister. “Stella is free to do whatever she wants. No one is going to stop her coming back to the castle with us,” insisted Riley, helping Zed to his feet.

“Are you threatening me?” challenged the sister, seemingly amused by the suggestion. “It would be highly inadvisable for a girl in her condition to over-exert herself.”

“Wait. Are you saying…?” Riley paused, turning the idea over in her mind. “You mean to say, Stella is pregnant?”

“Precisely. She’s part of our regeneration programme. She was impregnated before she left and we are most pleased to get her back.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

Riley and Stella waited outside the infirmary for the nurse to assess Zed’s injuries. She asked about the circumstances of his injuries and whether there was any chance of blood poisoning, perhaps from a rusty blade or metal. Riley wasn’t sure how it had happened, but agreed that was possible.

“We’ve put him on a drip to replace lost fluids, but I’m afraid he’s much too weak to move today. He’ll need bed rest for several days to get his full strength back,” explained the nurse.

The strain of the last twenty-four hours had crept up on Riley. She suddenly felt overwhelmed and exhausted. Stella reached out and took Riley’s hand in hers, leaning her head on Riley’s shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s a fighter.”

“I’ve never seen him like this before,” said Riley in just above a whisper. Inside she was shaken up.

“He should really be in a hospital, where they can care for him properly,” continued the nurse.

Riley and Stella looked at each other and laughed. “We’re not taking him back to that hospital, don’t worry about that. He’ll just have to stay here and get better. We appreciate everything you’re doing for him. Is there anything we can do?”

“He’s dehydrated but the drip should replace some of those lost fluids and deal with any infection. I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got here,” she said, shaking her head, her eyebrows raised, as if she disapproved of the violence that had caused these injuries. “We should see an improvement in the morning.”

Riley grimaced and put her hand on the nurse’s shoulder. “You’ve been very good to us. Thank you.”

The nurse smiled. “I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t you worry. You’ll be the first to hear when he comes round. I’ll try and let him sleep as long as possible. It’s nice and quiet up here, so he shouldn’t be disturbed.”

The main staircase and ornately carved wooden banister curved round as it descended into the lobby area. Standing on the bottom step was one of the sisters, her arms crossed, as if she’d been waiting for some time. Riley was still angry from their earlier encounter and in no mood for another confrontation. This sister seemed different; she had a warmer disposition than the authoritarian Sister Theodora. She looked a few years younger than Riley. It was hard to tell, she could only see her face, but Riley guessed mid-twenties. She had well-proportioned features, a dark complexion and round gentle eyes. Stella introduced her as Sister Imelda.

“Please, call me Sister Mel, everyone else does. I understand that the man you came here with is not well enough to travel.”

“You could say that. He is on a drip with a nasty fever. Needs to rest up before we move on.”

“That’s most regrettable. Bearing in mind he was injured saving Stella, Mother Superior has agreed that you can all stay until his strength recovers.”

“That’s good of you. Thank you,” said Riley, genuinely grateful but mindful there would be conditions attached. “What about Joe?”

The sister cleared her throat. “Sister Theodora has insisted that…” Her voice trailed off as if she didn’t know quite how to say what had to be said. “Look, we are all grateful for everything you’ve done, but…the Mother Superior is adamant that Joe be confined to quarters, in the stables at the far end of the complex. Sister Theodora's decision is final. Our terms are non-negotiable, I’m afraid.” Sister Mel’s bottom lip quivered ever so slightly, revealing her discomfort at the awkward position she found herself in.

“Doesn’t look like we have a choice, right? It’s the sisters’ way, or the highway?” mocked Riley, infuriated by their intransigence.

“Please don’t shoot the messenger, Riley. I don't make the rules. Sister Theodora does. I just get the unpopular job of enforcing them.” She shrugged.

“I still don’t understand why you all put up with her. You could leave, go someplace else. Why do you stay here? You don’t have to live like this.”

“Isn't it obvious? Because followers need someone to follow. Sister Theodora does what she believes is right. She is doing God’s work. And the women here respect her.”

“But the whole ‘no men’ thing is medieval. A breeding programme for goodness’ sake? It’s inhuman to keep men, or anyone for that matter, locked up like that. How do you square that with your values as a Catholic and a Christian?”

“None of us like it, Riley, but we’re doing this for the greater good. And Stella here is part of that. She’s been chosen to become a mother, to give birth to the next generation. To be part of our future.”

Stella looked awkward as they talked about her, avoiding eye contact.

“And did anyone stop to ask Stella and the other girls whether they wanted to be part of this? She’s just so young, for goodness’ sake. Being forced to have babies at her age. They’re still kids.”

Stella looked up, her eyes heavy with tears. “I was chosen, Riley. But it was also my choice. You don’t understand. I want to help, to be part of this, to make a difference. Don’t you see? I volunteered for this.”

“I guess not. I think you’re all certifiable.”

Just then, there was a small commotion as Joe emerged from a corridor with his hands tied in front of him. The guard was a squat buxom woman in a blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, with a ruddy complexion. She pushed him forcefully from behind. Joe lingered for a second beside them. “This is ridiculous. Apparently, I’m a danger to the community and can’t be trusted to keep my hands to myself. I need to be locked up, Riley, in the stable, like an animal. These people are doing my head in.”

“I’m so sorry, Joe. Listen, it’s just for a day or two until Zed’s better. Do it for Zed, yeah? We don’t have a choice. I’ll come see you later on. Try and stay out of trouble.”

Joe was led away still grumbling, prompting another poke in the back from the stocky woman. He glanced over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow, breaking into a low whistle mimicking the theme tune from The Great Escape, which drew a snigger from Stella and Riley. The guard was not amused and hurried