Chapter 59
Xander: “Amongst the rock one cannot stop or think”
Xander was doing push ups when Kristana arrived. Daniels was watching with a disgruntled look. It was clear the doctor thought he was about to lose an argument.
“What do you think you're doing?” the Governor demanded.
Xander did a few more push ups before stopping. “I could state the obvious and say I am doing push ups,” he said. “But hopefully you've spotted that. Since you just got here, I'll be more forthcoming and say I'm proving a point.” He stood up and pointed to his chest.
His chest was bare, so it was easy to see that the scabs had fallen off. The skin near the site of his injury was still reddened, but the wound had closed. More to the point, his vigorous exercise involving pectoral muscles had not torn it open again.
“Yes, I'll concede that your wound is closed,” said Daniels. “I would hesitate to say that constitutes a full recovery, but it's clear you can do some physical things without reopening it and risking a relapse.”
“In other words,” said Xander, “you have to let me go try to help Lester now.” He turned to Kristana. “Call off your dogs. I can pee by myself now, and I've got to rescue my apprentice, if he's still alive, that is.”
“Oh, he's alive all right,” said the Governor. But she didn't look happy about it.
Xander threw his tunic back on. “Needless to say, I am pleased to be informed of this,” he said. “But how can you be so sure?” And why aren't you happy about it?
“We have spies close to the Honcho,” She nodded to Daniels. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “I see you're reluctantly agreeing that he's fit to travel. In that case, we won't keep you from your other patients.”
Daniels took the hint and left. “I'm sure you'll be back and bleeding in no time,” he grumbled, before the door closed behind him.
Xander waited a few moments after it was shut. “There's something you're not telling me,” he guessed. “Or that you don't want everyone else to know. What is it?”
“You remember those Ancient war machines he found under Abilene?” she asked.
“Yes. As I recall, we worked out that his only problem was coming up with fuel for them. It's been a long time since he or anyone else has found a storage tank that wasn't drained dry after the Fall. Has he found one?”
“No. But it's become clear his people developed a plan for making some, using his remaining oil wells for raw material. The only way he could do that is to re-engineer a refinery, and his fastest route to get there is to use swizzles to pump it out and everflames to supply the heat.”
“Wouldn't that be difficult for him? I thought the Church banned them as 'demonic'. Besides, I don't see what his logistics problems have to do with my rescuing Lester.”
“They're connected,” she told him. “The word is, he was going to trade your apprentice to the Church for some of their confiscated artifacts. He'd get his fuel and they'd get to hold a public execution.”
“All the more reason why I have to get him out of there.” he glanced around the room. “Where are you keeping my staff these days? Is it still up on the roof?”
“The situation has changed,” she told him. “He might not be handing Lester over right away. In fact, he might try to hang onto him permanently.”
He sat down on the cot. “Are you ready to tell me yet?” he asked. “It's obvious you're building up to something I won't like.”
She took a breath, “Lester's learned how to make swizzles. That bought him some time. If he can manage to make everflames too, the Honcho won't have to trade him for them.”
“Good for him!” Then he thought some more. “And bad for us. The Honcho might still get rid of him, eventually, but in the meantime he'll get what he needs to roll out his armored division.” He stood. “I need to get going.”
“It will be very bad if the Honcho gets the fuel he needs.”
He just looked at her. “What are you saying?”
“Don't leave anything behind the Honcho can use against us,” she said. “If you can't rescue him, you'll have to eliminate him.”
He stared. “You can't be serious,” he said, eventually. “He's the best apprentice I've found in years! I've never had one who figured out how to make swizzles all by himself.”
Her eyes were sad but determined. “All the more reason why we can't let the Honcho keep him. The more valuable he is to them, the more dangerous he is to us.”
“No. I won't do that. There has to be a better way.”
“Then find one. Get out of their clutches, one way or another, Before they get what they need Because if you can't end this,” she said, “I have operative in Dallas who will.”
Pathspace Page 59