I hoped it was making sense to her, helping her understand us more and hopefully seeing herself fit in and thrive in our community.
“Any questions?”
Eliza looked pensive, and for one moment I thought she had nothing to say, but that was, of course, not the case. The little minx always had something to ask or comment.
“I was just wondering what sort of crimes you're preventing and how do you do it, without being noticed? It must be hard not to get involved somehow and get caught up in police matters?”
“Good question. We use our gift to extract the truth. Dullards can't lie to us. We have lots of people scouring the internet and lots of eyes and ears everywhere. It could be robberies, murder, embezzlement, rape, theft, corruption, terrorism, anything really. We try and prevent crimes and plots but we also make sure certain evidence and confessions gets 'found' by the police. And luckily, thanks to our gifts we usually are one step ahead of everyone. But sometimes it goes wrong and we do get caught up in dangerous situations or somehow embroiled in a police investigation. So far our team of lawyers always have managed to outwit the prosecution and got our people off the hook. However, sometimes it gets dangerous in the field and that's where our level of fitness, fighting skills and self defence come in handy.
We very rarely use weapons, especially not our younger members. You have to be at least thirty or have special permission to even get trained in using weapons. That's not what we're about.”
I wondered if she grasped what I was trying to say. I could see she was mulling things over.
“So, are you telling me, this is what you're training me up for?”
She looked incredulous.
“I don't think I signed up for this! I'm just here to help you find out what's going on with my father, then I'm out, Zack. I want to go back to my 'conventional' life with my mum and Kas and my friends! Have you considered that?”
Hell, she was fucking stubborn and feisty that girl. I had to keep my cool.
“Yes, you're right Eliza. That's why we contacted you and, don't worry, it's totally up to you what you do with your life after this mission, apart from the fact you have to keep it a secret. However, if we were not to trust you, you would not be allowed to return to your normal life ever again.”
She needed to understand at least that, so it had to be said.
“Yes, no of course, I would never betray any of you! You helped me discover my gifts and helped me off my medication and I will forever be grateful for that. You can totally count on that.”
I could feel she was completely genuine so accepted her promise. However, she had no idea how difficult it was to keep secrets from loved ones. I wasn't going to challenge her on that now though, that could wait till after the mission. It was better she thought she would just be able to return back to her old life afterwards, just like that.
There was another thing that still had to be said.
“So, to you, our community may seem rigorous and military like with our rules and little patience for attitude, but for us it's how it has to be. You cannot question everything you're asked to do. It wastes time and could compromise people. Sometimes you might not understand why you have to do something, but the person who's telling you does. That's why we need discipline in our community. That's not to say that no one rebels occasionally, it's natural. But it's met with punishment. Disobedience is just not tolerated. In training we are told to do things that seem stupid and useless, but it's part of the training to be accepting of orders. It may save your or someone else's life one day.”
I paused and observed her again. I could sense she was struggling with the idea she had to fit into our system for our mission to work, but I could also detect resolve. She was going to do her best to adhere to our rules, I could feel it and I was satisfied with that. I could see she would need a lot of help to work within those rules and I'd support her as best I could.
“Do you understand Eliza?”
I gave her a chance to verbalise what I'd already picked up anyway.
“Yeah, I can see how it would have to be that way Zack, but I will find it really difficult. I've had seventeen years of living a mostly normal life. It just all seems so extreme, but, yes, I can see the necessity of it, to keep people safe. Can't promise I will be a star student though!”
She smiled. She hadn't lost her sense of humour yet.
“Don't worry, you have me on your fucking backside to keep you on the straight and narrow. Having said that, it's 2.15pm now, so you have fifteen minutes to do whatever to be ready for our afternoon session. Finish that soup quickly, I suggest.”
I left her to it for a bit whilst I myself finished my Panini. I wondered if the afternoon activities I had in mind would prove too much for her, but decided to carry on with them anyway. It would be a good test to see how far she could be pushed.
CHAPTER 19
My head was still reeling from Zack's revelations about the community and what they (or should I say 'we'?) do, but I was desperately trying to relax before this afternoon's session. I needed to be in control of my senses if we were to
