Under Vanishing Skies (18 page)

Scowling at me, he shouted, “I’m not scared!”

“
Whoa. I didn’t say that you were scared. I said that a lot of other people were scared.” I chuckled.

His hands clenched and his eyes narrowed. “Why are you laughing at me?”

“
I’m not. I was just remembering that time your dad and I came back to the job site and found you all the way up in a communications tower with Jin’s kid. You probably don’t remember. You were only four years old at the time, but you…” I laughed again. “You had followed Bohai all the way up the ladder and sat on the edge of the platform, swinging your legs over the side and smiling from ear to ear.”

His face softened and his hands relaxed. “Really? I don’t remember that.”

I nodded. “Yup. Your dad just about shit himself.”

William smiled.

“
That’s how I know you’re not scared, William. You’ve always been a tough kid.”

We sat there silently for another few seconds before I said, “So out of curiosity, if you’re not afraid of going to Mars, then why don’t you want to go?”

He got up and looked out towards the sound of the waves. “Because this is my home.”

“
I know. Leaving home is hard, but you understand that things are getting worse around here, not better. Don’t you?”

“
Yeah...I guess,” he said. “But some people say that it might get better.”

I got up and walked over next to him. “I wish they were right…I really do.  But the people who say that are scared and can't face reality. I don't blame them.  The reality of what’s going to happen to this place is hard to face. Do you know what I mean?”

He looked down at his feet. “Sort of. I guess…I guess it just feels like Helen and everyone wants to get rid of me.”

I put my hands on his shoulders and turned him towards me. When he finally looked up into my eyes I said, “That’s the last thing they want. Everyone here loves you. You were one of the first kids born on the island after the storm, so that makes you special.”

“
Special?”

“
Yeah. When you were born, people began to have hope again. They just want you to go to Mars because they need to know that life will go on.” He looked away, but I held his shoulders firmly. “They want you to go because everyone knows how smart you are, William. You’d make a difference up there.” He looked at me unconvinced, so I said, “Your mom and dad believed it. That’s why your dad volunteered to be on the Council. He wanted to make sure that you had a fair shot at a new life. More importantly, he knew that you’d give the colony a fighting chance to grow and thrive.”

Tears formed in his eyes and he buried his head in my chest. I hugged him tightly so he wouldn’t see the tears falling down my face.

After a while, he stepped back and said, “I’m tired. I’m going back to bed.”

“
Okay. I’ll be in soon.”

He went inside and closed the door. I looked up at the stars again. I thought about the new list. What were they up to?

My chest tightened as a fear took ahold of my heart. If Ahmed sent unqualified people up to the colony, it could threaten the survival of the colony. The fear clamped down harder as a worse thought worked its way into my head. What if he had made a deal with the pirates? I thought back to that night on North Point when I saw the faces of the MDF officer and Jamal on the data mat screen. What if Ahmed had agreed to send pirates up to the colony!

I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let that happen!

For the first time since the storm, I had a clear understanding of what I had to do. I had to delay the vote until I could decrypt those messages. I just hoped that Shannon would understand.

Chapter 11

I flew to Male in a helojumper, but once again it wasn’t by choice. Kamish had gotten a message from a friend on another island. There were new sightings of pirates in and around the channels. I didn’t want to take the chance of bumping into Jamal and his buddies.

When I called the MDF operations center to request the flight, the officer on duty refused my request. He said that he required twenty-four hours' advance notice. But I reminded him of my rights as a Council member, and after dropping my share of F-bombs, he reluctantly agreed to schedule the flight.

I don’t know what that guy thought I was trying to do…go for a goddammed joy ride? Clearly he didn’t understand my feelings for that machine. The only reason I opted for the helojumper was that my fear of grappling hooks had recently outweighed my fear of being chopped into tiny, bite-sized pieces by the turbo blades.

By the time I had arrived at the Male airport, it was already eleven o’clock and it was cold again…winter wonderland cold. There weren’t any storm clouds in the sky, so at least I didn’t have to worry about snow this time. However, my ears felt like they would snap off if someone flicked them.

Ahmed had called for a vote at noon, so I didn’t have much time to find Shannon and explain everything.

I knew that Shannon was tired of the council. I could tell that she wanted it to end as much as I did.  I just hoped that she’d understand why we can't vote for the list after I told her what I found. Of course there was always a chance that her Irish temper might flare up.

I had considered explaining everything to her in a message, but I had a hard enough time formulating what I would write. It would be easier to do in person.

As I walked to the hotel, I was surprised at how many people were on the streets. On an average day, I’d see a couple dozen people milling about. Today, I had to push my way through a large crowd. When I finally made it to the hotel, I understood why. Hung over the hotel door, I saw a giant, hand-painted banner welcoming the Mars rescue mission.

In a few days, the massive interplanetary cargo ship would arrive in orbit and start hauling a thousand people up there. William would be one of them. The thought unexpectedly brought a tear to my eye.  I wiped it away.

What the hell was wrong with me? Mars was William’s best shot at a future, so why was I acting like Helen? I blinked the tears away and went inside.

On the helojumper ride over, I had sent Shannon a message and asked her to meet me in the lobby. She didn’t reply. And now, as I looked around the crowded lobby, I began to get an uneasy feeling. What if Ahmed had tried to get even for her blackmailing him? I ran up the stairs two at a time and sprinted down the hall to her door. My knocks went unanswered.

Where the hell was she? The Council session began in less than an hour.

