The Novida Code (3 page)

“
OK. See you tomorrow, then.”
The expression on her face told me that she was going to need a good while to take all this on board. Unfortunately, I already knew that she wouldn't back out. “See you tomorrow”, I replied, and we separated.

That
night, I found it hard to sleep. I kept going over and over my conversation with Auxana, trying yet again to find some way to stop her following me. I realised above all that I hadn't
really
tried to discourage her. I was only too happy to have her at my side. But I'd failed in my duty towards her, and I had a nasty feeling that one day I was going to regret this.

I
resigned myself to the idea that it was too late to make her change her mind. I just hoped that she'd very soon get fed up with all this and leave.

The
next day, I met her as agreed, in her city apartment.

The
student quarter was still my favourite part of the city. Even the war and the invasion had failed to mar its beauty, what with the ruined ramparts of the former Roman city, the traditional little shops and the countless booksellers. Surrounded by numerous faculties, this was the ideal place for a student who was away from home – as long as they were sufficiently well off.

I
couldn't afford such a high rent and refused to rely on Auxana's family for this. My digs were therefore in a rather quiet suburb. Of course, since the invasion, the city centre had become a hub for the Efeghis, and local residents were now looking to move away towards the outskirts.

Auxana
was staying in a charming little pedestrianised street close to the city centre. Its wrought-iron lamp posts were hung with flowers, and peace and quiet reigned in this neighbourhood, where – by mayoral decree – only sliders and pedestrians were allowed to pass. With hindsight, I realised that this was not a good choice for a meeting place. Far too quiet. Of course, for the time being there was no reason to put us under surveillance, but it was better to acquire certain habits as early as possible.

I
only had to ring once before she replied. I could tell by her voice she was scared. But when she opened the door, the determination showed on her face. I waited for her to close the door before starting:

“
Do you have any music?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I'd like to listen to the latest Rox concert.”
Auxana raised her eyebrows but went to look for the Rox crystal that I'd given her for her birthday. She placed it in the player beam and I leaned over the console to increase the sound to a level that I reckoned was suitable. Finally, I replied to her question:
“I'm doing this because from now on we must always assume someone could be listening to us. So, no discussion that's not in character unless we're in a safe or particularly noisy place.”
“And which places do you consider safe?”
“I can't think of any right now, but if I do, I'll let you know”, I replied.
In fact, it was rather early to be taking such precautions, but it was best to get her to assimilate these rules as quickly as possible.
“Right, where do we start?” asked Auxana.
“I think we must begin by drawing up a list of questions that we'll need to be able to find answers to.”
“OK” She got up to look for something to write with but I stopped her: “No. No paper trail. We're going to memorise this list along with any other information we find.” Auxana nodded. This wouldn't be a problem for her; she possessed an excellent memory.
“Right!” I continued. “The first question is: what do the Efeghis want?”
“I think that's pretty obvious: our planet.”
“Yes, but why? For its water? Its natural resources? Its living space? Its population?”
“Why is it so important to know what they want our planet for?”
“If we know what it is they're after, we'll know one of their weak points. We'll potentially be able to eliminate what they want, if that's possible – and without any risk to ourselves. Or perhaps we could exploit the fact that it's something they're lacking.”
“OK. We'd also need to find out more about their world.”
“Yes, and their culture too. We must be able to think like them and anticipate their reactions.”
Auxana smiled: “I think I'm going to leave that part to you. Any other questions?”
“Do they have any enemies? We also need to know a few details about their physiology: what they eat, drink, etc. What can make them ill or even kill them.” I saw Auxana shudder at that word.
“This is war, Auxana. We're bound to have to kill people.”
“I know!” she replied sharply. “Let's carry on.”
“That'll do for now. I think we're going to come across other questions as we go along. Right now we need to prepare ourselves to enter the headquarters.”
“What sort of preparation do you envisage?”
“Psychological preparation, mainly. We're going to have to get totally into our characters.”
I saw Auxana stiffen. Her deeply candid nature was going to make things difficult.
I reassured her: “Don't worry. I'll help you. It's like being on stage. You have to concentrate so hard on your part that you end up believing it yourself.”

I don't know how many times over the next couple of hours I almost gave up. Each time, I resisted for the same reason. Shame. Not shame at losing face in front of my friend. But shame at letting down my world.

I believe that until that moment, I hadn't quite realised just how serious Lauren was. I knew now. She would stop at nothing to see it through to the end. That was also the moment that I began to realize. To have an idea of what she would become.

I think that from all our time together in the Resistance, the memory that will remain with me, above all, is this: the two of us in my apartment, planning to turn the world upside down. And the craziest thing of all is that I knew she was quite capable of it. That's why I supported her, that day and every other day that followed.

And yet, I found her so exasperating. She would go over and over the same detail, thousands of times. My attitude had to be perfect in every way: totally in keeping with the role she'd assigned me.

She'd even made contingency plans in case I ever inadvertently betrayed myself by reacting instinctively instead of in “character” with my adopted role. That was why the role she'd picked for me was that of the weak-sceptic-who-lets-herself-get-carried-along.

Finally, we were ready. Or at least, as ready as we could be. After a quick meal, we decided to take a tax-air to the Efeghi headquarters.

The large square in front of the city hall was deserted. I remembered this square from the time when we still possessed a government. It was then full of passers-by, tourists and souvenir sellers displaying their holos depicting the finest views of the city.

