فصل 47

47

Losing Faith

As the ships neared the island, the shells fell with greater accuracy. The fourth and fifth shells struck within seconds of each other, creating a hole big enough for a dozen men to enter at once.

“They got their front door,” Jack said.

“She’s still coming closer,” Ostin said. “And the other ships are turning north.” “That’s where the dock is,” Enele said. “They are preparing to land.” Then Nazil and Tomas came up to the third floor. “Enele, they’ve opened the wall,” Nazil said. “Your orders?” “My orders remain as before. We know where they are coming; prepare your men to hold the fortress.” “We are prepared,” Nazil said. “We have a machine-gun nest in place.” Just then another shell struck. It was well placed and landed a few yards inside the hole they’d blown in the wall. It shook the building and filled the lower level of the depository with smoke.

“Enele, you need to get below to the vaults,” Raphe said. “They can withstand the ship’s cannons.” Enele didn’t move.

“Sir.”

“Why? So Hatch can put me in a monkey cage like my grandfather? No, I’ll fight to the end. I will stand here when the Uira te Atua comes in his glory.” He looked out over the ocean and the nearing ships. “Uira te Atua, do not let our faith be in vain.” Then he said, “Why is he waiting?” “Because he is not coming,” Tomas said. “Because it is all just myth.” “Do not speak so,” Raphe said.

“We are doomed,” Tomas said.

“Go below with your troops,” Enele ordered.

“Troops,” Tomas said. “They are basket weavers.” Nazil and Tomas left the floor.

Ostin said to himself, “Michael, if you’re coming, now would be a good time.” * * *

The good news was that the battleship stopped shelling the depository. The bad news was that it was because the other three Filipino ships were about to dock and release their troops.

Looking out the north wall slot of the fourth level, Jack could see the ships lined up, the men on dock armed and ready to swarm the island. He estimated that there were at least several thousand soldiers just on the first ship, half Elgen, half Filipino. Hatch had efficiently brought in his guard from around the world. “Here they come.” He turned back to Ostin. “It’s déjà vu.” “Yeah,” Ostin said. “Hades all over. Except this time, it’s without Michael.” He breathed out heavily as a gangplank began to extend from the ship.

“At least we’ll be with him soon,” Jack said.

“What do you mean?”

Jack pointed skyward. “In heaven.” “You think there’s a heaven?” Ostin asked.

“There’s got to be.”

“Why is that?”

“Look around you. We know there’s a hell. There’s got to be balance, somewhere.” “What if there’s not?”

Jack shook his head. “Then we’ll never know, will we?” Ostin’s eyes filled with tears. “My poor parents.” “They’ve got their own problems. In some ways, we’re the lucky ones.” “How’s that?”

“When you’re dead, you’re free. No pain, no Elgen. No Hatch.” “No fear,” Ostin said.

“Are you afraid?” Jack asked.

Ostin nodded. “Terrified. Are you?” Jack looked at him. “I try not to think about it.” Just then one of the ships blew a horn.

“They do that before they unload,” Ostin said.

“I need to make sure everyone is ready,” Jack said.

He ran around the fourth floor, checking out his twelve riflemen and three machine gunners.

“This all the ammo we have?” Jack asked one of the machine gunners. In light of the growing enemy, the twenty-two boxes they had seemed inadequate.

“Yes, sir,” the gunner replied. “We brought up all we have.” “All right. Don’t waste ammo. We’ll at least make them fight their way in.” Just then a door opened on the ship’s second level and a second gangplank extended to the dock.

“What’s that?” Ostin said.

Jack looked out at the boat. “They’ve got a tank. That’s not fair.” “We are so screwed,” Ostin said.

Jack looked at Ostin. “Remember that time when we caught you behind the school and Wade pantsed you, underwear and all?” “I’ll remember that until the day I die. Which is probably today, anyway. Why?” “Sorry.”

“You’re apologizing now?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I forgive you.”

“And Wade?”

“I’ll forgive him, too.”

“Thanks.”

