Hardin's Dilemma

Ship to see the world. It wouldn’t be too long now.

  For the next few hours we talked about trains, snow, and speed cookers. The words Dizurian, wall, and diplomats were not uttered once. Before I knew it we were slowing. The long stretch of stone that made up the platform came into view. We disembarked the train. It was becoming a nice warm spring day. Nara led the way towards the house. I told everyone all about my last time there on the train and didn’t have anything left to say. They were really excited about seeing the lake.

  The house came into view a minute later. It was at the top of a small hill and had several large trees nearby. Mr. Kilray came out of the house and waved to us. A woman appeared next to him. That must have been Mrs. Kilray. She looked a lot like Nara except for her graying hair.

  Mr. Kilray came up to greet us. “Welcome home Nara.” He turned to me. “So nice to see you again Hardin. When Nara asked me if you all could come I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I love having company.”

  I shook his hand. “It’s nice to be back.”

  He went around and introduced himself to everyone. I wondered how much he knew about why we were there. I hoped he didn’t know much.

  Mrs. Kilray took us out back to see the lake. It was very beautiful in the midday spring sun. I had to joke about the lack of ice. I felt that they were getting sick of my ‘when I was here last time’ stories but I was enjoying myself too much to care. I had to continually tell myself that things could go wrong quickly just to keep from feeling too great about being back at that house. It was definitely a highlight of my first time in Azureland.

  We went back to the front and the hunters and Mama went into the house. I looked back the way we came, trying to see if I could see the dome. I couldn’t; we were too far away. Maybe that was a good thing. I told myself once again that everything was going to be fine while we were there. Gilik knew what he was doing and the diplomats would save the day. Leric would give up the Humuroms and Azureland would never tell anyone about them being in there. All would be well.

  I turned and started into the house to hear Mr. Kilray give out the sleeping arrangements. I breathed a sigh of relief. Only seven days until the bracelets were obsolete. Only seven days before we could feel what it was like to have normal lives.

  The first chapter of the final story in the Hardin’s War series

  Hardin’s Calling

  I sat in the darkened kitchen of the Kilray house. My hands clutched the warm cup of tea I made using the Speed Cooker. It was my first successful attempt at getting it to work. I could hear the soft breathing of the hunters sleeping in the living room. Lace was on the couch while Dala, Peter, and Morome were on the floor. I could not even see Dala; she had disappeared in the heap of blankets Mrs. Kilray had set out for her. I hoped they liked their stay. They seemed to. Mr. Kilray had taken them out on the lake just a few hours before. It was dark, but that didn’t stop them from telling stories about how wonderful it all was when they got back.

  My mind worked through various fantasies, as it usually did. They all started with the diplomats Gilik sent to Dizuria getting on the train. I imagined them forming a plan of action and then arriving in Diz City with all the necessary weapons to take down the entire government. Leric would surrender immediately and call off all the wall guards he sent out.

  I took a sip of the tea. It was still warm. I sighed deeply and looked out a window into the back yard. It was too dark to see the lake. All I could see was my reflection frowning back at me in the dim lighting. I shook slightly, I was becoming increasingly nervous. There was a time limit now. Only seven days left until the bracelets switched over and we would never get back into the wall. My fantasies turned dark. What if the whole venture was a disappointment? What if the diplomats came back after only making things worse? I didn’t dare think about that.

  I put my head in my hands and groaned. How did all this happen? Well I knew when it started. It all began when Milton and I brought those cases back while hunting. The very next day Milton was killed and I started to build my determination to make sure everybody got out of Humurom alive. That was only one year ago. It seemed like so much longer. Five years felt closer to reality.

  The ceiling creaked. Someone was moving around. I could hear footfalls on the stairs. Nara appeared. She wore a pink dressing gown. She went into the kitchen and began using the Speed Cooker. She paid no attention to me. When finished she came over and sat across from me, setting a cup of tea down on the table.

