Paradigms Lost (70 page)

“And she’ll stay there? Not escape? What could you possibly threaten her with?”

He smiled, and
now
I saw the glitter of diamond teeth, the cold joy of hatred. “Why, Jason, I’m surprised you cannot guess. But then, you
are
new to this sort of thing.” He looked around the plane, as though examining it for aspects he had not yet seen. “The most amusing thing about your little court case was that you were saying things you didn’t entirely believe, yet they are, in fact, all completely true. Any being—even my children—which thinks and feels is as capable as you are of love and affection and tolerance. We all—including myself, you must understand—choose our paths. I chose mine quite consciously. And I want my children to carry on my good work.”

The matter-of-fact way in which he said that gave me the creeps. “And what does this . . .”

“. . . have to do with the punishment? Oh, everything. You see, there was—once—one of my children with whom I had, shall we say, some philosophical disagreements. He decided he didn’t want to follow our path and rebelled against me—protecting, in fact, some of your people. I actually welcomed this little rebellion. You see, it provided me with an ideal—how should I put it?—ah, yes, an ideal object lesson for any others who might ever think they had any freedom to choose.”

“What did you do?” I asked finally.

The smile was broader and as cold as a night of glaciers. “I ate him, of course. But in a
very
special way. I consumed his
energy
, but left him
just
enough to be conscious. So he could watch—from within me—as I destroyed all that he had protected. And he still does, to this day. And will, for as long as I live.”

I shuddered. I knew that was a victory for him, but I couldn’t help it. Now I truly understood why the other wolves would rather face simple death. “You . . .”

“You haven’t words for that, I know. We’ll meet again, Jason, and one day—when you least expect it, but when I have the time to devote to it—I will begin to destroy everything you know and love.

“And then, after I’ve deprived you of your friends, your lovely Sylvia, and even my esteemed opponent, Verne Domingo, I will give you the highest honor of all.” I knew what he was going to say even before he finished. “I will place you within me, alongside the Traitor.” His pleasant, boyish smile was back, all the more horrid for looking normal and friendly. “Think of it as a favor. Eternal life.”

I turned away, trying to think of something to say that had a vague chance of sounding defiant without being futile. When I looked back, he was gone.

I glanced around, probably looking a bit wild. The attendants were both at the front of the cabin. There was no one else in sight.

“Fine,” I said at last. “Your point. But I did beat you once. And when that time comes, I’ll beat you again.” I looked down at my ring finger and thought of my wife. A smile came back to my lips. “And there are some things you can’t kill.

“I’m going home.”