Waking Gods (Themis Files #2)(56)

—I should be appalled that you tortured a man. I’m not. I think I’m becoming as cynical as you are.

—I am not cynical, but we are indeed very different creatures.

—We’re not so different.

—Oh, but we are. No matter how much you believe you have changed, we are still very different animals, you and I.

—I think you’re wrong.

—Let me ask you this: Do you believe the American government lied to the people about weapons of mass destruction before invading Iraq?

—What’s this got to do with anything?

—Just answer the question.

—Yes. I do.

—Do you believe that was wrong?

—What do you mean? Of course that was wrong!

—Why?

— …

—Because lying is bad?

—Something like that.

—You see, I believe that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake but for completely different reasons. At the time, the people in power believed—some of them did—that a strong military presence in the Middle East was crucial to the preservation of our way of life. They believed that the very survival of democracy, freedom of speech, everything we hold dear, hinged on our military presence in the Middle East. Imagine for a second that you also believed that to be true. Let us make this easier, imagine that through some unexplained magical phenomenon, you actually knew it to be true. Would you have lied to the American people if it increased your chances of establishing that vital military presence?

—No. I wouldn’t have.

—And therein lies the fundamental difference between us. You would not sacrifice your principles for a greater good. I would not stop to think about it. I am … pragmatic, and you, Dr. Franklin, are an idealist.

—Is that such a bad thing?

—Not at all. What would people like me do without ideals to defend?

—I think you’re having a crisis of conscience because you’ve crossed one line too many and you’re trying to rationalize everything that brought you here. You did what you did because you thought it was right.

—I did what I did because I thought there was a small chance it might save people. I never thought for a second that it was right.

—So what’s next? I take it Mr. Lawson didn’t spill the beans about the great alien master plan.

—He did not. However, I still find it likely that his immunity to the alien gaseous agent was due to genetic traits he inherited from ancient alien visitors, but I can now say with a good measure of certainty that, if Homo sapiens were not the only species in his ancestry, he was completely unaware of it.

—For what it’s worth, I think you’re probably right. It would make sense for them to spare people they feel related to. What does Alyssa have to say?

—She has found nothing conclusive as of yet, but she is working around the clock. I must say, I have rarely seen anyone so enthusiastic, about anything. If she fails, it will certainly not be for lack of trying.

—She is dedicated. I’ll say that about the woman.

— …

—What is it?

—An alien robot materialized at the north end of Central Park.

—Here?

—I am afraid so. Can you turn on the television?

—There. It’s already releasing gas.

—How long before it reaches us?

—What do we do?

—Dr. Franklin, how long?

—At twenty-five miles per hour, I’d say … five minutes, maybe less.

—We need to get Themis to safety. We cannot risk the alien robot destroying her after we evacuate.

—I’ll call Vincent. He’s probably still in the hangar bay.

—Very well. I will direct everyone here to the helipad.

—Don’t! Eugene took the helicopter to Washington this morning. Get them to UN Headquarters. The gas shouldn’t reach above the twentieth floor.

Vincent? It’s Rose. We have an alien robot in New York, about two miles from here … Yes, Vincent. It’s already releasing gas so we don’t have much time. Grab whatever you can and get Themis away from here … I don’t know, somewhere safe. Anywhere but here. Yes, I know. I’m sending everyone there … Thank you, Vincent. Good luck to you too.

Intercom … Where’s that button? There. Attention. This is Dr. Rose Franklin. If anyone is in the building, you must evacuate immediately. The city is under attack and a deadly gas will reach this facility within a few minutes. Make your way to the main UN building and get to one of the top floors. This is not a drill. I repeat. You must evacuate this building and find shelter above the twentieth floor in the main building. Again, this is— —That is enough, Dr. Franklin. We must go, now.

—You’re still here! I thought you were seeing everyone out.

—I was. Now they are out. It would be ungentlemanly for me to leave without you, Dr. Franklin.

—You should go, I’ll catch up.

—What are you doing?

—I can’t leave my notes behind.

—The computer files are saved every night.

—I know. I write everything down in notepads.

—Why would you do that?

—So you don’t read everything I put in there.

—I hope I remember to be offended if we live through this. Why are you stopping?