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“For a while… no, not only for one period… it happened several times… Megapolis, the University managed to shake my intentions. Megapolis was the only thing that managed to do so.

“In the meantime I was recruited. And I met Erivan. I haven’t been shaken since.

“That is why I will give Megapolis one last chance. Giving the world a chance without Megapolis means nothing. It will quickly turn out new Kaellas and Erivans. And if Mr. Alexander’s Third Renaissance ever materializes, it will be in Megapolis.

“Dr. Palladino, Megapolis is the only excuse that I will agree to.”

“So Megapolis was important to you the entire time. That is why you never switched off its energy supply. So that people would swarm to it, and then… Capital City, too.”

“No, not Capital City. It means nothing to me. My plan was to direct the beams towards the oceans, once I destroyed Megapolis. And to lock the energy system in that position,” the Grasshopper fell silent.

“And?” Dr. Palladino whispered.

“And?” the Grasshopper smiled. “And then, Dr. Palladino, I would calmly watch from here as the oceans heated up and storms ravaged the Earth.

“I would regularly measure the increase in temperature on the planet, but I wouldn’t get too excited about it. How could I prove that the temperature was increasing because of my beams if I didn’t have enough historical data? What could I compare it to? I would know very well that it was only a claim by vicious tongues and that such an increase in temperature was actually a regular cycle in nature… I’m joking, of course…

“I would direct the beams towards the oceans, lock the energy system and kill myself. The evaporation of the oceans would do the rest. I would kill all life. The collective Thanatos would triumph.”

“And that’s exactly what you will do, if Megapolis loses against you.”

“Precisely.”

“And five days?” Dr. Palladino was persistent.

“That is approximately how long it will take me to redirect the beams towards Megapolis. When I’m finished, only then will I call Seneca and inform Charlie. I want you to be in that residence as long as possible, safe. Because I won’t play Russian roulette with anyone else, Dr. Palladino. So please don’t tell Charlie anything. I will communicate with him.”

“I won’t, of course,” said Dr. Palladino.

“And then I will see what Seneca and Charlie will say. How much time it will take them to get you safely to Megapolis. Then we will set the exact time of the Russian roulette.”

Chapter 150

On the fourth night after Seneca had left their shelter, Eir, Peter, Manami and Pascal heard the elevator doors open.

“Noah,” said Eir.

“It might also be dad, “ Peter was hopeful. “Yes! It’s dad!” He shouted when he heard the shelter door unlock.

“Dad!” shouted Eir, sliding off the chair and running with her brother towards the door.

Pascal rose from the table and looked at Manami. She just calmly nodded to him.

Noah entered the shelter for the first time. He was a very handsome shapely young man, wearing an Inspectorate colonel’s uniform.

“Noah!” Peter ran up to him.

“Hello, Peter,” Noah said and put out his hand.

“Noah, what are you doing in the shelter? What has happened?” Manami asked.

“Madam Manami, Mr. Alexander, the mayor has said that the four of you should immediately come to his office.”

The shelter fell silent. Peter stood in silence in front of Noah, and Pascal stared at the floor.

“Why, Noah?” Manami asked after a few moments.

“You have to leave here, Madam,” said Noah. “This shelter is no longer safe.”

“Why isn’t it safe?” Manami asked. She walked over to Eir and took her in her arms.

“The Mayor has not authorized me to give you any information, Madam Manami. He told me to remind you of your agreement, according to which he would not trouble you with information from the outside world.”

“But that no longer applies,” said Manami. “You are now taking us into the outside world. I have to know what’s going on.”

“I’m not taking you. You are just relocating to a different shelter. There’s a helicopter waiting for you on the roof of the television station, which will fly you out of the Megapolis region. You will be put up in a hanger that is deep underground.”

“And what if we don’t want to leave this shelter?” she asked.

“Madam Manami,” Noah said calmly. “The mayor assumed that you would be scared. That is why I am to tell you that you have nothing to worry about and that everything will be as you wish.”

Manami looked at Pascal.

“Does that mean that Mr. Alexander is going with us to the new shelter?” she asked.

“Of course. The safety of Mr. Alexander is crucial for the future of this planet. People are worshiping and glorifying you as their savior, Mr. Alexander. Didn’t the mayor tell you?”

Pascal said nothing.

“No, Noah,” Manami replied instead of him. “That was the agreement. Julius didn’t tell Mr. Alexander anything. We didn’t want to transfer the apprehension to the children. And only now do I see how right we were.”

“Madam, Mr. Alexander, we really have to leave immediately. Every moment is precious. Leave everything here. I will have your things brought to you later.”

“Alright, Noah,” Manami agreed. “Eir, the gentleman will carry you,” she handed the girl to Pascal.

“Mommy…” Eir fought back.

“Listen to mommy, Eir… Be good…” Manami said.

“Eir, come to Pascal,” said Pascal while taking the girl.

“Don’t leave my side!” Manami whispered to Pascal. “Not for a moment!”

Noah and Peter went down the corridor towards the elevator.

“Wait!” Manami shouted.

The two of them stopped and turned towards her.

“The elevator is very small,” said Manami, when she, Pascal and Eir reached it. “This is how we will go up to Julius. First Peter and I, then you, Noah, and Mr. Alexander and Eir at the end.” She looked at Pascal. “You and Eir at the end, sir.”

Chapter 151

The windows in Seneca’s office on the last floor of the television station building were draped. The large aquarelle of Megapolis was shifted to one side, at an angle. The elevator doors opened behind it. When Manami and Peter came out they didn’t see Seneca from the front behind the painting. And he didn’t come to them, but stood in silence at the office door.

“Dad!” shouted Peter, when he and Manami came out from behind the painting. He ran towards his father and hugged him around the waist.

Mayor Seneca stroked his son on the head and looked at his wife. And Manami looked breathlessly into his empty eyes.

“Julius…” she whispered when she approached him.

“Don’t worry, Manami. Everything will be alright. You’re going to a safe place,” said Seneca quietly. He knelt next to Peter and took his face in his hands. “My son,” he said and kissed his forehead.

He got up when Noah came out of the elevator and entered the office.

“There, Mr. Alexander will now come up with Eir,” Noah said.

“Noah, take Manami and Peter to the roof, and I’ll come with Alexander and Eir.”

“No!” shouted Manami, squeezing Peter’s hand and stared directly at her husband.

“Alright, Manami, alright… we’ll all go together,” Seneca said calmly. “We’ll wait for Eir… Noah will provide you with large quantities of food and water… you’ll also have electricity… it will be alright… like here,” said Seneca. “Noah will explain everything to you. Don’t worry about a thing… and you, son,” he looked at Peter, “should study hard…”