Free Deadlands by Lily Herne Page B

save our future, ANZ
.
    ‘What’s this?’
    ‘We need to increase our membership . . .’ (Thabo’s use of the word ‘we’ didn’t escape me.) ‘We’re distributing pamphlets, spreading the word. You think you could do better than this?’
    It wouldn’t be difficult. The sketch was on a par with the large-headed kid and sun emblem the Resurrectionists used.
    I shrugged. ‘I guess.’
    ‘If you help the ANZ, maybe they’ll help you,’ he said.
    ‘Really? You think they would?’
    ‘Why not? It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?’ He nudged me. ‘And, oh yeah,’ he said, with his lopsided grin. ‘What’s this I hear about you and Zyed going to the dance?’
    I mumbled something, but I couldn’t think straight. My mind was racing. All I could think was that this could be my way out of the city.
    Thabo picked up on my distractedness. ‘Look, don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I’m sure your brother will be fine whatever happens. You’ll deal with it; you’re strong.’
    I looked up at him. ‘You don’t get it, Thabo. He’s not just my brother. He’s my twin.’

15
    I spent the whole weekend working on the ANZ pamphlet design, barely leaving my room. Late on Sunday evening there was a knock at the door. I shoved the sketchbook under my pillow as Dad and the Mantis poked their heads into my room.
    ‘We’ve got a surprise for you, Lele,’ Dad said.
    ‘Oh yeah? What? You going to send me off to a special home as well?’
    The Mantis ignored this, and stepped forward. ‘Ta-da!’ she said, pulling something out from behind her back.
    It was hideous. Truly hideous. I don’t want you to think that I was ungrateful, but just . . .
wow
! The dress the Mantis was holding was so pink it hurt my eyes, and it was covered in ruffles and ribbons and shiny flecks of lace.
    ‘What the hell is that?’
    ‘Your dress. For the dance,’ the Mantis said, her smile slipping a little.
    ‘You have got to be joking.’
    ‘Of course we’re not joking!’
    I opened my mouth to speak again, but Dad held up his hand. ‘Come on, Lele. You’ve been holed up in here for far too long. Let’s get some fresh air.’
    ‘But –’
    ‘No arguments.’

    We walked through the streets in silence at first, Dad seemingly picking our direction at random.
    ‘You shouldn’t give her such a hard time, Lele.’
    ‘She hates me!’
    ‘No, she doesn’t.’
    ‘Dad, seriously, how can you say otherwise?’
    We headed towards the embassy road. Two robed Resurrectionists were scrubbing at the front gate, but I could still see the outline of yet more ANZ graffiti. I hid the smile behind my hand. Thabo – or another member – was getting bolder.
    ‘She’s doing her best, Lele,’ Dad said. ‘You have to give her a chance.’
    ‘Whatever,’ I mumbled under my breath. ‘Maybe I’d give her more of a chance if she wasn’t so keen on getting shot of my brother.’
    ‘We’ve discussed this, Lele. The subject is closed.’
    Another group of robed Resurrectionists passed by, making no move to step out of our way. One of them nodded approvingly at the amulet that hung over Dad’s jacket.
    ‘Why did you become a Resurrectionist, Dad?’ I asked. ‘I mean, you fought in the War, so why have you joined up with the enemy? You don’t really believe in all that crap, do you?’
    He sighed. ‘Lele, not this again.’
    ‘But if we all stuck together, we could get out of here.’
    ‘There’s nothing we can do to stop the Rotters. There are too many, you know that.’
    ‘But we could at least try.’
    ‘The Guardians will eventually free us,’ Dad said, spouting the party line.
    ‘Will they?’ I asked. ‘Or are they just using us? Why else would they have the Lottery?’
    ‘They have sworn that all will be revealed soon.’
    ‘And you believe them? It’s been ten years, Dad.’
    Dad sighed again. ‘You don’t know what it was like, Lele. The War was . . . hard on everyone. If it wasn’t for the Guardians, we’d all be out