Hardin's Dilemma

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  I wanted to talk to Historia. I wanted to know what she knew and how she knew it. I had a strange feeling that she could actually help. I went around the building looking for her but couldn’t find her. I thought of the card she gave me but I didn’t want to leave the building. In the end I went back up to the room to face the hunters.

  XIX

  I tried to think up a way to tell the others without them getting mad at me for not doing more. Nothing came to mind. When I got back to the room they were all there looking at me expectantly. Mama had told them the story so I wouldn’t have to.

  Lace came up to me, she looked angry. “We can’t let this happen. Our families are still in there. We have to go in.”

  “They put up guards again. If we go in we will be killed.” My voice was tired, deflated.

  “We made it before.” Morome said.

  I shook my head, trying to get them to understand the hopelessness, a hopelessness that came over me like a wave upon getting out of the meeting with Gilik. “Remember how it was when we got back to the wall, how bad that was? It will be worse now. And even if we get to Humurom there is no way that we can get them all out.”

  “It’s over.” Peter said from the window.

  “No it’s not.” I said, my voice growing for the first time. “We made it. We can represent Humurom.”

  Lace gave me a sickening stare. “I’m going back in. I’ll die protecting my home if I have to.”

  I threw my arms wide. “Look around. Why would you give all this up?”

  “Because it’s not the same without them!” She stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

  I thought about Mama and how I would be if somebody told me I couldn’t go back in to get her out. That’s probably how Lace felt. I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t seeing things from her point of view. I acted and took the chances to go back in and get Mama, and now Lace wanted to do the same thing.

  I sat down, defeated. Dala patted my shoulder.

  “You’re right. We are Humurom now.”

  I had to think of something fast. Lace was going to get killed if she snuck back in alone. Then again we all might get killed if we snuck back in together. I was truly lost.

  There was a knock at the door. It was Mr. Jess. Gilik wanted to see me again. I thanked Mr. Jess and followed him out of the room. As I waited for the elevator I could hear somebody crying down the hall. I was certain it was Lace.

  “Hardin, I’ve made a decision.” Gilik said when I entered his office.

  My heart beat faster. “Yes?”

  “I am going to send five of our top diplomats to Dizuria to confront their leader about this. I have called Leric and he is willing to send a train to hear what we have to say. I didn’t tell him what they are going to talk about, of course.”

  I was overcome with emotion. This wasn’t the best I could have asked for, but maybe it would work out after all. “Thank you sir.”

  Gilik put his hand up. “But we have another problem. You may not be aware of this, but four people have been killed in recent weeks within two blocks of this building. All four killed were young men around your age.”

  “That’s terrible.” I said, not sure what he was getting at.

  “Yes it is.” He continued. “One of the killers was captured this morning trying to board a train for the Dizurian coast. What was strange was that he was wearing the same outfit that you are wearing now.”

  I looked down, completely forgetting what I was wearing with all the stress of talking with Lace and the others. I was still wearing the red Dizurian Dome Project uniform.

  Gilik nodded. “I think you know what that means.”

  I did know. Leric had sent assassins to kill the man who got out of the wall. I’m sure somebody went back to him with a rough idea as to what I looked like. I wonder why he didn’t notice when I was standing in front of his face. He probably never thought I would make it that far.

  “It means Dizurians have been sent to kill me.” I said, looking at the floor.

  “I have a feeling that they didn’t bother wearing disguises. If what you said is true then nobody knew what those uniforms meant, and so wouldn’t think twice about seeing them. I’m going to ask you to leave the city until the diplomats get back.”

  “Why?” I asked suspiciously.

  It wouldn’t be the first time that Gilik sent me somewhere right as I was ready to do something else. I was beginning to think that he would use the killings as an excuse to get me out of his hair.

  “I have a feeling that the killers might get more frequent once the diplomats arrive there. For now they don’t know anything about you being there and so don’t know that we know what we do. They don’t know about the Bozlins yet I don’t think. They have been moved from here and are now living in tents near their new town. We are telling people that they lived here and were sent out there because of overpopulation.” He paused. “I want to safely tell the world that the man from the wall has left the city. I’ve already denied rumors that others came with you. I don’t know if they believe me, but they seem to want you dead most of all.”

  “But why?”

  “I don’t know. Did you do anything besides just get out?”

  I tried to think back. I didn’t recall doing anything that would garner the need for assassins. “No.”

  “Now I suggest that you get packed. Nara has agreed that you and the others that came out with you will go and stay with her family for a few days. Their house is far enough away from this city to give you all some privacy. I’ve told the builders of the new Bozlin town to build a few houses for you all so you can live there. If all goes well with this diplomatic trip than we can get your people out and everything will be just fine.”

  “What did you tell the diplomats to say?” I asked.

  “They are going to tell Leric that we know about their want to have the dome to themselves and that we don’t care. They can have it and we’ll keep the secret as long as they don’t come out on our side and they let the Humurom’s leave. They will live here like the Bozlins, I didn’t mention them, and everything will be better. The most important thing is to end this mess once and for all. Does that sound good? I’m sure you would rather just go back to living your life and be free of the burden. Isn’t that what you want?”

  “And we have to leave?”

  “Yes, that is my decision so that the killings will stop. Nara’s parents agreed to it and everything else is set. You are scheduled to leave in the morning. A few hours later the diplomats will leave for Dizuria. Remember Hardin, this is your home now. Before long you will be out there with the Bozlins. They are making their own houses. They are being trained by professionals and soon will be in charge of the whole thing.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  I thought it over, though I don’t think I had a say in the decision one way or another. I actually thought it was a good idea. I thanked him and left the office, once again feeling the hopefulness that everything was going to get better. I couldn’t wait to tell the others.

  XX

  I went straight up to the room to tell them all the news. They also said that it seemed to be the best option so far. Morome told Lace and somehow got her on board. The only condition was that we come back as soon as we heard any news. I wholeheartedly agreed to that.

  The hunters left to pack for the trip. Mama put her clothes in the Dizurian case that Milton and I found so long ago. She said it reminded her of me more than of Dizuria, but I still felt weird about her bringing it.

  The next morning we woke bright and early and made our way to the train station. It was a cool morning but spring was finally coming in. The usual noise and congestion of morning commuters was oddly muted. When we arrived at the station Gilik was waiting for us with another specialty train. We would be the only passengers.

  “If anything happens I will call Nara straight a
way.” Gilik assured me.

  “Thanks.” I said, not sure what else to say.

  We boarded the train. Lace had calmed down overnight. She talked excitedly about getting to ride a train again. The others seemed equally joyful. Overall we felt that this new plan was going to be the plan that finally brought Humurom out of the wall and an end to all our worries. There was a small part of me that kept creeping into the back of my mind that didn’t believe it. That tiny part of me was certain that something would go wrong. I couldn’t listen to that part of me; I had to be positive once again.

  The train slowly started to move out of the station. I looked back and saw Gilik leaving the platform. He was probably going to give final instructions to the diplomats.

  Mama was quite fascinated by how fast we were going. She was downright mystified when we really started picking up speed.

  Nara sat beside me. “How are you feeling? We haven’t talked much recently.”

  “Sorry.” I apologized. “Thanks by the way, for all of this. You’ve done way too much for all of us.”

  She laughed. “There’s no limit to goodness.”

  “No limit to anything, even bad things.”

  “It can seem that way.”

  The view outside the windows became less congested. Soon fields of grass replaced the cityscape. This trip didn’t have the wonder that the first trip that way had. That day we ended up in a blizzard. One day that wonder would be back. I slouched down in my chair and thought of finally going on that Journey