فصل 37

Chapter 37: Reeducation

The three of us walked out of the Starxource building into the blinding Peruvian sunshine. Ian hadn’t exaggerated; there were guards everywhere.

“That’s the Reeducation building,” I said, gesturing with my head.

“I’ve got the key,” Ian said.

“We just don’t know what it’s good for,” I said.

Near the Re-Ed door was a guard sitting inside a cylindrical booth.

“Ian, is there another way in?” I asked.

“Through the assembly hall, but it’s worse. There are two guards at the door and about fifty just walking around.” “I say we try curtain number one,” Jack said.

“What’s the booth made of?”

Ian shook his head. “Plastic. All plastic.” “Great.”

“Maybe he’ll just let us in,” Jack said.

“It’s worth a try,” I said.

We approached the building, pretending to be talking to one another. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the guard in the booth drinking from a metal Thermos. He set it down as we walked past him to the door. “Hey!” he shouted.

I turned back. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing?”

I looked at his name tag. “Lieutenant Cox, we’re here for our shift,” I said.

He stared at me dully. “There’s no shift change at this hour.” “We were told to report here,” Ian said. “We were just reassigned from the gate.” “Who reassigned you?”

When none of us answered, the man’s eyes narrowed. “Let me guess. Anderson.” I glanced at Ian, and he shook his head.

“Come on,” I said. “Don’t make me name names. We’re just doing as we were told.” “So it is Anderson. That’s the third time this month that idiot’s done this. I’m writing him up.” “All right,” Jack said. “Do what you need to do, but we’ve got to get in before we’re written up.” “All right.” He pushed a button and a lock on the door buzzed. Jack quickly grabbed the door and pulled it open.

“Hold up, there. I still need your IDs.”

We glanced back and forth at each other. The only ID we’d found in our guard uniforms was in Ian’s pocket, and the photo was of an Asian guard.

I reached into my pocket, digging around in the empty space. “I must have left it back at the gate.” “What do you mean, you left it? No one forgets their ID. You know the penalty for not having it with you. You better find it before you’re caught or I turn you in.” He looked at Ian and Jack. “You two, show me yours.” Ian glanced at me. “Sure,” he said. He reached into his pocket and brought out the ID. I looked back at the guard.

“C’mon,” I said. “Lieutenant Cox doesn’t have all day.” “You got that right.”

I put Ian’s ID on the counter upside down and slid it partway through the opening in the window. As Cox reached for it, I magnetically pulled his metal thermos over, spilling the liquid. The fluid rushed out over his hands and down the front of the counter, giving me the conductivity I needed. I put my hand in the liquid and pulsed as hard as I could. Electricity flashed and Cox collapsed to the ground.

I looked back at Jack and Ian. “We’ve got to hurry. I don’t know how long he’ll be out.” Jack held the door for us as we rushed inside. The interior of the building looked like a large elementary school with video monitors and screens everywhere. A strange noise played over the intercom system.

“They’re in pink,” Ian said, looking at a row of inmates.

“Welcome to Looneyville,” Jack said.

“What kind of prison is this?” I asked.

“Reeducation,” Ian said. “It’s where they brainwash you. Hatch was experimenting with brainwashing at the academy.” In spite of all the cameras, we moved through the facility undisturbed. I turned to Ian. “Where is she?” Ian casually looked around. “I think I found her. End of the second hall to our right.” My heart jumped. I couldn’t believe she was so close.

“Don’t stare,” I said to Jack, who looked fascinated by what he was seeing.

“Don’t gulp,” Jack replied.

“Sorry,” I said, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself. We walked slowly down the hall, then, when no one was around, strode up to the door. “This is it?” I asked Ian.

“She looks like the picture,” Ian said. “Mostly.” I could guess what he meant. Ian ran the key we’d taken from the guard over the magnetic pad: A light flashed green, and we heard the sound of the lock turning.

I pulled open the door. It was dark inside, but I recognized what I was looking at—it was the same room Hatch had shown me on the monitor at the academy when I was ordered to electrocute Wade. Inside the cell was a metal cage. The prisoner huddled in the corner of the cell looked small and feeble, but there was no mistaking who she was. She was my mother.