Noam’s breath was a trapped bird in his chest.
“I don’t think so,” Lehrer said.
“Calix—”
“You know the rules,” Lehrer said, his hand falling away. “Act and consequence. Mistakes made sparring should live with you until you learn from them.”
“This wasn’t—this is different, you were—that was past my skill level. It’s not fair. I couldn’t defend myself.”
Lehrer let out a low laugh. “Then I suggest you practice. I won’t tolerate such a pitiful performance a second time.”
Noam stared at him, sweat and fatigue glazing his eyes until Lehrer’s face was an indistinct blur. Because one way or another, he was pretty sure ...
There wouldn’t be a second time.
A heavily revised handwritten draft stolen from the desk of C. Lehrer. Dated ca. coup of 2123.
Notes added by N. Álvaro.
It is withreluctancea sense of great responsibility that I stand before you today,citizens people of Caroliniafellow Carolinians,representing as a representative of the military junta, to accept provisional interimcommandauthority overour thisour government.^As a representative of the military junta andAsa patriot, I accept this duty readilywillingly; but as a man, I must admit I take on this role with a heavy heart. I, like manyin this government, considered Harold Sachaan allya friend.(Lehrer has a long and documented animosity toward H. S., see appendix C § 8.)
But as the report of Attorney General Holloway’s investigation is made public,you will soon realizeit will become clear that^ChancellorHaroldSacha’s treason not only constituted an aggressive act againstAtlantiaa foreign government, but^was violenceagainst all Carolinians.(Lehrer refers to an aggressive act against Atlantia here; records from the former Atlantian government and from the chancellor’s office show Atlantia was preparing to declare war against Carolinia before Lehrer’s junta ordered occupying soldiers in Atlantia to enforce annexation; see appendix D §§ 7–9. The members of the Atlantian government who were party to this decision—incl. Pres. Mary Tran, VP Fredrick Henderson, Maj. Gen. Jeremy Swyers, Maj. Gen. Amanda Shaw, Maj. Gen. Bert López, Maj. Gen. Jamie Kim, among others—all conveniently died of magic infection within two weeks of the annexation, excepting Maj. Gen. Shaw, who survived the virus only to be found dead by apparent suicide four days later; see appendix D § 10.)
This will not be the first time I have been given authority over the government of Carolinia, and neither time was I elected to that authority. The first time I was appointed king by a committee. This time, I have been afforded power by mere virtue of being the highest-rankingmilitary officialcommanderin^ofthe Carolinian armed forces. I do not believe anyone should bebestowed(Emphasis sic)power; power shouldalwaysonly be granted by the people. This is^the principle on whichwhyI abdicated as king and abolished the monarchy, and. I stand bythis beliefthis convictionnow^now.Therefore my goal is to keep tThe interim authority of this military junta^will belimited to no more than two months’ time., sufficient period^In the next two months, we willtohold a special election to replace Chancellor Sacha and hisadministrationcircle of traitors.(See appendix A for evidence of fabricated charges against many of the officials in Sacha’s administration who were speedily executed by guillotine the day following this speech.)
Remaining pages missing.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
DARA
Ames and Dara were halfway through watching a nature documentary on her phone—the kind of film that was mostly an excuse to watch wolves stalk their prey across pale winter landscapes, an exercise in hoping the elk would live but pretty much knowing it wouldn’t—when a knock at the door interrupted the film midhunt.
They exchanged quick looks, and Dara glanced down at his watch.
“Oh,” he said. “It’s already six twenty. I didn’t realize it got so late.”
Ames pushed herself up and tracked over to open the door and let Noam in. He had bags slung over both arms, heavy with contents that turned out to be groceries when Noam unpacked them onto the dresser. Nothing that had to be cooked, of course; the apartment didn’t come furnished with a stove.
There was something unnatural about the way Noam moved, the back of his neck too stiff—like he was uncomfortable being watched.
“It’s a lot of fruit,” Noam said, half an apology. He glanced back over his shoulder; his lower lip was red and chewed on.
“I like fruit,” said Dara.
“Some protein bars.”
Ames met Dara’s eye when Noam turned his back again, her brows knitting together as she tilted her head in Noam’s direction. Dara shrugged.
“You know what,” Ames said. “I actually just realized I forgot something downstairs. Think Leo’ll let me sneak in and snag some snacks while I’m at it?”
“Always worth trying,” Dara said and allowed her a brief smile of gratitude as she slipped out the front door.
Noam kept unpacking, arranging the food atop Dara’s dresser in little clusters by type: fruit, protein bars, styrofoam cups of dried noodles. Dara drew his legs up onto the bed and watched as the back of Noam’s neck flushed a slow, dull pink.
“Do you need any help?”
Finally Noam turned around. “No. Sorry. I’m done.”
