JACKAL
Female hyenas have a clitoris that’s so long it’s sometimes mistaken for a penis.
When I get back to the compound, extra cars are parked in the side lot. I nearly turn around and go anywhere else...this can’t be good. I decide to be a man and face this—if anything, maybe I can be a distraction again for Phoenix. The longer they focus on me, the less they can focus on her. I climb out of the car, my shoes crunching on the gravel.
Betsy is standing just inside the gate and rushes to me, taking me by the elbow.
“There you are,” her words spill out. “We have guests. Where have you been?” She scolds me, as her eyes flit nervously around us.
“Who’s inside?”
“Well, Milly, for one.”
My blood goes cold. I purse my lips, nodding slowly. “So they sent in the cavalry…”
“Doctor Hildenburg is here too,” she whispers.
Fuck me.
“All right, Bets,” I say. “Get those chocolate cookies out. Milly double fists those.”
It’s time to put on full Jackal. So help me, I will play the part of my lifetime.
We step inside and I hear Nordice’s shrill voice. Surprise, surprise—she’s falling all over herself to attend to Milly and the doc.
“Jackal,” Milly looks relieved to see me. She moves toward me, her shrewd eyes assessing.
“Ladies! No one told me we were having a party today.” I lean in and give Milly a kiss on each cheek and turn to the doctor. “Doctor Hilly, you look luscious.” I level my eyes at her chest.
I shrug out of my jacket, tossing it over the back of a chair. The doctor’s color is wan, her cheeks thinner than usual. She rolls her eyes but looks like she has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. It helps me breathe easier...until I look at Milly again.
“The chef has prepared something for us,” Nordice says, leading us to the table.
She makes to sit down next to me and Milly levels her with a look.
“That will be all, Nordice. Thank you so much.”
Nordice withers away and I decide to grant Milly a smile for that one.
“So ladies…” I pick up my fork when a plate of salad is set in front of me. “Thank you.” I nod at yet another new face. “I’m actually really glad you’re here. As you know, I’ve been trying to have a conversation about all the new staffing going on around here.” My words come faster, as I fight to keep my voice from shaking. “I miss Selfice, something I never thought I’d say. Where is she anyway?”
Milly’s lips disappear as she pinches them together. “Selfice has decided to retire from her handler position. Her time is up, I’m sad to say. But we have more important things to discuss, Jackal...such as, how have you been feeling lately? Have you made significant changes to your lifestyle recently? Drinking too much? Doctor Hildenburg and I need to go through your diet and lifestyle regimen to determine the problem.”
“The problem?” I ask, eyes wide.
“Your numbers have significantly dropped. Surely you recognize that. If this continues, we’ll have to admit you to one of the Genome Y labs…”
“Is that where Marcus and Kasper have disappeared to?”
Milly’s fork clatters next to her plate and we all stare at it for a moment, the room coming to a holy hush. When she glances back up, she gives me a tight smile that looks like it hurts.
“Your job is to focus on you and your production level. Not to think about Marcus or Kasper or anyone else. Just you.”
“That’s kind of hard to do when my friends are dropping right and left,” I tell her—the first honest thing I’ve said since I came in the room. It feels damn good. I decide to shed the act and go for the throat.
Doctor Hildenburg jumps in. “I’d like to take your vitals and get a sperm sample while we’re here. Maybe I can assess something from that, without you having to go anywhere.”
“You know...I’d rather not.” I push my plate back and lean my forearms on the table. “Here’s how it’s going to be. You assure me that Marcus and Kasper are safe and healthy, and I’ll keep the Regions happy. I’ve always been your best party guy, and I can continue playing my part. If not…” I lean forward and look Milly square in the eye. “Maybe it’s time we renegotiate.”
She swallows and looks slightly shaken. She quickly reins it in and comes back with a snap to her words. “You don’t call the shots, Mr. Emerson. We do. And look how well it’s worked out for you all these years. We’re not leaving today without an evaluation...or I could always schedule time with the harvester, get the results that way.”
“You have End Men dropping like flies. You think you’re still in control?” I laugh and her cheeks get splotchy with anger.
She takes a deep breath and when she speaks, she sounds like she’s attempting to keep her voice even as well. “I must say, I’m disappointed with the turn this visit has taken. You’ve always been very...accommodating.” Her eyes sharpen. “My guess is this is Mr. Donahue’s influence. Have you had contact with him? Can you tell us where he is?”
“I haven’t had contact with Folsom, and if I did, you’d be the last people I’d tell.” I glance at my Silverbook. “I have an appointment to get to, ladies. Should I get to it, or should I make a little video of my own for the Regions?”
“You’re testing my patience, Jackal,” she begins, when Nordice comes barreling into the room.
“We have company,” she says, out of breath. “I tried to stop—”
Milly stands up, looking flustered herself.
Sean strolls in, hands in pockets, looking every bit the smug politician he is. What the fuck. I should have knocked him out when I had the chance.
“Ms. Oppenheimer,” he says, shaking Milly’s hand. “And Doctor Hildenburg...so nice to have you in our Region. Welcome.” He steps forward and leans across the table, holding his hand out to me. “And there you are, Favorite End Man of the Blue…”
I take his hand tentatively and shake it. “It’s a day full of surprises,” I say.
“Indeed, it is. I hope I’m not interrupting, but it’s even better with you all here,” Sean says. “I have news that you’ll appreciate.”
He squeezes Milly’s shoulder and she folds her napkin and sets it in her lap. Sean turns to me.
“The Blue Region has decided to erect a statue in your honor, Mr. Emerson. For giving us joy in these oppressive times, and for being a constant source of hope and goodwill in the midst of the unrest our Regions are experiencing.” He looks at Milly again. “He’s probably too humble to tell you, but when I say he has kept the Blue Region together since he’s been here, I would not be exaggerating.”
Milly’s head tilts as she listens, her bewilderment growing. Along with mine. I don’t know where the hell he’s going with this.
“At your earliest convenience, we need you to sit for the artist.” His smile grows when he looks at me and then he puts his hand to his mouth. “Well, after your appointments, that is. I suppose since I’m the governor, I can give some leeway there, right?” He laughs at himself and we all stare at him.
“We were actually done with this meeting.” I stand up, put my arm around his shoulder, and hold my hand toward the door. “Right, ladies? So lead the way, Governor.”
Milly eyes me stonily, but she waves a hand toward the door, as if giving me full permission. I grin.
As we walk away, I lift my hand and wave, not bothering to look back.
When I’m in the car with Sean, I give him a long, searching look. He stares back at me.
“Can I keep my clothes on for this statue?” I ask. “Can’t be alarming the Blue with the sheer magnitude of my unveiled dick,” I add. “It’s already going to be falling forward all the time because of that. You might want to invest in quality rope to keep things secure. I know someone who specializes in rope…”
His laugh bounces around the confined space. He turns the car on and backs out of the compound driveway. “If anyone’s getting a statue, it will be me, thank you very much.”
“Are you going to take me and murder me somewhere, leaving my body in the Hudson?”
“I’ve thought about it, but I have a feeling there’s this girl we both care about who would never forgive me,” he says.
My eyes widen and I can’t speak for a few moments.
“It’s time I do the right thing, that’s all. For as long as you’re in the Blue, I’ll do my best to protect you. And hey, maybe in the long run, it’ll even help me get the girl.”
“It’s not too late for me to knock you the fuck out.”
“She’s gone, isn’t she?” he says quietly.
“Let’s hope so,” I say.
I lean my head against the back of the seat and imagine her surrounded by green trees, mountain peaks, and clear blue water.