Kiru had imagined that the convicts of Clink survived in primitive conditions, eking out a miserable existence in ragged tents or mud huts. But the old man, whatever his name was, and whoever he was, lived in an imposing villa with spectacular views. To the north lay the dense forest, to the west a jagged range of ice-capped mountains, to the south a vast lake.
As Kiru and her host sat on the east verandah, her rescuer brought a tray with two glasses of iced tea and a selection of cream cakes.
“He seems to like you, son,” said the old man, watching him go back inside the house. “How odd.”
“I’m not your son,” said Kiru. “I’m not anyone’s son. I’m a girl. Haven’t you realised?”
“You think I care what sex you are? You think I care anything about you?”
If he did, it would be a first.
“Who is he?” asked Kiru. “Or don’t you care?”
“That’s Grawl. He’s from Earth. We Terrans have to stick together.”
“Help each other out, you mean? So when you stole my clothes and supplies, you were helping me? I should have realised. I thought you were just helping yourself.”
“Shouldn’t jump to conclusions, son.”
“My name is Kiru.”
“You think I care about your name? You know how many people I’ve met in my life?”
“No. And I don’t care.”
“Neither do I. You’ll be dead within a few weeks, like most of the others.” The old man paused. “Or maybe not. Why does Grawl like you, I wonder? I’m sure it’s not because you’re a—what’s the word?—a girl.”
“He doesn’t have much to say for himself,” said Kiru.
“Not much. What has he said to you?”
“Nothing. Not a word.”
“Exactly. Not a word. Grawl can’t speak. That’s one reason for having him around. Silence is a great social asset. It’s a pity there aren’t more like him.” The old man stared at her.
“Is that why you killed twenty-three people? To silence them?”
“I was tried for twenty-three murders, which isn’t the same as killing twenty-three people.”
“It isn’t?”
“No. I’ve killed far more than twenty-three. Plus aliens, of course.”
“Who are you?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I do.”
“You don’t. Everyone who knows who I am is dead. And if you ever find out, it means you’re about to join them.”
Kiru stared into the man’s eyes. They were cold and empty. He’d warned her not to believe what she was told, but she knew every word was true.
“More tea?” he asked, as the alien sun slowly set in the east, sinking behind the huge pile of discarded technotrash.