The Unfinished World (The Armor of God Book 2) by Diego Valenzuela Page A

again.

     

Chapter 4
    The Abandoned Idol
    When Vivian finished her meal , it felt like it would be her last. Maybe it was General Adams’ eyes staring at her through every bite, barely speaking at all, like she was trying to make sure she finished; it made Vivian feel like she was on trial.
    She had already had enough of that for one day.
    “And you thought you weren’t hungry,” said the general before showing her a rare smile.
    “I’m just going through the motions right now, ma’am,” said Vivian. “My head hurts.”
    “You’re under too much pressure.”
    Vivian pushed her plate to the side and looked General Adams in the eye. “Ma’am, what do I do now? Did I do something wrong with Governor Heath?”
    “I told you: you did well,” said the general. “I’m just afraid it didn’t make the difference we were hoping for. This is a battle between only two people: Director Blanchard and Governor Heath. If I had known that this morning, I would have told you not to bother with today’s interview.”
    “And the people of Roue?”
    “Director Blanchard is trying really hard, but I don’t think it will be worth her efforts,” she said. “I think these will be your last days in Zenith, Poole.”
    Vivian didn’t want to say anything, feeling like the general was being perhaps too pessimistic. “There has to be some way we can help, ma’am. Maybe we can find out who has been trying to sabotage us. Kat Covington was not working alone.”
    “Don’t say her name,” General Adams said. “At least until the vote is made, both Lance Corporal Covington and Sergeant Barnes are outstanding members of the Zenith Armed Forces, alive and well on active duty outside of Roue. Understood?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Vivian said. She began to better understand Ezra Blanchard’s aversion to lies. Intellectually, she understood that there had to be a fabrication to cover up Kat’s betrayal, and the search for Milos Ravana, but knowing the details just made it all appear so flimsy and liable to fall apart like a house of cards.
    She now realized that the slow collapse had begun long ago. Ronald Heath was not a stupid man. Of course he knew they were lying. He was just keeping the citizens of Roue interested in the proceedings, knowing he already had the winning hand.
    “I was supposed to die here,” said Vivian, eyes on the faces of the fortunate dead, framed and hung on the wall of the dining hall in a grim and beautiful display. Speaking was suddenly a challenge—these were sentiments she would have never given words to, had the circumstances around her been different. “I was supposed to die young in here, or live to old age out there . What am I going to do without Rose?”
    “You lived for many years without knowing the Creux even existed.”
    “ And I wasn’t happy ,” she said, and had to keep herself from crying. It was the first time in years; the sensations in her throat and the heat in her face were strange.
    “Poole, even if Zenith is shut down, it doesn’t mean we’ve lost the fight. Remember that the real fight is going on outside, with Perry and Parks—right now the future is in their hands, not yours, or mine. You’ve done your part for now.”
    We’ll see , she thought, still unable to understand the passive, defeated mindset so many people had adopted. How could they be so happy with the idea of letting themselves be taken and leaving the world? “I should’ve gone with them.”
    “I agree,” said General Adams. “And had I known the battle here was already lost, I would’ve sent you as well, like Director Blanchard wanted.”
    She looked up at the general. “She wanted me to go as well?”
    The woman nodded. “When they were planning the operation. The team was originally meant to include Alice Nolan, Garros Parks, Tessa Mason, Akiva Davenport, and yourself. But things changed. Alice died, the director’s son exposed the Creux, Akiva escaped.”
    Vivian tried not to blame anyone