Numbers Raging (Numbers Game Saga Book 3) Page 5

  “Not once.”

  “I’m going to speak with him. Wait here.”

  “You sure you don’t want some help, sir?”

  He took one look at my face and looked instantly chagrined. “Of course you don’t. My mistake.”

  I pushed open the door and paused to let my eyes adjust to the darkness. A terrible stench hit me—a mix of body odor and rotting food. A slight shuffling in the corner was the only indication I wasn’t alone. I closed the door and made my way to the cell in the back. My cell. It seemed only fitting. I shoved my hands into my pockets and stood two steps back from the bars in case he got any ideas.

  “I wondered if you would return,” Ju-Long said from near the back wall. “Have you finally decided to seek revenge?”

  “Wouldn’t know where to start,” I said. “Do you refer only to my mother’s murder, or Mills? Or the hundreds of other deaths you caused? Or simply the fact that you tried to kill me twice and failed.”

  “I did not have to tell you of the threat you faced, but I chose to do so anyway. It is because of my words that you have time to make preparations.”

  “It’s because of you our settlement was almost destroyed. How dare you take the food and shelter we freely offered and then turn around and attack us. And we both know your confessions were a blatant attempt to save your own skin. Either way, you’re going to face the full extent of your crimes very soon. Are you ready to talk?”

  He ignored my question. “It is to be a trial, then.” I couldn’t see him in the darkness, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he were smiling. “I assumed I would die with the fleas before you took action.”

  “Trying to provoke me won’t work, Ju-Long. Believe it or not, you’re not at the top of my priority list right now.” I didn’t tell the man about the nights I lay awake, fingering my rifle and wishing I could end his life while he cowered in his cell. But I wasn’t willing to cross that line, not as settlement leader. Not yet. “When you’re found guilty, you’ll face execution, but there’s something I need to understand first. You said your country wanted our land, but Old America is huge. There are pockets of land unaffected by radiation. Why not set up your operations there? Why go to all the trouble of decimating NORA and its residents in the desert when you could settle on the coast and we’d never know you were there?”

  “You ask if we can coexist.”

  I said nothing, waiting for his reply.

  A shuffling sound indicated he was moving around. When he spoke again, his voice was closer. “You see us as barbarians, yes? Savages who slaughter the innocent and helpless. But we are both victims of a common enemy.”

  “I know Chiu’s had his eye on conquering Western Europe, but they aren’t enemies of ours. If they’ve offended you, you should have dealt with them and left us alone.”

  He went quiet again. I shoved away my frustration and tried to breathe more slowly. The guy knew he was getting to me. Better to take away his satisfaction.

  “There is habitable land here,” he finally said, as if pulling the words from deep inside. “That is not the problem. Your people’s weapons were in some ways deadlier than nuclear weapons—they disturbed the atmosphere’s delicate balance for centuries to come.”

  “You mean the airborne compound that ate away at water molecules.” I’d learned about it in NORA. We hadn’t had a problem with it growing up in the mountains, or at least it hadn’t been noticeable.

  “Your cities treat their water to counteract this effect, which we cannot do stationing ourselves in a highly affected area in a short amount of time. Clean water in the quantities we require would be too difficult to transport. So you see, we need your country’s resources to sustain our troops for an extended period of time.”

  NORA wasn’t my country, but I didn’t correct him. Now it made sense why they hadn’t simply dropped bombs over NORA. They wanted the cities and their water treatment centers intact but the residents gone. Dead.

  “I still don’t see why you feel it necessary to obliterate everyone. Couldn’t you just work out a deal or—” I stopped. No, they couldn’t. NORA would never stand for something like that. And they had nowhere else to go, just like us. “It still doesn’t make sense why you attacked this settlement first.”

  “Our Honored Dragon decreed it, and it was done. I will not question his wisdom.”

  I didn’t respond for a long while. The guard outside the door cleared his throat, probably straining to hear through the walls.

