Turning, I see the baying faces of Steadfall’s residents. It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, this was a barren patch of land that I decided to turn into a town. Now, somehow, we have fifty-six residents who’ve arrived in dribs and drabs, and we’ve even managed to create several small wooden huts. Progress has been slow but steady, and Steadfall has come to resemble a rickety old town that somehow functions on a day-to-day basis. Right now, however, the citizens are after blood, and when I glance back at Harry I can’t help realizing that he’s become a real test of my leadership. I know people have been whispering, suggesting that others should take control of Steadfall, and I can’t afford to take another wrong step. I know exactly what they want me to do. Sometimes I think I should just give in and let them choose, but then this wouldn’t be my town anymore.
It wouldn’t be Steadfall.
“What happened this time?” I ask finally, even though I can already guess the answer.
“He was caught stealing meat from round the back,” says a man nearby. “We’d hung up twenty rabbits yesterday, and this morning I went out and saw Harry hurrying off with five of them, heading into the forest. We almost didn’t catch him.”
“I was starving,” Harry gasps, his voice filled with fear. “Please, I had to eat. I needed—”
Before he can finish, a rock hits the side of his head. Dropping down, he lets out a cry of pain.
“Stop!” I shout, turning and looking over at the crowd. I wait a moment, but I have no idea who threw the rock at him. “No more of that!”
“Then do something about him!” one of the women replies, with anger in her eyes. “He’s always stealing from us! Why should someone from outside Steadfall get the benefit of our hard work?”
“I’ve offered to let you join us,” I point out, turning back to Harry. “Why do you always turn me down?”
“I don’t like people,” he replies breathlessly, with fresh blood running down his face from the spot where the rock hit him. “Never have. I came to the island to get away from people. I didn’t leave civilization behind just to jump into bed with a bunch of idiots who think they can build a town!”
“You like our meat, though!” someone shouts.
“I’ll stop taking it,” Harry continues, “and this time I swear, you’ll never see me again. I’ll go far away!”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” one of the men mutters darkly.
“I promise this time,” Harry tells me. From the fear in his eyes, it’s clear that he understands the situation. I’m the only one who can save his life. Then again, he seems to have identified me as a soft touch. He’s exploiting me. “On everything that’s holy,” he continues, “I swear, I’ll never steal from your town again.”
“Kill him!” a man shouts behind me. “How many last chances are you gonna give the bastard?”
“Don’t worry,” another man adds. “If she doesn’t do it this time, we will.”
I turn and look over at him.
“Won’t we?” he says with a smile, glancing at Deckard, who’s watching from a few meters away.
“Asher’s in charge,” Deckard says firmly, although I can tell from the way he’s looking at me that he knows I’m losing support. He’s just biding his time, waiting for the moment to seize Steadfall from me. “Right or wrong, she makes the decisions around here.”
“I’ve let you go too many times,” I say after a moment, turning back to Harry as I reach down and take a knife from my belt. He immediately tries to pull away, but the men hold him down. Crouching in front of him, I stare into his eyes as I hold the blade up for him to see, and I can’t help noticing that the noise from the surrounding crowd has died down significantly. They gathered for an execution and now they sense blood. “I’ve tried so hard to be lenient,” I say calmly, making sure my voice can be heard by everyone around us. “That’s what I wanted, Harry. I wanted to not have to hurt you.”
“Just let me go,” he whimpers, with tears in his eyes. “Please, I’ll run and I’ll never come back. You’ll never, ever see or hear from me again. I’ll go all the way to the other end of the island!”
“That’s what was supposed to happen the last time,” I point out, “and the time before that, and the time before that. But you just kept coming back and stealing more of our food.”
He shakes his head.
“You did, Harry. You know you did.”
“Please…”
“So you’ve left me with no choice.”
“I was starving to death!” he hisses. “I would’ve died!”
“I know,” I reply, “and I’m sorry about that, but I offered you the chance to join us. That wasn’t a popular decision on my part, but I thought it was the right thing to do. You turned me down.”
“I don’t want to live with you!” he spits. “I came to the island to get away from people, not to end up living in some kind of…” He pauses, as if he’s not sure of the right word. “Shanty town,” he adds finally, and the disgust is evident in his voice. “What have you got here, anyway? Do you think you can actually build something that’ll last?” A smile slowly grows across his muddied, blood-encrusted lips. “The first strong wind that blows through here, and your pathetic little town’ll come crashing down. You’re barely clinging to life as it is. Don’t pretend like you’re achieving anything, because all you’re doing is recreating a pitiful version of the tyranny and evil we all left behind when we came to the island. This is a place for people to die, not for them to live.”
Keeping my eyes fixed on him, I move the knife’s blade closer. I don’t want to do this, not in cold blood, but I know that the people of this town will turn on me if I back down now.
“Helicopter,” a voice says suddenly.
Turning, I see that several people are looking up at the sky, and sure enough a moment later I realize I can hear a helicopter not too far from here. More new arrivals for the island, I guess. More people who’ve fled civilization and come to try living out here, far away from the madness of the old world. I remember years ago, as a child, watching an execution in a small square in one of the urban areas. Four dissidents were shot, and their deaths struck fear into the hearts of everyone who was there that day. I remember sobbing, but I was forced to watch every moment, and not a day has gone by that I haven’t remembered the moment when those bodies slumped to the ground. There were people baying for blood back then, too, but I remember swearing that I’d never be like them. And now here I am, about to carry out an execution.
The crowd waits for me to do the deed, but with a sickening sense of dread I realize I can’t go through with it. I can’t do the wrong thing just so that I’ll be popular.
“Let him go!” I say firmly.
Immediately, a roar of disapproval rises up from the crowd.
“With one difference this time!” I shout, although I doubt anyone can hear me. Turning, I see the fury in their eyes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone came rushing over to attack me right now. “With one difference!” I continue. “Listen to me! I’ve decided to let him go, but it’s not going to be like last time!”
I wait, but they’re yelling at me, calling me a coward.
“Listen!” I shout. “If you just—”
Before I can finish, a rock flies from the crowd, almost hitting me in the face. I manage to duck out of the way just in time, and then I turn to see scores of angry faces jeering at me. Any one of them could have thrown that rock. That’s how deeply unpopular I’ve become.
“Silence!” a voice suddenly booms, louder than all the rest. “Shut up! Let her speak!”