The Legacy

Richard Pincent than anyone. He had to be beyond suspicion. We couldn’t risk him being discovered, even if it meant suffering.
    Even if it meant that we lost people.’
    ‘Derek told you about Unit X,’ Peter said suddenly. ‘He’s the reason I went in. He helped us save Sheila.’
    Pip nodded. ‘He alerted me to many things, but we had to ensure the intel igence appeared to come from other sources,’ he said.
    ‘Al this time?’ Richard gasped. ‘Al this time you’ve been working for him?’
    ‘Albert told me what would happen. He predicted everything,’ Derek said quietly.
    ‘Even this. He knew everything would end, unless . . . unless –’
    ‘Unless what?’ Hil ary interjected.
    ‘Unless we ensured there were children,’ Pip said quietly. ‘Unless we protected the eternal cycle of life. Birth and death, as it has always been. That is what the ring symbolises, Richard. Not the formula to Longevity. It is Nature’s eternity, the right way to live forever. Through our children, through our children’s children. Through Peter, Jude, Mol y and Ben, the Surpluses around the world.’
    Jude tried to swal ow but found he couldn’t – a huge lump had appeared in his throat. Instead he turned to Pip desperately. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I doubted you. I thought you . . . When I saw you with Derek I thought you were on his side. I thought . . .’
    ‘You were right to doubt me,’ Pip said gently. ‘You are a leader, Jude, and a leader can never trust blindly. You have helped me more than I can say. I am . . .’ He looked down. ‘I am very proud of you, Jude.’
    Jude bit his lip. ‘No,’ he said miserably. ‘I let you down.’
    ‘You could never let me down,’ Pip said, his voice choking slightly. Then he took a deep breath. ‘I have been so hard on you, Jude. I have lied to you, I have kept the truth from you. From al of you. But I only did what I did to protect you. To protect the circle of life. Now I have done what I needed to do; now I have paid the price for what I did al those years ago. It is time for you now. You are a leader, Jude. It is time to lead. You must inspire, you must plan, you must make the world a bet er place. Peter, you are a fighter. A protector.’
    ‘No,’ Peter said, shooting a look at Anna. ‘No, Pip. I’m a father. That’s what I should have been instead of coming to London. I’m not a fighter. Not any more.’
    ‘Yes you are,’ Anna said, her voice smal but firm. ‘You are a fighter, Peter. You’re a father too, but you can be both. The children and I – we’re not the only ones who need you.’
    Peter looked at her for a few moments then nodded grateful y, as he realised that she had forgiven him, that she understood.
    ‘Anna’s right – you must be al these things,’ Pip said gently. ‘Fight for the future.
    Protect those who need protection. Be a father, Peter – to your children, to your future children, to others who have no parents of their own. And Anna?’ Anna looked up, her eyes wide but resolute. ‘You, Anna, must be the mother of al . You need to be the strongest of al , because you wil need to lead and protect and fight. You must negotiate, you must convince, you must provide. And you must look after Sheila.’
    ‘I’l look after Sheila,’ Jude said tightly, but Sheila shook her head.
    ‘I can look after myself,’ she said calmly. She walked towards Pip, and her eyes stared into his unwaveringly. ‘I don’t need parents any more,’ she said, her voice catching slightly. ‘I don’t need protectors. I’m going to be useful, Pip. I’l protect the Surpluses. I’l help.’
    ‘Yes, you wil ,’ Pip said, smiling gently. ‘You are stronger than you know, Sheila, and I wish I could be here to watch you discover that strength.’
    ‘You can,’ Jude said uncertainly. ‘You wil .’
    But before Pip could reply, Richard staggered up from his chair. ‘Enough of these lies,’ he seethed. ‘Hil ary, do something. Stop these lies. Guard, take them. Kil them al . . .’
    Hil ary looked at him with distaste. ‘Guard,’ she said, ‘cal for someone to take him away. I have heard enough of his lies. Quite enough.’
    The guard nodded and seconds later, two masked men arrived. They grabbed Richard by the arms and legs and carried him out of the room.
    ‘No!’ Richard screamed as he was dragged down the corridor. ‘No! Water! I just need water . . .’
    Seconds later the screaming could no longer be heard and the room