[Author’s Note: This episode is from Karkov's point of view.]
The interlude had been satisfying but far too short. As they relaxed with post-massacre cigarettes, it felt to Karkov like some sad attempt to recapture a shared memory. He did feel satisfaction that Rin had acknowledged — if belatedly — that disrobing had been a good idea, but he also fostered a certain degree of self-reproach for caring what she thought at all.
It was nice to see her naked, though. That nudity had proved unexpectedly useful and probably was the only reason the little cabin still stood. No doubt, the soldiers had planned to open fire the moment the pair emerged from the door. It was hard to tell whether they hated Rin or him more.
As it was, Karkov barely could suppress a chuckle at the men’s discomfiture. They clearly were torn between contempt for him and lust for her, and a chorus of laughter swept the ranks. Karkov was pretty sure they intended to torture him and ravish Rin. Or at least that would be the plan until squabbling inevitably broke out over who got to do what to whom first. Not that it would matter. Whoever survived the infighting would wish they hadn’t.
This was what puzzled Karkov most about the whole affair. The soldiers may not have known what he was, but they surely knew about Rin. Yet they hadn’t brought any special weapons. Not even a tank or two. Those wouldn’t have helped, of course — but at least the soldiers would feel a tiny bit less stupid when they died. If they were going to confront a woman impervious to gunfire, it behooved them to prepare a little. Or stay away. Staying away would be the smart thing to do. Despite Karkov’s best efforts to whip them into shape, the army apparently still was a bunch of useless pricks.
At least, none of the Securitad had joined in. Or had they? If they donned ordinary army uniforms he probably wouldn’t recognize them. Crew-cuts in uniform all looked the same after a while. He wondered whether their wives and children were fungible as well.
No, he was pretty sure none were Securitad. They wouldn’t have been shy about announcing their support for a coup — if that’s what it was. Though he placed little stock in Fervy’s assurances, Karkov was loathe to believe it was a coup. He would have been impressed if it was but doubted Fervy had the stomach for one. The man wasn’t soft, but he also wasn’t an idiot. He understood that Karkov was the source of his power. Without him, Fervy would be just another short-lived despot in a country rife with contenders.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether the Securitad had joined in. Karkov would be disappointed with his supposedly elite guard, but he already was anyway. They clearly lacked the prowess to stop this rabble from inconveniencing him. If that wasn’t the purpose of an elite guard, he didn’t know what was. However, the question of their involvement did have important implications for Daryl’s safety. For some reason, this was his foremost concern at the time. This and the possibility Rin would get bored and leave. Or worse. Women were at their most dangerous when bored.
The action itself had been unimpressive. Karkov had a brief scare when a fountain of burning petrol threatened the cabin, but the fire fizzled out before spreading and his suit remained unharmed. The “revolt” that Fervy had warned of apparently involved only a few dozen soldiers. In Karkov’s experience, most palace revolts did. The soldiers did not need to be many, just properly situated.
Killing them all wouldn’t have been a problem if the men had stayed and fought. Unfortunately, most fled the moment things went awry. Apparently, they only were men when pointing guns at naked people.
Rin wanted to pursue them, Karkov didn’t. To his surprise, she acquiesced. After all, she explained, it was his cesspool. All told, an hour had passed since the soldiers first appeared. Assuming they didn’t regroup and return with reinforcements — which could be fun in its own right — Karkov hoped he and Rin now could finish their discussion undisturbed.
She certainly seemed relaxed enough. He wondered whether she still was in the mood to talk. It would be quite unfortunate if this little incident curtailed her communicativeness.
Rin smiled. “That was nice. It brings back memories.”
Karkov nodded. “I suppose so.”
“There’s always room for more,” he added in a chipper voice.
Rin laughed. “Always working an angle. Just enjoy it for what it was. Better than a last thrust.”
“Speaking of …” Karkov almost burst into laughter at the look on Rin’s face. “Back to that again, are we?” he opined. “Last this, last that. Well, before any of that, I need to chat with Fervy if you’ll excuse me.”
“Do you really need to worry about such things given what’s about to happen to you?”
“I can’t just leave him hanging. As his manager, I have a certain duty toward my employee.”
“How responsible of you.” Rin contemplated the ceiling as she took a drag on her cigarette. “Whatever you want. I’m not sure what the point is since you won’t be around …,” she began, but Karkov already was on the phone. This time, his voice had none of its former animation. It was cold and deliberate.
“Nice little party, Fervy.”
“This was not my idea. I couldn’t stop them.” There was desperation in the man’s voice.
Karkov’s laugh was frigid. “This is the part where the boss declares you forgiven, then presses a button and you sink into lava.”
