The Pearl Wars by Nick James Read Free Book Online Page A

“Yes, yes of course. That certainly can’t be helped with the Unified Party in charge.” He laughs, though it’ s more like a grunt. “ Unified . What a joke. Unified in veng eance, maybe. It’s ironic, you know? In fighting their so-called terrorists they’ve only become more like them. Secretive, scared—a silent dictatorship. They’re like a bug turned over on its back, wiggling its little legs, lashing out at everything el se in hopes of flipping back around.” He chuckles. “If the Tribunal gave me the go-ahead I’d be down there right now, with a big boot to squash them before they turn themselves over. Sometimes I feel ridiculous up here, running this school. I’m not a teacher. I’m a soldier.”
    I want to point out to him that an illegal training base isn’t technically a “school,” but I keep it to myself.
    “Did I ever tell you I served in Operation Blackout?”
    “Several times, sir.” In fact, during school lectures he never shuts up about it. The defining moment that turned the tides of the Chinese-American War , he says.
    Alkine nods, crossing his arms. “Best days of my life. I guess some of us are just born for battle.”
    I glance at the door. Some of us were born to get out of this room.
    “We came so close to a nuclear war,” he continues. “Thirteen years later … we thought it was all over and bam !” He pounds his fist on the desk. I jump in my seat. “Guess that’s what you get for turning a blind eye. Never look away, Fisher. Nev er.”
    Taking the cue, I meet his eyes for a moment and keep my attention glued to his face. Well, more like his shoulder. The face is too threatening.
    He laughs. “I remember this one night on the Chinese border, decades before we nuked them. There was this kid, couple of years younger than me at the time. Come to think of it, you remind me of him. Not a soldier in the strictest sense, but the potential was there.
    “Anyway,” he continues, “the two of us were on a rendezvous assignment … guy from inside the country was meeting us with schematics, stuff we’d need to get in and out of their facility alive. It was a simple mission, just waiting around t o grab a bundle of papers. But as you discovered today, simple missions are never as easy as they sound. Turns out someone tipped off the border patrol. We were outnumbered. But worst of all, we were unprepared.”
    My eyes stray back to the table. “What happened to your friend?”
    He frowns. “Died. Round of bullets right through his chest. Wasn’t quick enough.”
    I fidget in my seat. And this guy reminds Alkine of me? “Sir, do you … uh … want something?”
    He blinks twice. “Am I boring you, Fisher?”
    “No, sir,” I mutter.
    “Well, you’re getting to that age where decisions must be m ade. I don’t want you to end up with a round of bullets through your chest. Your peers and teachers are all well and good, but I want you to feel free to come to me if anything’s wron g.”
    “What would be wrong?”
    “Nothing, nothing,” he says. “I just … well, I know how it can be, growing up with the pressure you kids experience. It’s a rotten card you’ve been dealt some days, being born into the program. I also know that Mr. Wilson isn’t particularly impressed by the limited progress you’re making. Frankly, neither am I. It’s important that you have a strong male influence in your life. I’m trying … that is, I would like to be that person.”
    I look up. A lopsided, uncomfortable smile sits on his face. It’s worse than his frown.
    This is majorly screwed up. Alkine doesn’t interact with students. He leaves that for the teachers. He said it himself. He’s a soldier. “Does that mean that we’d have to, like, spend time together?”
    He sighs. “Jesse, what I’m trying to say is: if you have a problem, you come to me. Should I make that an order?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Okay.” He slaps the top of the desk. “Then go join your friends. Get