  “You suddenly seem eager to spill your country’s secrets,” I said. “Why?”

  “Two things are certain: I will die anyway, and events have been set in motion. There is nothing you can do to prevent our victory.”

  The first part was true enough. It seemed the guy had already resigned himself to his fate. But I hadn’t thought him so dismissive of his country’s plight. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was missing something here.

  “Your president won’t succeed this time. We’ve had ten weeks to prepare.”

  “That, Hawking, is exactly why you should be afraid.” He was definitely smiling now. I wanted to plant my fist in the man’s smug face. “I know you plan to petition other countries to form an alliance. It will not work.”

  Dread slammed into me. He shouldn’t have known about that. The only other settlers who knew of Treena’s plans were Selia, Coltrane, and Ruby. We’d kept it secret for exactly this purpose. If Chiu found out, Treena would be in terrible danger. Maybe she already was. “Tell me why you’re so certain.”

  Ju-Long leaned back against the wall. The man was enjoying this too much. “President Chiu is clever—he did what no one believed possible when he united the fractured Chinese states under the dragon banner. He is also ruthless. He does not send assassins to kill his enemies. He prefers to do it in person, and he enjoys filming the experience to watch later. Once Russia joins the ECA, our victory here on the American continent is assured. I believe the union has already happened, yes?”

  I didn’t answer. Russia had signed the documents just a few weeks before, but again, Ju-Long shouldn’t have known that. Not unless a spy were hiding here, feeding him information. And if that were true, the Chinese president probably knew of our plans as well. The last thing I wanted was for that terrible man to set his sights on Treena.

  I had to warn her.

  I turned and opened the door, flooding the jail with moonlight, then looked back. The prisoner’s dark figure stood against the bars, his features finally visible. His face was gaunt, his hair stringy. His tattered clothing hung on a thin frame.

  “You’re not eating your food.” I said. “You’re hiding it somewhere.”

  He wore no expression, but I saw the evidence in the way his legs shook beneath him. The guy could barely stand upright.

  “You’re trying to kill yourself before your trial.” I’m going to die anyway. The man was half mad. “Have it your way. Oh, and thanks for the recording. Your testimony will be very helpful.” I retrieved the device from my pocket and waved it in the air.

  He paled as I turned away and closed the door.

  I turned to the young guard. “Next time you bring him food, grab a few others to restrain him and force it down his throat.”

  The kid wore a stunned expression as I left.

  Ruby stood with my little sisters as I tossed my small bag of belongings onto the aircraft. The settlement’s chopper, the one they’d brought everyone in, had been destroyed in the battle. Luckily, NORA aircraft hadn’t been affected, and there were plenty of those in various stages of ruin. We salvaged the least damaged one from the rim and repaired it. It was small, but it would get me to NORA just fine.

  Selia didn’t seem to agree. She leaned into the aircraft, shouting orders to the poor aircraft pilot. He nodded, irritated, as if willing her to finish so he could turn back to his work.

  I turned to what remained of my family. Laura looked fascinated, hungrily eyeing the ai
rcraft. Lucy stared at the ground.

  I pulled Laura in for a hug. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

  “Why can’t we come with you?”

  “Where I’m going, it’s not safe for you. Besides, it’ll be much more boring than playing here with Ruby.”

  “Will you take me for a ride in that when you come back?”

  I chuckled. “It takes a lot of power to run, but I’ll do my best. You be good, okay?”

  She shot me a wry look that said, Maybe.

  I ruffled her hair and gave Ruby an apologetic smile. “You sure you’re up to this? I know your health hasn’t been that great.”

  Ruby waved dismissively before I finished. “Stop your worrying. I’ve watched children far more rambunctious than these sweet girls, and I haven’t keeled over yet. We’ll be just fine.”

  Lucy’s gaze was fixed at her feet. I knelt in front of her, but she turned away.

