Earth Awakens (The First Formic War) (36 page)

“But even if they didn’t have any of that to offer—the ships, the suits, none of it—even if they didn’t have so much as a belt buckle to give us in terms of equipment, we still need these people. They have Victor. The guy not only got inside the ship, but he also got to the heart of it and back out again. Without detection. The intel he has changes everything. Until an hour ago, that ship was a giant question mark. With Victor we have something to work with. We wouldn’t be going in blind. We could actually plan an infiltration with some degree of confidence. And when they say they know how to destroy it, I believe them. Whatever vulnerability they’ve discovered, whatever they have up their sleeve, they seem pretty confident about it. I say go.”

“Shenzu?” said Wit. “What say you? If we do this we’d be abandoning our post here.”

Shenzu dismissed that with a wave of his hand. “The past week has been a master’s class for our field commanders. They have learned much from watching all of you. And China will be open to other outside commanders as well. That tide has turned. Ketkar from India will come. Others from Europe and the U.S. will come as well. Strategists we can rally in abundance. I will see to that. For whatever reason, my voice has some weight now. This isn’t a concern. The rarity in this war is a strike team that’s cohesive enough, trained enough, and single-minded enough to pull this off. That’s us.”

“Us?”

“Of course,” said Shenzu. “Don’t think for a second that I’m not coming with you.”

CHAPTER 18

Soldier Boy

When Bingwen heard that he’d be joining the MOPs and Chinese officers for dinner, he expected the food to be better than a sludgy protein drink. Canned vegetables perhaps. Or maybe crackers with an MRE, if he was lucky. So when the server in the cafeteria line handed him a plate loaded with steaming beef strips, fluffy white rice, and fresh sautéed vegetables, Bingwen stared at it, stunned. “Is this all for me?”

Mazer was ahead of him in line and picked up a bowl of pudding from the dessert racks. “You don’t have to eat all of it if you don’t want to.”

“Are you kidding?” said Bingwen. “Of course I’m eating it. This is more than I ever got at home. Can I have one of the puddings, too?”

“Help yourself. It’s à la carte.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you can pick and choose whatever you want.”

“In that case, I’m taking two.”

Bingwen grabbed a bowl of chocolate pudding and a slice of peach pie and put them both on his tray.

Mazer tugged at Bingwen’s sleeve. “All right, hippopotamus. Better come with me before your eyes make promises your stomach can’t keep.” He led Bingwen to a small table in the dining hall away from the MOPs and Chinese officers scattered elsewhere around the room.

“Do you eat this well every day?” said Bingwen. “Or is this a special occasion?”

“Why?” said Mazer. “What do they normally feed you?”

Bingwen mimed the ingredients as he described them. “Scoop a shovelful of dirt into a blender. Add sugar and water. Toss in some spinach leaves and a teaspoon of bile. Blend to a nice disgusting paste.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It is. Sometimes when they cut our rations, I almost don’t mind.”

“Your rations? I didn’t know the food situation was that bad. Now I feel guilty for eating this.”

“You shouldn’t. You’re guests of China. You’re commanding armies. You need your strength. We’re rice farmers. We’ve been half starved since we were born.”

“Was it really that bad in your village?”

Bingwen shrugged. “Sometimes. Not usually. We’d get fruit and meat every once in a while. The best is when one of the water buffalos got too old. Then we’d feast like kings. Have you ever had a buffalo burger?”

“I’ve had buffalo wings,” said Mazer. “But those aren’t the same thing.”

“Buffalos don’t have wings,” said Bingwen.

“It’s what we call tiny, spicy chicken wings.”

“Then why don’t you call them chicken wings?”

“Don’t let logic spoil all the fun in life,” said Mazer. He stabbed some of his beef and ate it. “I’m curious. What do you think of the proposal from the team on Luna?”

“What do I think of you climbing inside an iron coffin and floating through space like a sitting duck? I think you’re several kilos short of a bushel.”

“You wouldn’t do it? If you were a soldier, I mean.”

“I’d do it in a heartbeat,” said Bingwen. “I’d be the first one to climb inside. I want to blow that ship to a billion little pieces. That doesn’t make the op any less crazy.”

Mazer nodded, as if that was answer enough. After a moment, he said, “I’ve talked to Shenzu about you, about where you came from, about what you and I have been through. I told him what you did for me. How you saved me life. He was very impressed.”

