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Back The Enemy Save as PDF
Chapters (69)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
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“I don’t think so,” said David, a cold edge to his voice. “You don’t know half of what I saw on my way to the palace. I saw things you couldn’t even dream of. I’ve done my fair share of killing. It’s different here in the center, but I fought my way through a total nightmare to get to where I am now. And I don’t want to go back to all that. I want to build on what we’ve achieved.”

“Killing grown-ups is one thing,” said Maxie. “They’re diseased. They’re crazy. No longer human. We have to defend ourselves from them. But killing other kids. That’s wrong.”

“I agree,” said David. “But with some kids it’s the only language they understand.”

“Maybe you’re one of those kids, David.”

“As I say, if you don’t like it here, why don’t you leave?” The smug, superior tone had come back into David’s voice.

“Maybe I will,” said Maxie quietly. “And maybe I’ll take my crew with me.”

“Maybe they won’t want to go,” said David, his voice flat and bland and irritating. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Maxie, but your kids like it here.”

“If I say we’re going, they’ll come with me,” said Maxie.

“Are you so sure of that?”

“Stop trying to undermine me, David,” Maxie snapped. “I know my kids.”

“And what about Blue’s crew? The kids from Morrisons?”

“What about them?”

“Can you speak for them as well? Maybe you’d better go and see Blue, see what he thinks about all this.”

“He’s sick. Your nurse, Rose, won’t let anyone up to see him.”

“Nonsense. You can go and talk to him anytime you want. He’s well enough now. You’re seeing plots and conspiracies everywhere. I’m not an evil person.”

Maxie shook her head slowly. She suddenly felt dog tired. The day had been very stressful.

“I know you’re not evil, David. But we’re all so young. We can’t always know the best thing to do.”

David put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. The action felt clumsy and calculated.

“You do what you think’s best, Maxie,” he said. “I’ll respect your decision. Now, shall we go in? I think it’s going to start raining again.”

56

This would be so much easier if you’d come up to the sickbay clinic. I’ve got all my proper equipment up there.”

“No way, man, it’s too much like a hospital.”

Achilleus was slouched in one of the big chairs up on the dais in the Throne Room with his shirt off. Rose was inspecting his damaged ear. She’d given him some painkillers and was trying to clean his wounds with disinfectant. Achilleus was wincing and flinching and complaining and generally making her job difficult.

It hurt like hell.