Robinson Crusoe 2244 (32 page)

“Easier said than done, laddie,” Gustav Gustafson said. “Especially since we have no clue what he plans to do with it.”

“Vardan always had a nose for theatrics,” Leodore said. “I would not be surprised if his plan to destroy it coincided with whatever he has in store for us.”

“We’ll find out soon enough. I heard the Iron Fists tell the Red Guard outside that he would be paying us a visit first thing in the morning.”

“Then we should devise a plan. We can charge the guards, overpower them—!”

“Easy, Father. I already have something in mind. But it will take patience.”

He looked at Robinson in a new light. “You’ve changed, son.”

“Yes,” he grinned. “I’m more like you.”

And then Rolland Fallow laughed.

Early the next morning, Vardan Saah arrived as expected. He was freshly showered and groomed, wearing the official robes of the Regent. Behind him, Jaras wore his captain’s uniform.

As Saah approached the bars, he saw the uneaten trough of gruel just inside the cage and nudged it with his boot.

“Is it lacking salt?”

Jaras laughed.

“Gloating doesn’t become you, Vardan,” Leodore said. “It makes that pinched mouth of yours look even more peevish.”

Robinson couldn’t help himself. He burst out laughing and the other Tiers joined in. Saah flushed before smiling cruelly.

“You, sers, won’t be laughing long. Shall I tell you what we have planned for today? Word has already gone out over the Feed that I have thwarted a plot to overthrow the Crown at the highest level, with you,
Tier Crusoe
, being the master architect of this plot. With the aid of your fellow conspirators, your scheme to use a devastating technological weapon from the pre-Rendering Empire to destroy my army of Iron Fists fighting a legion of renders in Reg4 has been quelled.”

“A legion that doesn’t exist,” Leodore said.

“Your ultimate goal: to seize control of the Isle and declare yourself Regent. How do you like the narrative so far?”

“It’s insane and so are you. Is this what you really want, Vardan? To become a tyrant?”

“I am no tyrant. I’m a realist. You look at this Isle and see an illusion—a perfectly constructed fairytale born of laws made two centuries ago by people that assumed the remainder of humanity had been wiped off the map. But I’ve been out there, Leodore. I’ve seen the truth! That flood that cleansed the world? The waters are breaking back, my friend, and on every shore of every continent, man right now is picking up the pieces left behind and preparing to use them against us. The history books downstairs are full of tales of man killing man, neighbor killing neighbor, brother killing brother, all the way back to the biblical age. Well, I won’t sit back and wait for them to come to us again. Not when all we have to defend ourselves with are walls and spears and the Eight. I will take the fight to them to ensure the One People persevere forever.”

“Our forefathers chose this path for a reason. Technology nearly destroyed us.”

“Then we should take care to learn from our mistakes. The Great Rendering was the result of one country’s hubris and yet its effects are still felt throughout the world to this day. I will not leave our fate in someone else’s hands.”

“Then why destroy the one thing that can rid us of the virus forever?” Robinson asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Leodore said. “To him, the Rendering is population control.”

Saah shrugged. “You have to admit, it’s an effective one. And as far as I can see, there’s only one wrinkle. One final fly in the ointment.”

“Us,” Rolland Fallow said.

“Correct, Tier Fallow. Disposing of you earlier would have been messy. We couldn’t have a dozen Tiers vanish at once. People would ask questions. The same goes for the Road. Send one fellow down the Red, the citizens overlook it. But march many at once? Pretty soon everyone is watching the door. People can’t live in peace if they are living in fear. Which brings us back to the plot. A good plot always has a confessor.”

“If you think any of us will stand on a stage and repeat your lies,” Roland Fallow said, “you really are crazy.”

“Don’t be silly, Roland. Every single one of you has wives and children with estates—so much to lose. You’re all proud men—I understand that—but in the end, each of you would sacrifice yourself for the ones you love without pause. Thankfully, it’s not any of you I need.”

“It’s me,” Robinson said.

“Forget it,” Leodore said. “He’ll never do it. I won’t allow it. I’m already dead, Vardan. You’ve said as much. You’ve given away your leverage.”

“Have I?” He grinned.

Robinson realized what that smile meant in an instant.

“Father. He has Tannis and Tallis.”

The proof was written on his face.

“I swear, boy,” Saah shook his head. “I seriously underestimated you. Had things been different, I would have married you off to Tessa and that intellect and cunning you so obviously possess would have been put to much better use. Still, you’ll serve a purpose. The Isle sees you as a young boy yet. When you tearfully corroborate your father’s deeds, no one in all the Eight will even think about questioning it.”

The silence in the room was deafening.

“Shall we say mid-afternoon? Good. Jaras, have something more appetizing sent up for these good sers. They deserve that much.”

Saah and Jaras turned and left. The door slammed shut behind them. The faces in the cell were grim and hard to take in, none more so than Leodore’s.

“He’s got us,” Roland Fallow said.

“Not necessarily,” Robinson said.

“He’s right, Robinson,” his father interjected. “Why kid ourselves? He’s thought of everything.”

“Father, what would you say Tier Saah’s greatest weakness is?”

“I don’t know. Vanity, maybe. Arrogance.”

“That mustache,” Roland Fallow said. “Makes him look like a real poof.”

Everyone laughed.

“His greatest weakness is that he thinks too highly of himself. He could have come in here, told us what he wanted, and spared us the speech. But he’s proud of his gamesmanship. And that just might give us a chance.”

