Chapter Forty-Six. When Dealing with Monsters
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
WHEN DEALING WITH MONSTERS
FARREN
I like Dr. Burke, always have. However, instinct tells me he orchestrated this madness. That I’ve found my monster.
We follow him to the training yards by the racing track.
The same spot where Hendrix died, and Mr. Murphy threatened me after discovering I could bronze-craft.
I don’t believe I hold a single good memory in this spot except for assisting my father.
And my father lays bedridden, the wounds in his abdomen still angry red and newly stitched.
“I hid the other gold out here, in case John found the first stash.” Dr. Burke promises.
I don’t buy it for a moment. Mrs. Murphy knew nothing of other gold pieces, of the babies.
If all this was done to help her, then why did he keep her in the dark?
When Dr. Burke halts right near the dragon stalls, James and I follow suit.
“Where is it? I can’t sense any gold here.” One shake of his head and James confirms it’s not just me. I’ve been crafting outward and outward and I can’t feel a thing but the metal in my hands. The knot in my stomach constricts.
Dr. Burke squints in the early morning sun, an orange dawn upon us. “Farren, James, I think we want the same thing.”
“And what’s that?” James asks, voice tight.
“To do what’s right. To help people. You both must understand. This gold. It could save thousands. Cure cancer. Every ailment we can’t hope to fight against vanquished in an instant. You have a friend, Miss Price? Diagnosed with lymphoma. Imagine her cured.”
“You don’t get to talk about Shelly. You ruined her wedding. And you mean it’s worth thousands, to the right people who can pay, silvers willing to open their pocketbooks. I could revive the species. You talk of thousands. I could save millions one day.”
Dr. Burke’s face hardens. “We can still save millions.” He pauses. “Together. I just need your cooperation.”
He’s not going to show us where the poachers took the gold anytime soon. All we can gather for now is information.
“I have the metal,” Dr. Burke continues. “I just need the crafters. Help me pulverize and craft golden teas and in turn I’ll feed your hatchlings. If you want them to live, then bring them to me. I’ll ensure they have the proper amount of gold.”
Oh yes, they would take good care of Nity’s hatchlings. Until they come of age and are stripped of their metal again and again until the brink of death. They would be turned into factories. “The proper amount is all of it. Would you give us that?”
A look of resignation falls over Dr. Burke’s steel eyes. The air seems to shift. I swallow, hating how easy that unspoken no was for him. “You’re willing to end the entire species, bring about another golden slaughter to make some money?”
Dr. Burke laughs. “All that power and you are still ignorant.” He stares me down. “I guess that means you advanced the hard way.”
James and I share a frown. He looks as confused as me.
“Those hatchlings aren’t the bargaining chip you think they are. I have the gold. I can make my own gold dragons. I’ll revive the species with or without you,” he says calmly.
How could…? I freeze, an icy chill shuddering through me. They’d feed the gold to another hatchling. It’s not about what mother gave birth or father sired them. It’s just about what they eat. Like Hort.
Goose bumps raise the hair on my arms. I look to James, James who can gold-craft, and something snaps into place. “It applies to us too. Crafting—”
“Now, you’re getting it,” Dr. Burke encourages.
“Power doesn’t have to be earned. It can be eaten.
” He scowls. “Practice, dedication, bonding mean nothing. The top silver-crafters fooled us all, didn’t they?
Filled us with a lie instead of letting us consume the one thing that could benefit us, make us equal. ”
So, what James and I had uncovered with the hatchlings wasn’t some new breakthrough.
They knew. But of course they knew. Most silver-crafters must for how much of the metal they ingest. Medicine taken for the smallest of ailments, when other crafters were fed propaganda about how drinking silver or bronze would hurt them.
People are in jail for taking silver. A shudder runs through me.
And now I know why. To keep this heinous secret.
Oh my god. I’m going to be sick.
“Didn’t you fool us all,” Dr. Burke says to Mrs. Murphy. Everyone’s attention turns to Aine, who looks both resigned and hardened.
“Is that true? You’ve been feeding me silver my whole life,” James asks, his voice trembling.
Mrs. Murphy raises her head in indignation. “We’re a silver family, James. Was I supposed to not give you everything I could?”
“But I’ve never earned it, have I?” James continues. “You force-fed me power. And you say you’re proud of me for that? For gold-crafting when the only reason is, I’ve eaten gold?”
