The White Assassin (12 page)

“Why, Billy, you broke the rules!” said the lab tech, laughing heartily. “You are something, aren’t you, an independent thinker—a real leader. And every leader needs a special name. No more Billy, number 111—far too common for the likes of you. From now on you are Billy
-can,
because I’m beginning to think you
can
do anything!”

The technician put on his safety gloves and picked up the lively rat, which squirmed in his tight grasp. “Easy, now,” said the man. “Don’t worry, you’ve already had your shot for the day. We know how you hate those!”

The man brought the rat back to the wall of cages. He stretched up on his tiptoes, set the rat in the open cage marked number 111, and locked it.

As soon as the man’s bald head disappeared from view, the white rat raced to the wire window on the side of his cage. “Did you see it, Dorf?” he called excitedly. “Did you see what I did? I broke the maze! I got the liver!”

Dorf craned his small neck to gaze up at the white rat. “Billy, how did you do it? That door is solid wood, for goodness’ sake!”

“I don’t know. I just knew I had to have the liver … I
had
to have it.” He sighed. “Meat is so tasty.”

“Yes,” said Dorf, nodding toward his ceramic bowl. “It’s
certainly better than the bitter kibble we’re forced to eat here.”

The white rat’s eyes brightened. “Dorf, guess what else.”

“What?”

“I’ve a new name!”

“A new name?” asked Dorf.

“Yes! The man says from now on I’m to be called Billy-
can.
Do you like it?”

“Billycan,”
said Dorf thoughtfully. “Yes, I do like it—very distinctive indeed. I think it suits you rather well. When I met you, you were so small, barely able to speak. Now look at you, bigger than most full-grown rats, even by Trillium standards, and you speak as well as I.” He laughed. “Perhaps better.”

“The man said he thinks I can do anything!”

Staring down at the broken maze on the metal table below them, Dorf nodded in agreement. “I think he may be right.”

“Dorf,” whispered Billycan. “Dorf, wake up, I need to ask you something.”

The little rat rolled over and looked up toward the window. “What is it, Billy?” he asked groggily. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“I know, but it’s important.”

“Well, then, what is it?”

“It’s about our lessons,” said Billycan.

“Yes?” Dorf yawned.

“What you told me, about Trillium’s great leaders, how those humans came to Trillium and took the land away from
the weak, building this enormous city. They were strong, yes? They took what they wanted because they could—because they had to have it.”

Dorf sat up and cocked his head. “Billy, yes, they were strong … but those were dark days for Trillium. Most of Trillium’s so-called leaders were nothing more than unsavory villains—criminals and crooks. They hurt the citizens of Trillium, using their cunning and strength to take what they wanted, leaving people to starve and suffer. Why do you ask about this now?”

“Because today, at the maze, I took what
I
wanted, because I knew I could! It was so easy. It made me feel like them, like a great leader, like maybe one day I could lead a city like Trillium—a city of rats. The men who made Trillium were better than everyone else. That’s
why
they could take things. That’s why they won.” Billycan looked at Dorf hopefully. “Do you think I could be like them someday … a great leader?”

“Billy, listen to me closely,” said Dorf firmly. “You don’t want to be
anything
like them.”

“Yes, I do.”

“I know it’s hard to understand, but being a true leader has nothing to do with what you can
take
from others—”

“Why not?” asked Billycan. “Leaders become leaders by being tough and breaking rules, letting no one stand in their way.”

Dorf sighed. “Oh dear, how do I explain this to you …” Dorf shifted uncomfortably. “Billy, I didn’t mean—”

“Dorf, would you call me by my new name?”

Dorf lay back down. “Certainly … Billycan. I’ll tell you what, let’s chat about all this in the morning. I think you took
my words a bit too literally. I’ve a lot to explain to you, but I’m simply too weary now. These shots are becoming too much to bear.”

“All right,” said Billycan dismally. “Good night.”

“Oh, now don’t be disappointed,” said Dorf. “We’ll talk tomorrow. I promise. Now off to sleep. Sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams, Dorf.”

As the panels of lights flickered on one by one, the lab quickly filled with the smell of coffee and sugary pastries. That meant morning. The humans had arrived.

“Dorf, are you awake?” asked Billycan through the window.

“Yes, I’m awake.”

Billycan peered down at him, watching him stretch lethargically. “Why are you so much smaller than me and the other rats?”

Dorf smiled. “Believe it or not, I’m actually a normal size for a rat. I’m just small compared to you because I wasn’t born in Trillium.”

“Why would that make you smaller than me?”

“Well, that’s the question. I don’t think anyone knows why. It seems all Trillium-born creatures are slightly different from others of their kind. Rumor has it, Trillium creatures were here long before the humans arrived. Something in Trillium has permanently changed all the animals—for the better.”

“Is that why I keep getting bigger?”

“I believe so, along with the shots. I’ve never seen even a Trillium-born rat grow as fast as you. You’re already nearly as big as an adult. I noticed it with the other white rats, too—the ones born in the lab, not the adults captured from the
streets. I heard the lab techs mention it. They said the drug is affecting the young ones’ growth.” He glanced down at his flank. “I’m far too old to grow any more; in fact lately I feel ancient. This was not how I intended to spend my old age … not in a place such as this.”

“Dorf, how old
are
you?”

“Well, I’m not exactly sure, but compared to the average Trillium rat I’m almost certainly quite young. Just as Trillium rats grow larger than rats like me, they live much longer—much longer indeed. Where I was born, a rat’s life is quite short, but you, Billycan, you were born here. From what I’ve learned, you’ll live fifty, sixty years, possibly much longer.” He nodded toward a pair of lab techs, both hunched over rows of test tubes. “Why, you’ll live as long as they.”

