“I don’t want you drunk. If I did, I’d hold your mouth open and pour this down your throat. Would you rather I do that or would you like to do this with dignity?”
Nancy stared at the food bar. “Give me the swig.”
Mace poured a small portion into a third glass, holding it up to Nancy’s lips and tipping it up. When the glass was empty, he set it back on the nightstand and reached for the food bar.
“Now, see, that wasn’t so bad.”
Nancy slowly leaned forward, spitting the swig into his face. “You can keep your liquor! I’ll never drink it!”
Mace wiped the dripping moonshine from his face with a small towel. “OK, no dignity then. You’ll hate me for this now, but appreciate it later.”
The woman screamed at the top of her lungs as the Army veteran slowly pried open her jaw with his left hand. “You can swallow or you can gag and swallow���your choice.”
Slowly he poured the moonshine into her mouth while applying a slight pressure to her chest. Without the air to blow the swill from her mouth, she was left with no choice but to swallow. After a third of the glass, Mace released the crying woman’s jaw.
“Hey,” he said, “just so you know, I’m not enjoying this one bit.”
Half a nutrient bar was broken from the rest and waved in front of her teary eyes. “This is yours. You’ve earned it. And don’t worry, there won’t be any more hooch tonight. The rest of this is for me.”
An hour after the drink had been forced down her throat. A sleepy Nancy Davis passed out. Mace stared at the half glass of moonshine sitting on the nightstand, leaving it as it was. When daylight arrived, Jeff Moskowitz came through the door with Jane and Jasper in tow.
“How���s she doing?”
Mace stood. “I took a little initiative to get things going. She wasn’t talking other than to say how much she despised me, so I forced a third of a glass of the shine down her throat and then gave her half a food bar.”
Jane said, “Wait, you did what?”
“I made her drink and then I fed her a half bar. She didn’t like it one bit but she’ll get over it. Do what you need to do to get her over the drug, Doc. She’s going to fight you, but you have to think of this as a sort of intervention to save her life. And if we can cure her of this, we can do it to others.”
Mace asked, “Any sign of Johnny coming back?”
Jane replied, “We stayed there all night. They didn’t bring him back.”
Jasper walked around to the other side of the bed. “She looks peaceful enough.”
Mace shook his head. “I would expect her to start screaming when she wakes up. And as I said, Doc, do what you can for her. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”
Mace took a step toward the door. “I’m heading back to the cave for some rest. Wake me if anything important comes up.”
Chapter 16
*
As Mace arrived at the house next to the cave, a Mawga shuttle was setting down in the field. The tired soldier made his way to the shuttle. Bontu was standing on the ramp waiting for him.
“Ah, Mr. Hardy. I should like to enlist your services for the day if possible.”
“Why didn’t you just call me first?”
“We attempted to do so repeatedly. It would help if you were wearing the arm pad.”
Mace looked down at his arm. “Oh, yeah, took it off yesterday while I was doing some work with water.”
Bontu nodded. “I see. Although I would like to say that it is both waterproof and fire resistant. There’s no need to take it off.”
Mace shrugged. “Well, truth is, sometimes I don’t even know it’s there, and others, well, it bugs me, so I take it off. What is it you need me for today?”
Bontu pointed up the ramp. “I’d like you to have a word with a community commander up in Charleston. This is the captain you met when we were last there. I’d like you to hear his proposal and give me your opinion.”
“I suppose we could do that. Anything else? I had a rough night last night, couldn’t sleep. Was just about to take a nice long nap.”
“Just this one item today. We’ll have you back here in no time.”
As the shuttle lifted, Bontu continued: “So, the captain in Charleston, he would like to organize a military command for my district. I would like you to openly discuss it with him, and then offer your opinion as to the merits of his plan.”
Mace replied, “We already have a military, with a command structure. I don’t see the point in even having a discussion about it. With comms, we now have direct lines up to the commander-in-chief. Our bases can communicate with each other and there are no current threats. What’s he trying to put together?”
“He hasn’t mentioned being in charge. I believe he is just intent on helping however he can. And with the community center in his area nearing completion, he is looking for other ways to help.”
“Do you think his proposal has merit?”
“That is not for me to decide, Mr. Hardy. Humans must make decisions with regard to the well-being of their people. That is not for the Mawga to impose or deny.”
Mace leaned over his favorite spot on the rail as the big ship sped toward Charleston. “Have you heard any more from that sergeant I talked to out here? What was his name, Holmes?”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes, he continues to be a holdout from using the comms and from the food services. The captain has him locked in the brig for the moment, because of his refusal to assist with the distribution of the nutrient bars.”
Mace turned. “I thought these acts were all voluntary?”
“They are.”
Mace crossed his arms. “Then why don’t you tell him to let him out? Certainly this kind of action won’t sit well with any other holdouts.”
Bontu slowly shook his head. “In that I have to disagree. Fully a third of those who had withheld support of our efforts have crossed that line. However, I do see your point, but there is nothing I can do. This is a Human decision, and we are not to interfere. It is not our place to govern the actions of your military commanders. Perhaps you can discuss this with Mr. Turner when we see him.”
