by I. T. Lucas
Except, her talent didn’t make her any smarter, and both Simmons and Roberts had IQs much higher than hers.
Done with yet another box, Eleanor moved it to the stack of those she’d already scanned and brought one more to the desk. The scanner could take only fifty pages at the time, and it wasn’t fast, which left her with a lot of time to read things that caught her interest.
Luckily for her, Simmons’s handwriting had been neat, and she didn’t need to struggle too hard to understand it. The contents, though, were a different matter. She had a feeling that he was writing some of the stuff in code because it didn’t make sense to her.
No matter. She could decipher it on her own time.
When she reached the bottom of the box and moved it to the scanner’s other side, Eleanor noticed that it was a little heavier than the others. Giving it a little shake, she heard something move and put it down. Reaching inside, she pulled at the cardboard floor and lifted it out. The thing had a double bottom, and sandwiched between the two pieces of cardboard was a simple student notebook.
She’d expected to find Simmons’s most secret notes contained inside a fancy leather-bound journal, not a thin notebook with fraying edges. But since the thing weighed very little, it had been clever of the director to use it instead of a heavy journal. If she hadn’t removed all the papers from box after box to scan them, she would have never noticed that this one was just slightly heavier than the others.
Even though she was dying of curiosity to peek inside it, Eleanor put the notebook in her purse and kept on scanning. Later, when she was certain that Bella was asleep, she would lock the office door, get comfortable in Simmons’s chair, and learn his most treasured secrets.
Or so she hoped.
She wouldn’t be surprised if what he had in there were the addresses of his mistresses and his favorite hookers. If she found nude photos of him, she was going to puke.
37
Kalugal
Jacki opened the sliding door to the backyard and stepped out. “Jin and Mey are on their way. Are you going to stay out here?”
Kalugal put his book down and patted the spot next to him on the outdoor sofa. “Come sit with me.”
Smiling, she did as he asked and put her head on his shoulder. “It’s so nice out here. The trees make all the difference. Out on the mountainside, it was so hot because there was no shade, but here it’s cool and comfortable.” She looked up at the lush canopy above them. “The village is steeped in greenery to camouflage it. How is Kian hiding the construction work over there, though? Someone might see it from the air.”
“I need to ask him about that. He is so concerned with security, and yet he uses a Chinese contractor. I guess there is no way to keep the village as completely hidden as he wishes to.”
She looked up at him. “What do you have against the Chinese?”
Kalugal snorted. “Where do I start. They are slowly but surely becoming a superpower, and once they supersede the United States, they will take over the world. What boggles the mind is that no one is paying attention to what they are doing. And if anyone is, they are not doing anything about it.”
“Except for having a billion and a half people and growing, how do they plan to do that?”
“Any way they can. The thing is, they don’t answer to anyone, morality and scruples don’t concern them, and they can do as they please with that huge population of theirs.”
Jacki smiled. “You are just worried that they are going to beat you to it.”
“Absolutely. Their social credit program is pure genius.”
“Yeah, I remember you telling me about it. What’s going on with that?”
“It’s being implemented in more and more places across China, and they are selling it to other totalitarian regimes. They don’t have a free press to hound them about it, and people are afraid to step up and say anything negative about their government. Especially now that almost everything is monitored. It’s like living under a magnifying glass.”
Jacki sighed. “We are lucky to be living in a democracy.”
“It’s far from perfect and getting worse instead of better. Free speech has become a joke in this country, and if everyone is forced to have the same opinion, how different is it from China? That’s what keeps me awake at night. The ground is fertile for China’s credit system to spread over here.”
“Isn’t that a little hypocritical of you? After all, you plan to do the same thing.”
Kalugal frowned. Apparently, he hadn’t done a good job explaining his plan to Jacki. "Not at all. Under my rule, people will be free to express their opinions. I want to control the politicians and cut out the evildoers’ resources. I’m not going to limit people’s liberties. I’m going to free the oppressed.”
“It all sounds very noble, but I still think it’s never good for one person to hold so much power. It’s corruptive and corrosive. And even if you do the best you can, it won’t be enough. Many minds are always better than one.”
“What’s the alternative?”
Jacki looked away. “Annani has managed to create a good system. I know that what works for a small community of people cannot work on a global scale, but she could help you figure something out. She’s as old as human civilization itself, and she’s seen practically everything. Having her and Kian and Sari on your team would be a game-changer. You could form a coalition.”
Kalugal chuckled. “From what I’ve seen so far, my cousin is not doing a great job of listening to his own council’s advice. He’s making decisions without asking for anyone’s input. Do you think he would do a better job of running the world than me?”
“No way. But Kian is held accountable to the council and to his mother. If he messes up and goes too far out of line, someone can intervene and stop him. Your plan doesn’t include a built-in safety mechanism, and that’s why it’s dangerous. I think it was very wise of Annani to split the clan and have Sari and Kian run its two arms independently, or semi-independently. That way, neither of them holds too much power.”
