Man-Kzin Wars XII by Larry Niven (books you have to read .TXT) 📕

Farouk turns to 13. “You can find your way back?”

“Yes, sir,” 13 responds, and steps away.

“13,” I call after him. “Meet me in the front field right after sundown.”

13 salutes and jogs off. My eyes return to Farouk.

“Come,” he insists, and heads toward the back walls of the compound.

I follow without speaking a word. We arrive at a small metal door just big enough to fit Farouk's large frame. He places his hands on a scanner and says his name. “Farouk Ebrahim.”

The door unlocks, and I realize that none of the doors back at the stadium had this measure of security. I speed up to catch up to him and hear the door slam behind us. We walk in silence toward a lush green hill.

The vibrant color pulls my eyes to the rest of the scenery. It's miles of open fields. Greens, yellows, and browns. This land looks healthy and directly contrasts the destruction, mess, and death of the city on the other side of the compound. Atom and I focused so much on the pyramid's obscure shape that we never thought to look behind us. To see the beauty around us, all we had to do was turn around.

When Farouk reaches the top of the hill, he sits. As I reach the crest, I notice a sharp drop, which Farouk has dangled his legs over. I sit and peer over the edge. Below us is a large metal door dug into the hill. The metal is different from that of the one we had previously walked through. It looks denser.

“What is this?” My curiosity breaks my silence.

“It leads to the dungeon underneath the compound,” he answers. His gaze is focused beyond what's beneath us.

“The dungeon I was kept in?” This has to be half a mile from the compound. I was held in one of the first few cells and remember the darkness the dungeon disappeared into, but was it this long?

“Yes,” Farouk responds with disinterest. “It was created as a backup bunker.”

The flashback to the dungeon reminds me of the young girl Anna who I met down there. Her life is long gone. She couldn't have been much younger than KJ. Their stories much the same. I wonder if her family has survived.

“When can I see Pocket?” I have broken my promise to too many people. I will not break my promise to keep her alive.

“You can go later tonight. She's with Paz in the last scientist's quarter room before the field of plants.” He still won't look at me.

I turn toward the horizon to see what holds his stare with such strength, and I'm drawn into an enormous sense of calm. Just before the fall of the horizon, a massive flow of water rushes with the grace of the wind.

“It's the Nile River.” He smiles, knowing that I have finally looked. “Just listen.”

The sound draws me in like the music Atom and I heard all those days ago in the city. The rhythm of the ebbs and flows rock my mind into a trance, and the heat of the sun hitting the back of my head holds me still. Thoughts drift away from my consciousness, and time slows.

“I have to go back to Nairobi.” Farouk's words startle me back to reality. I don't know how long I was in this blissful trance, but the sun is much lower in the sky and will disappear soon.

“What? Why?” I just now register what Farouk said.

“We left the stadium and everything around it in such a mess. I need to go back to make sure the bunker is still in working order.” He turns to face me.

“What about Lucie? I thought she was in charge there?” My voice weakens.

He chuckles. “I saw what you did to her. She's probably so angry that she's turned the whole place to shambles looking for you. It's her that I'm trying to protect the bunker from.”

I smile. “So, what am I supposed to do?”

“You lead.” He places his large hand on my shoulder. “Paz will tell you who you need to talk to, but you will be calling the shots.”

“What?” I'm shocked.

“It's up to you to stop the Ragnarok.”

“Why? I can't do that.” I'm so confused. I figured I would be doing whatever he told me.

“You have to, 80.” He grabs my other shoulder with his left hand and looks me in the eyes. “You are battle-tested. You know this compound. You know how to deal with outsiders. And look at the way those other Integers idolize you. You're a natural leader.”

I don't know what to say. He believes in me even though I don't believe in myself. I have always admired and respected him. If Paz is my mother figure, he is without a doubt my father. They are my family.

“What about Paz?” I ask. “Does she know you're leaving?”

His eyes well up. “Not yet. But she will understand. Just like I need you to understand. This is bigger than she and I.”

“Will I see you again?” I already know the answer, but ask anyway.

“If you stop the Ragnarok, you will.” He manages a smile, but his eyes tell me differently.

“Thank you for letting me live.” If it weren't for him, I would have been dead weeks ago.

“It has been a great pleasure to have had you in my life, kid.” He pulls me in for a big hug as he fights to keep his tears in his eyes.

I lost that fight moments ago. I hug him back, comforted by the protection of his embrace.

He pulls away and looks back toward the Nile so that I won't see the tears race down his cheeks. “Do you mind walking to the front of the compound to reenter? I'd like to stay out here a little bit longer before I go see Paz.”

“Of course.” I stand and place my hand on his shoulder before I walk away. After a few hundred feet, I look back to see his silhouette sitting atop the hill as the