36

EVA

Eva sat in the chair next to Lora, who powered the tiny speedboat out to the much larger cruiser on Lake Michigan.

‘You sure about this?’ Eva asked, looking back to see if she could spot the helicopter full of Guardians that was lurking somewhere over the city, ready to rush in and storm Mac’s boat.

‘No. But we don’t have much choice—we need to hear Mac out, figure out his motives and see if he can be reasoned with.’

‘Why?’

‘Sam is the reason we came here in the first place.’

‘Because we have enough enemies?’

‘That’s right,’ Lora said. ‘And Mac is very well connected, very powerful—he is influential, especially among the American military. Whether we like him or not, it would be a real blow to lose his support.’ Lora eased off the throttle and guided the little boat up against the luxury yacht, catching a line tossed down to them. ‘You have to pick your battles, Eva. The trick is to know when to be diplomatic and when to be tough.’

‘And which time is this?’ Eva asked.

‘We’re about to find out.’

I’m not sure I like the sound of that.

Inside Mac’s huge luxury yacht, Eva sat in a lounge room next to Lora. Mac sat opposite, lounging easily in a large chair. There were no security guys visible, just an elegant maid who served them supper.

‘It seems, from what you’ve said,’ Mac said to Lora, ‘that you want me to join you—join the Academy and Council’s quest in this race.’

‘That would be our hope,’ Lora said.

‘Well, now hear my offer,’ Mac said.

‘Your offer?’ Eva said. ‘Lora’s barely finished speaking, and what, you’re just chucking that back in her face?’

Mac smiled at Eva and said, ‘You’re a smart one, Eva. Good. You’ll need to be.’ He stood and paced around the floor. ‘You see, I agree with you, Lora, on one point—we should work together. But I’m not in agreement that the Academy should be involved.’

‘Lora works there,’ Eva said. ‘You know that.’

Mac continued undeterred. ‘What I am offering is the full might of the US military machine. Think about it. We can use them to stop Hans and Stella dead in their tracks. The Enterprise and the Academy too. You work with me, you’re on the winning team.’

He stopped and gave Lora a long hard stare.

‘In exchange for what?’ she asked. ‘What do you want from us?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Eva said. The two looked to her. She only had eyes for Mac, and her expression was full of fury. ‘He wants you to deliver the Dreamers, because that’s what he doesn’t have. He wants you to be a double agent, to work for the Professor, but give him information about the last 13, where they’re going, where the Gear is.’

Mac nodded. ‘Smart girl.’

‘Then we’re both smart,’ Lora said, standing. ‘Come on, Eva, this man has nothing to offer us.’

‘Oh, really?’ Mac said, his tone as if he held all the cards. ‘You think we’re done here?’

‘I’m done talking,’ Lora said.

‘And I’m done listening,’ Eva added.

‘Hmm. As you’ll see, I realised long ago that to succeed you sometimes need to make unpleasant alliances,’ Mac said, a crazed look now flitting into his eyes. ‘You can’t beat him, Lora, you should know that. So I’m giving you a final chance to join us.’

‘Us?’ Lora said, pulling Eva to her and pushing towards the door.

But the door flung open as they turned to it and a darkness filled the doorway.

‘Yes …’ came the deep, metallic voice. ‘Us.’

Mac’s working with Solaris!

Lora stood in front of Eva, watching as Solaris and Mac both closed in on them. Eva shrank from Solaris’ gaze and frantically looked for another way out. There was none.

We’re trapped. Caught in Mac’s trap.

‘You see, I made him an offer, too,’ Mac was saying. ‘I had something he needed. So we cut a deal.’

‘What could you have that he would want or need?’ Lora muttered.

‘Access,’ Mac said.

‘To what?’ Lora said.

Mac looked at Solaris, who stood there, silent and resolute.

‘Why,’ Mac said, ‘I thought that would be obvious. All the Academy and Council information, getting the two of you here. Not to mention the bomb at the Academy … oh, I know it didn’t do its job, but not to worry. It flushed you out here, hoping for a truce. And now the Professor will do anything to get the two of you back. Am I right?’

Eva shook with fear and with anger. Lora turned to her, silently willing her to accept their fate—for now.

You have to pick your battles? We’ve well and truly lost this one.