Behind me, a quiet voice speaks.
“Are you certain he’s the right choice?”
I don’t turn.
“Certainty is a luxury.”
The woman behind me steps closer.
“Then why him?”
Because men like Boone Grant are rare.
Because systems collapse without leaders who understand violence.
Because the world that is coming will require people who can make decisions most others refuse to consider.
But I don’t say any of that.
Instead I rewind the footage.
Boone leaving the sanctuary.
Eli guiding him down the hallway.
The hallway camera takes over.
Their conversation has no audio.
But body language is a language all its own.
Boone relaxed.
Eli confident.
Neither man intimidated by the other.
Good.
Very good.
The woman studies the screen.
“He’s not loyal.”
“No.”
“He’s not predictable.”
“No.”
“He may try to destroy the network.”
“Possibly.”
She crosses her arms.
“That sounds like a poor recruitment strategy.”
