Emergence (Eden's Root Trilogy) (9 page)

He’d thought he would watch
the Liars as they scattered, a salve to the burn of his rage. But he didn’t in the end. The first few groups to leave were crying, their faces puffy and red even from a distance, but his eyes fixed on the screaming children in their arms. The image, no, the thought, of children dying didn’t lessen his sense of justice, but it did increase his respect for their loss…for their sacrifice.
Forgive the grownups, children,
he’d thought,
for they know not what they do.

That was what made him turn away, what stole the ultimate satisfaction from his grasp
. He’d shed his disguise and walked due East, directly into the Great Plains of the United States, just as it became the world’s largest new desert. No one noticed him or followed him, though he wouldn’t have cared if they did.

His survival was a matter of instinct
. Where his mind would have happily severed its bonds with this Earth, his body refused, forcing bitter lizards, peeled strips of cacti, and acid, piss-water from Godforsaken holes down his throat. Finally, on his knees in the mud, his eyes scratched and burning with dust, his stomach as pinched as a bad pea, the thought of Diaspora II floated into his mind.

It
jerked his will to life, choking and guttering like an old lawn mower, until the engine spun again and the blades swung,
whoosh, whoosh, whoosh
, and the thought of revenge drew him forward on tottering legs. That and the photograph in his pocket. It couldn’t have weighed a thing and yet it was lead against his chest, smacking and bruising him with every movement.

“Father?”
Silas’ brow was furrowed.

“Yes, sorry
,” Carter said, startled. “Just enjoying the moment.” He grinned. That was actually pretty true. Would he like to see his prisoners squirm? Of course. But this time at least he got to announce himself, got to say, “
I did this to you.
” That was pretty satisfying. And even without seeing them, he knew that they now felt the clock ticking.

Obviously
, it didn’t matter to him if they “converted” or not, he was just giving them time to appease his followers. He knew that most, if not all, of the Eden colonists would reject his doctrine. In fact, he was counting on it. And he would derive great pleasure from seeing them marched into the Wasteland and abandoned
. Maybe this time he would stay and watch
.

Of course
some of them might convert, which would almost be more amusing. What if he could convince these idiots to reject everything that they believed in? How great would his own power be once Eden and Diaspora were no more? His mind drifted for a moment to Diaspora II. That would be a greater challenge, for sure.
Never mind
, he thought, shaking it off.
One thing at a time.

He cleared his throat
.
“Now, you may think that we are cruel, that we’re using coercion and not true open-mindedness to allow you to make up your minds. And yet, here we will give you food in a world that is dying for scraps. Here, you will be safe, guarded by our Angels of the Lord. Here, you will be given the Word, and a settlement filled with people of faith will await you, if only you can open your hearts. What you may see as cruel, we see as the greatest gift we can possibly give you: a chance to repent.”

Sila
s murmured approval from the corner where he sat in the shadows, his arms folded. Unlike Nona, Silas rarely joined Carter in the radio room for broadcasts. But today was different. Today, Silas was one step closer to the thing that Carter knew he wanted the most, total power over the security of the new world. He smiled at his lead attack dog. How fortunate that he’d seen the promise in this disturbed excuse for a man.

When Silas had found their settlement, he’d been
a walking skeleton. Otherwise, Carter was quite sure that things would have gone differently. But unlike most of his “Angels,” Silas wasn’t stupid. Ruthless, yes. Soulless, yes. But not stupid. He saw what Carter was doing with the “Movement,” with his power of persuasion, and he struck a deal. He promised to serve as security and hatchet man if needed, and in exchange he’d be Carter’s “Number One” when they took over the new world.

It
was a tenuous agreement, born of greed and necessity, but it held. The truth was Carter needed Silas, and he knew it. Someone had to do the dirty work of the Movement. And if Silas wanted to be more than just another wild dog roaming the wilderness, he needed Carter. For now, anyway.

Carter’s attention shifted back to his address
.
“As you settle in to your new home, I ask only that you remain peaceful and reflective. And now, for the last thing.”
He paused, taking a sip of his water. A childish corner of him wished for a drum roll. It would be so…right.
“I ask the Angels to bring me the one who sought immortality. Bring me Dr. Darryl Heil.”

Twenty minutes later, Carter sat at the wooden table in his cabin as a small, dark-haired man was ushered into the room, his hands bound with a cable tie.

Silas led Dr. Darryl Heil to the chair opp
osite Carter and shoved him down. “This is the one, Father.”

“
Thank you. You may leave us.”

Silas’ eyebrows rose
for a second, and then he nodded and turned, before stopping at the door. “Oh, and Father? I wanted to let you know the Underground reported that Jeron and Terry have settled into their posts with the outlying followers.”

Carter frowned
. “What? Why on Earth did you send them out there this deep into the winter? I didn’t order that.”

“Yes, well they have to realize that they can’t cause havoc and come back empty handed and expect
the cushy jobs. Not on my team.” Silas crossed his arms. “It is my team, right, Carter?”

Carter bristled.
Silas didn’t have to use that tone with him, or his first name for that matter. Especially in front of the Liar. He regarded Silas with a raised brow and then shifted his gaze to Heil. He had more important concerns than Silas and his struggle for independence. And he supposed that sending Jeron and Terry out to guard the families farthest from the settlement was a fair punishment. “Yes, Silas, of course the Angels are your team.”

“And you trust me to run it, right?”

