“Well, that may well be,” Derek said, “and I’ve always thought you were right, thinking she was behind all those things. So let’s say it’s true, that the head honcho of Arrival was a bad, bad person. Are you telling me that justifies killing all these innocent people on this island? Where’s the balance in that, Mr. Kyle?”

Kyle looked out the window again at the black smoke filling the sky.

“Did the person who helped you have any idea?”

“What?”

“I know you had someone help you, someone here, today, someone on the inside, who could give you the key that would allow you to access the Arrival system. Did your insider have any idea they were helping you kick-start a massacre?”

Kyle took a moment before answering. “I would imagine not,” he said. “I am willing to concede that the . . . modifications I introduced into the Arrival network have proven to be more profound than even I’d hoped for.” He was unable to hold back a smile. “I got lucky.”

Derek recoiled. “You’re delighted.”

“I am not displeased, Derek.”

“You have to end it. You made your point. Arrival is finished. Make the cars stop.”

“I can’t,” Kyle said. “The virus is irreversible.”

Derek mulled that over. He adopted a reflective, thoughtful, look.

“I could be wrong, but I think, long as I sit here, in this building, the cars can’t get to me. Those people escapin’ in boats are welcome to do that, but I think it’s a bit over the top. Stay in your house, go sit on the roof. Whatever. That’ll work. Sooner or later, help has to arrive. You get a bunch of guys here with bazookas, they’ll give these little golf carts something to think about.”

“Derek,” Kyle said slowly, “you can’t sit here and ride this out. You have to get me off this fucking island. When the dust settles, I can’t be found here. Find us another boat.”

Derek shook his head slowly and deliberatively. “Nope. Not doin’ it. Not gonna find you a boat. I hereby submit my resignation. Maybe I can find something to write it on, if you’d like. Would a paper napkin do?”

“I won’t accept your resignation.”

“Too bad.”

“I’ll pay you. A bonus. I’ll pay you a big bonus. I still have money, Derek. Not what I once had, but there’s money that I’ve hidden, squirreled away, in accounts all over the world. A lot of it in cash. Get me off this fucking island and there’s a hundred thousand in cash for you. If you want to quit then, fine.”

Derek shook his head.

“Two hundred,” Kyle said. “Two hundred thousand.” He managed a grin. “Come on, when are you ever going to get an offer like that again?”

“Make it five,” Derek said.