Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(64)

[Vincent, are you there?]

Yes, Katherine. We just got out of the controls. We were about to eat.

[Oops. You need to get back in. Lunch will have to wait.]

What? Why?

[There is a regiment of Ch’?nma-hos tanks lining up across the bridge in Sinuiju. The Chinese want you to get to the river now, make sure they’re happy to see you.]

What if they’re not?

[I think they will be. Now go. Chop. Chop.]

—I’m hungry. I don’t want to die when I’m hungry.

—We’re not going to die, Alex. We’re going to single-handedly start a global thermonuclear war, and we’ll be the only two idiots to survive. We’ll have plenty of time to eat our sandwich then. Get your arms in, I’ll do the rest. Front is closed. Did you put on weight?

—More muscle.

—Of course. Put your gloves on, Arnold. My turn now. Of all the places we could cross into Korea from, I can’t believe they chose this one. I love the sense of irony.

—I don’t understand.

—Do you know what the bridge between Dandong and Sinuiju is called?

—Something Chinese?

—It’s the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.

—Hey, what are friends for?

—I’m all strapped in. Are you ready to get shot at?

—Sure.

—Katherine, our computer tells us we’re 6,420 meters from the river at 116 degrees. Can you confirm? I don’t want to overshoot the river if we’re not welcome.

[Vincent, the nerds here are nodding.]

All right. That should do it, give or take a step. Ready, Alex?

—If you say so.

—Friendship Bridge, here we come…

—Oh my God!

[What? Oh my God what?]

—Relax, Katherine, it’s the bridge. It’s full of lights. It lights up the water underneath. It’s really pretty.

[Damn, you guys. You almost gave me a heart attack. What about the tanks?]

We can’t see anything with the city lights. It’s dark on the Korean side. They can see us, though.

[Are they firing?]

Do you think we’d mention the bridge being pretty but forget about the North Korean Army firing at us? I think we’re good. Either that, or they’re— —Oh my God!

[What? Something pretty again?]

—You could call it that. There’s a giant robot full of bright green light on the Korean side of the river.

[Lapetus is there? In North Korea?]

I’m afraid so. Should we leave?

[Stand by.]

Shit, it’s walking towards us.

—What do they want?

—I don’t know. I think it just waved at us.

<Hi, Dad!>

Fuck.

—Is that—?

—Yeah. It is.





FILE NO. 2196


MISSION LOG—WARRANT OFFICER EVA REYES AND LT. BARBARA BALL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, MECHA DIVISION

Location: Aboard Lapetus. Seoul, South Korea —Can I call you Eva?

—As opposed to what?

—You’re a warrant officer in the Marine Corps. I can call you ma’am. I can call you chief if you like.

—Eva’s fine.

—Good. I’m Barbara.

—Do they often switch pilots on you at the last minute?

—Nope. Never happened before.

—First time for everything, I guess.

—Second time, actually. Both today. I usually ride with Captain Hough. To be honest, he’s much better than I am with the legs. I get the arms. Then they tell me I’ll ride with Benson, and now you. I don’t know what’s wrong with them today.

—I know why Captain Hough isn’t here. He has a broken arm.

—How do you know?

—I broke it.

—What?

—He touched me.

—Bodie grabbed you?

—He put his arm around my shoulder. I asked him to remove it. He didn’t.

—Haha! I’m sorry, that’s not funny at all. I can’t believe you broke Bodie’s arm! He must be so pissed. He’s been dying for a combat mission.

—He’s a dick.

—Eva, I think you and I are gonna get along fine. Do you know why they removed Benson?

—I think they want me to prove myself?

—Why? How? We’re just here to scare the Chinese away. They won’t cross into Korea with us standing there.

—They might. Themis is with them.

—Shit.

—Shit is right. My father’s inside.

—…

—You can say it. The traitor, right?

—No. I’m sure he has his reasons…Do they expect us to fight?

—Either that, or they think my dad’ll back away.

—That’s fucked up.

—You can say that again.

—Are you…OK with this?

—It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice.

—I’m sorry. I mean that. I’m truly sorry. This is just sick.

[Lapetus, this is Central, change of plan.]

Roger, Central. Are you gonna tell us what the new plan is?

[Themis is at the Yalu River, alone.]

Where are the Chinese?

[About eight hours away. Your job is to get Themis to leave before they get there.]