Earth Awakens (The First Formic War 3)

Lem's instructions were clear. They would go to her home in the night. They would arrest her. It wouldn't be hard to plant evidence. Drugs would be easiest, Lem figured, but he left that to the officers' discretion. They were the pros here. She was to be put on the first shuttle to Earth, her Luna visa revoked for life. They were not to hurt her--Lem wouldn't stoop to her level--but they were to be swift. If she cried a few tears, if the experience shook her up, well perhaps she would think twice about continuing in this line of work. He transferred money from his untraceable accounts to the places they indicated. The whole business took less than ten minutes.

Her arrest would need to be a surprise. If he didn't show up at the restaurant, she would get suspicious. He sent her a text begging her forgiveness and asked to meet for breakfast instead. He gave her the name of a diner near her apartment. She wrote back and told him not to work too hard. He needed his rest.

He almost ripped off his wrist pad off and threw it to the floor.

He wanted her to know she had not beaten him in the end. He wrote her a scathing message, naming her what she was really was. Then he programmed his wrist pad to send it in two days, after she had returned to Earth.

When he was done, he found himself on the verge of tears. He had liked her. That's what cut deeper than anything. He had warmed to her. Over time, meal after meal, moment after moment, he had genuinely come to like her.

There was not a word to describe what he felt for Father now. Hate was far too kind.

CHAPTER 20

Train

By the time the Formic transport had flown over the Jiuyi mountain range and into Hunan province, Bingwen had seen more Formic aircraft in the sky than he cared to count. Some flew in groups of twos or threes, flying so close together that their wings were almost touching. Others flew in clusters of a dozen or more, all packed tight and moving as one--like a single-minded hive of bees.

There were no windows on the transport, but someone had installed a large terminal screen in the main cabin. There were six active screens on it, all linked to the sensors and cameras outside.

"There," said Niro, pointing at a cluster of clouds on screen. "Four more of them, moving in and out of the clouds. Do you see them?" He was beside Bingwen in the jump seat, his safety harness loose around his tiny frame.

Lieutenant Li was sitting opposite them, head back, eyes closed. "Stop fidgeting and be quiet. The Formics think we're one of them. They're not going to bother us."

"How can you be sure?" asked Niro.

Li opened his eyes and regarded the boy. "Because if we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone. They ignore nonaggressive aircraft. It's a fact we learned far too late. And also, the military wouldn't put me in this ship if there was any real risk."

"Why not?" asked Pipo.

"Because I'm an important person. I'm to be a teacher at a special school. The military wants me safe. They're taking every precaution to get me to my destination."

"Maybe Bingwen is the important person," said Pipo. "Maybe the military wants him safe. Maybe you're one of the precautions they've put in place to protect him."

It was not a smart thing to say, Bingwen knew. He tried to get her attention. Don't be a hothead, Pipo. Stay quiet.

Li regarded Pipo as if she were something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. "What's your name, girl?"

"Pipo."

"And where are your parents, Pipo?"

Pipo's confidence fell. "I ... I don't know."

"That's too bad. Because if you did know, I would be sure to send them a note telling them what a disrespectful child they have. How dare you speak to your elders that way? Have you no honor?"

Pipo looked at the floor.

"I suspect your parents are dead if they haven't claimed you by now, but that is probably a mercy. At least they will never see what you have become."

Pipo raised her face, her expression one of shock. Then her whole body collapsed against her harness, and she sobbed into her hands.

"Yes, yes," said Li. "Cry your tears. Perhaps you will speak with greater caution in the future." He leaned back again and closed his eyes.

Bingwen reached far across the space between them and put a hand on Pipo's back. She grabbed it like a lifeline thrown to her. Bingwen wanted to say something, but words would only incite Li and make it worse.

An hour later the pilot announced their approach into Chenzhou. Bingwen watched the terminal screens as they flew over the city and headed toward the railway station. There were tens of thousands of people crowded at the rail station's entrance, a mob so large that it spilled into the streets and stretched for several blocks south.

"Why are there so many people?" asked Niro.