Hardin's Dilemma Read online

and the other had a couch. I slept on the couch. It was nicer than anything I could have slept on in Humurom so I didn’t mind. The hunters were split up into two apartments on the floor below. Lace and Morome had one and Peter and Dala had the other.

  I saw Mama sitting in a chair by the window looking over the city, something she did a lot. I went up to her.

  “How was your treatment today?”

  She looked around and smiled when she saw me. “Oh, same as every day, but the doctor says I should be done soon.”

  “That’s great.”

  “It beats sitting in our Residence.”

  I shivered. At just the thought of the Residence I felt as though I could smell all the concoctions that were made up to try to make my mother better. “Oh, yeah, do you remember that smell?”

  She laughed. “It got pretty bad, didn’t it? And now look at us. We are here in probably the best situation we could be in.”

  “Almost. I still feel for those in Humurom and wonder what Dizuria is going to do.”

  Mama nodded. “Once we get everybody out we can have the Azure’s take care of it.”

  “If the president ever makes up his mind.”

  “It won’t be too long now.” Mama said soothingly.

  I believed her when she said things like that. I knew she didn’t have any more knowledge than I did, but I felt that she was right.

  We both sat and watched the city below us. The little people were still bustling along as they did every day. I wondered if I would have been one of them if I had been born an Azure. I tried to imagine getting up for work, going, and then coming home to sleep and do it all again. Would I have fewer anxieties? Less to care about? I didn’t know. I figured they all had something weighing them down, but I doubted it was anything like I had to worry about.

  For almost an hour I sat there with Mama looking down at everyone else. Then a knock came at the door. I answered it. It was Mr. Jess, the doorman.

  “Hardin, the president and the mayor would like to have a word with you.”

  I didn’t bother asking what it was about, he didn’t know. I said goodbye to Mama and followed him from the room. I knew my way to Gilik’s office but I was usually so lost in thought that I often found myself on the wrong side of the building having no idea where I was. Mr. Jess knew I would do that and had me follow him the whole way.

  We arrived at the office and I went in. I was surprised to see an extra person there. The president of Azureland sat behind the desk while Gilik stood next to him. Orin, the Bozlin boy I helped get through the wall two months before was also there. I sat in a chair next to his and waited.

  The president started things off. “Hardin, it’s good to see you again. How have things been?”

  “Not too bad.” I looked him over. He had a stern face that was awkwardly stretched into a friendly smile. His hair was perfectly trimmed while his suit was perfectly pressed. If there had been one wrinkle it would have stood out easily.

  “Good,” he continued. “I think you’ve met Orin.”

  “I have.” We looked at each other and nodded. I hadn’t seen Orin in several weeks. I didn’t know what floor he was staying on. It was almost as if Gilik didn’t want us together.

  “Wonderful.” His smile grew wider. It looked comically exaggerated on his stiff face.

  Gilik took a step forward from behind the desk. He looked shabby compared to the president. “The reason you two are both here –”

  The president cut him off. “I’ll explain what’s going on, Gilik. I think there should be some city concern you need to be dealing with.”

  Gilik looked rather annoyed. “This is a city concern.”

  The president ignored him. “Hardin, Orin, you are both here because you are needed to do something very special that will help both Azureland and your home countries. We need you both to go back into the wall and try to talk your people into leaving to come and live here. From what I’ve heard it sounds that Orin will have an easier time. But we need you both to try.”

  “I’ve already tried to get them out.” I said. “The leader won’t allow it.”

  The president shook his head, feigning compassion. “That is a shame. If anyone comes it will be better than no one. This may be the final trip through the wall for you two. I can’t authorize anymore.”

  “The major problem with that idea is that if those Dizurians attack again many of the people will die.” I said, hoping to get the response back I wanted. I didn’t.

  “Now we can’t start blaming Dizuria yet.”

  I had to go over what the president said in my head because I thought at first that I didn’t hear him right. “It was clearly them that attacked us. Have you spoken to them?”

  “I may have. I will be sending one of our spies over to see what he can figure out, but not until after you two get back.”

  “Do we at least get weapons or help when we go in?”

  “I’m sorry Hardin.” He said, not even trying to look sorry. “I cannot authorize that. That would be seen as an act of war and I was elected to keep peace in Azureland.”

  My temper shot up faster than I could control. “And what do you call what they are doing to Humurom and Bozlin?”

  He stood up threateningly. “I am not the leader of those countries. I have to keep my priorities on Azureland. If an Azure dies in the wall then that will lead to everyone finding out about what is going on in there, which will then result in an all out war with Dizuria.”

  I got up and took a step toward the desk, unafraid. “I don’t see a problem with that. And besides, according to the paper this morning everybody already knows about all of us.”

  Gilik cut in. “That paper is full of superstitions. It recently reported that we were running experiments on you.”

  The president nodded. “That is true, but rumors have to start from somewhere. Have either of you told anyone?”

  “No.” Orin said quickly.

  “Of course not.” I added.

  “Just making sure. Things like that are why we have sent the others on a Journey Train. We thought it better to separate you for a bit in case someone was snooping around.”

  My mind was so filled with anger that I wasn’t sure where we stood. “So what now?”

  The president sat back down and ran a hand over his hair. “Now you decide whether or not you will go in there or not and try to save more people before we shut you down for good. If the Dizurians created the bracelets then they can get out here just as you did and we need to be prepared with a wall guard.”

  I shook my head. “They are not going to be stupid enough to come out over here.”

  “One person, no, but a whole army, maybe. We have to tread carefully from here on out. If you two want to go in and get some people out, decide fast. The window of opportunity is about to close for good.”

  The president got up and left the room without another word. Gilik jumped back into his seat as soon as the door was closed.

  “I suggest you two go in, he may not let you after this.” Gilik said.

  I sighed. “This was so much easier before he got involved.”

  Gilik shook his head at me. “I vaguely recall you wanting to go over my head and get him a few months ago.”

  “And I now thank you for not letting me.”

  Orin stood up to leave. “I think everything will turn out alright. The Bozlins will be more than willing to come out once they hear about all that’s out here. But where will they stay?”

  “The president has arranged for a town to be built up in the country for them. They will stay here for a while and then go out and help build their future homes. That is the good thing about you two coming out in Azureland. We have the land for things like this to happen.”

  “That might be the only thing good about it.” I said under my breath.

  “Now Hardin, imagine if you had come out in a different country.
Who knows what could have happened.”

  He was right about that. If I had come out in Dizuria I would have been dead already.

  Orin and I left the office. We started down the hallway when a memory came back to me.

  “Do you know what still bugs me?”

  He looked at me. “What?”

  “That town that burned. I still can’t figure anything out about it.”

  “I don’t know, but they have destroyed many towns before that one.”

  “But why do they want us dead?”

  Orin shrugged. “Maybe the president and Gilik can figure that out. Look, I’ll come up with an idea on how to deal with the Bozlins and you do the same with the Humuroms.”

  “You can call them Hums if you like. I’m actually starting to warm up to it.”

  He laughed and turned around the next corner. I continued on back to the elevator. I thought about wandering around until I thought up an idea on how to deal with the Humuroms, but figured I never would so I went straight back to the room.

  III

  It didn’t take me long to grow tired of the food made in the government building. Soon after moving in Mama and I started eating out more often. We had tried quite a few restaurants as we learned to buy food from stores and cook at home. We were given a spending allowance that I wanted very much to pay back one day if I was able. But for now we saved it up and went out twice a week. That night was the second time that week.

  Nara came with us to eat at a rather nice restaurant. I figured I might as well since I didn’t know when I would be going back in the wall and whether or not I would ever come out again. We sat in the back