  “Luce, I know I said I wouldn’t leave again. But I have to take care of something really important. Then I’ll come back in a few days, and everything will go back to normal.”

  I patted the bulge in my pocket. Treena would appreciate my bringing the recording device in person, but that wasn’t my true reason for going. Ruby assumed I had more romantic notions in mind, but it wasn’t that either. If Ju-Long was right and the ECA president attended the convention, Treena would be in terrible danger overseas. I had to convince her to send someone else in her place.

  My youngest sister’s lip pulled downward at my words. It was the only indication she’d heard.

  I reached out for a hug, but she slid behind Ruby. I exchanged a look with the older woman, who frowned.

  “Luce,” I whispered. “I won’t know what’s wrong until you tell me.”

  My sister raised her eyes and latched on to my face. For the first time in days, her eyes bored directly into mine. And then she spoke, her voice rough and full of emotion. “You promised you wouldn’t leave.”

  Ruby’s breath caught. I tried to cover my surprise and forced a smile. “Well, this promise is stronger than that one. I’ll be back in just a few days, and then nothing can split us up again.”

  “Promise.”

  I placed a hand on her shoulder, and this time she didn’t pull away. “I promise.”

  Lucy looked uncertainly at Ruby, then at me. She took a tentative step toward me and then launched herself into my arms, trembling as I wrapped my arms around her.

  “Okay,” her tiny voice said.

  “Hawking,” Selia said, approaching from the aircraft. “Pilot’s ready. Don’t fret about us. We’ll manage just fine with you gone. Probably even better without your frowning and fussing all the time.”

  Lucy pulled away and stumbled toward Ruby again, then curled herself around the older woman’s legs.

  Ruby patted her head and gave me an encouraging nod. “You’re doing the right thing. Don’t forget it.”

  The hovercraft pilot mopped his neck with an already-damp shirtsleeve. He grasped the aircraft controls in a death grip. “She’s leaning to the right again. Thought we fixed that.”

  As we approached NORA’s border, the guy grew progressively nervous, which I found interesting. He didn’t want to talk about it, but there was no scar on his forehead to indicate he’d been a captive in NORA’s society. The way he glared out the windshield, though, you’d have thought he was setting out to war.

  “If you’re worried they won’t let you leave,” I told him for the third time, “just land outside the wall by the gate. I’ll walk in, and you can be on your way.”

  He frowned. “I’m not afraid of those people, Hawking.” But he gripped the controls tighter.

  I shrugged and leaned back in my chair.

  Within the hour, we were contacted by NORA’s military. The pilot explained our situation, and then we sat in silence for several minutes until they finally approved us to land atop the Council Building. I knew I’d have quite the welcome party.

  The shiny border wall of NORA cut into the desert floor below us. It was something to behold from up here. Most observers would say that any civilization thriving in the desert was quite the feat, but NORA did much more than thrive with its straight, balanced streets and tall buildings. But most observers hadn’t been dragged there as military slaves, either. As spectacular as it was from up here, the only beauty NORA held for me was Treena.

  Lucy’s face overtook Treena’s in my mind. That accusing, distrusting expression seemed permanently burned into my consciousness. Only ten weeks in and I’d already broken the only promise I’d ever made to my sisters. So much for good parenting.

  They’re in good hands with Ruby. They won’t even know I’m gone. My mind soured at the lie.

  The aircraft tilted sideways again as we looped around the Council Building and touched down on the familiar landing pad. A thick patch of gray-uniformed soldiers waited only yards away, just as I’d predicted. The empress was gone, but Commander Denoux, the Demander, still didn’t trust me. He was probably up here somewhere, looking for any opportunity to toss me behind bars.

  I unlatched my seat belt and held out a hand as the pilot powered the aircraft down. “Thanks, Shay. If you hurry and leave, they may let you escape in this thing without a fight.”

  “But how will you get back?”

  “I’ll contact you later. Don’t worry about it.”

