فصل سیزدهم

Chapter 13: Mutiny

Inside the boardroom, Schema looked somberly over the group.

“Then it’s unanimous,” he said. “Once we reach open sea, Dr. Hatch will be exterminated.” He burst out in a fit of coughing, then breathed out slowly. “It will be a relief to be free of him.” Two Elgen guards, Spafford and Mull, stood watch outside the boardroom door with their guns drawn.

There was a loud beep on Spafford’s communicator. He turned to Mull. “It’s time.” Mull nodded. He glanced once more down the hallway and then, together, they opened the boardroom doors and walked in, closing the doors behind them.

“Gentlemen,” Schema said. “You’ll have to leave. This meeting is still closed.” The guards leveled their guns at the board members. “You are all under arrest. Put your hands on top of your heads. Now!” “What are you doing?” Schema asked.

Two secretly pushed a button under the table.

“I said, now!” Spafford repeated.

“I suggest you drop your weapons,” Two said to the guards. “I’ve alerted the guards.” “Shut up!” Mull shouted. “And get on your knees and prepare to meet the admiral of the Elgen fleet.” “The admiral?” Two said.

“Admiral Hatch,” Spafford said.

“Have you gone raving mad?” Schema said.

Then the door opened and Hatch walked into the room. He was flanked by Quentin and Torstyn and followed by the three disposed board members.

“Guards, subdue him!” Schema shouted, pointing at Hatch.

Hatch just shook his head. “Clueless as always,” he said. “They don’t take orders from you.” He turned to Spafford and Mull. “Well done, men.” “Your little coup won’t work,” Two said. “I’ve alerted the guards. It’s just a matter of time before you’re back in the brig.” Hatch looked at her for a moment, then said softly, “You’ve alerted what guards?” Just then the boardroom door burst open and a dozen guards in black uniforms ran into the room. They were led by a squad captain dressed in purple.

“Those guards,” Two said. She turned to the captain. “Thank goodness you’re here. Dr. Hatch has gone rogue. Arrest him.” The captain just looked at her, his eyes narrowing in contempt.

“I gave you an order!” she shouted.

“These aren’t ours,” Schema said to Two in a low voice.

“You’re correct, Schema,” Hatch said, looking more amused than angry. “Which, honestly, I find refreshing, as it’s so rare that you’re right about anything these days. But, I suppose, even a broken clock is right twice a day.” “What are you up to, Hatch?” Schema said.

“I’m relieving you of your command,” Hatch replied. He turned to the captain. “Secure them.” “Yes, sir.” The captain turned back toward the board table and shouted, “Everyone stand with their hands behind their backs. Now!” None of the board obeyed, but looked to Schema for direction. Schema stared at Hatch defiantly.

“You were given an order,” Hatch said.

No one moved.

“No?” Hatch said. “Okay, then. Captain Welch, shoot one of them.” “Yes, sir,” the guard said. “Which one?”

“It’s your choice.”

He turned his gun on Three.

“Wait!” Schema said, holding up his hand. “You don’t have to do that. We’ll do what you say.” “Indeed you will,” Hatch said. He turned to the captain. “Next time someone hesitates to follow an order, shoot them.” “Yes, sir.”

Hatch looked at the board. “Leadership is such a burden. You know how it is, Schema. If you threaten to cut off someone’s finger for breaking a rule, you’re going to have to cut off a few fingers before everyone figures out that you mean what you say. So which one of you is going to be our demonstration? It’s your decision. Here’s your first opportunity to show us. Everyone stand up.” Everyone quickly stood.

“Now sit down.”

They sat down.

“Stand up!”

They stood up.

“Now . . . stand down.”

Half of the board sat down, the other half wavered, confused, crouched somewhere in the middle. Everyone looked at Hatch nervously.

“What do you want us to do?” Four said.

Hatch grinned. “I’m just toying with you,” he said. “Sit down.” Everyone sat.

“What’s your point, Hatch?” Schema said.

Hatch’s grin turned to a scowl. “My point is I’ve listened to you fools for too long. From now until the end of your miserable lives, you will do precisely what I say. Everyone stand.” They all stood.

“Secure them,” Hatch said to the captain.

“You heard him,” the captain barked. “Everyone put your hands behind your backs. Do it now!” Everyone obeyed. Two of the soldiers walked around the room zip tying the board members’ hands together. Suddenly, Ten spun around, attempting to grab the soldier’s gun. One of the guards fired an electrode from across the room, dropping Ten to the ground.

