Читать книгу The will of the few - - Страница 4

Elira Valtorn sat at her desk, surrounded by holographic projections and stacks of blueprints. Her fingers moved swiftly, making adjustments to the schematic of the new city. The project was progressing slowly, but she knew this wasn’t the limit of her abilities. Designing infrastructure for the relocated population was an important task, yet she felt her talent could be used for something greater. However, access to significant projects that could alter the course of history was tightly controlled. The Council of Observers strictly monitored who worked on what, and despite her skills, Elira wasn’t part of the inner circle.

In her free time, when she was alone in her apartment, Elira worked on what truly inspired her. On a small table in the corner of the room lay the blueprints she had been developing in secret. It was a project she called the «Regulator.» The idea had come to her one night as she pondered how to improve energy distribution in Novoteria’s cities. The Regulator was meant to be a compact yet powerful device capable of redistributing energy between systems, minimizing losses and increasing efficiency. For now, it was just a hobby, but Elira sensed that one day her invention could become the key to something significant.

She carefully folded the blueprints and hid them in a concealed drawer of her desk. Thoughts of the Regulator distracted her from the monotony of her daily routine, but now she needed to focus on her official work.

The next morning, as soon as she entered the Engineering Corps, Elira received a message on her terminal: «Elira Valtorn, you are required to report to the department head’s office at 10:00. Do not be late.»

She frowned. The department head, Garrick Torren, rarely summoned anyone personally. He usually limited himself to general meetings and issuing directives. Elira felt a flicker of unease. Had someone noticed her? Had someone seen her blueprints? Or worse, had they discovered her interest in forbidden ideas?

At exactly 10:00, she stood before the heavy door to Torren’s office. It slid open automatically, and Elira stepped inside.

The office was spacious but devoid of any warmth. Diagrams of cities and graphs adorned the walls, while a holographic projector on the desk displayed the department’s current projects. Garrick Torren sat behind the desk, his expression unreadable. His pale face, short haircut, and colorless eyes seemed to blend perfectly with the gray, sterile walls of the office.

«Elira,» he said, gesturing for her to sit. «Thank you for coming.»

She sat down, trying to remain composed.

«You wanted to see me?» she asked, striving to sound confident.

Torren nodded.

«Yes. I wanted to discuss your current project. You’re working on the new city for the relocated, correct?»

«Yes,» Elira replied. «We’ve completed the primary calculations and are now in the infrastructure design phase.»

«Good,» Torren said, his voice even but with a faint undercurrent of tension. «The Council of Observers is pleased with your work. However, they have some… concerns.»

Elira’s heart began to race.

«What kind of concerns?» she asked, trying not to betray her anxiety.

Torren leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.

«They believe your project is too… ambitious. You’re proposing solutions that go beyond standard requirements. This attracts attention.»

Elira felt her palms grow damp.

«I just wanted to make the city more efficient,» she said, striving to sound convincing. «If we can minimize energy loss, it will benefit everyone.»

Torren studied her as if weighing her words.

«I understand your intentions,» he said finally. «But you must remember that in Novoteria, everything must remain within established norms. Individual initiatives are not encouraged.»

Elira nodded, trying to mask her disappointment.

«I understand.»

«Good,» Torren said, leaning back in his chair. «I trust you, Elira. You’re one of our best engineers. But be careful. The Council of Observers is watching everyone.»

He said it like a warning. Elira felt a chill run down her spine.

«I’ll be careful,» she said, standing up.

«Excellent,» Torren replied, his tone neutral again. «You may go.»

Elira left the office, her thoughts in turmoil. She understood she had been warned. But about what? Her project? Or something bigger?

She returned to her desk but couldn’t focus on her work. Her mind kept circling back to the Regulator. She knew her invention could change many things, but for now, it was just a hobby. Yet, if she could complete it…

Elira sighed and opened the drawer where her blueprints were hidden. She stared at them, feeling a fire ignite within her. She couldn’t stop. Even if it was dangerous.

Because somewhere beyond the gray, nameless city, another world might exist. And she knew that one day, her invention could be the key to reaching it.

The next day, Elira returned to Line 9. She couldn’t shake her thoughts about Archive No. 17. She knew it was a risk, but her curiosity outweighed her fear. She walked slowly, trying not to draw attention. The street was as deserted as the day before. The cameras were still offline.

When she reached the building, her heart raced again. The door was closed. Elira hesitated, unsure whether to approach. She glanced around, but no one was in sight. Finally, she took a step forward and cautiously pulled the handle. The door didn’t budge. It was locked.

Elira felt a mix of disappointment and relief. Perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps she shouldn’t meddle where she wasn’t invited. She was about to leave when she noticed something on the ground near the door. It was a small piece of paper, almost imperceptible. She bent down and picked it up.

On the paper was a single word: «Renn.»

Elira froze. Her hands trembled. She knew that name. It had appeared in old records she had once seen while accessing the General Archive’s databases. Arkady Renn. Philosopher, scientist, inventor. His works were banned, his name erased from history. But she remembered. She remembered he had spoken of freedom, of the value of the human mind, of how people shouldn’t be mere cogs in a machine.

She quickly tucked the paper into her pocket and glanced around. The street was still empty, but she felt as though she was being watched. She walked away quickly, resisting the urge to run. Her mind was flooded with questions. Who had left this note? Why here? And what did it mean?

That evening, Elira sat in her apartment, holding the piece of paper. She examined it as if hoping it would provide answers. But the paper was blank except for that one word. «Renn.» What did it mean? A hint? A warning? Or just a coincidence?

She knew she couldn’t share this with anyone. Not even Cain. He was her friend, but in Novoteria, friends didn’t exist. Trust was a luxury no one could afford. She would have to figure this out on her own.

Elira stood and walked to the window. Outside was the same gray world. People, like shadows, walked the streets with their heads down. Cars, just as gray and faceless, drove along the roads. Everything was the same. Everything was predictable.

The next day, Elira returned to work. She tried to act as usual, but inside, she was seething. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she had found. About what it could mean. She knew she had to be careful, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear.

During lunch, she ran into Cain. He was sitting alone at a table in the cafeteria, as always. Elira approached and sat across from him.

«How are you?» he asked, smiling.

«Fine,» she replied, trying to sound calm. «And you?»

«Same as always. Just work.»

They fell silent. Elira watched him, trying to decide if she could trust him. But she knew she couldn’t. No one could be trusted.

«Elira,» he said, breaking her train of thought. «Are you okay? You seem… tense.»

She nodded.

«Just tired. Lots of work.»

He looked at her as if he wanted to say something more but then simply nodded.

«Alright. If you need anything, I’m here.»

She smiled, but there was no warmth in it. She knew he could be a Council agent. She knew he could report her. But she also knew he was the only person she could talk to.