to people, and the device listens to me, sorting out what it has been programmed to consider important. Special key words and phrases. I don’t pay much attention. Most of the time, most people aren’t thinking anything interesting. Sometimes the Commander wants me to concentrate on some particular person, or organisation, and that can be quite exciting. I have detected a great many terrorists planning awful things. I was glad to be able to put a stop to that. To have saved lives . . . But mostly it seems the people in charge are just going after ordinary, everyday people. Because they can. And that isn’t at all what I agreed to.”
“How long have they kept you locked up here?” I said.
“Almost a year now. Ever since I realised they’d lied to me. I told them I wasn’t interested in politics. I told them I wanted to leave, wanted to go home. And they just smiled and told me that I could never be allowed to leave, because I would be far too valuable to any foreign power.” She sniffed loudly. “Too valuable to the Government, they meant. I should never have voted for that man. But he seemed such a nice, clean-cut sort . . . I could have refused to work for them, but I could see in the Commander’s head that he was already thinking of threats to my family. And worse things . . . so I just carry on. Pointing out the bad people and helping the ordinary people when I can.
“They’ve made me very comfortable here, but it does get a bit lonely. I was promised that my family would be able to visit, but that was just another lie. Only Commander Fletcher comes here, and I won’t talk to him. Just on principle. He did try bribing me—offered me all kinds of things. But I know my Bible stories. I know what it means when they offer you the whole world if you’ll just bow down and worship them.”
“You’re never allowed out of here?” I said. “Not even for exercise?”
“Don’t need much exercise at my age, dear. They say all this security is to keep me safe, from terrorists who’d try to kill me if they ever found out what I can do. But they’re just afraid that if I ever did get out, they’d never get me back in. And they’re right!” She stopped, and looked at me thoughtfully. “I’m surprised they haven’t come dashing in here to arrest you just for talking to me.”
“They can’t see me,” I said. “Or hear me. They probably think you’re just talking to yourself.”
“I hoped someone would come looking for me,” she said wistfully. “My family must be very worried . . .”
“Can’t you listen in on them?” I said.
“Oh, I couldn’t do that! I’d never intrude on my family’s privacy.”
“Why did you decide to start contacting people and warning them?”
She shrugged briefly. “Because it’s the right thing to do. And because it’s the only form of rebellion left to me. I only warn those people who seem to be in danger and haven’t done anything wrong that I can see. Not terrorists, just people with minds and opinions of their own. Which never used to be a crime. So I warn them. Because as far as I’m concerned, they’re the kind of people I was brought here to protect.”
“Do you want me to break you out?” I said. “I could, if you wanted. I’m a Drood; you must have seen in my mind what my armour is capable of. My family would protect you. No one messes with the Droods.”
“No thank you, dear,” said Gemma very firmly. “If I really wanted to leave I don’t think anyone here could stop me. I could make someone open the door, and even escort me out. And anyone who tried to stop me would end up wishing they hadn’t. But I’m doing important work here. If it wasn’t for me looking after the nation, people really would die . . . And I won’t have that. I am keeping my country safe, and that means more to me than this . . . inconvenience.” She looked at me steadily. “Would you try to take me out of here by force, against my will?”
“No,” I said. “That’s not how I work. I think I’ll go and have a word with the Commander. Express my displeasure. I’ll see you later, Gemma.”