Page 78 of The Iron Dagger
“For the quantities you need, wouldn’t it be difficult to mine?” said Gideon. He did not want to imagine how much of this dangerous material they were planning on collecting to warrant such an enormous tank.
“That has never stopped us before,” said his father with a chuckle, removing his gloves and respirator as they stepped into his office. Gideon began to strip away the heavy protective gear, leaving it outside the door before he took the seat across from his father’s desk.
“How are you planning to sell it?” he asked, desperately trying to find something that would halt the production of such a weapon.
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. How should we go about pricing peace? A weapon such as this would be the end of all wars,” said his father, placing his hands behind hishead as he leaned back in his chair. “Or at least, that is how we will pitch it.”
“It would be the end of a country, if not more,” said Gideon heavily.
“Exactly. What do you think someone would pay to have such power? I have half a mind to keep it for ourselves,” his father ended with a chuckle.
“When does it end?” Gideon murmured. His father’s relaxed expression hardened at Gideon’s tone.
“What?”
“How much power is enough?” asked Gideon. His fear made him reckless, and he looked up from his hands, staring into his father’s aged eyes. “A drop of this material could wreak more destruction than our most sophisticated incendiary shells, but now I see you’re planning on creating—that,” he said, gesturing towards the large water tank. “No one has enough money in the world to purchase such a weapon, so what is the point?”
The deep lines on his father’s face softened to an expression that verged on understanding.
“It is shocking, I know. But a weapon like this has never been seen before.Thiswas the goal, our reward for so many tireless years of work,” As he spoke, he stabbed two fingers onto the desktop before him. “I myself was shocked when the researchers first gave me the demonstration—shocked that it was so elegant. But this is only the beginning. We must continue to push the limits of what nature can yield.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” said his father. “Violence and money are the roots of all power. If you can make money from violence, it is the most pure form of power.”
“But why do we need such power?” asked Gideon, almost desperately. “Why must there be this relentless pursuit of power for power’s sake? It is madness, a sickness.”
His father bridged his fingers in thought. “You have never wanted for anything, my son, so I imagine it is difficult to understand.”
“Please, educate me.”
The Commander leaned back in his chair, the wood and leather creaking.
“When you are poor, you are small. You are unable to afford peace. Each day, you must fight for your bread and your safety. For mercy. But when you have wealth . . . you can choose who you make peace with and when. You can buy peace, you can buy destruction. You can buy whole kingdoms. It is complete freedom.”
“At what cost?” asked Gideon.
“Whatever the market decides is fair,” said his father.
“I meant the human cost.”
“There are few things in this world more precious than human life. Pursuit of peace is worth the price, wouldn’t you say? What luck that it will be on our terms.”
Gideon stared at his father, speechless. It shouldn’t shock him. He had been raised to believe in everything his father was saying, and his mind had been melded by his teachings. But the words rang cold and deep in Gideon’s mind now, inspiring horror as they never had before. His father truly believed himself to be benevolent while forging the keys of hell.
Had Gideon been this way, once? Would he ever say the things his father was saying?
“You know that one would never be enough. We will make another, and another, until a new weapon is invented that makes these pale in comparison,” said Gideon. “So I ask you, when does it end?”
“Our weapons are only as dangerous as the people who wield them,” snapped his father impatiently. “Fortunately I have the foresight to make such decisions. It sounds as though you doubt my judgment.”
Gideon stared at the man who was once his hero. Then he recalled himself and gradually schooled his features, slowly turning his gaze to the floor. It would not do to rile his father. “No, sir.”
Leofrick Falk studied him for several long, tense seconds, then he opened his desk drawer to remove a ledger and some papers.
“Think on this, Gideon. I can see that the notion of this new invention unnerves you. In a way, I am proud. Only an idiot would accept it blithely.” He began to scribble in his notes. “I am sure, given a few days, you will come around and see what a rare opportunity this presents. We are making history, my son, and I need your help.”
Gideon stood, gave a short nod to his father, and left the room. He took long strides across the testing chamber floor, wanting to put as much space as he could between himself and the green water tank that loomed at his back.