“Sometimes I feel like I can live forever. That nothing can stop me,” said Billycan. “When I leave this place I’ll become a great leader.”

“Yes,” said Dorf, twitching his whiskers. “Billycan, we need to address this leader talk. What I told you about being a leader … I
did
say those things, about not listening to anyone and not letting anyone stand in your way, but we should never hurt another creature in order to get what we want.”

“But you told me we need to be strong to survive. The weak creatures that stand in my way are going to die soon enough. What does it matter if
I
am the one who kills them? I’d just be speeding things up.”

“Billycan, wouldn’t you feel bad taking the lives of other creatures—other rats?”

“But the weak don’t
deserve
to live. As you said, only the strong survive. So no, I suppose I wouldn’t feel bad.”

“Oh dear,” said Dorf. “What have I done? This is going to be harder to undo than I thought. You’ve got things a little muddled. What I’m trying to say is—”

Billycan suddenly hissed, hearing the lab tech’s footsteps nearing his cage. “He’s coming for me! I don’t want the shot today, Dorf. I don’t want it!”

“I know, lad. I know you don’t. But right now, be like those great Trillium founders you so admire. Be brave and strong. Be fearless, a
true
leader.”

“Well, hello there, Billycan,” said the lab tech as he stretched to the top row of cages. “How are you, big boy?” The man unlocked the cage. “Time for your daily, but let’s not cause a fuss.”

Billycan uncoiled his body and stopped shivering. “Leaders are afraid of nothing,” he said, stiffening his jaw. He stepped forward, refusing to flinch as the gloved hands came at him.

“You were a good boy today,” said the man. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, or
out
of you in your case, but you’re as calm as a kitten.” The lab tech hoisted Billycan up into his cage and locked the door behind him.

Quickly, Billycan scurried up to the wire window. “Dorf, are you there?” The familiar sting of bleach suddenly hit Billycan’s nostrils. He looked down into Dorf’s cage. It was empty, pristine, as if no rat had ever lived there. The smell of bleach always meant a rat had left the lab—forever.

“No, no, no,” whimpered Billycan, “not that smell. I didn’t even get to say good-bye … no.”

Billycan crawled to the back of his cage and slumped in a corner, coiling his body into a circle. He noticed the same female
as before, the one with the chestnut fur, looking at him from the opposite row of cages—staring. Billycan dragged himself to the door of his cage. He nodded at Dorf’s cage.

Her eyes shifted toward the empty cage. Slowly, sadly, she shook her head. Billycan understood. He’d always wondered what happened to the rats that had gone missing every time he smelled bleach, hoping maybe they’d been taken to another part of the lab or maybe even set free. The female confirmed what he already knew deep down. The smell of bleach meant death. Dorf was dead.

“
L
OOK” SAID VICTOR
.

Juniper and Vincent watched as Billycan opened his eyes.

Sluggishly, the white rat sat up on his cot and looked around. He turned toward the wall of bars that lined the front of his cell. Three rats, two black and one an unusual raisin shade, sat on stools, holding steel spears and staring at him. “Where am I?” he asked feebly. No one answered.

His muscles throbbing, Billycan lay back down. Who were these rats? Why was he locked up?

“Boys,” said Juniper, “go for now. Leave me with him.”

Billycan’s ears perked. He recognized that voice. It was the same one from the truck.

“But we should stay here,” said Vincent, “for your protection.”

“Even Billycan cannot escape this cell,” Juniper replied. “All four walls are barred. Unlocking the door is his only way to freedom. He will never escape, and he will never again be able to hurt me or any creature.”

Vincent would have protested further, but something in Juniper’s demeanor gave him pause. It was clear Juniper wanted them to go. He was obviously agitated. His gaze kept shifting back to Billycan as if he couldn’t wait for Vincent and his brother to leave. “All right,” said Vincent, “but Victor and I will be waiting for you right outside the door, and the moment we sense trouble we’re coming in—no arguments.”

Juniper smiled. “You’ll get no arguments from me. Now off with you both.”

Vincent could tell the smile was forced, but all the same he’d abide by Juniper’s wishes. He turned back to the cell, glaring coldly at Billycan.

Billycan craned his neck, trying to get a good look at the black rat. He had strange eyes, green like emeralds. The rat turned abruptly and left the room, as if he couldn’t stand to look at Billycan another second. The other followed, shutting the door behind him.

Leaning his spear against the wall, the older rat slowly arose from his stool and exhaled. He looked completely drained, as if he hadn’t slept in days. He folded his arms and stared through the bars of the cell.

“Do you know who I am?” asked the rat.

Gradually Billycan pulled himself up, awkwardly forcing himself into a sitting position. He wanted to scream out in pain, but stayed silent, leaning his back against the bars of his cell. Billycan studied the rat’s face. He wore a patch over one eye, and there was something not quite right with part of his face. “No,” he answered.

“My name is Juniper. Some of your memory has been erased, at least temporarily. It’s the side effects from the serum you were given—we knew this might happen.”

What was in this serum? wondered Billycan. Maybe it was to help cure his wounds. “Where am I?” he asked again.

“You are in Nightshade City.”

“Nightshade City,” repeated Billycan, as if saying it might spark a memory. “Are we anywhere near Trillium City?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. We are underneath it, deep underground, far away from the humans in Trillium.”

“I
know
Trillium City,” said Billycan, his eyes brightening slightly. “I grew up there—in a laboratory.”

“I know,” said Juniper. “Do you remember the swamp?”

Billycan’s eyes flickered briefly. “Yes. I do.” Tugging at his whiskers, he thought for a moment. “I remember it was hot and rather sticky and there were snakes, scores of them. They weren’t very hospitable.” He looked back at Juniper almost apologetically. “I’m afraid that’s all I can recall.”