Deathwatch (The Faded Earth Book 1)(49)

“Why not just kill me, then?” Fisher said. “You’re Enforcement. You’re not even wearing your armor.”

Eshton blew out a breath. “You took Beck in when she needed someone. A girl you barely knew. I respect that. No one was there for me when my parents died. No one but the Watch. So I’m not going to bullshit you. If the Warden doesn’t think I’ve convinced you to stop this business, you’re going to die. She’ll probably do it herself. I have this one chance to save you from yourself.”

Fisher laughed bitterly. “You fucking people. That’s how it always is with you. It’s never your fault for enforcing the oppression you call laws. You suit up like good little drones and pretend it’s all for the greater good, then stomp out anyone who disagrees.”

The words did not cut Eshton. They were nothing he hadn’t heard before. Felt before. But they told him that the odds this man would back down, no matter what he said, were no better than even. “You’re not wrong.”

Fisher’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? Now are you going to tell me you secretly feel the same way? That we’re brothers?”

“No,” Eshton said. “You’re angry because the system is imperfect. I know it is. I’ve had those same thoughts. The ironic part is I don’t know anyone in the Watch who hasn’t. We probably have a higher percentage of skeptics than the citizenry by a lot.”

Fisher waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever, man.”

“Really,” Eshton said. “The difference between you and me? I’ve seen the consequences when those ideas get out of control. The chaos they cause. The lives they take. I’ve seen children die because people wanted revolution and didn’t much care who was caught in the middle. So you’ll forgive me if I’m not impressed with your rhetorical bullshit while you sit here nice and cozy. I’m not impressed. You think the system is imperfect. So what? I do too. But I’ve been covered head to toe in blood more than once, which is all the proof I need that the alternatives are worse.”

Fisher’s face became thunderclouds. It was to be expected; no one liked to be called on their big talk and lack of action. Of the many human creations that survived the Collapse, politics was the one he most wished hadn’t. As it had always been, there were people who were only happy when they could rail against a system—even if they were right to do so—while rigidly ignoring facts, context, and subtle distinctions.

“Say I agree,” Fisher choked out between gritted teeth. “Then what? You want my exit from the Rez? You want to know who my contacts are so you can go kill them?”

“Yes to the first, no to the second,” Eshton replied serenely. “I know you’re using the undercity to leave. I’m curious how you even know about it since it’s supposed to be a secret only known to the Watch, but we’ll leave that for now. I want to know which of the underground tunnels you’re using to get outside the wall. We already know you’re meeting with a group. That’s why I’m here. One of our scouts was observing them and got you on video. If we wanted them dead, they would be.”

Fisher frowned, uncertain. “So that’s it? You’re really just here to warn me?”

“Again, no,” Eshton said. “I definitely want to know who they are. More importantly, I need to know how to approach them. It’s crucial I speak with these people as soon as possible. Within hours.”

Fisher shook his head. “You’re gonna have to kill me. I’m not betraying friends. Not for you or anyone else.”

Eshton smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I just told you we could kill them any time if that was what we wanted. It’s just the opposite. We need them for a...special project.”

“Need to be a lot more specific than that,” Fisher said. “What does the mighty Deathwatch want with a handful of exiles?”

Eshton carefully weighed his next words. “I can’t give you details. What I can say is that we need a backup location, a safe place no one would ever think to look, on the off chance we need to hide the most important man in the world.”

This caught Fisher’s attention. “Keep talking.”

*

“This is a terrible idea,” Eshton said as he and Fisher stepped from the tunnel and into the badlands.

The older man pulled a dust cloth over his face. Eshton pulled his into place before stepping outside, the fabric automatically cinching down to filter the particles from the air. “You want to meet with them and not die in the first ten seconds, or not have to kill them, then I have to be with you. I’ve explained this.”

It was not a form of social contract Eshton understood well. He saw it in others, this need to vouch for another person, but his time in the Deathwatch took those blurry lines and painted them sharp. For him, people fell into one of two categories: those with whom trust was implicit, who were almost always members of the Watch, and those who could not be trusted until it was earned. Which was pretty much every other person on the planet.

Fisher led the way, keeping a surprisingly fast pace. “You can’t tell me details, fine. Fact is, you could’ve killed me. Should have, at least according to your rules. And I’d be an idiot not to believe you might be telling me the truth about this person you want to keep safe.”

Eshton shook his head. “Honestly, I’m still half sure you’re leading me out here to kill me where no one can see you do it.” Not that either of them was under any illusions about the success of such a venture. Even without a suit, Eshton had eight years of daily combat practice and disturbingly frequent instances of the real thing.