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“So we have a choice, Patrick.We can either trust that Molev’s here to help us, just like he’s been saying, and airlift to Irwin, or we can watch our possible cure slip away.”
“Do you know why I’m having a hard time trusting you?No one does something for nothing,” Patrick said.“What do you get out of helping us?”
I looked at Molev, wondering if he would tell Patrick what he wanted.Molev’s gaze flicked to mine, giving nothing of his thoughts away before he looked at Patrick.
“You are in no position to grant what I hope to receive.I will speak to those who are once we reach Irwin.”
Patrick stood abruptly and went to the door.
“I would like to speak with Andie privately in the hall.Please wait here.”
I turned to Molev.“You said you’ve lived a long time.Coming here had to be a huge change for you.I imagine it wasn’t without some struggle.”
Some of the tension disappeared from Molev’s shoulders.“Yes.”
“Patrick has spent most of his life in the military, barking orders and expecting to be obeyed.Believe it or not, he’s mellowed a lot since being stuck with a group of clueless civilians.But he does take the time to listen to us all, even if it seems like he doesn’t.A lot of this is new to all of us.”
Molev uncrossed his arms and nodded.
Patrick didn’t say anything as he opened the door for me or when he motioned for me to follow him down the hall.Only after we were closed in another room did he finally speak his mind.
“Do you think he’ll leave?”Patrick asked.
“I don’t think Molev has lied about anything yet.Why would he start now?”
“Do you feel safe with him?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
“Would you trust him around the people you love?”
“He’s given me no reason not to.”
“Hasn’t he?He trailed us instead of making himself known.He pretended to be unconscious to gain classified information and withheld the extent of his abilities which jeopardized the lives of every person in this squad.”
“Those are the same things we’ve done to assess situations.The electric cars for recon.The snipers on the roofs of the trucks.Pretending to be raiders.Why is it okay for us but not for him?He’s killed countless infected, risked his life time and again, and almost lost it killing not one but two hounds.If that’s not enough to gain your trust, he won’t ever gain it.
“We’ve seen how the infected are changing.FOBs are going silent.What obstacles are another three weeks of travel going to bring?At the rate we’re dying, will there be anyone left to actually get him to Irwin?He didn’t turn, Patrick.If he doesn’t hold the key to a vaccine, I don’t know that anything will.”
Patrick ran his hand over his head.
“If I make the wrong call, I will be remembered as the man who killed humanity.”
“If humanity is dead, there won’t be anyone to remember,” I said.
Patrick huffed a breath.“And everyone thinks you have no sense of humor.”
“What I have is an unyielding sense of obligation to my nephew.I want to see this through and get that ticket I was promised.Whatever it takes.”
He nodded and opened the door.When we entered the hall, Cody and Tamra were standing outside Patrick’s door.
“Stick with Molev and Andie,” he said when we reached them.“Let me know if there are any problems.”
They both glanced at me, questions in their gazes.But I didn’t have any answers for them.I wasn’t sure what Patrick was asking them to watch for.If Molev wanted to hurt us, he would have made his move by now.And if he was interested in going after our leaders, he’d wait until he met them.Either way, there wasn’t any reason for Molev to change his behavior now.
“Andie, continue as you’ve been.Keep him close.”
Then he opened the door to his room.Molev was standing right there, arms crossed, staring down at him.