“Of course. I just wish you had run it by me, that’s all.” He sighed. Keeping Silas under wraps was enough of an effort. He should just let Silas keep the others under control as he saw fit.

“Good
. Because I’m not doing this for my health,
Father
.” Silas left in a huff.

Carter
turned his gaze to Darryl and tilted his head, examining the man who had caused this whole mess. The kernel of frustration left in his chest from his disagreement with Silas seemed to grow the longer he stared at the little man. How was it possible that someone so sniveling, so insignificant, could be the culprit? It was almost inconceivable.

His mind
flew to another small creature — an innocent, lying still in the folds of silk, arms crossed as if cold… His breathing grew ragged as the familiar red film of rage colored his vision. He’d been waiting for this moment for a long time, poised in anticipation.
The Hammer of God.

Though
Carter could see anxiety in Darryl’s dark eyes, he also saw that his chin was held high.
His mistake
, Carter thought.
That pride is his downfall
. “Dr. Heil,” he began, “how are your compatriots settling into their new home?”

------------- Darryl -------------

Darryl’s eyes stopped dancing and met his enemy’s. “How do you
think
they’re settling in,
Carter
?” If he hadn’t been bound he would have jumped across the table and wrung this loon’s neck.

Carter slammed the table,
making Darryl jump. “You will address me as ‘Dr. Lawson,’ you insolent little prick. You think you can speak to me that way, after all you’ve done in your quest for immortality?”

Darryl’s eye twitched
.
Ignore him
, he thought.
Manipulation is this guy’s stock in trade. Don’t let him get to you.

But
Carter dug the knife in deeper. “Don’t you realize that all those people out there half-starving in the cold are there because of you and your twisted ambitions?”

Darryl knew that Carter was expecting him to crumple, to fold beneath the weight of his guilt.
Well, those days are gone
. He pointed with his strapped hands. “What about you,
Dr.
Carter Lawson? Where do you get off being holier than thou, when every single thing you’ve told these people is a lie?”

“You’re the liar!
I’ve done nothing but create a stable life here.”

“Just spare me,
Carter
. I know your secret, Mr. PhD in Psychology…Mr. Diaspora Participant.”

“
What?” Carter sat back, stunned.

That’s right, asshole
, Darryl thought,
turnabout is fair play
. He pushed harder. “How do you think your so-called followers are going to feel when they find out their ‘Father’ is actually the biggest liar of them all, that you’re sacrificing their future for your own revenge?”

“How many of you know?”

Darryl startled, the question catching him off-guard. “Uh, um, uh…all of us.”

“Mmm.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Silas!”

The door swung open
. “Yes, Father?”

“This gentleman has
shared a very important piece of information. It turns out that the colonists have started a new lie. They say that I was originally a scientist like them and that I only want revenge.”

Darryl’s heart pounded
.
What was Carter doing?

Silas’
expression never changed. “What a terrible lie.”

“It’s not a lie!” Darryl
protested.

“Do you want me to have Silas silence you, Darryl?”

Carter’s face had returned to a controlled mask. Silas cracked his knuckles and Darryl’s heart sank.

“No.”

This wasn’t going how he’d intended it when he
’d imagined confronting Carter. The joy he would feel at revealing his secret. The fear in the man’s eyes…

“That’s a g
ood boy,” Carter said. “That may be the first intelligent decision you’ve made today. Now, I’m going to ask you questions and you’re going to answer them truthfully.”

Silas pulled out a knife.

“No!” Darryl panicked. “No, you can’t do this!”

With a flick, Silas freed Darryl’s
wrists. Carter smiled at the bewildered mix of relief and panic in Darryl’s eyes. Then Silas twisted Darryl’s left arm behind his back, yanking him to his feet. Darryl cried out as pain shot through his shoulder.

“Now we understand each other,
Dr. Heil.” Carter said. “I hate having to repeat myself, but you seem a little slow. So…I’m going to ask questions and you’re going to answer honestly. If I think that you’re lying, I’m going to have Silas express my displeasure. Understood?”

Darryl
bit his lip, still unwilling to bow to this…this pig. Carter raised an eyebrow and Silas yanked at his arm. Electric pain shot into his skull and his shoulder gave a dull pop. He gasped. “Understood, understood!”

“So, Dr. Heil
. You just told me that your group is planning to spread a disgusting lie about me. And I want to know…how many of your group are in on this plan? How many will be telling this lie?”

Silas tugged at Darryl’s arm before he had a chance to respond and he cried out
. “All right! I said I’d tell you…Jesus!” His face was red and tears had begun to slip down his cheeks. “Only a small number knew about…” his voice trailed off as fear stilled his tongue.

“
…the LIE!” Carter roared.

“Yes, y
es, the…lie. Only a few leaders, scientists, and heads of security.”

“Release him,” Carter said
, and Silas let go.

Darryl dropped into his chair with a moan, hi
s throbbing arm hanging limp at his side.

“Silas, grab some paper and pencil from the top drawer in my cabinet
over there. You, Dr. Heil,” Carter said, pointing, “are going to write down all the names for me. We already have your security team, but I want the others.”

Darryl’s eyes widened
and his heart began to pound.

“Yes
, you made a grave mistake in telling me this,” Carter said. “Though I’m glad to see that your ego continues to trump your good sense.”

“What
…what are you going to do to them?” Darryl’s mind was awash in the possibilities.

Carter pushed the paper and pencil toward
him. “Don’t worry, Dr. Heil. It’s not going to be nearly as bad as what I do to you.”