Page 147 of Empire of Shadows

“Hired hands have kept me from doing something extremely stupid more times than I can count,” Adam returned bluntly.

Dawson chuckled awkwardly. “Yes, well. We all have things to learn, don’t we? As Socrates said, the wise man knows what he does not know.”

“‘I know that I know nothing,’” Adam corrected.

“Sorry?” Dawson said.

“That’s the quote. ‘Ipse se nihil scire id unum sciat.’” Adam made another mark on the map. “Not saying I agree with it.”

Dawson blinked at him again before forcing another smile.

“Right, right—of course,” he easily agreed—a littletooeasily. “Personally, I am happy to admit thatIknow far less of navigating through uncharted areas than you do.” He finished with an awkward little chuckle.

Adam’s pencil stilled.

Dawson was trying to get on his good side. The professor clearly resented the notion that a filthy, half-dressed guy from the woods was better at navigating than he was, so there had to be a reason for that… one that had nothing to do with lines on a map.

Adam decided to stay quiet. In his experience, people like Dawson would keep talking for as long as they could get away with it. Dawson would probably spill the beans about whatever he really wanted if Adam simply let him ramble for a while longer.

Sure enough, after a few seconds, the professor continued blabbing.

“I wonder what a man with your unique combination of talents might be able to accomplish if he were granted more resources than those available to you in this backwater colony?” Dawson mused.

Adam wondered if Dawson had any idea that what he’d just said was actually an insult.

“My resources are fine, thanks,” Adam replied.

Dawson gave a more genuine sounding laugh.

“Perhaps you would feel a little differently once you have seen what a great deal of money can offer you!” Dawson said.

Adam had seen it. He’d seen it, and then turned around and walked away from it the first chance he got. In his experience, a great deal of money sent you scrambling for as much more of it as you could possibly acquire, and to hell with anyone who got in your way in the process.

He didn’t bother voicing this to Dawson. The guy wasn’t worth the conversation.

“You know, I have been considering asking Mr. Jacobs to secure your services for a further bit of work once we reach our destination,” Dawson said thoughtfully.

Adam set the pencil down.

“Oh?” he said.

His tone came out more threatening than he’d intended. Behind him, Staines took a step back and shifted his grip on the rifle.

Dawson didn’t seem to notice. He was frowning down at a bit of dirt on his cuff.

“Our expedition is of a unique nature,” the professor continued. “We have a particular goal once we reach the ruins, and I for one am interested in accomplishing it as quickly and efficiently as possible! It occurs to me that you might be quite useful in that regard.”

Dawson said it as though Adam’s cooperation weren’t dependent upon Jacobs threatening to inflict violence on Ellie.

“Might I,” Adam returned flatly.

He forced himself to swallow back the rest of what he wanted to say—which more or less amounted to telling Dawson exactly where he could shove his request for further cooperation. He could hear Ellie’s voice in the back of his head. If she was here, she’d absolutely be telling him to play along and get as much information as he could out of Dawson so that they could learn more about exactly who they were up against—and what they really wanted.

Adam hated playing along with things. It was one of the main reasons he had walked out of his old life. He was also flat-out bad at it. Adam was the sort of guy who said whatever he was thinking. He’d always kinda liked that about himself.

But imaginary Ellie was right. As satisfying as it would be to tell Dawson to shove it where the sun didn’t shine, Adam probably had more to gain by trying to draw the professor out.

It wasn’t going to be pretty—but to hell with it.

---