Jacob walked down the corridor, heading towards the crew's common room. He was feeling better than he had in the last few days. The fever had started to reduce. Whatever virus he had picked up must be receding. He still couldn't remember some of the things that had happened in the last few days, but he knew that it would come back to him, in time. Sometimes he felt as though he was lost in a dream, but he was okay now. He would talk to the men and ensure that everything was on track.
'Our father is a fool,' Isor said.
Jacob stopped mid-step and rubbed a hand across his face. There was nobody there. The voice was inside his head, but it sounded as though it had come from somewhere far away. He couldn't see the forest this time. He was awake, standing alone in the empty corridor. How could he be dreaming if he was awake? Jacob wondered what was happening to him. Maybe he should go to see the base medics and ask them to run a few tests on him? They might be able to find out if the fever was causing the voices inside his head. The medics would be able to help him, but what if they misunderstood his symptoms? What if they told Roy that his son was losing his mind? He would have to be careful whom he spoke to.
Jacob shook his head and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. The pain was starting again. It had been okay a few moments before. He couldn't risk talking to the medics. He would have to figure this out on his own.
'Do you think Roy knows what he's doing?' Isor said.
Jacob shook his head. His brother was dead. He must be imagining the voice. He could take some medication and hope that it went away. Maybe if he ignored the voice it would leave him alone.
'He is too old,' Isor said. 'He means well, but his plans are weak. The Kamari need a strong leader, someone with vision. They need a leader with the power and insight to make the difficult decisions that need to be made.'
'Leave me alone,' Jacob said under his breath. He didn't want anyone to overhear him. He walked slowly down the corridor, dragging one hand along the wall beside him. 'Roy is a good leader.'
The voice laughed inside his head. 'Is he? Who are you trying to convince, Jacob? Yourself?'
Jacob blinked and wiped a fresh sheen of sweat from his forehead. He held onto the wall as his vision faded in and out of focus.
'Roy might be slow,' Jacob said, 'but he has plans.'
'What plans? Building networks of old men while he sits back and hopes for a miracle? He dreams of days gone by. He has no grasp of the present or future. Your father is nothing.'
'My father?' Jacob said. 'Isn't he your father too?'
'He's everybody's father. He's the father of the Kamari and the father of doom. He's the father of failure and procrastination. He's certainly the father of fools!'
Soft laughter echoed through Jacob's mind.
'No,' Jacob said.
'Yes. You know it's true. You know he's all those things. You argue for the sake of argument, but you don't believe your own words. Stop fighting and listen. You are stubborn, but you are strong. You have youth on your side. You must take Roy's place before it is too late.'
'I can't do that,' Jacob said. 'Roy will always lead the Kamari. I'm the second in command...'
'That's why... Jacob... Kill him.'
Jacob's eyes opened wide. What was happening to him? Maybe he was losing his mind? He would go to the medics and ask them to give him something, anything to make the voice go away. He had to tell Roy too. His father would understand. Maybe he would know what to do.
'Kill him!' the voice said.
Jacob stumbled, turning sideways so he could lean his back against the wall. Sweat covered his face and he realised that he was finding it hard to breath.
'The Kamari will fail unless you kill him,' the voice said. 'Can't you see how he drives your hopes into the ground? He is a fool, Jacob. You must finish him, now.'
'I can't,' Jacob said. 'He's my father.'
'He's not your real father. Your real father died when you were a boy. He's nothing to you, nothing but a fool.
'That's not true,' Jacob said.
It was true that his real father had died when he was young. Roy had taken him in. It wasn't true that Roy meant nothing to him. He had raised Jacob in his own way. He had given him the brother that he'd never had. Jacob struggled with his own thoughts. He was becoming increasingly unsure of who he was arguing with. Isor had never spoken so harshly about their father.
'Your brother died because of Roy's incompetence, because of his cowardice, and his pathetic plans. If it hadn't been for Roy's mistakes, Isor would still be alive. He'll kill you too, if you let him. You know I speak the truth.'
Jacob covered his face with both hands. He didn't understand any of it.
'Why did you say Isor? I thought you were Isor, but now you speak as though you are someone else.'
'The Kamari will fail unless you kill him. It will be your fault, Jacob. He will bring failure to us all.'
'No. I can't do it. These are not my thoughts. You're not my brother. I'm sick. That's all it is. This fever has unsettled my mind. I won't listen to you.'
'Then you are a coward, just like your father.'
'No!' Jacob stumbled, staggering further along the corridor, leaning heavily against the wall.
'Do what is right!'
'You are not my brother. Leave me alone.'
Thin laughter filled his mind.
'Why are you doing this to me?'
'Jacob? Are you okay?'
'Leave me alone,' Jacob said, but he realised that the voice had been different this time. It was a voice he knew well, a voice that came from a man standing in front of him rather than from a phantom created by his own mind. Jacob looked up. Captain Jack Forester was staring at him with concern in his eyes.
'You don't look at all well, Jacob,' he said.
'I'm okay,' Jacob said, lowering his hands from his face. Of all the people to see him like this, why did it have to be Forester? He was one of Roy's oldest friends. He had never liked Jacob.
'Who were you talking to just now?' Forester said.
Jacob tried to wipe the confusion from his face. 'Nobody. Just myself.'
'You should get some sleep. You look tired. Have you seen the medics?'
Jacob stared at Forester through bloodshot eyes. 'It's just a fever,' he said. 'I'll be fine in a day or two.'
Forester frowned and walked away. 'You don't look good at all,' he said as he turned the corner and disappeared out of sight.
Jacob hurried in the opposite direction, making his way back to his own quarters. Perhaps he was more sick than he had realised.