“With a bunch of hired mercs who would just as soon chill you as follow an order? I don’t think so,” Ryan said with a sneer. “And I wouldn’t count on any villes backing up your master plan, either. People always look out for number one, Poseidon. You’re living proof of that.”
“Fear has a way of creating strange bunk mates,” Poseidon replied. “And I wonder how my standing in their eyes will increase once I present you for their entertainment.”
“Bring it on.”
“However, I indeed do tend to look out for myself, as you pointed out. That’s why I collect reports—oral tales of a one-eyed man bringing retribution across the scarred lands of what’s left of this great country of ours, and I have to dismiss much of it as fictions created beside a warm fire to amuse. Or do I?”
“You tell me,” Ryan replied, not sure in what direction the Admiral was taking the conversation.
“The primary reason the reports are not to be believed is due to sheer logistics. You appear one day in West Virginia, and then a week later you’re spotted in New Mexico. Reports have you in Maine, then you show up within days in Snakefish, California. And I think, How? How is this possible?” Poseidon said, walking past Ryan’s chair. “I think to myself, Could there be more than one man claiming to be Ryan Cawdor?”
“Looks like you caught me. I’m twins,” Ryan said with as much hate and venom as he could muster up. “You can tell us apart by the eye patches. My brother wears his on the right eye. Says it’s his best side—”
Poseidon’s hand cracked out like it was spring-loaded, catching Ryan in his good eye. He grunted, but didn’t move from the force of the blow, even as a multicolored explosion of pain blossomed in his right temple.
“You’ll shut up, or I’ll finish blinding you myself,” the big man said, returning to his desk, where he composed himself and again steepled his large hands beneath his bearded chin.
“Then it occurs to me. Why not combine one tall tale with a second? There have been rumors of a futuristic method of traveling, a teleportation device ripped from the pages of old science-fiction novels. None of my contacts have ever seen or encountered anyone with firsthand knowledge, so all I have is theory, rumor, innuendo. Now I have someone with that firsthand knowledge.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to be one colossal disappointment,” Ryan said with a dry laugh.
“My plan to master the seas is one thing, but if I can control any who would challenge me with the forbidden secrets of instantaneous land travel, then I shall be master of the entire world, both surface and underwater.”
“Good fucking luck.”
“You’re the luck I needed, Cawdor. You are the key to the gateways.”
Ryan felt his bravado sink down into his boots. The son of a bitch knew.
“Take your best shot, Admiral. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Then perhaps I have another way of convincing you,” Poseidon said. He sat back down and pressed a button on a desk intercom. “Bring in our guest.”
“Going to kill another woman to try and show me the error of my ways?” Ryan asked.
Poseidon ignored him. “There’s an interesting fact about the sea, Cawdor. Things can be thrown into the depths and never seen again, or things can be thrown into the depths only to be found by those who know what to look for. In fact, life in Deathlands is much like life at sea—you scavenge and try and live off the remains of the past, am I right?”
“If I say yes, will you spare me another lecture?” Ryan asked bitterly.
There was a knock from outside the thick office door.
“Come.”
A man, also in a naval dress uniform, stepped into the room. He snapped off a quick salute to the Admiral, which was returned. “Ah, Commander Bronan. Glad you could join us. Mr. Cawdor isn’t being cooperative. I need a persuader. Do you have it?”
“Outside, Admiral.”
“Then bring in the lady, please.”
The door opened, and as Ryan turned his face for a look, he discovered for once in his life he was struck totally speechless. A mix that was equal parts joy and anger swept across his soul as he stared in joyful disbelief at the woman standing between a pair of frowning, armed sec guards.