The End of All Things: The Fourth Instalment Read Free

him.”
    “To guard him?”
    “No, to assist him. We worked on several projects together with him as the lead and me following his direction.”
    “He was a traitor, then.”
    “I don’t know that he would disagree with you,” I said. “He was aware that in helping us, his knowledge could be used against the Rraey. Nevertheless he did help, and in the course of time, he also became a friend. He was one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met. I was honored to have known him.”
    “What happened to him?”
    “He died.”
    “How?”
    “A soldier, who was also his friend, killed him at his request.”
    “Why did he ask to die?”
    “Because he was dying anyway,” I said. “We’d introduced a poison into his blood and the daily antidote he was given was increasingly less effective. He asked his friend to end his suffering.”
    “The suffering you had imposed on him in the first place.”
    “Yes.”
    “Lieutenant, if there is a point to this discussion of yours, I’m afraid it has entirely escaped me.”
    “Cainen was an enemy who became a friend,” I said. “And despite the terrible thing we had done to him—and yes, it was terrible—he still chose to find friendship among us. I’ve never forgotten that.”
    “I do not think we will be friends, I’m afraid.”
    “I’m not asking for that, Commander,” I said. “My point in telling you this is to let you know that, at the very least, I don’t see you merely as an enemy.”
    “You will understand, Lieutenant, if I’m not convinced that this fact does anything for me at all.”
    “Of course.” I stood up. “Just understand that it can. If you want it to. In the meantime, give consideration to what I’ve asked for. Let me know when you’re ready to talk.” I started for the door.
    “Aren’t you going to put that back on me?” Tvann said, pointing to the shock collar on the table.
    “You can put it back on if you want,” I said. “But I wouldn’t if I were you.” I opened the door, leaving Tvann to stare at the collar on the table.
    * * *
    “Are you going to kill us?” Specialist Ketrin Se Lau asked me. The two of us were in the same room I had previously been in with Tvann. The room had been reset. Lau was not wearing the shock collar; he’d never been given one.
    “Lieutenant Lee promised you that we wouldn’t, if her report to me is accurate,” I said.
    “That was her. You are someone new.”
    “Do you think we’re going to kill you, Ketrin?” I asked.
    “Humans aren’t well known for being kind to their enemies,” Lau said.
    “No, I suppose not,” I admitted. “No, Specialist Lau. We’re not planning to kill you, or Commander Tvann.” I watched as relief spilled over the Rraey’s body. “In fact, what we’re hoping to do, after all of this is done, is to return you to your government.”
    “When?”
    “I’m not going to lie to you, it’s going to be a while,” I said. “We have to get to the end of this current conflict. In the meantime you’re going to be our guest.”
    “You mean prisoner.”
    “Well, yes,” I said. “But within that framework, there’s a lot of latitude for how you are treated.”
    “I don’t know anything important,” Lau said. “I’m a specialist. I was only told specific things about my own job.”
    “We know that you don’t know anything above your pay grade,” I said. “We don’t expect you to know the secret plans of Equilibrium.”
    “Then what can I tell you that I didn’t already tell your Lieutenant Lee?”
    “I’m interested not so much in what you know as I am in what you’ve heard. Rumors and speculation and things like that. We’re both soldiers, Ketrin. Although we’re different species I think we probably share one thing in common: Our jobs are boring most of the time, so we spend a lot of time bullshitting with our friends. I’m interested in the bullshit.”
    “I don’t know that word, but I think I know what it