John bent down to look into the other Agent’s one good eye. With his own augmented sight, he could see the machine inside Shahim’s left eye reconstituting itself and his own machine mind was estimating the amount of time it would take for the eye to regain some measure of its operational capability. He knew he did not have much longer.

“You have an honorable reputation, Lord Mantil, surely you can see that you have been dispatched on an errand that is evil to its very core. I know that asking you to betray your orders goes against everything you believe in, but I also know that you are not a blind or stupid man, that you have always been known as fair and just. Your observance of the rights of your foe, even when they do not observe your rights, is well documented. So I will give you this opportunity. Swear on the name of Mantil, on your Lord Protector, and on the soul of your father that you will help me stop this genocidal butchery and I will … well, I will believe you. Such is my faith in your inherent honor.”

Shahim was stunned. Surely this man could not put such faith in the strength of his character. Shahim certainly no longer had such faith in himself after what he had done in Islamabad.

“You know what I have done, Nomadi. So tell me, why? Why would you believe me? What is there to stop me from saying the things you ask and then betraying you the moment I leave this building?”

“In truth, Lord Mantil, nothing would prevent you. So if you think me foolish for asking for your help, Lord Mantil, then prove me wrong about you. Swear on your father’s soul that you will help me and then break your oath and betray me. After all, you have already betrayed all that you hold dear. You have already killed women and children, coldly and without mercy. Why not break an oath in your father’s name while you are at it. What do you care for that man’s memory?”

Shahim’s fury at this insult ignited a deep-seated rage, rage that was truly directed at himself, but which he allowed to burn in John Hunt’s name. He reactivated his systems and launched his fist upward, but John was ready for him, he stepped back and away from the wild swing, shouting fiercely as he went, “Do you deny it, Lord Mantil? Do you say to me that you believe in this enterprise?”