Lord of Order by Brett Riley (the reading list book TXT) 📕

That you’ll walk over anybody who gets in our way. That you ain’t gonna balk when Rook’s in your sights.

I didn’t balk with Royster.

No. But Rook’s bigger than that. He’s more important and less personal.

When we march on Washington, we’ll kill Rook and his inner circle. Their families and friends. Their lieutenants. Their generals. The whole leadership. Even their pets. Ain’t that enough?

She sat back and pondered a moment. Then she shrugged. I reckon we’ll see.

Troy tapped his fingers on the desk. Stransky would never change. As long as she lived, she would poke and prod him. Well, he said, before we can worry about Washington, we gotta figure out how to keep this city from eatin itself when we’re gone.

Her long hair hung in her face. She peeked at him from behind its curtain. For starters, no second-class citizens.

Nobody’s gonna be persecuted for worshippin God their own way. Your people will get the same courtesy mine do, and Sarah’s.

We’re all one people now.

Exactly. Nobody’s knifin each other. Everybody’s eatin. Everybody’s workin.

She nodded at his guns. What about weapons?

We keep em in the armories until they’re needed.

But who decides when to distribute and how?

The council.

Stransky looked at him for a long time. He looked back at her, holding her gaze, neither of them blinking. Finally she nodded. I can live with that. Though I can imagine there’ll be times when folks ain’t got time to wait on a vote if what they need is a gun.

He got up and poured them glasses of ice water. She drank half of hers. He sat back down. I’d like to name you a deputy lord, just like Jack and Gordy. All of us accountable to the new council.

Stransky burst out laughing. I ain’t no deputy.

It’s just symbolic. Shows we’re together. Besides, I won’t even be here. It’s likely I’ll never come back.

For my people, it’ll be symbolic I’ve rolled over. That’s just touchin a match to a fuse.

Troy folded his hands and thought a while. He had not wanted to say what would come next. It tasted like dirt in his mouth. But New Orleans needed it.

All right, he said. Co-lord.

Stransky laughed again. Well, if this don’t beat all.

This way everybody will know you’ll never stop talkin in my blasted ear. No one person with too much power.

She shook her head, grinning. Never would have guessed this day would come in a million years.

Me neither.

All right. We got a bare-bones idea of what to do with New Orleans. Now all we gotta do is save the rest of the world.

Troy sipped his water. It soothed his raw throat. He leaned over and took her hand. She almost jerked away but did not.

I aim to take Jack, Ernie, Santonio, and LaShanda with me, he said. We’re already pickin proxies for our duties and the council. They’ll raise the crops and work the forges and keep the peace until we get back.

Who’s got your proxy?

Mordecai Jones.

And what about my folks?

We’ll divvy up duties. Water, security, sanitation, housin, a hundred other things. You’ll get equal representation on the council. As for you, I could use you on the road. I’ve studied the maps and picked a route, but your contacts would make us twice as likely to get there alive. Maybe even get back. Or you could keep your seat on the council and be co-lord with Mordecai. Your choice.

She got up and walked to the stained-glass window and leaned her forehead against it. Troy followed and stood beside her.

I ain’t never known nothin but New Orleans, she said. But I don’t let others fight my battles. I’ll come.

Will your proxy work with Mordecai and treat my people right?

He will, or I’ll cut his throat myself. She had never looked so serious, not even when torturing that guard in the swamp. Nobody ever had the balls to take out the Supreme Crusader, she said. Maybe we’re just throwin rocks at the moon, but if you’re gonna try, I’ve gotta be part of it.

He put a hand on her shoulder. I’m glad you’re ready for some We who are about to die moves after all. You and me, we’ve got a lot to make up for.

Think we can pull it off?

He looked at her for a moment. Then he shrugged. I don’t have the slightest idea.

She laughed. It’s crazy. Probably stupid. I love it.

This time Troy laughed with her. They stood in silence for a while, watching night take the river, the courtyard and statue, the street where Crusaders and Troublers alike whooped and ran like children playing games in the sunniest, most peaceful meadow God had ever grown.

56

When Stransky reached Jesus’s statue, the crews were lighting the streetlamps. Ex-Troublers and ex-Crusaders danced and sang songs sacred and bawdy. The evening was filled with the scents of roasting meats and vegetables, spices, wood smoke. Despite the scattered squabbles, the city was mostly at peace.

Jack Hobbes leaned against the statue, holding her horse’s reins.

She tried to look serious. What did you do to get busted all the way down to groom?

Hobbes handed her the reins. Reckon Gabe told you what he’s got in mind.

Stransky climbed into her saddle. Topple the Cult in its greatest fortress, with nothin but a half dozen guns to back his play? Yeah, he told me.

What do you think?

She laughed. I think he’s crazier than anybody I’ve ever known. I also think he’s right. Ain’t nobody safe while Rook and his kind run the world.

Figured out we’re likely to die?

She turned to the sky. Look at them stars. So far away, and they look so small, but every one bright enough to reach us.

Don’t know what that means.

It means I’d rather get my ass shot off out yonder than sit here scared half to death every time somethin outside that wall steps on a twig.

Hobbes glanced toward the Temple. Stransky imagined he felt relieved that Troy was back in the office. But everything had changed. The city’s geography,