I went to my room and dropped off my bag. Grabbing the data mat from the pouch, I ran to the Council chambers, but no one was there yet, just a few hotel workers setting up the refreshment table in the back.

I tried the café where she usually hung out. She wasn’t there either. My frazzled nerves were on the verge of a meltdown. I searched the promenade and followed the narrow streets that crisscrossed the town, but there was no sign of her.

I looked at my watch. I was out of time. The meeting would start in less than ten minutes. I decided to search one last place before heading back. I ran up the stairs of the communications tower to the observation deck. It was deserted except for a young man who was rounding second base with his girlfriend. I apologized for interrupting and left.

That was it. I ran back to the hotel.

When I entered the Council chambers, I was greeted by expressions of surprise. They looked like they hadn’t expected me to show up.

Now it was my turn to be surprised, but in a good way. Shannon was here and she was safe. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

She stood at the head table arguing with Ahmed about something. Viyaja stood behind Ahmed intently watching the two of them go at each another. Ahmed looked up at me. Shannon turned and followed the direction of his gaze. She saw me and I watched her face change from surprise to a sad sort of happiness in a split second. It wasn’t pity, not exactly. It reminded me of how Sarah had looked at me when we discussed William; sad about the circumstances, but happy that I had agreed to watch over him.

Shannon gave Ahmed one final glare before walking over to me. She took my hands and said, “I didn’t think you would make it given...everything. How are you holding up?”

Her touch sent a warm current through my cold body. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had made me feel like that. “I’m fine.” I squeezed her hands and said, “Where’ve you been? Didn’t you get my message to meet at the hotel?”

“
No. I left my data mat in my room.” She let go and patted her pockets. “I haven’t had it on me all day.”

There wasn’t time to tell her everything, not the way I had rehearsed it in my head, so I cut to the chase. “We can’t vote for the list.”

Her smile vanished. “What are you talking about?”

“
Look, I know the odds are against us, but listen to me... we can’t vote for the list, not yet. There’s something really screwy going on. Ahmed’s up to something and I think it’s bad…really bad.”

“
I don't understand.” The pitch of her voice increased and her Irish accent got heavier. “Didn’t you see the revised list? Ahmed removed over a hundred more candidates from the list, the ones who weren’t eligible. Don’t you see? We’ve won.”

Nodding, I said, “Yeah, I saw it. But did you see who they added? There are people on the list that I’ve never heard of and they're listed as living on Hanikada.” I waited to see her reaction, but she just stared at me. “Come on, you know Hanikada, it’s in the Gan island chain. It’s been uninhabited since the storm. Don’t you see? They’re trying to pull some kind of bait and switch.”

“
Aron, I know who those people are and you should too.”

I stared at her, my brow furrowed. What the hell was she was talking about?

“
They’re the last group of refugees from Sri Lanka. They were given sanctuary on Hanikada after their flotilla was rescued three years ago.” She sighed. “Ever since this Council began, I’ve been trying to get Ahmed to acknowledge that they are equal citizens and add them to the inhabitant list.” Shaking her head, she said, “But then again, how could you have known? You’ve spent the last three years fishing and feeling sorry for yourself.” She took a step away from me. “Take a good look in the mirror, Aron. You’re not the only victim of the storm. There are a lot of people in that reflection with you.”

Her comment hit me harder than that wave that almost capsized me. She was right. I hadn’t paid much attention to what went on. After the IICN was completed, I disengaged from everyone and everything. It was the only way I knew to keep from getting hurt again. But that didn’t explain what I saw on North Point, the MDF officer and Jamal. I knew in the pit of my stomach that something still wasn’t right.

“
I’m sorry, but listen to me.” I said taking a step toward her.

She held up her hands and waved me off. “No. No! We’re not changing the plan now. We had a deal.”

“
I know, but...look. There’s more you need to know. Just help me block this vote and I’ll explain everything. Okay? If I can’t convince you, then—”

“
Aron, you don’t know what you’re asking me to do. You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

“
I do know what’s at stake. A ten-year-old's future is at stake and the future of the human race is at stake and all I’m asking for is a little goddammed time so I can explain what—”

The clack of Ahmed’s gavel cut me off. I looked over at the head table and watched Ahmed pound it again before saying, “Lady and gentlemen. It is time to begin the meeting. Please take your seats.”

Everyone returned to their seats and I looked over at Shannon begging with my eyes. She stared at me for a few seconds and then looked away.

Ahmed pounded his gavel one final time. “The Council of Thirteen is now called to order. Mr. Secretary, will you please take roll call?”

Viyaja apparently had taken Michio’s place as the Council secretary because he called out each Council member by name and made a check mark on a sheet of paper as each person responded with “present.” The last name he called was Michio, but Michio wasn’t there and that bastard knew it. He called Michio again. What the hell was he up to? Why were they going through all of the theatrics. They knew he wasn’t coming. They had made sure of it.

“
Mr. President, all members are accounted for except for Mr. Shimizu.”

“
Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I have a letter of resignation from him that I will now read to the Council.” Ahmed held up his data mat and ceremoniously read, “Mr. President, it is with much regret that I must resign my seat on the Council effective immediately. Sincerely, Mr. Michio Shimizu.”

Ahmed looked around the room and then rested his gaze on me. “It is with equal regret that I have accepted his letter of resignation. Given our timeline, I believe we must dispense with the normal selection process. So I move that the Council authorize me to name a successor for the post. Do I have a second?”