Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(59)

—I do not understand.

—No. You don’t meet someone only to tell them that things are utterly hopeless.

—Why not?

—I don’t know, you just don’t! It’s…rude.

—It was not our intent to offend you. Perhaps you are still unaccustomed to our ways.

—Sure. I may be a little off when it comes to Ekt customs, but there has to be more. There’s something you’re not telling me because…

—There is nothing more I can say as a representative of the empress.

—Ha! There we go. How about not as a representative of the empress?

—Speaking for myself, I would say that your only hope to leave Esat Ekt is to take command of a vehicle yourself.

—We’re well aware of that part.

—A giant like the one that brought you here would be your best choice, perhaps the very one that brought you here. But, as you know, the giants are controlled by the empress. Even if you managed to find a pilot capable of taking you home and found your way aboard, the giant would not respond to your commands. One would have to allow you to leave before you could do so.

—Again, not helpful. How would we go about making sure someone does allow it?

—The empress and her army are bound by law to obey the Council. To go against their will is a crime. As I said, the empress is deeply saddened by this situation, and she wishes nothing more than to help you, you and everyone on Esat Ekt. If she were allowed to do so, if she were in charge, she would gladly give each and every one of her subjects, including those with mixed ancestry, the same rights people enjoyed before the Council came to exist. You could come and go as you please. She would resume relations with other worlds, restore the empire to its former glory. But the Council is in charge, not her. Our institutions are strong. They cannot be destroyed with a few bombs. They will survive this period of civic unrest. That said, if the empress were the one to bring this conflict to an end, if she were able to bring down the Hand of Yetskots to— —I’m sorry, the hand of what?

—The Hand of Yetskots. That is what they call themselves. They have claimed responsibility for acts of violence in all the districts. If the empress were able to stop them, it would go a long way to help her effect the changes she believes her planet needs. As I said, the empress would do anything to help her people.

—What’s any of that got to do with us?

—Several regions have asked the empress for help. They feel that this insurgency must be stopped now before it grows out of control.

—What was your answer? I mean the empress. What did she say?

—The empress will not set herself a task she cannot accomplish. She does not wish to fight people she cannot see, to be bogged down with this situation long enough to lose the confidence of her people. If and when the empress gets involved, her actions must be swift and decisive.

—I’m not sure what I can do to help. I don’t know anyone in this Hand of Yetskots.

—Your daughter does. A man by the name of Etat Ityets. She is also well acquainted with some of his associates. I would like you to tell me what their names are and where we can find them.

—My daughter? She knows people from the shelter she works at. These people, they’re not…They organize protests, they don’t blow up things. They have nothing to do with that Hand of yours.

—I would like you to get me the name and location of everyone involved in organizing protests in Etyakt. Do that, and you will have the gratitude of the empress.

—Her gratitude?

—That in and of itself should be enough.

—Well, it would certainly mean a lot.

—It is also entirely possible that someone will inadvertently unlock a certain giant and allow it to leave this planet unscathed.

—How can I be sure of that?

—I do not wish to appear insensitive, but I do not believe certainty is a luxury you can afford at the moment.

—Fair enough. Quick question, though. What will you do with these people after I give you their names?

—When the time comes, they will be arrested and executed.

—You want to kill them?! But they haven’t done anything!

—Everyone has done something. What matters is that the empress will be able to restore peace and tranquility on her world.

—…

—You may leave, now, Vincent Couture.





FILE NO. 2193


INTERVIEW BETWEEN MAJOR KATHERINE LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN MAIN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (GRU), AND VINCENT COUTURE

Location: GRU building, Saint Petersburg, Russia —Time to go, Vincent!

—Go where?

—We’re sending you out.

—I’m not conquering the world for you, Katherine. I told you that already. I’ll defend you, but I won’t bring another government to its knees.

—No need. The Chinese are doing that part for you. They’re walking a million men—for real, a million!—into Korea, and they asked for our help. You’ll be an escort.

—North Korea?

—Oh. They just said Korea. Does it matter? I can check if you want.

—The US won’t let you—

—You mean they won’t let China.

—They won’t let you take South Korea. You know that.

—Me? I don’t know anything. I suppose we’ll find out sooner or later. Probably later. It’ll take a while. Like, forever. When they said they were walking a million men, I thought it was just military talk. But nope. They’re on foot. One million of them. Walking. You can see them on satellite, it’s impressive, like— —I’m not doing this.