An aide to the Mawga Chancellor came up behind them. “Chancellor, we will be arriving within the minute, if you would care to move to the shuttle.”
Bontu turned with a nod. “Mr. Hardy, shall we?”
The shuttle landed with a smiling Bill Turner standing at the ready. “Chancellor, I’m so glad you came. I believe this idea for a unified command in your district to be of value in bringing everyone in line with our goals.”
Bontu held up a hand. “Mr. Turner, I would first like to thank you for your enthusiastic and heartfelt welcome. As to talk of your proposal, is there no better place than in this field to discuss this?”
The captain slapped his forehead. “My apologies, Chancellor. I have a conference room available. Over this way.”
Mace asked, “Would it be possible to bring Sergeant Holmes in on this?”
The captain sighed. “The sergeant is in the brig for direct insubordination. He and his kind are precisely why I’ve put forth the proposal I have. I have the sergeant and thirty of his men under lock and key for failing to cooperate. I know there are other commanders having the same issues. And it takes valuable resources to lock those men and women up���they themselves are wasted resources.”
“Captain, these are fellow soldiers. The Mawga have been very clear that any actions taken should be strictly voluntary. You’ve placed a strain on the chancellor’s effort in his district by taking it on yourself to make these actions mandatory. I understand your frustrations with these men when it comes to this issue, but again, the efforts here are wasted when force or threats are used for compliance. Don’t you see the damage you are doing?”
The captain got an uneasy expression on his face. “I’m only trying to speed things along, Mr. Hardy. These men disobeyed direct orders. They are causing a disruption. I believe my actions have been justified by the
seventeen men and two women who joined with us.”
“So you’ve picked off the low hanging fruit,” said Mace as they walked. “Intimidation is obviously the wrong path for these others. Unless you want to make them haters of you and the Mawga, you should let them go. They have to be won over to the side of cooperation, not forced or coerced.”
The captain looked to Bontu Montak for direction. None was forthcoming.
As they entered the conference room, Mace reiterated his request: “Again, I ask that you bring the sergeant in for this discussion. If your plan has merit, he is a reasonable man and will agree. If he doesn’t, you’ll have a hard time convincing me that it should be done. If you choose to not entertain my request, I won’t entertain your proposal.”
Mace turned to face Bontu. “Fair enough, Mr. Montak?”
Bontu reluctantly replied, “I brought you into this discussion for a reason. I won’t interfere.”
Ten minutes of silence passed as the sergeant was fetched. As he walked into the room, he looked sullen.
Mace stood. “Mr. Holmes, are you OK?”
The sergeant eased himself into a chair. “Not really. I haven’t eaten in three days.”
Mace turned an angry stare toward the captain. “Mr. Turner? Doesn’t sound like you���re sticking to your military codes here.”
The captain looked distraught. “I assure you, Mr. Hardy, Chancellor, I knew nothing of this. Lieutenant, why has this man been mistreated? Why hasn’t he been fed?”
The lieutenant replied, “Sir, I believe your words were ‘make this man see the light.��� The others were only following your orders, sir.”
Mace stood. “Captain, I demand this man be freed immediately. And all of his men, for that matter. This is abhorrent behavior coming from a professional military officer. What do you think the chancellor and the Mawga think of us now? That we can’t conduct our affairs in a civil manner? Mr. Turner, you’ve not only besmirched the U.S. military in this affair, but the entire Human race. These Mawga want to be trade partners and potential allies with us. What does this behavior tell them?”
The captain let out a long sigh. “I must apologize profusely, Chancellor. It was not my intent that any of this should happen. Lieutenant Dalia, please see to it that the men in question are immediately released, and pass down that further reprisals against them will not be tolerated.”
Mace leaned over the table. “The chancellor here is not the one you should be apologizing to, Mr. Turner.”
The captain again sighed. “I apologize to you to, Mr. Hardy. Perhaps my plan wasn’t fully thought out.”
“It’s the sergeant here you should apologize to. If you can’t win someone over to your side with words, you take the long view. You do it through your actions and deeds over time. Show him that you’re right���you can’t make him think it. He has to come to that conclusion on his own. Sergeant, come. Take a walk with me.”
The sergeant stood and walked to the doorway following Mace. As they left the building, Mace pulled a nutrient bar from his shirt pocket.
“Here, eat this. It’s from the old batch. It’s not laced with the drug. I’d give you something else, but that’s all I have.”
The sergeant asked, “So you’ve been eating their food?”
Mace shook his head. “Not the new stuff. I take a few of these bars out with me just so they think I’m open to the idea of eating their tainted food. I’m sure they’re scratching their heads over why I’m not slobbering over them like the captain back there. Take this, eat it. This one is actually good for you.”
The sergeant nodded as he tore into the food bar. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything to drink on you, would you? I’m a bit dehydrated as well. Only been taking sips out of fear the water’s tainted, too.”
“I don’t think they’ve messed with the water yet. They haven’t had to. They probably already have 95 percent of the population in the bag. I shouldn’t say this, but we took one captive last night. Gonna see if we can bring her down from the drugs, give her a life back. If it works, there’s still hope for us all.”
Mace stopped. “Did anyone from the resistance get in contact with you?”
