Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
I swat Mitch’s hands away. “I’m not nervous. Why the hell would I be nervous? I’m the one in charge.”
“I know. But some of them are really fuckin’ hot, friend. If you play your cards right—and don’t Choose them, of course”—he points at me, winking—“you could keep one. Ya know?”
“They’re like ten years younger than me. I don’t want a fuckin’ Little Sister. I wanted…” I don’t finish. I don’t need to.
“You know I’m not serious, right?”
I look at Mitch, doubt written all over my face.
“I’m just trying to take your mind off things, that’s all.”
“Whatever. Where’s Jeyk?”
“Babysitting Gemna. She’s a mess, man. It’s been non-stop sobbing since last night. I finally ordered a Matron to sedate her. So Jeyk is making sure she doesn’t like… fall asleep and never wake up. That would go over great.”
I shoot him a look.
He shrugs with his shoulders. “What?”
“You’re so cold these days.”
“I’m not cold. I’m… practical.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“Yeah, well, my practicality will save your ass one day, mark my words.”
“Whatever. I should go talk to Gemna.”
Mitch puts up a hand. “Nope. I would table that for now. For whatever reason, she’s blaming everything on you.”
I scoff. “That’s not fair.”
“We all know it’s not fair. She knows it’s not fair. But she’s scared. And sad. And scared, sad people have justified stranger things than this. Let Jeyk handle her. At least for a little while. I’ll make sure he keeps me up to date each night and if there’s anything you need to know, I’ll fill you in.”
The elevator doors open and before us, on the other side of the lobby glass, are two lines of beautiful young women. All waiting for me to inspect them.
Mitch squeezes my shoulder. “Concentrate on them.” He nods his head to the girls. “They’re the nicest distraction you’re gonna get. That’s for sure.”
I shrug his hand off me, straighten the stole, and take a deep breath and walk forward. A guard opens the doors and Mitch hangs behind as I step out to the fanfare of music. A tune that used to make me feel proud to be a Tauian, but now only sounds sad.
I was here—behind my father the way Mitch is behind me—when Clara stood on one side of the canal bridge for her inspection. I remember winking at her. She was stoic. Took it all so seriously. But her eyes did flash and meet mine after that wink.
In this time—a time where Clara does not exist—I don’t wink at anyone. I don’t even look at them. I cross the canal and enter the Maiden Tower where I am directed to the main hall where all the Little Sisters will sit for first brunch. I will sit at the head of the room, alone, so that one by one they can all be called up for a short interview. It’s a blink of an eye for them—just one or two minutes—but for me, it will take the whole day.
The room has been prepared in the traditional blue and cream colors of the Little Sisters and all the tables set for fine dining. Crystal water glasses, and gleaming silverware, and delicate glass plates spun from the purest sands outside the city walls.
I sit down at my table and, since I’m the only one in the room aside from staff, Mitchell takes the Little Sister chair across from me. I meet his gaze and find questions. “What?” I’m already irritated about having to be here, so this comes out in my tone.
“What did the Council tell you?”
“What?”
“Last night you let something slip. I knew they told you something because your attitude took a turn that day, friend.”
“My father was murdered. Of course my attitude took a turn.”
“But that’s not everything. You’re hiding something from me. How can I protect you if you’re keeping secrets?”
I don’t like that he’s pressuring me like this. But if our roles were reversed, I’d be nagging him the same way to get his secrets. And anyway, why should I keep the Council’s secret? It’s not like they have a plan to stop the god from dying.
“They said…” I take deep breath. “They told me that none of this matters because the god is dying and Tau City is gonna go with it.”
Mitchell’s face doesn’t even twist.
“You knew.” I don’t even bother asking it as a question.
“I knew.”
“Were you gonna tell me?”
“Probably. But it wouldn’t do any good.”
“Do you at least know why he’s dying?”
Mitchell lets out a long sigh. “Honestly, Finn, I was hoping you could tell me. I was hoping you’d found some kind of… communication, or something, from your father.”
“Why would I find something like that? It’s not like he knew he was gonna be murdered.”
“Yeah. Right. But most people leave instructions, ya know?”
“He did. You read the Extraction Manual written in his hand to me just two days ago. So what are you really looking for?”