his face.
‘Do they follow you because they believe that the path you show them is right, do they believe that only you can lead them along this path… or do they follow you because deep down they simply fear you?’
‘I do not lead by fear.’
‘No, but it is because they fear you, and your strength, that you have been able to lead them down a path that is not natural to them. The fact that the path is, I believe, the only right one, is almost irrelevant.’
‘Does it matter why they follow?’
‘Of course it does. Unfortunately it is because of your strength that the Queen has also become uncomfortable with your rule. Because of eth constitution she knows she must have a council, or there would be War eternal, but she would much prefer the council to be led by her puppet. If Rodan can use that fear against you, your strength will inevitably become your greatest weakness.’
Karick waited, weighing the full impact of Drameer’s words before he asked his next question. ‘And do you believe that Rodan has the power and the support necessary to achieve this?’
Drameer considered Karick’s question carefully before answering.
‘No, I don’t think so … not yet, but he only needs the Queen to believe that others have lost their faith in you and…’ He shook his head.
‘But without order, balance, without food we will all die. You have shown me that , Drameer.
Drameer turned to look at his old friend and simply sighed. ‘But unfortunately it is not me that needs to be convinced, is it?’
At the Brooklyn Naval Yard, now nothing but a derelict industrial area, the old factory walls rose high from the ground creating an enclosed courtyard. Twisted cranes rose into the dark sky, like giant, warped plants. Jake and Eddy had climbed up an old stone stairway and were now standing on the first floor of one of the old buildings, its gable wall fallen away exposing them to the cold night air.
‘It’s really good to see you Jake,’ Eddy was saying.
‘You too Eddy , it’s been a long time.’
‘Too long, so how goes things with you?’
‘ It’s been difficult round our way the past couple of months. We’ve seen far more of the Mayor’s men, so much so in fact, that we’ve been thinking we should make him an honorary member of our group.’ Jake grinned.
Eddy nodded. ‘Then you’re letting your entry standards slip dramatically.’ He paused, his face clouding with concern, serious once more as if he couldn’t maintain the levity. ‘There’s been far more activity further out too. Something's changed. I think we’ve pissed somebody off, although I have no idea how.’
Jake looked down at the activity that was going on below. ‘So what’s happening here?’ he asked, gesturing to the line of men and women below.
Eddy looked down and sighed.
‘We needed to move our supplies. We used to keep some of our stores near the outpost. We used to like keeping things separate, didn’t think it was such a good idea to keep everything in one place, but once the outpost was busted…’ He didn’t need to finish his sentence as he watched the crates being passed quickly from one hand to another, down a human chain and into the bowels of one of the derelict factories.
Jake glanced down and across at Max who was in some sort of discussion with Nathan, and he remembered why they were here.
‘ Eddy, I don’t think we can survive like this for much longer,’
Eddy looked at him, ‘What else can we do?’
Jake considered the question carefully.
‘ Well we were thinking…’ but before he was able to say more a low call went up. The watched people below panic. Unloaded boxes spilled from the carts as the people broke the line. Max sprinted across the open ground and clambered up to where Jake and Eddy were watching. Deliberately ignoring Jake, he questioned Eddy.
‘What’s up?’
‘The watchman on the West side has spotted something,’ Eddy said, his face
‘Do they follow you because they believe that the path you show them is right, do they believe that only you can lead them along this path… or do they follow you because deep down they simply fear you?’
‘I do not lead by fear.’
‘No, but it is because they fear you, and your strength, that you have been able to lead them down a path that is not natural to them. The fact that the path is, I believe, the only right one, is almost irrelevant.’
‘Does it matter why they follow?’
‘Of course it does. Unfortunately it is because of your strength that the Queen has also become uncomfortable with your rule. Because of eth constitution she knows she must have a council, or there would be War eternal, but she would much prefer the council to be led by her puppet. If Rodan can use that fear against you, your strength will inevitably become your greatest weakness.’
Karick waited, weighing the full impact of Drameer’s words before he asked his next question. ‘And do you believe that Rodan has the power and the support necessary to achieve this?’
Drameer considered Karick’s question carefully before answering.
‘No, I don’t think so … not yet, but he only needs the Queen to believe that others have lost their faith in you and…’ He shook his head.
‘But without order, balance, without food we will all die. You have shown me that , Drameer.
Drameer turned to look at his old friend and simply sighed. ‘But unfortunately it is not me that needs to be convinced, is it?’
At the Brooklyn Naval Yard, now nothing but a derelict industrial area, the old factory walls rose high from the ground creating an enclosed courtyard. Twisted cranes rose into the dark sky, like giant, warped plants. Jake and Eddy had climbed up an old stone stairway and were now standing on the first floor of one of the old buildings, its gable wall fallen away exposing them to the cold night air.
‘It’s really good to see you Jake,’ Eddy was saying.
‘You too Eddy , it’s been a long time.’
‘Too long, so how goes things with you?’
‘ It’s been difficult round our way the past couple of months. We’ve seen far more of the Mayor’s men, so much so in fact, that we’ve been thinking we should make him an honorary member of our group.’ Jake grinned.
Eddy nodded. ‘Then you’re letting your entry standards slip dramatically.’ He paused, his face clouding with concern, serious once more as if he couldn’t maintain the levity. ‘There’s been far more activity further out too. Something's changed. I think we’ve pissed somebody off, although I have no idea how.’
Jake looked down at the activity that was going on below. ‘So what’s happening here?’ he asked, gesturing to the line of men and women below.
Eddy looked down and sighed.
‘We needed to move our supplies. We used to keep some of our stores near the outpost. We used to like keeping things separate, didn’t think it was such a good idea to keep everything in one place, but once the outpost was busted…’ He didn’t need to finish his sentence as he watched the crates being passed quickly from one hand to another, down a human chain and into the bowels of one of the derelict factories.
Jake glanced down and across at Max who was in some sort of discussion with Nathan, and he remembered why they were here.
‘ Eddy, I don’t think we can survive like this for much longer,’
Eddy looked at him, ‘What else can we do?’
Jake considered the question carefully.
‘ Well we were thinking…’ but before he was able to say more a low call went up. The watched people below panic. Unloaded boxes spilled from the carts as the people broke the line. Max sprinted across the open ground and clambered up to where Jake and Eddy were watching. Deliberately ignoring Jake, he questioned Eddy.
‘What’s up?’
‘The watchman on the West side has spotted something,’ Eddy said, his face
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