“What are you saying?” Leodore asked.

“If I’m right, Tier Saah still has one move yet to play. One move to tie up all the loose ends and really drive the dagger home. I’m betting that sometime in the next turn, that door will open by the one and only person capable of making certain everything goes according to plan.”

“And who would that be?”

“Only his favorite pawn.”

Two turns later, the door unbolted and Tessa walked in. She was dressed in a yellow, cotton dress with long sleeves and a high-collared neck that featured tiny, ruby red studs that ran down one shoulder and arm. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but it still shone radiantly in the sun that cut through the barred window and filled the room with light. Robinson had almost forgotten how luminescent her skin was and how her eyes glimmered like a field of grass. Even though every man in the room knew the part she’d played in their downfall, the fragrant draw of her perfume still made them all sit up a little straighter.

For Robinson, it brought only memories of longing and pain.

“Good sers,” she said with a curtsey before showing a One and Four. “I’ve brought you an array of meats, breads, and cheeses from the kitchen. Also some wine, should any of you choose to partake.”

“Oh, we’ll partake, lassie,” Roland Fallow said as he and the others collected the delivery from the bottom of the bars. “Of this and anything else you care to offer.”

To her credit, Tessa managed to blush but offered no rebuke. Her eyes eventually turned toward Robinson as the others retreated.

“Jaras said you had changed, but I hardly recognize you. Your hair is so long.”

“Think I’ll start a trend?”

“Lord, I hope not. I have a difficult enough time competing with the women.”

They both smiled.

“Is it true you survived in the wild all by yourself?”

“Not entirely. I had some help.”

“Ah, yes. The native. Jaras told me about her too.”

“Did he also tell you how he and your father sold her to a group of savages? Or how under their authority, Taskmaster Satu was tortured and killed?”

Her mood immediately soured.

“Please. I don’t wish to speak of such things.”

“Too sordid for your dainty ears? I’m surprised. I was sure a woman so deft in the arts of deception would bask in the successes of all her hard work.”

“I knew this was a bad idea,” she said and turned to go.

“Wait!” Robinson called and she stopped. “I apologize. That was unfair of me.”

“No,” she said. “It was perfectly fair. Although I wish you could understand I take no pleasure in any of this.”

Oddly, he felt himself wanting to believe her.

“Was it always a ruse?”

“Ruse is too strong a word. What I did, I did out of duty, as any son or daughter of any Tier would do. As a child, I hated you for your recklessness and cavalier frivolity. But as we grew older, I started to recognize that it was your free spirit that drove those things. You had passion and courage, like few in this world do. But marrying you? The thought always terrified me.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew whatever path you took in life, you would shine. And I’ve never been one for the shadows.”

“I do believe that’s the most honest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

She looked away, embarrassed.

“And now you get to watch me walk the Road.”

She pulled close, her face nearly up against the bars.

“You don’t have to. When you reach the stage, speak the words my father asks of you. Tell the people what they need to hear and maybe he’ll spare your life. He admires you, Robinson. I can see it. You still have much to live for. Maybe after a few years of exile you can return. And then … who knows?”

“And Tannis and Tallis?” Robinson asked.

“They have committed no crimes. With my urging, they might even hold on to their titles.”

He stole a glimpse at his father and then agreed. Tessa’s relief was immediate.

“Might I ask one thing of you? For old time’s sake?”

She nodded.

“I would like to see Slink one last time before I go. You know he was my only friend.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Twenty minutes later, the door opened and Slink entered. He was wearing a suit cropped tight at the shoulders and a pair of spectacles on his face. He had grown even bigger, though Robinson wouldn’t have thought it possible. This time the Red Guard left the door open, though they glared at him as they stepped away.

“You’re doing me no favors asking me here,” he said when he reached the bars.

“It’s good to see you too.”

He looked Robinson up and down. “You’ve grown some, Nobe. You’re nearly as big as me.”

“Everywhere but the head.”

He chuckled. “I like the outfit too. Very woodland chic. Is that boiled leather?”

“Harder for enemies to grab onto in a fight.”

His smile fell. He took in Robinson’s scars and couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through.

“I hear they let you stay with the Feed,” Robinson said. “Do you get to travel?”

“Often. Tier Abett likes my work because he says I can frame a picture well, though personally I think it’s because I can hold a camera for turns without griping.”

“I’m sure the spectacles help in that regard. And your namesake profession?”

He peered at the Red Guard to see if they were listening.

“I occasionally take in the night air. The old muscles need their exercise too.”

“On that subject …” Robinson carefully reached into his belt and pulled out the small disc his mother had given him and set it on the flat of the bar. “You recognize it?”

“It’s older, but I’ve seen one or two.”

“My mother gave it to me before she died. I believe it was meant for you.”

He didn’t take it. He simply stared at it and then shook his head.

“Still trying to get me to follow you on your little adventures. Even if they lead all the way to the ocean floor.”

Robinson felt suddenly chagrinned. Then a Red Guard poked his head in the door.

“Wrap it up, Grey. These men have business waiting.”

Slink nodded and prepared to go.

“Mayfus?” Robinson called and his friend turned. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“All of it. The jokes, the excursions, the trouble. I never appreciated you the way a real friend should.”

“That’s because we were never really friends. More like brothers. Take care out there, Nobe.”

“You too.”

And then he turned and walked out the door. Robinson looked down to see that what he’d left for Slink was gone.