Kalugal smoothed his hand over his short beard. “Frankly, I would have loved Annani’s advice, but I can’t tell her my plan because she’ll try to stop me.” He cast Jacki a stern look. “You promised to keep my secrets. I hope that promise is still good.”
“Of course.” She sounded offended. “I will never betray your trust. I’m doing precisely what you asked me to do. I’m your sounding board.”
“Forgive me.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “For a moment there, I wasn’t sure. You seem so convinced that I can’t do it, or that I shouldn’t.”
“I might be just a simple woman, but I know that you’re overestimating your abilities. I’m trying to get you to consider a different path. Your heart is in the right place, but as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
38
Edna
“How about I make us lunch?” Rufsur offered.
Edna raised a brow. “You can cook?”
“Not well. Atzil cooks for everyone back home, so I don’t get many opportunities to develop my culinary skills. But I can grill, and I know how to put a frozen pizza in the oven.”
“Can you make a sandwich?”
He smiled. “I can do that as well. What’s your pleasure?”
Knowing Rufsur, he expected her to say that it was him. Regrettably, she was going to disappoint him. “I don’t have any steaks or hamburgers in the freezer, or frozen pizzas, so the options are limited.”
“Sandwiches it is.” Rufsur opened the fridge and started pulling things out. “You just take a seat at the counter, and I’ll do everything.”
This was unexpected and surprisingly pleasant. Outside of restaurants, Edna never had anyone prepare food for her. And when the cook was so yummy to look at, she really didn’t care if what he made was edible.
Unfortunately, her view of him was blocked by the open refrigerator door. Only part of his butt was sticking out, but it
was still very nice to look at.
“I wish you had beer,” he muttered.
“I’ll make sure to stock up for your next visit.”
Pulling back, he closed the fridge door and glanced at her. “So I’m welcome back?”
“How can I resist a man who makes me lunch?”
“And I thought that my lovemaking prowess was my ticket back. If I had known, I would have made you sandwiches instead.”
Edna laughed. “Right. Because you are only interested in feeding me.”
“I also like talking to you.”
“So it’s my brain that you lust after?”
“I love your sharp mind. But I also love your ass, and don’t get me started on those long legs of yours, especially when they are wrapped around my thighs and spur me on. And let’s not forget your breasts.” He licked his lips. “Spectacular. You are a hellcat in bed, my delight. Bottom line. I love the whole package.”
“There must be something you don’t like.”
He shrugged. “I don’t like the sadness in your eyes. I want to make you happy.”
That was a nice thing to say, and the truth was that he did make her happy. But at the same time, he complicated her life, which made her anxious, so the net effect was neutral.
Well, that wasn’t true.
Edna couldn’t remember when she’d last felt so alive. Rufsur was like a breath of fresh air in her stale life. Or rather like a tornado, exhilarating and destructive at the same time.
But she was sure there were more things that he didn’t like about her. Many viewed her ability to probe their souls as a threat, and she wasn’t the most fun person to be around. Edna didn’t chitchat, mainly because she had nothing to talk about with most people. She rarely cooked, so she had no recipes to share. Fashion didn’t interest her, and she was clueless about the latest trends. The books she read were on topics most people rolled their eyes at, and the same went for what she watched on the tube.
She was too serious, too straightforward, and unapologetic about her views, and she made people nervous.
“What else?” she asked. “If you could change anything about me, what would it be?”
Rufsur shook his head. “I’m not falling into that trap. How about you? What would you like to change about me?”
She thought about it for a moment. “Nothing. Well, except for your affiliation with Kalugal. Is there any chance you would consider leaving him?”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Why? Is it because you love what you do? Or is it out of loyalty to him?”
Rufsur put the sandwiches he’d made on two plates and sat next to her. “Both, but neither is the main reason for why I can’t leave him.”
“What is the main reason?”
He lifted his sandwich off the plate. “You are a smart woman. Try to figure it out.”
Another challenge. Rufsur had discovered her weakness and was exploiting it. Except, exploiting wasn’t the right term. She enjoyed it too much to call it that. Perhaps feeding her brain was more appropriate?
“Challenge accepted.” She took a bite out of the sandwich.
Perhaps Rufsur had sworn an oath to Kalugal? Or perhaps he’d taken a vow? He owed Kalugal his freedom, so his loyalty was fueled by gratitude. It wasn’t about defending his community against enemies because Kalugal had none. And it wasn’t about some lofty mutual goal because, as far as she knew, they didn't have that either. Kalugal was interested in making money and collecting artifacts.
Could it be about money?
Maybe Rufsur hoped to get rich with Kalugal’s help?
She put her sandwich down. “Did you vow to never leave Kalugal’s side?”
He shook his head.
“Do you feel indebted to him?”
“Yes. But that’s not it.”
“Is it about the money? Do you hope to get rich?”
“I’m being paid well, and Kalugal helps me to invest my money wisely, but that’s not it either.”
Edna threw her hands in the air. “I give up. Just tell me.”