Nowadays, nobody dared pass close to what had become the symbol of our defeat: the Efeghi headquarters.

Even the tax-air refused to enter the square, dropping us some way off. We would therefore have to cross the whole square before the prying eyes of all the occupants of the neighbouring buildings, who would be peering through their windows at the brazen traitors collaborating with the enemy.

Already, I could feel my resolve wavering. But Lauren didn't stop for one second. She paid the tax-air and got out quite naturally. It took me longer to climb out. I felt hundreds of hostile eyes burning into me.

“Are you going to take all day?” the driver asked me, scornfully. I supposed this was a familiar sight to him: young women coming to offer themselves to the invaders. Without replying, I got out and caught up with Lauren, who was waiting impatiently for me.
“Right, let's go”, she said in a small voice that wasn't her own. She was already acting her role: the sweet, malleable young girl.
“Yes”, I agreed, “we'd better get going.”

Slowly, we crossed the square. Despite knowing that we weren't traitors, every step that I took felt like a mile.

In front of the security gate, two Efeghis were standing guard. They were wearing black and silver uniforms, whilst a silicon ear clip indicated an earthling communications device. Lauren smiled at them.
“Could you please take us to see Commandant Amar? We're students from the Landell School.”

It was bold of her to ask to speak to the commandant himself, but he
had
come to see us in person and had requested help from the school community. A naive young girl of eighteen might well believe that all she had to do was to go to the HQ and ask to see him.

With scarcely a glance at us, the guards asked to see our identity cards. Then, without returning them, they muttered something in their own language into their speakers.

I made a mental note to pick out as many words as I could in order to learn their language as quickly as possible. I began to repeat the message in my head in a bid to familiarise myself with it. This also helped me cope with the tension of the eternal wait in front of the gates.

At last, an Efeghi appeared. He spoke angrily to the guards for a moment, took the identity cards and turned towards us to address us in our own language:
“I'm very sorry, ladies. I had ordered my men to make you wait inside.”

He spoke very softly and slowly, slightly separating each syllable. A warm smile lit up his face; he was very handsome. I realised immediately that we were dealing with PR. Lauren managed a blush and stammered an almost inaudible reply accepting his apologies. I too accepted, but in a calmer voice, as my role demanded. The smile on our interlocutor's face broadened slightly:

“Don't be afraid. Follow me…”

We followed him inside the former city hall. I'd been here on numerous occasions and could therefore note the changes carried out by the Efeghis when they took over the premises. Every symbolic reminder of our government had disappeared. At the same time, I noted the absence of Efeghi symbols. No flag, no work of art, nothing. The walls were bare.

I found this unsettling. I'd learned to define a culture by its artistic expression, so its absence at the heart of one of the planet's biggest headquarters was astonishing.

An invader tends to swamp the zone he controls with his own cultural references, as though to mark the territory, to make it his.

Ever since the beginning of the invasion, I'd been astounded at the absence of this imprint. I vowed to mention this to Lauren later.

Our interlocutor guided us to a hall, which I recognised as the former electoral hall, where I remembered people coming to vote during quarterly referendums. The hall had been transformed into a luxurious lounge. I noted the high-quality, stylish English furniture. Arranged like this, the room was pleasant enough, but still devoid of the slightest detail defining our invaders.

With consummate courtesy, our guide invited us to sit down before taking a seat facing us, and introducing himself:
“I am Olden, assistant to Commandant Oxonates. They tell me you would like to meet him.”
“Yes”, replied Lauren softly. “We were very impressed by the speech he gave at our school, when he asked for our help. I know we're very young but we thought we'd be able to do something.”

Olden gazed at us silently for a moment. Lauren had warned me that the Efeghis were bound to expect to be infiltrated by bogus collaborators. It was highly likely we'd be tested – several times over.

“Perhaps you could introduce yourselves?”
“Of course”, she replied. “I'm Lauren Valley and my friend is Auxana Reyn. We're students in our final year at the Landell School.”

Olden turned towards me without a word. I ventured: “We'd like to get to know your people better and try to establish better relations between us.”

He peered us in silence for a moment, then smiled: “We accept your offer. Commandant Oxonates has in fact just started a class of volunteers for peace, made up of young earthlings who wish to learn about our culture.”
“We'd be very happy to take part”, replied Lauren, and I agreed, too.

“
It is best not to mix these studies with your school curriculum. You will therefore have to inform your school that you will receive your education here. Do not worry, you will be able to take your exams.”
“Of course”, replied Lauren with a slightly preoccupied smile. “Do we need to obtain our parents' permission?”
“As you are eighteen, that will not be necessary.”
“That's true.” Lauren's smile became a little more confident. “When do we start?”

In every way, she resembled a shy and easily-manipulated young girl. I was quite sure I wasn't acting my part so well, but, luckily, Olden seemed to be paying more attention to her than to me.

“Straight away, if you like. Would you like to live in the complex? The majority of our students live here in order to immerse themselves more easily into our culture.”
“I'd very much like to live here, if you don't mind”, replied Lauren eagerly.
“Not at all…” and he turned toward me: “And how about you, Miss Reyn?”

My heart was beating so hard that I was convinced he'd be able to hear it from where he was sitting. I nevertheless managed to reply without too much hesitation: “Yes, I would, too.”
“Good, everything is settled. Please follow me now; I am going to show you round the premises.”