“Lava?” there was confusion in the tone. “Where would you find lava?”
Karkov squeezed his eyelids shut. “That’s not the point.”
“You’re going to kill me?”
“Afraid?”
There was silence for a few moments. “No. I expected it a long time ago. Now is better than then. At least we had a few good years.”
We? Goddammit, why couldn’t the guy be less likable? If he just blustered and evaded like an ordinary dictator, the decision would be so much simpler.
Karkov sighed. “Here’s what’s we’ll do. You’re going to pretend you were behind this.” He spoke over Fervy’s murmurs of protest. “You’re going to pretend you were behind this. That way I can pretend you are a leader instead of some bozo who can’t control his own men. Do you understand?”
The silence on the other end all but broadcast Fervy’s uncertainty. Any reasonable person would consider such instructions an unambiguous attempt to elicit a confession. If that reasonable person was ambitious or desperate or prideful — or even possessed a modicum of self-respect — it would be clear from their response. Their subsequent actions then would be easy to predict, if inconvenient. It was best to deal with any such inconvenience now rather than risk being interrupted again, perhaps at a particularly inopportune moment. If a human wished to destroy Karkov, inadvertently annoying Rin into doing so would be the best shot they ever had. Besides, it would completely ruin the mood.
To Karkov’s relief, Fervy indicated that he understood. Better yet, his voice had a resigned quality.
“Good. Now, here is what’s going to happen. I’m going to finish the conversation I was having with my wife before we were so rudely interrupted. You, however, have urgent work to do. Can you handle that?”
“What will …,” Fervy began.
“CAN you handle that?”
“Yes,” came the muted but clear response.
“We killed about twenty soldiers. There were at least twice that. They’ll think you are on their side because you didn’t stop them. I want you to announce that there will be a second wave. Bring them all in. Everyone who escaped and everyone who missed their chance just now. Let’s have one big party.”
“Then what?”
“Incinerate them. And I don’t mean figuratively. Burn them alive. All of them. Use the Securitad. I want no survivors.”
There was an audible gasp on the other end. Karkov understood the man’s surprise. Fervy wasn’t squeamish about such things and probably expected that such actions would be necessary. Perhaps he even would have done it unasked. But he clearly never expected Karkov to demand it of him.
Fervy must have seen him a certain way — maybe as the type who would order an execution here or there, and only in extremity. Even on that fateful day, Karkov had killed only when necessary and with the appearance of self-defense. This was different. It was a purge. Well, it would be a good lesson for the man.
“Are we clear?”
“But why?” Fervy protested.
“Are you questioning me?” Karkov snapped, though he quickly relented. He needed an ally more than a puppet. “They’ve seen me fighting. Remember what you saw?”
“Yes,” Fervy quietly replied.
“Well, there are two choices. Either you can kill them all before they share this tidbit of info with their friends. Or I can kill you and them and all their friends. The entire army, if need be. Maybe even the entire country. All I need is one survivor, somebody to be the new Leader. I’ll be too busy to take my time with most of them, but I’ll make time for you. Lots of time. Not because you betrayed me or failed me or displeased me. But because there will be a new leader and I fucking hate picking names.”
“But burning?” came the feeble protest. “Is it to send a message?”
“No,” Karkov explained. “It’s because I feel like it. They caused me considerable inconvenience and then were too cowardly to stay and fight. Their braver comrades died quickly. Well, some of them.”
There was silence, so he continued. “So, gather them all. Now. Kill them all. Now. And do make sure you get them all. Err on the side of caution. Too many, not too few. Got it?”
After a few seconds with no response, Karkov looked at his phone. They still were connected.
“Got it?”
Finally, there was a reply. “Yes.”
Karkov’s tone suddenly lightened. “Oh, and videotape the executions. You never know when that sort of material could come in handy.” He took a deep breath. “One other thing: try to live up to your name.”
“How do you mean?”
“Show some fervor.”
Karkov hesitated a moment, debating whether to have the man check on Daryl. No, that would be too dangerous. If Fervy did get notions, it would be better not to alert him to the boy’s importance.
After hanging up, he returned his attention to Rin.
“Still there?”
She regarded him with lids half shut. “Felt like an eternity.”
Karkov smiled and sat opposite her.
“And Fervy?” Rin asked in a tone of utter disinterest.
He shrugged. “He’ll be fine. I really like the fellow, and that’s all that matters. He’s a lot like your Darrouil, you know. Well, not as good looking. Or as naive.”
Rin’s eyes turned to ice.
Karkov broke into a broad grin. “Ah, that’s the look. I was worried this nonsense would ruin the mood. Well, then, shall we finish our little relationship talk? I think we still have a few marital issues to work through.”