  “If you say so.” He looked around. “Just wondering, though. The drought’s been bad. You aren’t going to, you know, arrange for us to come live here in NORA? ’Cause I spent enough time here, and with an army coming . . . I just don’t want to come back.”

  “No,” I said. Not unless it was an extreme emergency, and even then . . . well, many would choose to starve in the desert before they’d return to lower-class status here. I understood that better than anyone. “I’m here on other business.”

  Some of the tension eased from his shoulders. “Don’t let them steal you, then, Hawking. You’ve done more good for us in a few weeks than Mills did in ten years.”

  I took my hand back and swung my backpack over one shoulder. The guards had begun to approach the aircraft, their stance stiff and wary. I smirked. “Don’t worry. They can’t wait to get rid of me already.”

  Sure enough, the Demander greeted me as I stepped out onto the rooftop. His short, paunchy frame and balding head made a stark contrast against the tall, physically fit soldiers lined up behind him. He stood with his hands behind his back as if trying to keep from shaking my hand.

  “I told His Majesty you’d run back for help soon,” he grumbled. “Didn’t take you as long as I expected.”

  “My visit won’t take long if your soldiers here stay out of my way.” I strode past him and headed for the door leading downstairs. I’d climbed to this level for missions dozens of times over the past two years. Even now, with the sun beating on my back and soldiers stepping in time behind me, it felt as if I’d never left.

  Denoux trotted up, frowning at my brusqueness. “I agreed to accommodate your rather abrupt visit, but the emperor won’t be happy with this. He’s a busy man.”

  “I’m not here for him. If he wants to meet, tell him I’m happy to squeeze him in when I can.” Squeeze his throat, if I had my way. The guy was everything I hated about NORA—fake, inside and out.

  “What are your intentions, then, Hawking? I’m running out of patience, and I don’t have time for this.”

  “Just need to have a chat with your fellow councilwoman. Not your concern, really. You can tell your soldiers here to go about their business so I can finish mine.” We arrived at the door.

  “The emperor hasn’t authorized that, so until he does, you’ll wait in the conference room downstairs.” He motioned for his soldiers to open the door. As they did, several more guards snapped to attention inside. These people weren’t taking any chances.

  A few months ago I would have fought my way past them, darting into the stairwell and sprinting
down it. But I wasn’t a prisoner any longer. I’d come as an official representative of my settlement, and I had to act like it now. I took a deep breath and faced him.

  “You’re forgetting we’re on the same side now, Denoux,” I said. “I have urgent news for Treena, news that involves your people as much as mine. So stop acting like I’m a prisoner and get whatever permission you need now.”

  He muttered something under his breath before walking away to speak into his techband. I folded my arms and waited, enjoying the wary looks of Denoux’s soldiers. Most of them were completely unaware I’d once been a member of their ranks. My contingent was secret and specialized, but I remembered all too well the drills and the orders military life brought with it. I didn’t miss it much.

  Denoux finally returned with a frown and spoke to the four guards who waited inside. “Take him to the girl’s quarters, but don’t leave his side. If he tries to go anywhere else, shoot him.”

  Everything else may have changed, but the Demander was exactly the same.

  We made our way down the stairs, the guards keeping their weapons trained on me the entire way. I kept my hands visible so they wouldn’t get jumpy, my mind running through scenarios of how I would take the guards out if I dared. Last thing I needed was to get thrown in prison right now.

  They stiffened and hovered closer as we approached the third floor. That had to be where Bike Boy’s quarters were.

  We exited the stairwell on the second floor. A crowd of soldiers stood in front of a room at the very end. That had to be it, but why they felt Treena needed six guards was beyond me.

  “I’m here to see Treena,” I told them.

  A woman stepped forward, her movements smooth and confident. She glared at my companions. “Who authorized this?”

  “Commander Denoux,” the guard to my right said.

  “Didn’t he know that the emperor—”