He chuckled. “Where’s the fun in that? I’ll give you a clue, though. Think who Kalugal’s father and grandfather are.”
“One was the second most powerful god, and the other is the most powerful immortal, which makes Kalugal powerful too. Are you afraid that if you leave him, he will retaliate, and that the clan won’t be able to protect you?”
That would be a good reason to stay with his boss.
“If I want to leave, Kalugal will not stop me. Come on, Edna, think. What else do his father and grandfather have in common?”
“Mortdh was crazy, and Navuh is a despot. Come to think of it, Mortdh was a despot too. He wanted to rule the other gods, and when he couldn’t do it, he annihilated them. Navuh is not as crazy as Mortdh, but he is not sane either.” Edna lifted a brow. “Are you afraid that Kalugal will go crazy as well?”
“Bingo.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Do you think that your company is the only thing keeping him sane? Even if that was true before, it no longer is. He has a mate now, and Jacki provides him with the love and stability he needs.”
“That’s true. But if he starts to show signs of insanity, would she be able to stop him?”
“Would you?”
“At the very least, I have a better chance of stopping Kalugal than Jacki has. She’s a weak immortal, and she is his mate. She will stand by his side no matter what.”
That was indeed a compelling argument.
If Rufsur had taken upon himself the responsibility of monitoring Kalugal for signs of insanity and stopping him from doing crazy things, then there was no way he could leave. Not unless he could transfer the duty to another capable immortal.
39
Rufsur
Edna chuckled sadly. “It didn’t occur to me to factor Kalugal’s insanity genes into the federation formula. Now, I’m doubly sure that it’s a bad idea, and it makes our situation unsolvable. You obviously can’t leave him, and I don’t want to invite a ticking bomb into my community.”
Rufsur put his sandwich down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I think that the opposite is true. By myself, my chances of stopping Kalugal from doing something crazy are not good. I can wrestle him down physically, but I have no defense against his compulsion. I was even toying with the idea of asking William to make me those specialized earpieces.”
“That’s a good idea. Why didn’t you?”
He put his hand on her thigh. “I’ve never told anyone the things I’m telling you. How would I have explained to William what I needed them for?”
Edna’s eyes softened. “Thank you for trusting me with your secret. It’s safe with me.”
He believed her. “Anyway, if I can get a pair of those earpieces, I would carry them in my pocket in case I needed to protect myself from Kalugal. But if he lived here in the village, I wouldn’t need to because Annani could stop him.”
Edna lifted a brow. “How?”
Was she playing dumb? After he’d shared his fears with her, that was disappointing.
“Annani proved that she can compel Kalugal, which was a big surprise since even his father couldn’t do that. And what’s more, since compulsion is delivered through sound waves, she doesn’t even need to be here. A phone call transmitted through the village’s loudspeaker system would do.”
On their previous visit, Rufsur had noticed loudspeakers around the village square, which made sense for parties and other gatherings. But since then, more had been added along the walkways, and he had a feeling that it was the result of the goddess’s compulsion test at Richard’s ceremony.
For a long moment, Edna just stared at him. “I’m trying to find a fault in your logic, but I can’t. Even if you just made the whole thing up to convince me that the clan forming a federation with Kalugal is a good idea, you are right.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “What bothers me about it, though, is that it smells like a betrayal. Ar
e you really willing to enlist the clan’s help to stop your boss?”
“I hope that it never comes to that. Kalugal is a good man, and as long as he doesn’t plot to annihilate half of the world, I’m not going to turn against him. But I keep thinking about Mortdh, and what I would have done if I were his second-in-command. Even if I had known about his plot to get rid of the other gods, the only thing I could have done was to warn them. I couldn’t have stopped him.”
“Would you have warned the other gods?”
“Of course. What kind of question is that? Even if Mortdh was my brother, my father, or my son, I would not have stood idly by while he destroyed half of the world’s civilization with one damn bomb. Would you allow Kian to do such a thing if he lost his mind?”
“No. I would do anything I could to stop him. And the same goes for Annani, even though she is the Clan Mother.” Edna nodded. “Now I really understand your dilemma. If I wanted to stop Kian or Annani, I couldn’t do it on my own. I would need a powerful ally. I would try to convince my fellow council members to help me. Together, we might be able to take Kian down, but not the goddess. And that’s precisely where you stand with Kalugal.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Yeah, but that still leaves the problem of making a federation happen when both Kian and Kalugal are against it.”
Smiling, Rufsur reached for her hand and brought it to his lips for a quick kiss. “If we put our heads together, I’m sure we can come up with a solution. Once we have a plan, you can work on Kian, and I can work on Kalugal. Kian values your opinion, and you have a good chance of convincing him to at least listen to you, and I have Kalugal’s ear. We are uniquely positioned to make this happen.”
“I’ll be dammed.” Edna leaned back. “That’s why the Fates brought us together.”
Rufsur snorted. “You too? Come on, Edna. You can’t seriously believe in that superstitious nonsense.”