Graduation Day (The Testing, #3)(58)

I hate that he makes sense. If he were anyone else . . . “You’re not a part of this,” I say.

“Of course I am. They took my brother. And even if they hadn’t, I’d still be part of this.” His normally pale face is flushed with passion. “I know I gave you reason to doubt me. The Testing showed me things about myself. Things I’m capable of doing. But it’s because of what I learned that I know I can handle this job.”

I wait for Tomas, Raffe, or Stacia to say something, but they don’t. Stacia’s flat stare says it all. I am the leader. I decide. I feel the weight of this decision as it settles on my shoulders. Unless I ask for their opinions, they will leave it up to me. Me. The youngest of all of us. Yet, one thing I have learned since coming to Tosu City is that age does not guarantee better decisions or stronger leadership. The ability to put aside personal agendas and decide what is best for the whole does. That is what I now have to do.

Do I trust Will?

No.

Do I believe he can accomplish what he has volunteered to handle?

Yes. As long as he chooses to carry through with the plan. However, if he decides to run to the nearest University official in order to better his position after he graduates from the University, we will all pay the price.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and open them. “Tomas and I built the timers this morning.” I get up and cross to where the timers and explosives sit. After picking up one of the timers and a canister, I walk over to Will. “You’ll need to attach them when you get to the sites. One needs to be set to detonate at seven. The other should be placed a mile away and explode a half-hour later. That should convince the Safety officials to focus their search on that side of the city.” Handing him the timer, I add, “We also have a third explosive that doesn’t have a timer—”

“You can’t possibly want him to do this. Think of everything he’s done to us.”

“I know what he’s done, Tomas. But I also remember what I’ve done too,” I say. “What we’ve both done. Dr. Barnes and The Testing are the reasons Will was put in a position to commit those acts. Will’s here. He’s capable. He deserves a chance to prove that he isn’t the person Dr. Barnes’s tests turned him into.”

All of us deserve that chance.

“I’ll show Will how to arm the timers.” Deliberately, I turn my back on Tomas, signaling the discussion is closed. I can feel his anger and hurt. But if I am to be our leader, I cannot allow my feelings for Tomas to get in the way. So I demonstrate the timer to Will and explain how it is to be used with the canister.

Will explains the process back to me, asks several questions, and then checks the watch he wears on his wrist. “It’s getting late, and I have a lot of ground to travel. I need to get going. If these things are as loud as I think they’ll be, you’ll hear whether or not I’m successful.” As Will carefully packs the canisters in his bag, I walk to our stash of supplies and select a long, sharp knife and a loaded handgun.

“Here,” I say.

[page]I can feel Tomas’s eyes on me as I hand Will the weapons. Will’s hand closes over the butt of the gun and he tucks it in his jacket pocket. The ammunition goes into the side pocket of his bag, along with the knife and its smooth, deadly blade. I take Stacia’s radio from her and pass it to Will. His hand closes over mine and stays there.

“Thank you.” His expression is grim. Determined. “I won’t fail you this time. I promise.”

“Be safe,” I say as he takes the pulse radio out of my hand. “We’re counting on you.”

“I know.” Will turns away from me and walks to Raffe to ask his opinion about strategic locations to place the canisters.

Then, armed with Raffe’s instructions and the weapons I have given him, he walks to the doorway, turns, and smiles. In that smile I see the boy who befriended me during the first test. That’s the boy I am counting on.

“I’ll let you know when I’m in position,” he says. With a wink, he turns and heads out the door.

“How’s that feel?” Tomas asks behind me.

When I look over, I see Stacia flexing her arm and nodding. “Better. I would never have thought of putting some crushed Valerian directly on the wound.”

“That’s why you doctor types need biological engineers to help you come up with the new drugs.” Tomas smiles.

She smiles back. “Well, I hope Enzo’s getting some of this right now.” She looks at me. “I really did think I was doing the right thing by testing him. I never thought he’d break into your room and get hurt. Otherwise, I would have warned you first.”

Her regret is for causing me trouble. Not for the injury to Enzo but for choosing a path without checking with me first. She believed I was taking too long to make a decision and did what she thought was necessary for us to succeed. I will have to remember that as we move forward. To keep Stacia from making decisions on her own, especially ones I do not agree with, I will have to make choices with more speed. If we come through this, I doubt I will ever be able to call Stacia my friend again. But just because I personally cannot feel comfortable with her doesn’t mean she is incapable of doing what I need her to accomplish. If I have to be a stronger leader to make her do it, then that’s what I will do.

Straightening my shoulders, I say, “We have two hours until Will sets off the first explosion. We need to be ready. We need to decide which team—”