“Pretty nasty realization for me these past few months too,” Dr. Burke cuts in, staring at James.
“I really thought John and Aine obtained gold and used it to fix your arm.” Then Dr. Burke looks to me.
“But then that Miss Price girl walked into my office. I’d never seen anything like it. Together, we could save humanity.”
“You’re asking us to trust you?” This is the man responsible for killing Nity. I don’t care about his “honorable” intentions.
“You can trust me,” Dr. Burke says. “I’ve devoted my life to caring for others.”
“Your empathy never extended beyond humans it seems.”
Dr. Burke frowns. “Human life is sacred. Humanity should always come before animals. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care.
The only reason I haven’t gone public is for the sake of these creatures.
You worry about dragon cruelty now? If this information got out, who knows how much more poaching there would be.
Farren, be my gold-crafter, and I could help you find any other golden dragons, fund your every expense to do so.
” He must see the desire on my face because he keeps going.
“I know you’re angry at my methods, but we have similar goals. ”
James squeezes my hand and my thoughts seem to untangle. Reality hits hard, crushes the dreamy images he’s painted. “If I find them, you’d exploit them too.”
He waves a finger as if to scold us. “No, so we can help people. Help everyone. Take society out of the hands of these deceitful one-percenters who don’t care if anyone falls ill or dies.”
“She’s saying no. We’re saying no,” James reiterates.
“Robert,” Mrs. Murphy interrupts. “If hatchlings are involved, let’s at least give some of the gold back.” Hope rises as my focus swings back to Mrs. Murphy. Maybe I can get through to her.
“Most of my men are dead, Aine. And for those who survived you want me to take away their earnings?” Dr. Burke balks.
“But I already paid them,” she whispers. “I paid you.”
As Dr. Burke’s features harden, I finally confirm Dr. Burke is not helping Mrs. Murphy escape her husband out of love. He’s using her. “Aine,” he sighs. “I didn’t want it to come to this.”
Men materialize from the shadows. I swivel to try to count. Three turn into five, which turn into eight. James curses beside me, and we both step toward one another, ready to protect the other.
“You’re saying no? Fine. Who is to say the gold wasn’t always ours to begin with? It’s your word against ours,” Dr. Burke says, calm and cold.
“You have no proof,” I shout, but my voice wobbles.
“Don’t I? The Murphys cultivating gold and using it to save their son after a severe injury makes more sense than the truth.
The nobody Walshes possess gold? It’s unbelievable,” Dr. Burke spouts like he’s spinning a tale.
“But—a spotter at that race, a copper girl, saw the gold and has since been planning the robbery all summer.” He laughs.
“In fact, John has already been spreading rumors that Walshes are thieves.”
I look over at James whose face has fallen ashen. He’s come to the same realization. How twisted this could get. Or how easily it could be twisted. “One problem,” James says as he straightens. “I have to go along with that story, and I refuse to lie for any of you ever again.”
A poacher steps forward, swinging an obsidian blade. My arm aches knowing what kind of damage it truly can do, how it feels piercing through skin.
Dr. Burke smiles. “I only need one gold-crafter. I feed you, James, and it will further strengthen my story.”
“With gold we can break and heal you over and over again,” another poacher calls out. “Have all the gold in the world and it would only take a few flakes.”
They talk of torture. Of torturing and healing James until he complies.
“Robert, what are you saying?” Mrs. Murphy objects.
And I think she’s finally getting it, how evil these men are, how the greed of gold has amplified it.
I wonder if they would have ever let Nity go?
If I’d stepped aside and let them tranquilize her, would she have lived?
The question has been quaking through me since I fell.
Now blinking away the sting in my eyes I know the truth.
They wouldn’t have let her live. As soon as she became too much trouble, attacked to get back to her hatchlings, they would have put her down.
“How do you explain my skill in gold-crafting?” I ask. “My power provides the evidence to counter any of your lies.” In example, I craft the gold into a blade once again, a physical manifestation of the only leverage I possess.
Dr. Burke’s face pulls grim and stern, now a wash of true cruel disregard as he continues with, “What do you think men? We get rid of the evidence, don’t we?”
Shock impales every sense as the men shout their agreement. Did he … did he just imply that I’m merely evidence to be killed in order to get away with his plan? So much for human life is sacred.
Every poacher steps forward with obsidian weapons.
“Robert! They’re children.” Mrs. Murphy finally looks scared. Before she can say more two poachers yank her back and hold her steady.