“I’m a very impressive young man. That’s why I got two desserts. I’ve earned them.”

“I’m serious, Bing. I told Shenzu that they should give you special attention.”

“I like keeping a low profile,” said Bingwen.

“Too late for that. Shenzu looked you up in the government database.”

“I’m in a database?”

“Of kids who have taken the placement exams.”

“I haven’t taken the exam yet. I’m not old enough. I’ve only taken practice tests.”

“They keep a record of those as well. Shenzu says you did exceptionally well on all of them.”

Bingwen shrugged. “I’m good at taking tests.”

“You’re good at a lot of things. Shenzu has recommended that you be sent to a special school.”

Bingwen stopped chewing. “A school? Where?”

“Somewhere in northern China. I don’t know where exactly. Shenzu didn’t reveal much. I got the sense that it’s somewhat secretive. All I know is that it’s a military school for a small, select group of children. Gifted children. They would provide you with everything. Room, board. You would never go hungry again.”

“A military school? They want to make me a soldier?”

“You already are a soldier, Bingwen. They want to make you a
better
soldier. But this has to be your decision. You have to do this because you want to, because you think you have something to offer, not because Shenzu said so or because I’m the one telling you about it. This is your call.”

“When would I go? Once the war’s over?”

“A transport leaves for the north in the morning. You would be on it.”

“Tomorrow?”

“It’s safer in the north, Bing. I know it feels safer here underground, but we’re still in the middle of it. I’d sleep better at night knowing you were far away from here. Even if you don’t want to go to the school, say that you will. Lie. Let them carry you out of here. Then run like a rabbit when you get there.”

A school. The idea was so unexpected, so out of nowhere, that at first Bingwen didn’t know how to respond. A school. Tomorrow. It was happening too fast. And yet isn’t this what he had always wanted? Wasn’t this the reason why he used to get up hours before dawn every day and sneak into the library, just so he could study more than everyone else, just so he could have more time with the computer, just so he could improve his chances of getting out of the village someday?

And wasn’t this what Mother had wanted? That he escape? That he make something of himself? Bingwen knew that Father had wanted that for him as well, even though Father had never said so aloud. But Father didn’t have to say it; it was there in his eyes every time something went wrong with the crop or the equipment—a look that said, Be better than this, Bing. Do more than this. Don’t stay in this mud hole. Don’t subject your children to this life, as I have done. It was a look that said more than a hundred thousand words ever could. It had motivated Bingwen to study as much as he had. He didn’t want Father to have to show that face again. Instead, Bingwen wanted Father to wear another expression. A look of pride. A look that said, That’s my son. I made that kid. I did something right, after all.

“I’ll go,” said Bingwen. “On the transport and to the school. No lying required.”

“You sure?”

“On one condition.”

Mazer smiled. “You’re making conditions now?”

“There’s a girl my age and her younger brother back in my camp. Pipo and Niro. They get to come as well. Not to the school. I can’t control that, but on the transport. They get carried out of here and taken somewhere safe up north. An orphanage where they’ll be cared for, maybe. Or to a family who will take them in. Someone kind.”

“I’ll talk to Shenzu.”

Bingwen nodded. “And one more condition.”

Mazer sat back and folded his arms. “You’re in a bargaining mood, aren’t you?”

“I’m giving my life to the military. That has to be worth something. And I might as well get what I can now. Once I’m a full-fledged soldier, I’m in their control. I won’t have much negotiating power.”

“More true than you know. What else do you want?”

“I want you to come with me.”

There was a long silence. “You know I can’t do that, Bingwen.”

“You could be a teacher at this school. A trainer. Who knows more about being a soldier than you do?”

“I have a job to do, Bing. I have to end this.”

“I know,” said Bingwen. “I know you do. But I had to at least ask.” He poked at his pudding with his spoon, then he looked back up at Mazer. “At least tell me you wish you
could
come.”

Mazer smiled. “I would be a pretty good teacher, wouldn’t I?”

“Oh you’d be terrible. You’re too serious. You’re always scowling. Like a crotchety old man. You’d scare all the students. We’d call you Professor Mazer Geezer. But I think I could tolerate having you around.”

“I’m stronger than you, remember?” said Mazer. “I can dump that pudding on your head.”

Bingwen put a giant spoonful in his mouth and smiled, “Considering how good this is, I don’t think I’d mind.”

