“And can you do it? Break the encryption, I mean.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Before returning to her seat, she said, “I need time to digest all of this.”
What the hell was she digesting? It was clear that something was going on.
It took nearly an hour before all the names were read. The whole time I kept studying Shannon’s face, searching for some sign, any sign, that she was with me. But her face was a closed book. When Viyaja finished, he turned the floor back to Ahmed.
“Thank you, Mr. Secretary.” Ahmed paused and looked at me. “With no further objections we will now vote on the list. All in favor, please signify by—”
“I request a twenty-four hour recess,” I said.
“Mr. Atherton, what reason could you possibly have for a recess?” Ahmed asked.
“I need time to certify the list and I’m sure our newest member, Mr. Prasad, needs time as well.”
“I don’t want to speak for Mr. Prasad, but I’m sure he is fine with the list.” Ramdas smiled and nodded. “However, since you made a motion I’ll ask… is there anyone who will second Mr. Atherton’s request for a recess?”
Once again, I looked at Shannon, but she just stared at her hands.
“Any seconds?” Ahmed said.
What was she doing?
Ahmed clacked his gavel loudly and he said, “The motion is dropped. Now, can we continue with the vote?”
I didn’t say anything. I just stared at Shannon.
“Alright. Will all those in favor of the list please raise your hands.”
I watched as each person around the table raised their hands. Shannon looked at me with sad eyes and lifted her hand into the air. And just like that, it was over. The list was final.
Chapter 12
I didn’t wait around to talk to Shannon or to see if she would come and talk to me. There wasn’t enough time to deal with that bullshit. I had to get back to Lohifushi and deal with real problems.
I sent Kamish a message and he picked me up a couple hours later, around six. We raced against the dark clouds advancing from the east and reached Lohifushi just as the storm hit. Kamish ran for cover in the equipment shed next to the old bait shack, but I braved the pelting sleet and rain. The weather fit my mood.
William wasn’t in the hut when I arrived, which was a good thing. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I changed into something dry and unpacked my bag. Reaching inside, I pulled out a mostly empty bottle of moonshine and poured myself a shot. If there was ever a time that I really needed a drink, it was now. I choked on the first sip, but drank through it, enjoying the warmth as it passed through me.
My mind circled a single question: what was I going to tell William? I couldn’t convince Shannon to delay the vote, I couldn’t decrypt the messages, and worst of all… I had let myself love that kid.
The realization of it all hit me with the impact of a helojumper slamming into the ocean. I guess I got what I deserved… a big stinking pile of shit to deal with.
The sound of beeping pulled me out of my dreams and into the conscious world that I had tried to escape. I opened my eyes and stared at the vaulted ceiling. It took me a moment to get my bearings. I was in my own bed. I reached for my data mat, but it wasn’t beeping. The sound came from William’s data mat. I looked over and saw him sitting cross-legged on his bed, acting like he didn’t know that I was awake.
“How long have you been sitting there?” I asked.
He shrugged while keeping his eyes glued on the game.
“What time is it?”
“Lunch time,” he said.
I rolled into a sitting position and put my hands on either side of my head. When the pain subsided, I said, “You’re probably wondering why I’m back so soon.”
“Nope.”
“You’re not even a little curious?”
“Nope,” he repeated. “Everyone got the message from the Council. It said that the list was approved. I figured you’d be back.” He tilted his data mat and tapped the screen, seemingly pleased with whatever results the move had netted.
“Did it say when the list would be released?”
“The day before the shuttle takes people up to the ship. Helen said it had something to do with maintaining public order and stuff.”
That sounded like something Ahmed would say, but I knew the truth. That bastard didn’t want people to look too closely at the list. If they did, he would have a full blown revolt on his hands. And by waiting until the day after the ship arrived, the captain wouldn’t have any reason to suspect anything was wrong.
I stood up and almost fell back onto the bed as pain shot through my head. William continued to play his game, and I wondered if he knew something was wrong. If he did, then his acting was getting better.
I watched as he played the game. He chewed his lower lip. Rick used to do the same thing, usually when he faced a particularly difficult technical challenge. Rick loved challenges… the tougher the better.
“William?”
He scowled, paused the game, and looked up. “What?”
“Where’s the data mat that I asked you to keep safe for me. Jin’s data mat?”
“Outside.”
“Can you get it for me?”
“Now? Can I finish this level first.”
“Now… please.”
He sighed, set his data mat on the bed and stomped outside. I walked over to the window and watched him shimmy up a palm tree. He scaled the tree as easily as most people walk down the street. He climbed down with the data mat clenched in his teeth. As he entered the room, he tossed it to me.
“Thanks,” I said.
He was already playing his game again. I could tell that he was pissed. I couldn’t blame him. I’d violated one of our new rules: never bother your roommate when he’s playing a video game.
I went out onto the front deck and plopped down in a chair. I had three days before the list was made public, which wasn’t much time. If I could prove that Ahmed was involved with the pirates, even if it didn’t have anything to do with the list, it might give the ship’s captain enough reason to take a good hard look at the list. At this point, I didn’t care if the captain knew anyone on the list or not. At least he wasn’t under Ahmed’s thumb, and that was good enough for me.
I ran my hand thought my hair.
Five hours! Five hours and nothing. It had to be here.
My stomach growled. It wanted something to eat. I decided to take its suggestion.
Helen was in the kitchen preparing dinner when I arrived. She turned and smiled when she saw me.
“Well, well, well… you weren’t kidding about coming back soon, now were you? Can I get you something to drink? How about some mango juice?”
“What is it with you and Mohamed? Why are you always pushing the mango juice?” I sat on a stool next to the butcher’s block. “How about a hot cup of chicory? I could smell it brewing all the way down by the beach.”
“Coming right up.” She went to the stove and filled a mug. I took the mug and said, “Thanks.” Then I took a sip. It wasn’t like the coffee I used to drink every morning at the corner bakery back home, but it was hot and bitter. It did the trick.
“No worries, dear,” she said. “So… the list is final, huh? I guess that means we’ll be saying goodbye to William and a few others soon.” Her voice cracked, “It’ll be hard to say goodbye to him.” She looked at me.
To hell with it. I had to tell her sooner or later. “He’s not going.”
She froze, teapot still in hand. “What? Not going? That can’t be. But you said—.”
“I know what I said, but I can’t send him up there unless I know what’s going on.”