Chapter 40

"What use would it be for me to have a camera? We don't have electricity there, so I can't charge it!"

"It has a long battery life. Besides, if the wizard, as you call him, has technology, he must also have electricity somehow."

"Yes, but I'm not allowed up there! You have no idea what you're asking of me! And how would you even be able to get the footage?"

"It's wireless, it transfers it to a separate storage automatically."

"Even without the internet?"

"Probably,"

"I'm not risking my life on a "probably", Nora!" Audrey actually sounded angry. Nora had to back down a little, to prevent Audrey from just leaving. Or, more likely, run into her cage and ignore her.

"Even if it doesn't upload, we can use it later, to prove that it has happened."

"Will the police even believe you without it? I suspect you have tried to tell them about this before you decided to take matters into your own hands."

"Do you know where the base is?"

"No. I'm inside a locked train carriage, I have no idea."

"If it is across the state line, we can involve the FBI."

"And why would they be easier to convince than the local police?"

Audrey had her there. If they weren't able to get the footage from the camera, they had little concrete proof. Would the FBI even believe them?

"I have the tag, so you know where to find us. Unless that also requires batteries?"

"Where would it even have a battery? I don't think it does, but if you're headed there soon, I think it could work anyway. But please, just think about the camera. You don't need to decide right now."

"And when else would I get the chance? We're not going to see each other again, Nora. This has been lovely, and I will cherish this night forever, but it doesn't change anything."

"I can leave it somewhere you can take it later, if you change your mind."

"And who will take the fall if it is discovered? Not you! You don't understand. They'll kill me!" This was the most agitated Audrey had been the whole weekend. Nora sighed. She was right. She couldn't understand. If Audrey was that worried about this, when she had always been the brave one to stand up for what was right, then it must be terrible indeed. From the little she had said, it was way worse than Bryan or she had even imagined. The Lady was indeed a psychopath, but the executioner could possibly be worse.

"Could you at least wear it tomorrow, until I leave? And film the crew areas I'm not supposed to see? I suspect there's stuff there alone that's illegal, since they can't let us see it."

Audrey didn't reply at first. Then she sighed.

"The man we heard outside is probably restrained there in some way. Or someone else will be, by the end of the day. I can't give any guarantees, but I can try to film parts of it, then place the camera near the bus. Do you know, I wondered what on earth that was, when I saw it on this trip. Ædven explained that it was a transport vehicle, but she didn't know how it works any more than I did."

"Who's Ædven?"

"She's the head of the theows, in a way. She's not in charge of punishments or anything, but she is the one that locks us in the bed cages and who explains how things work and delegates who does the different jobs. She has been here since it began. Since she was a child, and she's now an old woman. Long before it became a slave society that it is now. She doesn't know anything about the world outside, she thinks it's like this everywhere."

"That's…"

"Yes. Honestly, I'm worried about what would happen to most of us, if you do manage to bring the place down. Leann, another theow, has been here since the 70's. For 30 years! Many of us are probably declared dead. What will we do, if suddenly we don't have anywhere else to go? None of us have any money or resources."

"We can deal with that if it happens. I won't let you starve; you know that."

"I'm not worried about me. I can always find work on some farm. You're the one who told me to worry about the others as well. Well, that is what I'm worried about for them. What would we do, if this all ends?"

Nora didn't have an answer, but she also knew that this couldn't be allowed to continue.

"Give me the stupid camera before I change my mind," Audrey said with a sigh.

Nora gave her a hug and she showed her how to turn it on and off. They found a way to hide it so you would have to look very closely at her body to see it.

"I don't think anyone stares at my boobs that way," Audrey said with a small laugh. At least she was able to laugh again.

Then they talked about other things for a while, cherishing what could easily be the last time they ever had the chance to talk freely. But they knew they had to have some sleep, to survive the next day. Audrey started to crawl into the cage again. Nora refused to even look at the chain on the floor.

"You don't have to sleep down there, you know. There's room for both of us up here."

"I can't. If anyone checks during the night and sees me up there, they will punish me. And possibly even you. Besides, as I said, I'm used to it."

She shouldn't be used to that. Nor should she have any qualms about betraying people that had tortured her and so many others for years. But like Audrey had said, she didn't know what it was like. She couldn't judge her friend.

"Just in case I won't get the chance to say it again, I am glad that you came, Nora. Thank you for not forgetting about me."

Nora felt tears in her eyes at that statement. Audrey really had thought that she would forget about her.

"You're welcome. I just wish I could have done it sooner."

"It wouldn't have helped if you came on tours earlier. I wasn't here then."

"I know, but still."

"Good night, Nora."

"Good night, Audrey."

Nora heard the quiet breath of Audrey sleeping long before she herself finally fell asleep. She had too much on her mind. But at last, even her body gave in to the exhaustion.