the top of a long antenna, while slanted glass windows showed where the hovercraft’s operator stayed. The machine roared toward them as it blew spray and foam across the water.
“It’s heading straight at us, sir,” Manteuffel shouted in warning.
Hawthorne’s legs tightened. He wanted to hurl himself to the grass. But that would be too undignified. Then he wondered if he’d become too proud. Wouldn’t it be wiser to throw himself prone and survive, then keep his pride, stand and die? But if this were a test of his mettle and the outcome would determine if the colonels betrayed their masters—
Before Hawthorne could convince himself to hit the ground, the hovercraft rose up on a cushion of air and then whined less as it settled onto the sand. A few moments later, a hatch opened and three people jumped onto the sand.
They trudged toward him. Hawthorne recognized Cone in her black jacket and sunglasses. The big man beside her must be McLeod. He had wild red hair, a mass of freckles and likely possessed a Viking heritage. Even in combat fatigues, the man looked as if he should be captaining a dragon-boat of old. The other one must be Colonel Naga. He was slim, with black hair that almost seemed purple. Dangling from his neck was a pair of goggles.
Soon, Cone raised her hand and shouted a greeting.
Hawthorne waited, watching as McLeod and Naga glanced at each other. Cone spoke to them. McLeod laughed loudly and nodded. Naga glanced back at the hovercraft.
“Stay here,” Hawthorne said.
“Sir, I don’t recommend this,” Manteuffel said.
As he strode down the grassy dune, Hawthorne smiled to himself. Those had been Captain Mune’s favorite words. It brought a pang of nostalgia. Now there had been a bodyguard.
The sand crunched under the soles of his shoes. In moments, he met the trio in the middle of the sandy beach.
Cone introduced him, and then introduced the colonels to Hawthorne. Holding out his hand, Hawthorne shook each of theirs. McLeod had a crushing grip, and seemed compelled to try to break bones by squeezing. The blue eyes showed exactly what McLeod was doing: sizing up the Supreme Commander of Social Unity. Naga bowed slightly at the waist. He had dark hooded eyes like a snake, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
They spoke a few pleasantries. Then McLeod glanced around. “I don’t see any soldiers. Do you think you can take Colonel Naga and me?”
“More importantly,” Hawthorne said, “do you think we can take Earth back from the Highborn?”
McLeod put his ham-like hands on his hips and laughed. “What happened in North and South America, there’s your answer, man.”
“If you don’t think we can defeat the Highborn, why are you here?” Hawthorne asked.
“The Highborn left me to die,” McLeod said. “Me! There isn’t a better soldier on the planet. I left pieces of my flesh on three different continents for them. You’d think they’d be grateful.”
“Are you grateful when a dog injures itself protecting your house?”
“You watch your mouth, Hawthorne.” Colonel McLeod glanced around, and he smirked openly at Hawthorne. “Two steps and I can snap your neck before any of your hidden security teams can do squat.”
“What would that gain you?” asked Hawthorne.
“It would be as good a way to die as any,” McLeod said.
“What would be a good way to live?” asked Hawthorne.
“If the asteroids strike Earth,” Colonel Naga said in a quiet but authoritative voice, “what does any of this matter?”
“That we die free,” Hawthorne said.
“I am free,” said Naga.
Hawthorne shook his head. “You two are just a pair of subhumans to the most bigoted individuals the Earth has ever seen. To the Highborn, you are dogs. That they’ve spent your blood recklessly ought to prove it to you.”
“Your soldiers have died in greater numbers than ours,” McLeod said.
“Our soldiers have died to keep their freedom and their planet. What have your men died for?”
“Glory,” said McLeod.
“How does glory feed your family?” asked Hawthorne. “How does glory keep humanity free?”
“The Highborn have deserted us,” Colonel Naga told McLeod.
“They’re highhanded blokes, no doubt about that,” McLeod said, scowling. “I’d like to stick it in their arses before I’m burned to a crisp. What do you have in mind, Supreme Commander?”
“That you stand with us against them,” Hawthorne said. “They’re highhanded, as you said. They’re arrogant and spit on all of us. I’m tired of it, and I suspect you’re tired of it, too.”
“You are said to possess the entire FEC roster,” Naga said. “Political Harmony Corps desires to march each of us before a brick wall and shoot us.”
“I’ve de-fanged Political Harmony Corps,” Hawthorne said. “If you join us, I’ll delete the lists.”
“…And?” asked Naga.
“And the Free Earth Corps can keep the territories it has conquered,” Hawthorne said. “I’m also willing to recognize you as the highest authority in North America.”
“I’d want South America,” McLeod said. “There are some pretty women in those sectors.”
“Can each of you sway his men?” asked Hawthorne.
McLeod snapped his meaty fingers. Naga made another faint bow.
“What about other officers, other colonels?” Hawthorne asked.
“There is much anger,” Naga said. “But there is also much fear. How do you propose to defeat the Highborn?”
“I’m not proposing anything fancy,” Hawthorne said. “But I am offering you the chance to rejoin Social Unity and help us kill the genetic supremacists who dare to act like gods among us.”
“They left me to die,” McLeod said. “I can’t ever forget that. I don’t care a whit about Social Unity or your brotherhood of humanity propaganda. But I do want to kill the Highborn and teach them their mistake. They shouldn’t have abandoned Earth or the soldiers who fought so long and hard for them.”
“What guarantees do you have that I will gain North America?” Naga asked quietly.
“My word,” said Hawthorne.
“A word easily broken to those you consider traitors,” Naga said.
“Did you see me flee when you drove the hovercraft at me?” asked Hawthorne.
“You stood your ground like a soldier,” McLeod said begrudgingly.
“What is your point?” asked Naga.
“A man is a man, and he keeps his word.”
“Quaintly stated,” Naga said. “But it does have validity. Yes, I am ready to fight the Highborn. But there are others in FEC who will not join our unity.”
“We’ve our work cut out for us,” Hawthorne said. “You two gentlemen are the kernel toward uniting the Free Earth Corps and Social Unity. Therefore, you two should reap the lion’s share of the reward.”
“Will the Earth survive?” asked Naga.
Hawthorne glanced up at the clouds. So did the others. “That is still being decided,” Hawthorne said.
-80-
Aboard the
Highborn officers glanced at him. Their eyes radiated intensity as their muscled chests swelled and their biceps repeatedly flexed, making their uniformed sleeves ripple.
“We are the Highborn!” Cassius shouted, slapping his thick chest. “From primordial days, to antiquity, to medieval times, to the Age of Reason—all the way to our modern era, none have possessed our greatness. We crush those who dare to take a stand against us.” As he spoke, Cassius raised his large right hand and curled his