“Secure him,” the captain ordered.

Two soldiers grabbed Ten, tied his arms behind his back, tied his feet together, then dragged him away from the table, laying him at Hatch’s feet.

“What are your orders, sir?” the captain asked.

Hatch crouched down next to Ten. “Were my orders too complex for you?” “You’re not going to get away with this,” Ten said.

“Of course I will,” Hatch said. “Throw him out.” Schema said, “You don’t need to do that, Hatch. He’s sorry. Aren’t you, Ten?” “I’m most certain of that,” Hatch said. He turned to the captain. “Open a window for me.” He pointed to the middle panel of the external glass wall. “That will do.” The captain pointed his submachine gun at the tempered glass and pulled the trigger, ripping out a large section. The smell of gunpowder filled the room.

“There’s your exit,” Hatch said to Ten. “I hope you’re a good swimmer.” Ten was trembling. “I’m sorry. I’ll do whatever you want.” “Will you?” Hatch asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I want you to drown.”

Two soldiers dragged Ten over to the hole in the glass, then turned back to Hatch. Hatch nodded. The guards lifted the man and threw him out. The sound of his screaming could be heard until a distant splash ended it.

“Good-bye, Ten,” Hatch said. He turned to the captain. “Think he can swim with his hands tied behind his back?” The captain shook his head. “No, Admiral.”

“I don’t think so either,” Hatch said. He looked over the rest of the board members. “As I was telling you, you always have to cut off a few fingers before they get the point. Anyone else care to test my resolve?” The board members just stared at him fearfully.

“Maybe you do learn. Take over, Captain.”

“You will comply with our every word,” the captain said. “All of you come to this side of the room and kneel.” Everyone except for Schema hurried to the starboard side of the room, next to the glass. The captain walked up to Schema and pulled him out of his chair, forcing him to kneel, then kicked him in the stomach. Schema gasped, then fell to his side, coughing fiercely.

Hatch turned back to the three displaced board members, Six, Seven, and Eleven. “Take your rightful places,” he said.

The three expelled board members hurried back to the table. Hatch looked at the other board members. “Funny how things change. Just an hour ago you pitied these three. Now you would give anything to be one of them, wouldn’t you? I told you there would be consequences.” He turned and looked at Schema, then slowly walked up to him. “Living in Peru, I couldn’t help but learn a little about the Incan culture. They were far more advanced than most people realize. They created architectural feats that stump our modern architects. They created massive pyramids that we cannot duplicate. They performed successful brain surgery.

“True, they had their brutal side and practiced human sacrifice, but here, too, they showed their keen intellect and understanding of the nature of politics. Whenever an Incan king conquered another kingdom, the fallen king was sacrificed in front of his subjects so there would be no mistaking who was in charge.” Schema turned pale. Hatch crouched down in front of him. “You didn’t really think I was foolish enough to come back here unprepared?” Hatch rose and faced the kneeling board members. “Just another example of your chairman’s remarkable shortsightedness.” He turned back to Schema. “You are relieved of your chairmanship. Be grateful I haven’t relieved you of your life.” “You’ll pay for this, Hatch. This is mutiny.” “Admiral Hatch,” Hatch said calmly. “Of course it’s mutiny. And pay? Where exactly would I send the check? To whom? If you’re implying that this scenario might somehow end differently than me in charge and you in prison, you can disabuse yourself of that notion. There is no cavalry. Everyone answers to me. That’s the inherent problem with delegation, Schema. Somewhere along the line the power gets . . . short-circuited.” Hatch turned to the captain. “Captain, lock them all in the same cell in the brig. Cell One.” “Yes, Admiral.” He spun around. “All of you on your feet. Now!” The members of the board all struggled to their feet.

“What are you going to do to us?” Two asked.

“You will be given a trial. But don’t worry. I will be just as merciful as you planned on being to me.” He turned around. “Captain of the guard, I want former chairman Schema hung upside down by his feet. I want the last of his loyal subjects to know that he’s been conquered.” “Yes, sir.”

Schema turned white. “Don’t do this. You need me.” “I need you like I need a kidney stone,” Hatch replied. “Take him out.” Two soldiers lifted Schema to his feet and carried him out. Six other guards walked the rest of the board members out.

As they exited Quentin started to laugh, followed by the rest of the teens. Hatch smiled. “That was more amusing than I thought it would be. I’m almost sorry it’s over.”