“By anyone’s standards,” Blade replied. “I’ve seen and heard enough to convince me that you’re either off the deep end, or all of you are power-hungry, petty dictators.”
“We are neither,” Sol stated.
“Says you.”
Eldred Morley stood. “Let’s dispose of this cretin now, Sol. Why should we sit here and allow him to insult us?”
“Sit down, Eldred,” Sol Diekrick ordered.
Morley reluctantly complied.
“That’s better,” Sol said. “Your immaturity is appalling. If you can’t rebut the arguments of a musclebound oaf, perhaps you don’t deserve to hold the exalted post of Peer.”
Morley blanched. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” Sol said, cutting him short. “And don’t insult my intelligence ever again.”
“I won’t,” Morley said hastily.
Sol looked at the giant. “Now where were we? Ahhh, yes. You claim that we’re warped, as you so quaintly phrased it.”
“Convince me otherwise,” Blade stated.
Diekrick folded his arms across his chest. “You erred when you accused us of being petty dictators. We actually view the welfare of our people as our paramount concern.”
Blade laughed.
“You don’t believe me?”
“You have the people of Atlanta right where you want them,” Blade mentioned. “Under your thumb. This Civil Council has stripped the citizens of their freedom. You control every aspect of their lives. You decide what is best for them, and you’ve even gone so far as to regulate the clothes they wear.” He paused. “You’re disgusting.”
“My dear fellow, you misconstrue our intent,” Sol said with an air of condescension. “And your knowledge of America is deficient.”
“America?”
“Yes. Specifically the history of America in the decades preceding World War Three. We have merely continued and improved upon the reforms instituted by our ancestors, and we have succeeded in achieving the goal they dreamed of.”
“What goal?” Blade queried.
“The creation of the world’s first fully humanistic society,” Sol said loftily. “America was becoming increasingly humanistic with each generation. The humanists were effectively organized, and the rank and file, the masses on the street, had no idea what was happening to them.
The average American didn’t know that most of their leaders, their politicians and educators, were humanists. They were unaware that humanism was the prevalent doctrine at a majority of the universities and colleges. Had they known, they would have rebelled because they were strongly opposed to everything humanism stands for.”
“And what does humanism stand for?” Blade questioned.
“Read the humanist manifestos,” Sol replied. “The humanists made no secret of their beliefs, only of the means they employed to restructure society. Humanism has certain basic tenets. There is no God, no spirit reality of any kind. Prayer and worship are meaningless practices, and consequently we have outlawed them. Humanism asserts religion is an obstacle to human progress, not an aid.” He paused and gazed thoughtfully at the Warrior. “The early humanists clearly outlined the design for a secular society, and we’ve implemented their design. Religion has been eliminated. Science is our guidepost and experience our teacher.
Our moral values and ethics are not limited by childish concepts of right and wrong. There is no right and wrong. There is only the good life, what we feel is best for us at any given moment. The quest for the good life is good for all.”
“And you really believe all that garbage?”
“Wholeheartedly,” Sol responded. “Our society is perfect. Our citizens can satisfy their every need and interest. If it doesn’t harm others, they’re free to do whatever they want consistent with their civil liberties. Sexual expression, abortion, birth control, divorce, you name it.”
“So long as the people obey your laws, there’s no problem,” Blade said.
“Every civilized society has laws,” Sol noted.
“But not every civilized society uses laws to enslave its people.”
“I can see this is getting us nowhere,” Sol declared. He glanced at the other Peers. “We should proceed to the formal disposition of the subject.”
“At last,” Merely commented.
“Give him to Orientation,” Lilith proposed. “We’ll probe his mind, uncover his innermost secrets.”
“I say immediate termination is best,” Morley suggested.
“We should learn more about him first,” Alec Toine said. “Where does he come from? Why did he want to see Llewellyn Snow? What connection does he have to Richard Snow?”
“I agree,” Sol declared. “This man is a mystery, and I don’t like mysteries.” He smiled at the giant. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to answer all of our questions.”
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to jump off this building,” Blade responded.
Sol reached down and produced the Bowies. “The Storm Police found these when they were binding you. You must have a fetish for large knives.”
“The better to gut you with, Grandma,” Blade quipped.
Diekrick hefted the twin knives. “You won’t cooperate with us. We could use drugs to elicit the information I want, but someone with your willpower and constitution could resist indefinitely. I don’t intend to wait.”
“What will we do?” Lilith asked.
“There is a better way,” Sol said, smirking at the Warrior. “You will tell me everything I want to know.”
“What makes you think so?” Blade countered.
Sol Diekrick leaned over the lip of the wall, grinning wickedly. “Let me put it to you this way. How do you feel about weenie roasts?”
Chapter Sixteen
“Are you sure those two will take good care of the princess?”
“Scarlet and Jane will protect Chastity with their lives.”
“Have they ever baby-sat before?”
Locklin looked at the gunfighter in annoyance. “Will you give me a break? Chastity is in good hands.” He hurried ahead, muttering. “You’d think you were her father, the way you act!”
“Now what in the blazes got into that yahoo?” Hickok asked.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, walking on the gunman’s right, grinned. “You like the child, don’t you?”
“I reckon I’m a mite fond of her,” Hickok confessed. “She saved my hide yesterday.”
“So you’ve said,” Rikki mentioned. “About three dozen times.”
“I was tickled pink when I saw you walk into the clearing,” Hickok said.
“Another ape would’ve driven me bananas.”
Rikki glanced at his friend. “Have you made your decision yet?”
“She told you?”
“Last night, when we were sitting around the campfire,” Rikki disclosed. “She calls me Uncle Rikki now.”
“Well, Uncle Rikki, I need your advice.”
“You are asking for advice?” Rikki responded in surprise.
“What’s the big deal?”
“You never ask for advice,” Rikki said.
“I’m askin’ now.”
“The decision is yours,” Rikki stated.
Hickok frowned. “Remind me to never ask for your advice again.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes,” Rikki added.
“Are you tryin’ to cheer me up or depress me?” the gunman asked.
“I just want to help.”
Hickok made a snorting sound. “If you call this helpin’, I’d hate to see it when you’re being wishy-washy.”
“Will you two clowns keep the noise down?” Locklin snapped over his right shoulder.
“Cranky cuss, isn’t he?” Hickok said. He scanned the forest ahead, noting the point men 30 yards away, then stared along their back trail at the 32 men and women in green trudging toward the metropolis. Periodic breaks in the foliage enabled him to see the skyscrapers several miles distant.