فصل 28

28

Discretion

Vishal gazed at Ostin for a long time before speaking. “What do you mean, the explosion was your friend?” Even krunked, Ostin knew that whatever he said would not be believed. “My friend, Michael, had a special weapon. When it detonated, it wiped out almost all of the Elgen.” “I have heard the island is glass,” Vishal said almost to himself. He stood. “If the Elgen are really that vulnerable, this is good news. It is important news.” “Wait,” Ostin said. “Are you Elgen or not? Because now you’re talking like you’re not.” Vishal ignored his question. “If you’re lying, it could cost the lives of thousands of my people. And I guarantee, it will cost you yours.” “I’m not lying. You can ask Jack.”

“I intend to. And if you’re lying, the punishment will fit the crime.” “I’m not afraid to die,” Ostin said.

“Really?”

“I’ve accepted it,” he said. “I’ve been lucky before. But luck always runs out. Eventually.” Vishal looked at Ostin. “How does a boy from Meridian, Idaho, end up in a battle for the island nation of Tuvalu?” “I’ve asked myself that many times.”

“And what’s the answer?”

“The Elgen kidnapped my best friend’s mother. We went to save her.” Vishal was quiet again.

“May I ask you a question?” Ostin said.

Vishal looked at him.

“Who are you?”

Vishal tapped his pencil on the table, then looked up at Ostin and said, “I am a Tuvaluan and the leader of the Tuvaluan resistance. I was sailing home from purchasing new scuba equipment in Fiji when I received an emergency radio broadcast that Tuvalu had been invaded. I returned to Fiji, only to find that all communication from Tuvalu had been knocked out.

“There were about two hundred of us Tuvaluans stranded here at that time, and maybe a hundred more who were in Australia or New Zealand and flying back. Against our counsel, a few went back to Tuvalu. We have not heard from them since. We all have family and friends in Tuvalu. We plan to rescue them. That is why your news is of such importance to me.” Ostin nodded. “That’s why you found us.” “It was not a coincidence that I was there when you came ashore. I had received word that an Elgen boat was nearing Fiji. I was watching it through binoculars when I saw you jump off the side of it a few hundred meters from shore. I needed to find out who you were and what you knew.” “Why do you have those Elgen guards?” “We have been capturing them to gain information and to keep them from joining the Elgen force.” “We should take their uniforms,” Ostin said. “We’ve disguised ourselves as Elgen guards before. Now what are you going to do?” “First I’m going to untie you,” he said. He walked around the table and untied the knots.

Ostin stretched out his arms, then rubbed his wrists. “Thank you.” “Tell me your plans,” Vishal said.

“Jack and I are trying to get back to Tuvalu to rescue our friends.” “Then we have similar goals. We’re both trying to get back to Tuvalu.” “And we have a common enemy,” Ostin added.

“Do my people know that the Elgen are vulnerable?” “I don’t think so. But they will. There’s a man we fought with named Enele Saluni. He was going to gather his people to fight.” Vishal looked at him with surprise. “You know Enele Saluni?” “He fought in the battle of Hades with us.” “I feared Enele was dead.”

“He almost was. We rescued him from the Elgen prison.” “Where is his grandfather, Prime Minister Saluni?” Ostin frowned but didn’t answer.

Vishal turned pale. “Then he is dead.” “No,” Ostin said slowly, shaking his head. “Worse. Much worse.” Vishal leaned forward. “What have they done to that good man?” “Hatch cut out his tongue, then put him in a monkey cage in the center of Nike.” Vishal turned pale. “Who is this Hatch?” “He’s the Elgen leader.”

Vishal shook his head. “What is Nike?” “It’s the name Hatch gave the main island. Funafuti. He renamed all the islands. Like Hades.” Vishal’s face turned dark with anger. “The Elgen are not worthy of being called beasts,” he said, choking on his words. “Where is Enele?” “We gave his men the lifeboats from the Joule so they could return to their homes. He planned to gather the natives and lead a revolution against the Elgen, but he wouldn’t know that the Elgen have already begun rebuilding their forces.” “Then we must hurry to their aid before the Elgen are strong again,” Vishal said. He looked at Ostin. “Will you fight with us?” “Of course. We were planning to fight without you,” Ostin said. “I need to rescue my friends. But first we need a way back.” Vishal stood. “If you will fight with us, I will take you back myself.” * * *

Jack was surprised to see the change in Vishal’s and Ostin’s demeanors as they walked from the office. They almost looked like friends.

“Alveeta,” Vishal said. “Release Jack. These men are not our enemies.” Alveeta looked as surprised as Jack did. “How do you know this?” “Because I have questioned him, and what he says adds up. And he knows Enele Saluni.” Alveeta looked at Ostin warily. “Why would you trust this boy? He has done nothing but try to deceive us since he arrived.” “As did we,” Vishal said. “In such days, discretion is the better part of wisdom. Trust me, he is with us.” Alveeta walked over and untied Jack’s hands. Jack rubbed his wrists. “What’s going on, man?” he asked. “If you’re not Elgen, who are you?” Ostin said, “They’re Tuvaluans. We’re going to help them, and they’re going to help us.” “We need to assemble everyone immediately,” Vishal said to Alveeta. “The Elgen are vulnerable right now. That’s why the guards have been gathering. The great explosion we heard about destroyed most of the Elgen forces. I’m going to put out the call.” He walked back into his office.

After he was gone, Alveeta asked Jack, “Do you know Enele too?” Jack nodded. “We fought together.”

“Is he still alive?”

“He was the last time I saw him,” Jack said. “You know him?” “He was my friend,” Alveeta said. “We went to grade school together.” “He fought bravely,” Jack said. “He helped us hold the prison.” “You are fortunate to have fought with him. You get to know a man in battle.” “Something tells me you’ll be getting to know us all better real soon,” Jack replied.