Evolution by John Peel

Author:John Peel [Peel, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Doctor Who (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780426204220
Publisher: Doctor Who Books
Published: 1995-01-14T10:00:00+00:00

‘I am indeed,’ said Sarah firmly.

‘I can sympathize with that point of view, Miss Smith,’ Breckinridge answered. ‘But I don’t actually agree with it, especially in these cases. You have to understand that the children you see down there are happy to work here.’

‘I’ll just bet they are,’ Sarah said sarcastically.

That made him irritated. ‘I see no cause for such animosity,’ he snapped. ‘Most of those children have lost their fathers at sea. They often have younger brothers and sisters dependent on them. Without the wages they earn here, they and their families might well all perish, and this nonsense about sending them to school wouldn’t keep them alive. I feel that what I am doing here is helping them, not harming them.’

Sarah realized that she was projecting ideas a hundred years in advance of their time on Breckinridge. It was unfair to judge him by the light of her era when he was doing what he believed to be right. ‘I’m sorry,’ she apologized. ‘It was rude of me to criticize you in that tone.’ She stared down at the sad little figures in the courtyard below. ‘Nevertheless, I do feel that they would be better off being educated than worked.’

‘And if the law passes,’ Breckinridge said, ‘we may well get to discover which of us is correct. You believe they will be helped. I believe they will simply avoid going and many will become transients upon the city streets, as they were before I helped them. Until then, perhaps we could declare a truce?’

‘Of course,’ agreed Sarah. She smiled. ‘I believe you’re wrong, but I admit that you are sincere, and I have to admire you for doing what you believe is right.’

Breckinridge was mollified. ‘Good. And I admire your outspokenness, Miss Smith, for a cause you obviously believe in.

Now, would you like tea and sandwiches with our truce? Or would you prefer to see more?’

‘A cup of tea would be marvellous.’

‘Excellent.’ He gestured toward the door. ‘Shall we go?’

Thankfully, Sir Alexander didn’t press her for details on the way back. Sarah was lost in her thoughts, unable to decide how she felt about Breckinridge, and whether he was merely a factory owner or something more sinister. She couldn’t help wishing he’d seemed less idealistic and more exploitive. Then she’d have been happy to consider him the enemy. As it was, she simply couldn’t decide.

He had apparently shown her everything at the factory. She’d peeked in at the laboratories on the way downstairs, but they had seemed to be exactly the kind of thing he’d described. He’d even allowed her to look around the yard and chat to a couple of the children without interference, which strongly suggested that he was hiding nothing. And the two young boys she’d spoken to had been grateful for their jobs as messengers and carriers at the factory. As Breckinridge had claimed, they were orphans who were supporting siblings with their wages.

Sarah sighed. It was so appealing to see the factory owner as a slave-driving villain, but the reality didn’t resemble the prejudice much.

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