Toys

Chapter 64

And still, the carefulness persisted. Or was it just human paranoia at this point? Hard to distinguish between the two sometimes.

“So that wretched psychopath President Jacklin actually told you of a plan to wipe out humankind?” said Sir Nigel Cruikshank-the man who had ordered my release and the chief of Britain’s top intelligence agency, the MI7. He had a deeply lined, world-weary face and a sense of tough integrity. He’d already apologized for his soldiers’ rough treatment of me, but I countered that their suspicion was understandable, and actually prudent.

I respected Sir Nigel instinctively, and I was already starting to like him. Imagine that, me liking a human.

“Jacklin used the phrase ‘making the world a safer, cleaner place,’ but that’s not what he meant,” I said.

“But he gave no indication of how this would happen? Or when, Hays?”

“Actually, no. I assumed he was talking about a military attack. A big one.”

“I see,” he said, pronouncing it somewhat like I say.

He walked to the rim of the ancient stone tower of Old Sarum, which we were standing atop, and leaned his forearms on the wall, gazing out over the wide expanse of Salisbury Plain.

Lucy and I followed him. A team of armed guards followed us everywhere, although now-supposedly-they were here for our protection.

“Are you thinking the plan is something different?” Lucy asked Sir Nigel.

“We’re preparing for a full military attack, of course. Monitoring their troop movements and readying our own forces. But something about it just doesn’t feel right to me.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Hard to explain, Hays. I’ve spent long years going point-counterpoint against the Elites-in older times, it was called a ‘cold war.’ Got to know their ways quite well.

“Now I just can’t rid myself of the sense that what they’re doing is too obvious, even for their tidy minds. I don’t believe they want anything resembling a fair fight. They’re very cerebral, and totally ruthless. The Elites have zero respect for human life. We’re skunks, insects, ciphers. As you well know, Hays.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help more,” I said. “But I am here to do what I can.”

“It’s fine, Hays. Well, have a good look ’round. That’s why I brought you here.”

He waved a hand toward a military installation that was visible in the distance-a large complex of buildings, airfields, missile launchers.

“That base there is our defensive nerve center. You’ll get to know our best people, our best minds. I happen to think they’re the world’s best minds: analytical, very creative, and, most of all, compassionate. The human race has come a long way since 7–4 Day. I hate to say it, but we’re better because of it.”

For the first time in my life, I was struck by the contrast between the ugly modern buildings and highways in New Lake City and these landmarks from the ancient past-the spire of Salisbury Cathedral piercing the sky and the fantastic pillars of Stonehenge. Like the Old Sarum tower, they weren’t just beautiful, they were magnificent-and all built by human minds and hands, long before the sound of a machine had ever been heard. Amazing feats of architecture and engineering.

With Elites, newer and more efficient was always better, particularly with anything built before 7–4 Day. If they hadn’t torn it down already, it was only because they hadn’t gotten to it yet.

Sir Nigel swung around to face me.

“Hays, I want to believe in you-in the way I believe in Lucy-so I’m setting aside my usual caution,” he said. “I’ll be blunt as to why, and it’s not flattering. I simply feel that we’ve reached a point where my people have nothing to lose. But I must bring up one more seriously troubling issue.”

His eyes drilled into mine with a gaze that seemed older than the blunt stones we were standing on. This was the kind of lie-detector test that no machine could match. Face to face, eye to eye.

“Did you honestly have no idea that the chap you worked for, Jax Moore, was the driving force of the genocide on 7–4 Day?” he said. “That he personally planned and carried out the murder of millions of humans?”

It was another jolt, but my armor of numbness was getting thicker all the time.

Seven-four Day had happened before I was born, and I only knew what all Elite kids were taught-that it was the great celebration of saving the world from human destruction, a glorious victory without any hint of cold-blooded massacre.

As Elite children, we were also taught that all humans were savage and evil and, on a purely rational basis, hopeless.

“I trusted Jax Moore for years, then found out the hard way that he’s a lying snake,” I said bitterly. “I never heard anything linking him and 7–4 Day, but I can believe it. I do believe it. Jax Moore led the attack when my mother and father were murdered.”

Not a muscle in Sir Nigel’s face flickered, and his eyes stayed locked on mine like all-knowing magnets.

“Then, of course, you also weren’t aware that your charming wife, Lizbeth, was Jax Moore’s main accomplice,” he said.

There was no amount of armor that could hold that shock off. I stared back at Sir Nigel, my mouth opening in disbelief.

“Is-is this some kind of a trick?” I stammered.

“Nothing of the sort. I couldn’t be more serious.”

“But-it’s impossible! It can’t be true. She isn’t old enough, for one thing.”

“Quite easy to prove to you, I’m afraid. I have documented her actions myself. Lizbeth’s much older than you think, Hays. Much, much older. Decades older.”

What he saw in my face must have finally satisfied him, because he gave a grim little nod.

“Right, then,” he said. “Let’s get on to London. There are people waiting to meet you. You’re seen as something of a savior there, lad. I sincerely hope that you are.”