CHAPTER 20
THE EO BEHIND the counter looked nervous. Indigo walked straight up to him and spoke.
“You have a boy here.”
“This ain’t a public show, old man. Go mind your own business.”
“The boy’s gift won’t be that useful to you.”
“What are you talking about?” The EO took a closer look at Indigo. His eyes widened when he saw the crude wooden buttons on Indigo’s shirt. “You’re dressed like that kid.” He slammed his hand down on an intercom button. “Willy, get out here.”
“What?” A voice came from some hidden speaker.
“Get out here, now! There’s—” The EO stopped talking as he felt the cool smooth tip of a stunner on his throat. Indigo had come around the counter.
“Stand up, slowly,” said Indigo, holding the EOs neck.
They turned together to face the back, just as another EO came out.
“Drop your weapon!” The EO crouched and took out his own stunner, after shouting the order.
Indigo just looked at him. “Drop yours, or I’ll kill your friend.”
There was a tense silence. Finally the EO Indigo was restraining spoke.
“Drop the stunner, Willy.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
The second EO—Willy—dropped his weapon.
“Slide it over here,” said Indigo. The EO did. Indigo reached down and picked it up. He put it in his pocket. “Thank you, Willy. Now let’s all go in the back.”
They walked down a short hallway. There were only two doors off of it: one to an empty office and one marked HOLDING. Indigo motioned for Willy to open the door. There were two cells. A third EO was sitting outside the cell closer to them with his back to the door, arms folded in front of him, watching the sole occupant. Pathik looked bruised and his face was bloody, but he was conscious. He said nothing when he saw Indigo.
The EO in the chair spoke without turning around. “Chad’ll be back with the food in a few minutes. Has the Ganivar station called back yet?”
“Don.”
The EO turned in his seat. He started to unfold his arms. His mouth hung open in shock.
“Put your stunner on the floor.” Indigo waited.
“My stunner’s on the desk.” Don indicated a small desk against the wall.
“You.” Indigo spoke to Willy. “You tie that one up.” He nodded his head toward Don.
“Tie him up?” The EO looked confused.
“Just cuff me, Willy. That’ll do, right?” Don raised his eyebrows at Indigo.
“Yes.” Indigo watched as Willy put plasticuffs on the EO’s wrists. “Ankles too. And then do this one.” He pointed to the man he held.
Once the two EOs were cuffed at wrists and ankles, Indigo pointed the stunner at Willy. “Open that cell.”
Willy shook his head, eyes wide. “We can’t let him go. He’s one of those—”
“Willy!” Don sounded exasperated. “He’s one of them too.”
Willy’s eyes got even wider. “Should I use your key, Don?”
Don nodded. Willy went to him and gingerly unclipped a flat plastic disc from his belt. He took it to the cell, where Pathik sat, silent. Willy inserted the disc into a slot on the cell door. A light blinked and the door clicked. Willy opened it.
“Pathik, step out.” Indigo waited until Pathik was standing next to him. “Now, Willy, you go inside, and shut the door.”
“Why don’t you go inside, old man.” It was a voice from behind them.
Indigo didn’t turn. He kept his stunner pointed at Willy. “I guess you must be Chad, back with lunch? Come around in front of us or I’ll kill your friend.”
“Willy’s not really my friend,” said Chad. “We just work together. Right, Willy? Besides, I have a stunner snuggled up to your boy’s left ear. And I’ll kill him, if you don’t drop yours.”
“We’re at an impasse, then.” Indigo sounded very calm. “Because you need to know that if you kill that boy, I’ll turn this stunner on myself.” Indigo brought the stunner Willy had kicked to him out of his pocket. He placed it to his own throat, while keeping the first stunner pointed at Willy, and turned around to look at the man. “I don’t think the people at the Ganivar station will be too happy if you end up with two dead subjects, will they?”
“He’s right, Chad, they said they want them alive! So they can study ’em.”
Chad sighed. “Thanks, Willy.”
“I suggest a trade,” said Indigo.
“No.” Pathik spoke softly. His eyes pleaded with his grandfather.
Chad’s grip on Pathik’s shoulder tightened and he shoved the stunner tighter against Pathik’s head. “I’m listening.”
“Let the boy go.” Indigo smiled at Chad. “Then we’ll sit down together and wait, until the sun has set.” Indigo shifted his gaze to Pathik, and made certain he was listening carefully. “Once the sun has set, you can free your colleagues, and you can call your superiors and let them know you have one of the leaders of the Others. They will want me much more than they would want this boy.”
“It makes no difference which one of you we deliver,” said Chad.
“But you need to deliver one. And you won’t if you don’t listen to me now.”
Without warning Indigo lunged at Chad, and grabbed Pathik. He held the stunner he had at Pathik’s throat.
“Are you crazy?” Chad staggered back.
“I can kill the boy and myself in less than three seconds. Do you want one, or none?”
Chad stared at Indigo for what seemed like a full minute. Finally, he spoke.
“Willy, get in the cell.”
Willy didn’t hesitate. Chad kept his eyes on Indigo. “I’ll take the boy out front and make sure the coast is clear.”
Indigo smiled and shook his head. He walked with Pathik to the door, still holding the stunner at the boy’s throat. “He can find his own way.”
“Grandfather.” Pathik whispered the word. Indigo was thankful he couldn’t see his grandson’s face.
“You must go.” Indigo hugged Pathik hard. “Know that I love you always.” He whispered into Pathik’s ear, never taking his eyes from Chad. “Go as soon as you get back. Don’t wait for the sun to set.” Then he pushed Pathik through the door. He turned to face Chad, pointing one of his stunners at him. He placed the other against his own throat. “Now we wait.”
JONATHAN HADN’T TAKEN his eyes off the door. It seemed like it had been a long time, and he was pretty certain nothing good was going to happen. He figured he would wait for a while longer, before he headed back to The Property. Then the door opened. The boy stepped out, looked both ways to see if anyone was coming. Jonathan saw him notice the truck. He saw him put his hands in his pockets and start walking. When he reached the truck he opened the door and got in without saying a word. He was crying silently, his cheeks wet with tears. He tried to speak, but he sobbed, once, instead.
Jonathan started the truck. “Are we going?”
Pathik nodded.
They drove away.