“I don’t forgive Mitchell.”

“Well, he did let us hang out at his place when the Elgen were hunting us.” “That’s true.”

“And he paid for all that pizza.” Ostin sighed. “Okay. I’ll forgive him, too.” A moment later Ostin said, “Since we’re doing this, I need to apologize too.” “For what?”

“Back when I found out that you were driving Michael and me to California, I told Michael that I didn’t like you.” “Of course you didn’t. We pantsed you.” “Yeah. Well, I also said if Wade was in a shark tank and asked for help, I’d throw in chum.” Jack laughed. “Good thing you didn’t say that to my face. Back then I probably would have smacked you.” “I figured.”

“Not that you did anything wrong, but I forgive you too. I think Wade would too.” “Thanks.”

Jack and Ostin both looked at the tank sitting on the gangplank. “Our guns won’t do a thing to that,” Ostin said.

“See that tank in back?” Jack said. “The smaller one with the weird gun? It’s not really a tank.” “What is it?”

“Really? I actually know something you don’t know?” “I don’t know everything,” Ostin said.

“You could have fooled me. It’s an M132 armored flamethrower.” “An unstoppable flamethrower. That’s not good.” “No. If they’re smart, they’ll drive it inside that hole they breached and push us back. The halls are wide enough for it. And if not, they’ll just drive through them. We’ve got to tell Nazil to set the land mines.” “This is all kinds of happy,” Ostin said. “Do you know where the flamethrower tank came from?” Jack shook his head. “No idea.” “Britain. It was developed late in World War II. They called it the Churchill Crocodile.” “I always wanted a weapon named after me,” Jack said. “Like the Sherman tank or the Pershing missile.” “Really?”

“Yeah. I thought that would be cool.” “I always wanted a university named after me,” Ostin said.

“It would have happened,” Jack said. “And there would be a statue of you in front of it. Ostin University.” Ostin smiled. “People would get it mixed up with the University of Texas at Austin. Maybe it would have to be Liss University.” “That’s a good name,” Jack said.

“I always thought you’d receive the Medal of Honor someday,” Ostin said.

Jack looked at him. “You did?”

“Yeah. Maybe you still will. Posthumously.” Jack was suddenly quiet. “That may be the best thing anyone has ever said to me.” He looked back toward the enemy boat. “Why is that tank not moving?” “No idea,” Ostin said. He breathed out heavily. “How do you think the girls are?” “I try not to think about it.”

“Me neither. I wish they were here with us.” Ostin frowned. “No, actually, I wish they were with us but we were, like, five thousand miles away.” “Back in Meridian, Idaho. PizzaMax.” “Not there,” Ostin said. “I don’t think I could go there without Michael. Too many memories.” “I wouldn’t even mind being at school.” Ostin smiled. “Remember Principal Dahlstrom?” “Yeah. What a tool.”

“It’s hard to believe that I was actually afraid of him.” “Yeah, that’s weird.”

“I think if I ever see him again, I’m going to punch him. For old times’ sake.” “He’d expel you.”

“Ohh, I’m afraid,” Ostin laughed. “Put me in his Cell 25.” “Yeah, doesn’t sound that scary,” Jack laughed. “Just make sure I’m there for it.” “You can punch him too,” Ostin said. “For good measure.” They both laughed. Then their laughter quieted. After a few moments Ostin said, “It was a pleasure dying with you, friend. Not the dying part, per se, but being with you when it happened.” “No,” Jack said. “It was a pleasure living with you.” They looked at each other; then Ostin lightly hit Jack on the shoulder. Jack reached over and hugged him.

After they parted, Jack said, “I can see why Michael liked you so much. You’re much braver and stronger than you give yourself credit for.” Ostin couldn’t speak. His eyes filled with tears. “Thanks.” Jack smiled at him. Then they both turned and looked back out at the ship. The first gangplank had finished lowering, and the men were lined up at the top of it, about to come out. Jack sighed again. “Here they come.” Then, out of a clear blue sky, lightning struck.