Phoenix Rising (Book Two of The Icarus Trilogy) by Kevin Kauffmann Read Free Book Online

to say, boy.  Look me in the face when you do it.  And don’t bother with the big words.  I know you’re limited to curses, bigotry and simple thoughts,” Carver said.  The old man wouldn’t let it show, but he really did want someone to say it all.
    “I know I always say this, Carver,” Warner began, suddenly letting his fury subside.  This was not some passionate anger like the frustration he had felt with the others.  With Carver the loathing ran deep.  This was a cold anger.  Warner saw the old man, this legend on the battlefield, and hated him for what he was wasting.  It was going to feel so good to crush the man’s spirit.  Warner would write about it later in his journal; the words would flow out like a tidal wave.  He took a breath and continued.
    “You’re old.  And I say that with as much respect as possible.  You’ve fought every day of your life for the last, what, forty years?  You were a soldier and then you became a murderer just because you didn’t know anything else.  For me it was the opposite.  I killed a few people; we all know this.  And then I got here.  And I knew from day one I wasn’t gonna to get out.  There was that one little tease when Jenkins first got here, and you can all shut the fuck up because I’m over that.  I’m stuck here.  You’re all stuck here,” Warner said while sweeping his hands over his audience.  Then he stood up and pointed at Carver.
    “But he wasn’t.  He hasn’t been for years.  He’s been able to leave, he’s been able to retire, maybe even to Solaria or Elysia, the ENTIRE TIME I’ve been here.  He could have hung up his rifle and lived in peace.  He could have had the good life; probably settle down with some big-titty girl a third of his age.  Maybe even a couple of ‘em.  Only reason he stayed is that ‘he’s known war his entire life,’” the convict said, exaggerating the last statement, before walking up to Carver and standing over the veteran.  Roberts knew that Carver could rip the younger man apart if he wanted.
    “I can understand a lost soul, but Carver, you’re fucking old.  You can live without the constant threat of death; you’re close enough to it as is.  But you,” he said before smiling and turning his head in disbelief.  The convict laughed and shook his head.  “You gave it all up.”  Roberts was unable to stop watching the man tear apart this legend.  Warner was a criminal and he was bringing a god under his feet.
    “You gave up your fortune.  You gave up your retirement,” he said before whipping around and clenching his fists in front of him, “FOR FUCKING JENKINS!”  The man roared those five syllables and almost brought his hands down onto the veteran in front of him.  He took a few ragged breaths and stared at this symbol of waste.  Jonathon Carver wasn’t going to be a legend anymore; he was just going to be a sad, old man.  Warner collected himself and sneered at the old Crow.  The veteran was staring back, but there was no resolve left.  Carver just wanted to hear the truth and Warner was going to give it to him.
    “You used your freedom, your money, to take away that boy’s personality and replace it with a psycho.  Just because you felt guilty about some redneck who killed himself a few years ago.  I don’t care if you were the one who taught him everything you know, it’s not something you kill yourself for.  Washington was your fault, granted, I’ll give you that, you miserable, old man,” Warner said, letting the man stew in his own guilt.  Warner didn’t even believe the statement, but it was enough to see the veteran torture himself.  “But you could have gotten out and you didn’t.  Just for a fuckin’ kid.  And that’s unforgivable,” Warner said before walking back to his seat and throwing his helmet on the ground.  It hit the bench on the other side and then rolled back over to Roberts’ feet.  The visor was cracked and if Warner