I leaned in. “Is this Droog?” I asked.
Chapter 29
The voice shrieked with delighted laughter. “You know it is! Who am I talking to? Are you a terrorist?”
This was a bad idea all around. Nobody other than Roger knew I was doing this. Across the way, Mrs.Gonzales was still draped over her dead husband. Whatwasshe going to do now? They had been each other’s world. They were all each other had left. It wasn’t fair.
I need you to get angry.
Now, in the context of all that had happened, Rosita’s words felt like an accusation, a condemnation.
Before, we’d been assuming that not many people were coming to our aid online because nobody believed us. They believed the whole terrorist story was real. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that people didn’t care. The terrorist story helped ease them into it, but now I couldn’t help but wonder how many fewer people really would’ve signed up if they’d simply said, “These people are different than us. Give us money, and you can kill them with no consequences.”
I want all of them dead,Lulu had said.
My fists were so clenched, they were starting to hurt.You want me to be angry? And these viewers? You want cruelty? Fine.
“I’m not a terrorist,” I said. “At least I wasn’t. Not until you attacked.”
I remembered Opel’s warning that we weren’t allowed to spread “propaganda.” But at that moment, I didn’t care. I took a deep breath.
Mr.Gonzales had been born in orbit of this world, just like Grandpa Lewis. He’d spent his entire childhood training for landfall while the advance team surveyed the planet. He’d come down to a new, untamed world. He’d spent every waking moment of his life building a home with his bare hands. He’d suffered untold tragedies and setbacks in the process, including the deaths of his two sons.
And he bore it all with a smile on his face. Never complaining. Not once that I could remember.
He’d never hurt anyone. If he saw someone needed help, he did everything he could to assist them. The man was the very definition of kindness.
He used to make fruit juice Popsicles. He’d give them away to anyone who asked for them. And his wife, she would make cinnamon rolls. It was a secret family recipe that had come from Earth. Just last week, she’d told Lulu and Rosita and Harriet that she would give the recipe to them because they were as close to granddaughters as she would ever get.
And these assholes? There was no reason for any of this. It was so…senseless.
It was just a game to them. Just a game. Another stream to follow. Another type of cruelty to keep them entertained.
Droog gave out another high-pitched laugh. “Weattackedyou? Oh, that’s rich! Six point five million! Everyone, tell your friends! Droog is interviewing a subhuman terrorist live! Tell me, terrorist asshole, what should I call you?”
“My name is Waldir,” I said, using the name of Droog’s father. Ileaned in right to the audio unit and whispered, “But you can call me Didi.”
There was a pause. “Okay, Didi. We all thought your main leader was in Fat Landing. I was there when we wiped that shithole off the map. We assembled today to take down another base, and we got fucked in seconds by your defenses. We’ll be back, though. Is that the main base? Are you the terrorist supreme?”
“I’ll tell you what, Droog,” I said. “Or should I call you Benicio? Let’s play a game. I’ll answer your questions truthfully if you answer mine.” I put my hand over the microphone. “Roger, let me know when you think his stream has maxed out viewers.” I tapped the earpiece. “And give me his home address when I ask for it.”
The scout just made a click.
“Okay, then,” Droog said. He suddenly sounded a little unsure of himself. “But me first. Answer my question. Are you the leader of the Rhythm Mafia?”
“I’m just the drummer,” I said. “My turn. Why does your mother have a restraining order out on you, Benicio?”
“What?” Droog asked. There was a really long pause.
“I just typed, ‘Answer him, you b-word,’ in the chat,” Roger said in my ear. “He is just sitting there looking uncertain.”
Droog finally let out a tentative laugh. “Fuck, Droogies. I think this is fake. No way these shitbirds know anything about me. I’ve been hacked.”
“Maybe youhavebeen hacked,” I said. “Or maybe we have been keeping careful track of every prick who has set foot on our planet, and we’re going to take care of each of you one by one. For example, I know you live at…”
“Unit block 113, apartment 12,” Roger said in my ear. “District 441.”
I repeated the address.
