“Now,” Yannis said.

“Wait—”

“Now, Benji!”

“No, no, no,” I groaned, even as I shot my hands up and, with one sharp motion, swung them around and slammed them down. I felt the small bumpy talons in my fingers and I squeezed hard. The bird squawked, flapping its wings manically. I spilled out of the canopy, and its feathers whipped my chin as its long white body tried desperately to flee, twisting, yanking, pecking at my fingers. I tightened my grip and squeezed my eyes shut.

“What do I do?” I screamed.

“Kill it!” Lambert yelled.

“I can’t! I can’t!”

The squawking was horrible. Have mercy! it seemed to be screaming. I am not one of you! Let me go!

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Don’t let go!”

“Benji!”

“I’m sorry!”

Then Yannis was on top of me. He snared the bird’s head and twisted it fiercely. It died with a snap. Its plumage fell against my chest. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I looked at the dead creature. I looked at Yannis. I looked at the rest of them, including the man who calls himself the Lord, and all I could blurt out was “Why?”

News

ANCHOR: Tonight, in his twelfth installment, Tyler Brewer profiles another victim in the sinking of the Galaxy, a promising young ambassador cut down in his prime.

REPORTER: Yannis Michael Papadapulous was born outside Athens in 1986. His father was the nation’s former prime minister, his mother a well-known opera singer. Yannis spent much of his youth traveling, and was sent to the prestigious Choate prep school in Connecticut before enrolling at Princeton and staying in the States to earn an MBA at Harvard.

He became known for several start-ups in Greece, and launched a vacation rental service that became the most successful booking agency in his country.

Yannis was catapulted to fame when People magazine, in a special edition dedicated to foreign celebrities, named him Sexiest Greek Man Alive. He was cast in two small films and became a regular presence in international party spots like the Côte d’Azur, Ibiza, and St. Barts.

His father, Giorgios Papadapulous, insisted Yannis return to Greece when he turned thirty to “get serious with his life.”

GIORGIOS PAPADAPULOUS: “My son was very gifted. Even as a boy, he was able to solve difficult math equations in his head. I imagined if he focused on something like economics, given his natural leadership, he could be a great help to his country.”