Jack Holmes nodded. “Two days before the captain went completely nuts on us. It was just an initial contact. He was supposed to return with further instructions about how we should organize and what we should do. That’s when the captain put us in the clinker.
“And thanks for that speech back there. You hit the captain right in his conscience. He’s a good man, just a little too wrapped up in the Mawga cause. It would have been good to still have him on our side.”
Mace placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “There may still be a way. It’s unconfirmed, but we’re starting to think alcohol might inhibit or counteract whatever drug they have in the food. It’s only a theory, though, no hard proof that it would work on someone who’s already under the drugs influence. The captive we have, it’s one of the things we’re trying out on her.”
Jack smirked. “Great, so we get rid of the addiction, but only if we’re drunk? Sounds like we’ve got a hard road to walk either way.”
“Just be happy we’re still walking at the moment. I get the feeling when those community centers are in full bloom, people will also get addicted to the entertainment systems they have in there. They have a big fitness area in there as well.”
“Sounds like paradise.”
Mace glanced back at the buildings before turning away. “Actually, it is. They have food, sleeping arrangements, entertainment, medical and health, all under one roof where they never have to leave. And the entertainment… wow, it’s 3D immersive holograms. You can interact with whatever’s in front of you. I can see people getting hooked on that, more so than what we’ve seen with some videogames.”
“So… they’re letting us out. What are we supposed to do?”
“Not sure. For now I would say just try to stay out of trouble. If the captain orders you to do something that’s related to the Mawga but clearly not voluntary, call him on it. Play off his guilt complex. Other than that, wait for contact and direction from the resistance.”
Jack scratched under his arm. “Sorry about the smell, Mr. Hardy. They haven’t let us shower the last couple days.”
“You are a bit on the ripe side, Sergeant. When we get back, you might want to sit next to the captain just so he gets a good whiff of what you have going on. He’s at least deserving of that.”
“I guess that means we’re done here then. Thanks for your efforts to spring us. I’ll let the men know it was you.”
Mace winced. “I’d almost rather I be viewed as a sympathizer, Sergeant. That way, if any of your people fall over to the other side, they won’t be ratting me out.”
Jack Holmes nodded. “You always seem to be one step ahead, Mr. Hardy.”
“Problem with that is I don’t know where I’m walking. Could be into a field of daisies or a field of landmines. Sad thing is, I won’t know which it is until I get there.”
“Just keep doing what you���re doing, sir. We’re in need of more men like you.”
Mace smiled as he turned. “As with you, Sergeant. From the looks of it, I’ve been on the easy end of this struggle.”
The captain’s plan was listened too and taken under advisement for a later decision. The shuttle lifted off and docked with the Mawga ship. A short ride later, the ramp lowered on the field outside the cave.
Bontu walked Mace down. “Once again I thank you for your service, Mr. Hardy. Your powers of persuasion continue to impress me. You had the poor captain practically groveling at your feet.”
“No, he was groveling at your feet, Mr. Montak. It���s you he wants to impress. Sorry that I used you as the hammer on this one, but you can’t force people to believe what you want, you have to win them over. It’s a simple argument, and an argument whose misuse has been the cause of many wars among Humans. You can’t force beliefs on free thinking people. It
just doesn’t work.”
Bontu Montak bowed. “You would make a great statesman for your people, Mr. Hardy. It seems the understanding you have is one that is missing from most of the species in the galaxy. Wars are fought all too often over that very subject.”
Bontu turned and threw up a hand as he walked back up the ramp as it closed. “Have a good day of rest, Mr. Hardy. I’ll let you know when I’m in further need of your assistance.”
Jane was standing behind him. “Did you ask about Johnny?”
Mace shook his head. “Never had a good opportunity. But I think I just averted a military campaign to rid the entire district of those who haven’t eaten from the Mawga’s apple tree. Managed to get a sergeant and thirty-something of his troops freed from jail over not complying with their captain’s orders to eat the Mawga food. Is the girl up? Nancy?”
Jane nodded. “She’s up. And she’s been screaming almost non-stop at poor Jeff. The man certainly has patience.”
Mace walked toward the gift shop porch where Jasper was sitting in his rocker. “She did some of that screaming at me last night. Of course, I was in the process of prying her jaw open to force liquor down her throat. She wasn’t too happy about that.”
Jane laughed and shook her head. “You really need to learn how to treat a lady, Mace. No wonder you’ve been single for so long. I hope you didn’t act that way on other first dates.”
“You still fixated on this being the one for me?”
Jane put her hand on his shoulder as they climbed the steps onto the porch. “She was handpicked, wasn’t she? Pre-approved?”
Mace laughed, “More like hand-carried after being Tased.”
As Mace plopped down in a chair, Jasper asked, “What we doing?”
Mace replied, “I need a rest.”
Jane gestured toward the town. “I’d like to go back and observe. Come with us. You can sleep while we watch.”
Mace grinned. “You want to watch me sleep?”
Jane sighed. “No, you can sleep while we watch… the town. In fact, Jasper, you should get in a few hours of rest yourself. Did you even sleep last night?”
HADRON Axiom Page 15