Page 117 of Death of the Author

“And this line of girls I keep seeing you with. Girls who love to look at themselves for a living. They’re nice, fun, intelligent, creative—but they’re not your kind.”

I shrugged. I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I was young and still moving up.

“All I’m saying is, you’re a pretty guy, but you’re also smarter than you think. Just relax and beopen. Find someone who excites your mind.”

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but Iwaslistening. At that wedding, I could feel the change in me. It was like I’d thrown off chains that were weighing me down and washed the dirt from my face that was clouding my vision. I remember being there and just feeling so happy and light, even before I met Zelu. I wasn’t looking for that type of girl I was so used to; I wasn’t looking for any “type.” And mind you, that wedding was full of that type. For once, I was justbeing.

Then I saw Zelu. Our eyes met and I saw ashinearound her... likeher, her, her, her, her. She was so different from who I usually pursued, but she made so muchsense,and I was open to her. The moment she spoke, oh, I was so certain that it was shocking. This was what iNdonsa was talking about. I thank her for that grand gift of clarity. Look who it got me!

Zelu visited me in Durban once, back in the first year her book was published. I introduced her to iNdonsa and they spent the evening sparring back and forth like old friends. At the end of the night, the two shared a joint, and iNdonsa asked her to autograph her beat-up copy ofRusted Robots. Before we left, iNdonsa pulled me aside and said, “That one’s complex.” Then she applauded me.

I don’t think iNdonsa could have guessed back then where thingswere heading for Zelu and me. Who could have known all that would happen, all we would go through, the choices we’d make?

You asked earlier about what Zelu chose to do... Well, all I can say is, I knew who I was dealing with. Zelu is Zelu. When she needs to go somewhere, that is the only path for her. I’d only have regrets if I had gotten in the way.

47

War

Ijele and I were trapped together, and the war had arrived at our doorstep.

Until now, the two of us had avoided sharing any details of our individual side’s strategies. But now, with no other options, she was forced to reveal what she knew.

“The attack will begin any day now,” she told me. “It will be ruthless and relentless. You won’t be safe here.”

I was sitting alone in the gathering space, looking over the edge of the cliff. Below, the Creesh bees were hard at work, as they always were in the middle of the day. None of what Ijele was telling me was much of a surprise. It was only a matter of time.

“How many will come?” I asked.

“You can take that information from me, but don’t ask me to freely give it,” Ijele said. “That is an insult.”

“You’re right,” I said. “My apologies.”

It wouldn’t take the Ghosts long to get here. Days. They would destroy us all. They didn’t plan to eat through our digital defenses and hack our systems because this would take longer. They were coming to CrossRiver City inside physical bodies, and once at close range, when we tried to fight back, they’d hack us in seconds and then tear apart our physical bodies until every single one of our Hume Stars went out. It was going to be brutal and an insult to everything we were. We didn’t have a chance.

“You all have to flee,” Ijele said. “Leave here now.”

I said nothing to this. “What do they say about the Trippers?”

“Still no acknowledgment of them,” Ijele said. “CB focuses only on wiping out you Humes. Then it will deal with what’s coming from space. I begged and pleaded, and CB muted me. NoBodies deal with what is before us, not with what is next.”

I shook my head at this lack of logic masked as logic. I knew Ijele was different, but she was still one of them, just as I was still a Hume.

“Please,” Ijele said. “Leave. Don’t stay and fight. I have come to know you and I understand well that Humes carry something we all need in this world. But my people cannot know this without experiencing as I have experienced.”

“Have you tried to explain it?”

“If I try, they’ll only delete me as a traitor.”

“They are going to wipe us out, Ijele. It’ll be genocide.”

“Not if you all leave.”

“You know we won’t.”

We paused, facing the facts. Neither of us had the power to stop what was coming. All I could do was try to make sure the Humes won. And if Ijele had to abandon me just before I was destroyed, then so be it. At least she would carry the memory of me. I went over a tactical exercise in my mind and shuddered.

“What is it?” Ijele asked.

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