Read Online Through the Killing Glass by Mainak Dhar - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mainak Dhar
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Biters and their Queen.'
Chen saw Hu
smile, but there was little humor in his expression; just the look of a man who
finally seemed to have things under control. He said, 'It is time we put an end
to this. Time that we brought back the savages of the Deadland under our
control. That is the key to stop the brimming unrest among the people of the
Mainland. Once food flows onto their dinner tables and they no longer have to
work on the farms, our people will stop thinking of freedom.'
'Comrade
Commissar, we have tried. We brought to bear all our firepower, but you know as
well as I do that in a guerilla campaign on their home ground, at best we will
fight a long, hard war of attrition.'
Now Hu replaced
the pawn, taking up another piece: the Queen.
'Comrade
General, I flew down because I need you to know what is going on, so that you
can use your experience in the Deadland and the trust your men have in you. We
are about to enter a decisive phase in this battle, one that will change the
game in our favor. A phase that has already begun with a few select operations
behind enemy lines.'
Seeing Chen's
puzzled expression, Hu pointed to the black helicopter at the far end of the
base.
'Comrade
General, it is time we stopped trying to win this war with pawns. The enemy has
that half-Biter witch they call their Queen who they follow into battle. It's
time that you met the Red Queen.'
***
Despite all
that she had seen and experienced, Alice found it hard to believe that what
Edwards had shared could have happened: experiments conducted on labor camp
inmates to try and create hybrid human-Biters who could wage war in the
Deadland, in an attempt to create an army that would not require food, water,
and be immune to pain and injury. More importantly, it would not be an army of
impressionable young conscripts who would go back to the Mainland with
uncomfortable questions for their masters in the Central Committee about the
true nature of the war they were fighting.
Hundreds of
young men and women had died in the experiments, which was when Edwards refused
to co-operate any further, despite all the torture he was subjected to. When he
was shipped back to the labor camp, he knew that a vaccine could be created but
also knew that the Chinese researchers were getting closer and closer to their
dream of creating an army of hybrids.
'That explains
the Biters who attacked our people. But they seemed to move and fight like
Biters, without any real human characteristics.'
Alice and
Satish had brought their new companions up to speed on what they had been
through. Edwards seemed to be recovering both his spirit and strength with
every passing hour, as he came to grips with the fact that he was finally free.
'Satish, maybe
they haven't created hybrids, but if these Biters attacked your people, and
they were brought in by helicopter, the Reds have found some way of controlling
them.'
Alice asked
Satish to get on the radio. 'We must get in touch with Danish and get this news
back. If people in Wonderland know what is happening then we can work together
instead of fighting each other.'
Satish's radio came
alive. Satish heard Danish’s voice as he put his headset on.
'White Queen,
this is Looking Glass. I have some bad news. Humpty Dumpty just sat on top of
the wall. He called elections and has declared that he is the new Prime
Minister. Things are pretty hot now, so suggest you not visit too soon.'
Satish slammed
a fist against the ground. 'With all that's going on, Arun is still bothered
about grabbing power!'
Alice sat back,
wondering what she could do. It was clear that it would not be an easy job to try
and get everyone in Wonderland to work together. And even more pressing, the
enemy wouldn’t wait until they had things together before attacking again.
***
Chen followed
Hu to the far side of the base, passing a heavily guarded checkpoint manned by
black-clad Interior Security Service men before they entered the
Chen saw Hu
smile, but there was little humor in his expression; just the look of a man who
finally seemed to have things under control. He said, 'It is time we put an end
to this. Time that we brought back the savages of the Deadland under our
control. That is the key to stop the brimming unrest among the people of the
Mainland. Once food flows onto their dinner tables and they no longer have to
work on the farms, our people will stop thinking of freedom.'
'Comrade
Commissar, we have tried. We brought to bear all our firepower, but you know as
well as I do that in a guerilla campaign on their home ground, at best we will
fight a long, hard war of attrition.'
Now Hu replaced
the pawn, taking up another piece: the Queen.
'Comrade
General, I flew down because I need you to know what is going on, so that you
can use your experience in the Deadland and the trust your men have in you. We
are about to enter a decisive phase in this battle, one that will change the
game in our favor. A phase that has already begun with a few select operations
behind enemy lines.'
Seeing Chen's
puzzled expression, Hu pointed to the black helicopter at the far end of the
base.
'Comrade
General, it is time we stopped trying to win this war with pawns. The enemy has
that half-Biter witch they call their Queen who they follow into battle. It's
time that you met the Red Queen.'
***
Despite all
that she had seen and experienced, Alice found it hard to believe that what
Edwards had shared could have happened: experiments conducted on labor camp
inmates to try and create hybrid human-Biters who could wage war in the
Deadland, in an attempt to create an army that would not require food, water,
and be immune to pain and injury. More importantly, it would not be an army of
impressionable young conscripts who would go back to the Mainland with
uncomfortable questions for their masters in the Central Committee about the
true nature of the war they were fighting.
Hundreds of
young men and women had died in the experiments, which was when Edwards refused
to co-operate any further, despite all the torture he was subjected to. When he
was shipped back to the labor camp, he knew that a vaccine could be created but
also knew that the Chinese researchers were getting closer and closer to their
dream of creating an army of hybrids.
'That explains
the Biters who attacked our people. But they seemed to move and fight like
Biters, without any real human characteristics.'
Alice and
Satish had brought their new companions up to speed on what they had been
through. Edwards seemed to be recovering both his spirit and strength with
every passing hour, as he came to grips with the fact that he was finally free.
'Satish, maybe
they haven't created hybrids, but if these Biters attacked your people, and
they were brought in by helicopter, the Reds have found some way of controlling
them.'
Alice asked
Satish to get on the radio. 'We must get in touch with Danish and get this news
back. If people in Wonderland know what is happening then we can work together
instead of fighting each other.'
Satish's radio came
alive. Satish heard Danish’s voice as he put his headset on.
'White Queen,
this is Looking Glass. I have some bad news. Humpty Dumpty just sat on top of
the wall. He called elections and has declared that he is the new Prime
Minister. Things are pretty hot now, so suggest you not visit too soon.'
Satish slammed
a fist against the ground. 'With all that's going on, Arun is still bothered
about grabbing power!'
Alice sat back,
wondering what she could do. It was clear that it would not be an easy job to try
and get everyone in Wonderland to work together. And even more pressing, the
enemy wouldn’t wait until they had things together before attacking again.
***
Chen followed
Hu to the far side of the base, passing a heavily guarded checkpoint manned by
black-clad Interior Security Service men before they entered the
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