Page 26 of The Ruler
“Exactly! That’s the way it’s always been and I see no reason to change it.” Khan leisurely placed his hands behind his neck, and his cover slid down to reveal that his torso was bare. I had seen him walk around in only pants, and the sight of his ripped muscles and large tattoo always made me divert my eyes, a bit flustered.You’re just fascinated because he’s different, I told myself.
Khan was much too masculine to be considered attractive. I couldn’t see him and not be reminded that it was male pride and ego that had caused the world to collapse. Four hundred years wasn’t enough to make anyone forget the pain of losing whole continents because of power-hungry men with access to nuclear weapons and war machinery. Any woman from the Motherlands would prefer a gentle, considerate, and kind man. Khan was anything but.
Maybe Khan would be attractive if he dressed and behaved more like a civilized man from the Motherlands.I played with the thought, but it was hard to imagine Khan any less masculine. The man was as opulent as this grand suite with all the expensive furniture, rugs, artwork, and antique books. He always wore clothing that looked expensive and fit him perfectly, but the appeal of that was completely negated by the fact that much of his clothing was made of leather.
“Pearl?” he said, bringing me back to the conversation. “Did you hear me? I said it’s been this way always and I’m not going to change it.”
“Because power corrupts,” I pointed out. “Hierarchies have a tendency to look best from the top, but I’m certain that you would see it differently if you were the poor guy instead of the richest man in the country.”
“I’m not the richest man in the country,” he said with a smug smile. “But I am the most powerful.”
“Then imagine what you could do with all that power. How many people you could help.”
“Ah, but sweet Pearl,” he said, knowing full well I didn’t care for his patronizing endearments. “I’m not a saint, I’m a pragmatic ruler who wants my country to prosper. Ever since you came, you’ve challenged the way we do things, but let me tell you right now, your ways are illogical.”
“No, they’re not. The fairness principle makes complete sense, and everyone is happy in the Motherlands.”
Khan clicked his tongue. “Tsk, I refuse to believe that everyone is happy. Admit it, you’ve made everything free for everyone, and that means someone is getting screwed over while others are getting an easy ride.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I insisted. “That’s how the democratic fairness system works. We all contribute what we can and together we create a beautiful society. I don’t mind paying for parks even if I never go there; I’m happy resources are spent on hospitals although I’ve never been sick.” I smiled proudly. “I know I’ve helped pay for bridges I’ve never crossed, schools I’ve never attended, and fertility treatment I’ve never received myself. That’s what an evolved society does.”
Khan tilted his head. “And you find that fair?”
“Yes, because everything I need is accessible to me as well. That way everyone has equal opportunities to express their unique talents and do what they’re passionate about.”
I frowned when Khan lifted his duvet and waved it up and down. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“I farted,” he said with a small grin.
I just gaped at him. His lack of manners still managed to surprise me.
His grin widened. “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought since you were letting out shit, I could too.”
“I was talking about the fairness principle. It’s a beautiful thing,” I lectured him.
“It’s shit!”
With an annoyed huff, I lay down and turned my back to him, signaling that our conversation was over.
“You know,” he said, still grinning, “when you get tired of sleeping on that sofa, you can join me in my soft bed.”
“I’m not sleeping in your stinking bed,” I muttered through gritted teeth.
“Yet,” he said softly, but I heard him and lifted my head to look back at him.
“Trynever– and turn off your light.”
He did but there was still a glow of light from the bathroom, which was something I’d insisted on after fumbling hopelessly around his huge suite and bumping my foot on his bed the first night.
My nightly ritual of thinking happy and grateful thoughts was interrupted after three or four minutes when I heard Khan get out of bed and come closer. My ears were picking up every sound of his naked feet across the floor and for each of his eighteen steps my heart beat faster.
“Pearl,” his voice was low, soft, and too close.
“Yes,” I said without turning around to face him.
“I wanna ask you something.”
Always too curious for my own good, I slowly turned to see him sitting in a squatting position next to me.