*   *   *

That night they put Bingwen in an empty dorm room in the restricted area that had two sets of bunk beds and a bathroom with a shower. A small brown jumpsuit was waiting for him when he arrived, folded neatly on one of the bottom bunks. It sported a patch of the Chinese flag over the left breast. Bingwen felt the material. It was soft and stretchy and brand-new.

He showered and then slipped into the jumpsuit. Surprisingly it fit. Why the military had clothes for someone his size he could only guess.

He was still awake much later when a pair of Chinese officers arrived, escorting Pipo and Niro. Bingwen thanked the officers for their trouble, then welcomed Pipo and Niro inside. Each of them was carrying a jumpsuit like his, still wrapped in plastic. They had no luggage or other belongings.

“We get to sleep on a bed?” said Niro. “Our
own
bed?” He climbed up onto one of the bottom bunks and lay on his back. “Come feel this Pipo. It shapes to my body.”

Pipo looked around the room suspiciously. “Where are they taking us, Bingwen?”

“Captain Shenzu says there’s a camp near Wuhan. And not a camp like we have here, where everyone is hungry and fighting for a place to sleep. This camp is for government employees and their families. It’s special. There are international aid organizations there with food and supplies and clothes. Shenzu says you and Niro will have a place there.”

“Are you coming with us?” asked Niro.

“No. I’m going somewhere else. To a school. I’m not sure where exactly. But I’ll be with you until we reach Wuhan.”

“Where’s Wuhan?” said Pipo. “We don’t know anyone in Wuhan.”

“It’s several hundred kilometers north of here,” said Bingwen. “Far from any fighting. In Hubei province.”

She sounded angry. “Why would we go there? Our village is here.”

“You can’t go back to your village,” Bingwen said gently. “It’s gone.”

She screamed in his face. “Don’t say that! Don’t you ever say that!”

She ran to the other bottom bunk and threw herself onto it, burying her face in the pillow and crying. Bingwen didn’t know what to say. Niro went to her and lay down beside her, draping an arm around her back. Bingwen wanted to leave and give them some privacy, but Shenzu had ordered him to stay in his quarters for the evening. And anyway where would he go?

After a moment he went into the bathroom and lay down on the mat beside the shower.

He must have fallen asleep because when he opened his eyes again the lights were out and a blanket was draped across him. A soft melody drifted in from the dorm room—Pipo singing a lullaby. Bingwen sat up and listened in the dark. Pipo couldn’t remember all of the words, so she hummed the parts she didn’t know. Her voice gradually softened until finally all was quiet. A moment later the bathroom door creaked open and Pipo poked her head in.

“You’re awake,” she said.

“Thanks for the blanket,” said Bingwen.

“That was Niro’s doing. I just put him to sleep.” She gestured to the toilet. “I need to pee. Do you mind?”

Bingwen got up, left the bathroom, and climbed up into one of the top bunks.

When Pipo was finished, she came out and stood in the bathroom doorway for a moment, as if she couldn’t decide where to go. Then she climbed up onto Bingwen’s bunk and sat at the other end of the bed. Neither of them spoke for a moment until Pipo said, “Do you know what happened to your parents? I mean … are you sure that they’re gone?”

“I’m sure,” said Bingwen.

She nodded.

Another long pause.

“Did you have any brothers or sisters?” she asked.

“I’m an only child,” said Bingwen.

“I had three older brothers. Longwei, Qingshan, and Yusheng. They worked in the factory with our parents. Everyone worked there. Niro and I were in the schoolhouse. I don’t remember who saw the smoke first, but we all went out to see. The Formics were everywhere, spraying their smoke. In the fields, at the houses, the factory was full of it. Whoever it touched fell to the ground and didn’t get up. Niro ran toward the factory, screaming for Mother. I almost didn’t catch him. He fought and kicked and hit me. I had to drag him away. We hid in a drainage pipe under a bridge. I kept waiting for someone to call out our names, to come looking for us, my brothers or my father. But no one ever did. After two days we left the pipe and smelled real smoke. The factory was on fire. One of the survivors had burned it to stop the death smell. But the fire only made it worse. We watched it burn. Everyone we knew was inside it. The smoke was burning our eyes. Niro threw up, and I thought maybe we would die, so we ran away. We didn’t know where we were going. We were both so thirsty. Soon we found other people walking, and we joined them.” She shrugged. “Then we came here.”