  We sat for a while without talking, without even making eye contact. I fixed my sights on the window again, straining to see something through the darkness.

  “How’s the tea?” She finally said, stirring hers with a spoon.

  I looked at her. She smiled but I knew it wasn’t genuine. “It’s alright.”

  She looked down into her cup. “This kind was always my favorite. My dad used to buy it for me when I was little. It calmed the nerves. Still does. We used to always try different things in the winter. Different deserts, different breads. It always was a big deal because the store is so far away. What did you eat?”

  I wasn’t going to tell her about Nutrition. I thought back to see if there was something else. “I once shared a can of fruit. It was one of the last. I thought it was the best tasting stuff in the world. I don’t remember what it was exactly. I gave a piece to Peter, he liked it too. We used to talk about all the food we read about and wondered what it all tasted like. We had a scale we used. The food we thought would taste the best was labeled as fruit like. Looking back that can was probably so bad we were lucky it didn’t kill us.” I smirked at the thought. “We’re lucky everything didn’t kill us actually.”

  She shook her head, still looking into her cup. “I can only imagine how bad it was in there.”

  “Please don’t.”

  She looked up. “Sorry.”

  “It’s alright.” I mumbled.

  I finished my tea and set the cup down. Maybe it did calm the nerves. I felt a bit better than I had before.

  “Do you want to live with the Bozlins?” Nara asked.

  I wasn’t expecting that question. It took a moment for me to think it over. “I guess. It’s better than being in the government building, constantly feeling that I owe everyone.”

  “We can get you a job. But first we need to get you an identity. The president can authorize giving you an I.D. and a place of birth in Azureland. You can even choose a last name.”

  “I like yours.”

  Her spoon clanked on the side of the cup. “That’s a good one.”

  “So it would be like I’m a normal Azure and nobody would ever know?”

  “Exactly. He can’t do much now, but once things get sorted out a bit he can get it done. Then you can go anywhere in Azureland and start over for good.”

  “That sounds great.”

  I imagined all the things I could do as an actual Azure. I realized I didn’t know anything I could do except get a job. But I’m sure there were a lot of things available for me once that happened.

  “Gilik will probably want you to do it soon. But it’s your decision.”

  “He doesn’t seem to want me involved with anything anymore.”

  “It’s not that.” She leaned in close as though someone might be listening. “He doesn’t want to get involved. He’s afraid of losing his job if people find out anything. He’s been playing it cool, but trust me, he’s worried that you might be the end of him. He’s been elected three times. He’s tried to get rid of the council by continuingly giving them time off and doing things himself. That’s why the president keeps coming, to force him from doing everything.” She leaned back and nodded. “Please never mention any of that.”

  “I won’t.”

  Nara looked over at the sleeping hunters in the living room. “How about them? What are they going to do?”

  I shrugged. “
They’ll probably take you all up on that offer to become citizens. We can all start over.”

  “And Stud?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s a good idea to wait until all this is over to do anything.”

  Once again we sat in silence. I thought over what she said about Gilik. I suppose it was pretty obvious that he was worried about me messing things up for him. I didn’t mean to, but that’s what happens when so many secrets are kept away from people. I was the Nutrition of Azureland.

  “You know I almost gave up. I almost wanted to just leave on that ship and forget the whole thing.”

  “Anybody would have wanted to do that.” She said comfortingly.

  “But those Humurom’s need me. I’m the only one still trying to save them.”

  “And you will one way or another.”

  I looked at her suspiciously. “You shouldn’t say that. Not if you work for the government.”

  “We all have our secrets. If there is any way I can help let me know.”

  “I will.”

  I was becoming worried about all these secrets.

  She stretched her arms out in front of her. “That’s it then. I’ve wanted to talk with you alone for a while now. Maybe I’ll be able to get to sleep now.”

  “I know how you feel. With those diplomats gone I’ve had the hardest time sleeping tonight.”

  “You will probably have time for a nap during the day.”

  “After the hunters go out on the lake again.”

  She stood up.