“What’s going on?” asked a small voice, and they all turned as Gummi Bear appeared between two wrecked cars. He sat on his bike, leaning on one car for support. The crank siren hung around his neck, and his face was flushed with fear.
“Jolt—get him out of here,” said Riot quickly. “They’ll hurt him.”
Brother Andrew clicked his tongue, and the two reapers with him began to move toward the boy.
“Whoa!” barked Jolt. “What are you cats doing?”
The closest one showed his knife to Jolt. “The greatest mercy of god is the release from pain. We will bless this boy. We will open red mouths in his flesh and give him the gift of darkness. Children should not have to suffer in this land of misery and woe.”
“Gift of darkness? What are you talking about?”
“Jolt—they want to kill him,” said Riot, and she moved across the car tops toward Gummi Bear. “That’s what they do—they kill. They think it’s god’s will, that it’s a way to end suffering.”
“It is,” said Brother Andrew. He pointed at Gummi Bear. “Look at this child. Ugly and deformed. He’s suffered terribly. Why perpetuate that suffering when we can bring him peace?”
“By killing him?” demanded Jolt. “I mean, that’s what you’re saying? Am I hearing this right? You want to help Gummi by cutting his throat.”
“Um,” said Gummi Bear as he walked his bike backward, “pass, thanks.”
The two reapers moved to intercept him. Riot instantly moved across the car tops, ready to jump down between them and the boy. She drew her knife and pointed the tip at them.
“Y’all take another step toward that boy and I’ll end you both, right here and now. Tell me if I’m lying.”
“Go ahead,” said Brother Andrew. “We are reapers—to die in the service of our god is but a pathway to paradise.”
“Riot,” said Jolt, “don’t.”
She looked at him. “What?”
“Don’t kill them.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because,” explained Jolt, “there’s been enough death in the world. We don’t kill. The players, the people in our camp—we don’t kill.”
She stared at him. “Jolt—don’t you get it? These are reapers. That name wasn’t picked ’cause it sounds cool. They want everyone and everything to die. It’s who they are and what they are. . . .”
“But it’s not who we are. We’re scavengers—we find the things that help people stay alive. Seven billion people have died already. . . . How many more will it take before the message gets through that killing isn’t an answer to anything?”
Brother Andrew shook his head. “You’re as much of a heretic as she is, and you’re twice as much of a fool.”
Jolt shrugged. “I don’t really know exactly who you are, mister, but I’m beginning to get the idea. Reapers—yeah, I grok that. You think God wants you to kill everyone. Okay, fair enough, that’s what you believe, and who am I to tell you you’re wrong.”
“Smart boy . . .”
“But,” said Jolt, “here’s the thing. That’s your gig, man. That’s what you believe. It sure as heck is a popular belief around here. We got this whole ‘hey, we’re alive and ain’t it cool?’ thing going on. I can respect you for your beliefs, man, but you’re going to have to take them somewhere else. You can’t come into my zone and force your ideas down my throat.”
“This is the will of god.”
“Dude, not really all that interested in a religious debate,” said Jolt. “I’m telling you to leave us alone. You say ‘walk away’ to me
? I’m giving you that same message. Beat it. Go.”
“Or—?”
“Or I’ll make you,” said Jolt.
“I thought you said you were a pacifist.”