The Remnant. Laura Nolen Liddell

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СКАЧАТЬ actually curious about this. Let’s hear these demands.”

      I took a breath. “Okay. All right. First, no Adam.”

      “Noted.”

      “And I want citizenship.”

      “In the Remnant? You got it. Matter of fact, none of this is gonna work out otherwise.” He slung an arm over the top of the hatch.

      “No. I mean, yes. The Remnant. But for my whole family. Not just me. I know you have my brother.”

      Isaiah froze, his hand still on the door of the hatch, his chin slightly out.

      “West Turner,” I said. “I know you know that’s my brother, Ise.”

      He exhaled. “I thought this might come up.”

      I made my voice firm. “Permanent, irrevocable citizenship for me, my dad, and my brother.”

      “Actions have consequences.” He gave me a frustrated look. “For most people, anyway. I’m trying to build something here.”

      “And a full pardon for all of us.”

      “Oh, is that all?”

      “No stealing.”

      He tilted his head to one side. “No stealing unless you agree to it.”

      I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Good luck with that. Also, no lying to me.”

      “No deal,” he said flatly.

      I looked up at him, surprised. “Fine. Then that one goes both ways.”

      “Whatever you gotta do,” he said calmly. “That about cover it?”

      I steeled myself. “No Adam. That one’s non-negotiable.”

      He looked at me in stony silence.

      “It can’t be done without Adam,” said Marcela. She sounded like she was suppressing some kind of incredulous laugh.

      Let her laugh, I thought. She’s not the one I need to convince. I thought of the dead guards from my last mission, but I could no longer find their faces in my memory. All I could see was Adam, and the look in his eyes as he stepped over their bodies.

      When I spoke again, there was iron in my voice. “You have to choose, Ise. Him or me.”

      “You can’t do that,” said Adam. “I’m a part of this. You can’t—”

      “You,” Isaiah said simply.

      They looked at him in shock.

      “You’re dismissed, Adam,” said Isaiah, without turning his head. “Thank you for your service.”

      There was a tense moment, then a dark look came over Adam’s face. But instead of putting up a fight, he turned soundlessly and left the room. We watched him go.

      “Okay. I think that’s everything.”

      I made a move toward the hatch, but Isaiah blocked my way.

      “Hey now, Charlotte. I have a few demands of my own.”

      The hairs on my neck stood up slowly. “Like?”

      “This mission. You do as I say—exactly as I say—we complete the objective, and we get back here in one piece.”

      “I barely know anything about the mission.”

      “I’ll explain it on the way. Don’t give me that look,” he said, correctly guessing my expression. “I’m not the one who can’t go a day on the outside without committing a felony.”

      “You still worried about that judge?” I shrugged. “She sentenced me to death. I barely scratched her.”

      “Uh huh,” he said, like he was waiting for me to finish a thought.

      I was still for a moment, then narrowed my eyes in disbelief. “Wait a minute. Did you organize this whole thing on purpose?”

      “Let’s just say I knew you weren’t going down without a fight. There’s a reason I chose to hold the trial so close to the dark space, in a room you were familiar with.”

      I blinked at him. “You sentenced me?!”

      “No, little bird. That part was real. You got there all on your own. I got you out. I had to get you away from the crowd, out of the system, in order to make this work. You were still mad at me. I know you well enough to realize there was only one way to do that.”

      “Your entire plan hinged on me kidnapping a judge? What the heck kind of a mission is this, anyway?”

      “You didn’t have to take it that far. Can’t say I really saw the whole thing coming.” He gave me a serious look, but spoke mildly. “But I figured you could handle yourself. The mission is critical. That’s all I’ll say for now. You’re not the type to be put off by a little danger.”

      “No, I’m not. But if anything happens to me, if I don’t make it back… my family—”

      Isaiah frowned. “I’d take care of them, Charlotte. I thought you would know that.”

      “I’m just… trying to cover my bases.”

      He shook his head. “They covered now?”

      I paused, then gave a single nod.

      “So let’s go.”

      He leaned back, still standing in front of the airlock, until I reached out, afraid he was falling. At the last possible second, he bent at the waist and fell backwards through the hatch, leaving me gaping after him.

      “Wait, you’re going with me? Not… her?” I blinked apologetically at Mars, still processing everything.

      “You know what they say, Charlotte. You want a job done, you got to—”

      “Avoid a land war in Asia,” Mars cut in, her voice like acid.

      Isaiah chuckled from the darkness. There was ice in my spine.

      “Wait! Send the agreement back to the Remnant, in writing.” I hesitated. “In case you don’t come back, either. All right?”

      “Fair enough. Full citizenship for her family, if I don’t come back,” he said to Marcela. “Think you can handle that?”

      They exchanged a look. Both appeared to be suppressing a smile. “I’m on it, King.”

      “Thank you kindly,” he said easily. “Now. Let’s shake on it.” He lifted his hand up through the open hatch, and I realized I was gripping the edge of the airlock with the strength of four men. I stared at my fingers, willing them to release it, and fumbled for Isaiah’s hand.

      He СКАЧАТЬ