فصل 27

27

An Exploding Friend

“You’re Elgen,” Jack said, suddenly feeling more coherent.

“Of course we are,” Vishal said, shutting the side door. “Who did you think we were?” “We didn’t think you were anyone,” Ostin said.

“Everyone is someone,” Vishal said. “Alveeta, tie their hands behind their backs.” As Alveeta took a thin nylon cord from his pocket, Ostin realized that this had been their plan from the beginning.

“You said you had never heard of the Elgen,” Vishal said to Ostin. “Then you made a comment about a Starxource plant.” “That was pretty stupid,” Ostin said. “Especially for me.” “And that was before the kava,” Jack said.

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

“That depends.”

“On what?” Ostin said.

“On how cooperative you are. You will answer our questions honestly, or we’ll let our Elgen friends know who you really are. Something tells me that you wouldn’t like that.” “How will you know if we’re being honest?” Ostin asked.

“We’ll interrogate you separately. If we get different answers, we’ll know that one of you is lying.” “That’s a good idea,” Ostin said.

Jack shook his head. “Don’t tell them that’s a good idea.” “I’ll take you first,” Vishal said to Ostin. He led him into a side office. There was a simple card table with a metal chair in front of it.

“Sit,” he said.

“Yes, sir.” Ostin sat.

“We’ll begin at the beginning. Who are you?” “You know who we are.” “I know your first names and where you’re from, but that’s not knowing who you are, is it? Why did you come to Fiji?” “The first time or the second time?” “So you’ve been here before?” “Yes, sir.”

“The first time.”

“To get to Tuvalu.”

“. . . And the second time?” “To get away from Tuvalu.” Vishal nodded. “What brought you to Tuvalu?” “You. The Elgen.”

“You wish to be an Elgen like us?” Ostin looked at him like he was a moldy doughnut. “I’d rather be fed to rats.” “That can be arranged. Who are you that you have business with the Elgen?” “I’m with the Electroclan.” “What is that?”

“It’s the resistance against the Elgen.” Vishal looked surprised. “You are young to be a member of a resistance.” “It wasn’t my choice. We were dragged into it.” “By whom?”

“You. The Elgen.”

“Explain.”

Ostin took a deep breath. “The whole story?” “Just explain.”

“It started when you made my best friend electric.” “Jack?”

“No. He’s not my best friend. Well, he kind of is now, but my real best friend died.” “What do you mean, we made him electric?” “You don’t know?”

Vishal just looked at him. “Humor me.” “Elgen Inc. has a machine that alters the physical electrical properties of unborn humans. That’s how you made seventeen electric children.” “Are you electric?”

“No. Neither is Jack. We’re the only nonelectrics. Nonels. You know what that is.” Vishal looked at him for a moment, then asked, “Why were you on our boat?” “We’d stolen it. But then the Philippine Navy captured us. Jack and I were able to escape.” “How?”

“Your guys were using RESATs to paralyze the electric ones. They didn’t know Jack and I weren’t electric, so we pretended to be paralyzed. Then, when no one was looking, we jumped off the boat.” “Where are the others now?” “We think the navy took them back to Tuvalu. The Joule didn’t have enough fuel to make it back, so it came to Fiji to refuel. We rode on the side of the ship until we got close to the shore, then jumped off.” “Why are all these Elgen guards coming to Fiji?” Ostin looked at him curiously. “You don’t know?” “Just answer my question.” “There was a big battle. Most of the Elgen guards were killed. My guess is that Hatch is trying to reinforce the island before the natives find out.” Vishal suddenly leaned back. “You’re telling me the truth?” “Yes.”

“We heard rumors that there was a big explosion. A flash that was seen for more than three hundred miles.” “Yes, sir.”

“What was it?”

Ostin looked down. Suddenly his eyes welled up.

“Well?”

“You won’t believe me.” “Try me.”

Ostin slowly looked up. “That explosion was my best friend.”