Chapter 10

Extract from the journal of Benjamin Linus c.2004

Nobody lifted a finger to stop JL beating MB to a pulp. They used to do everything I demanded of them before JL's arrival. Now they seem to have lost faith in me, but it will only be temporary. After all, how big a threat can JL be to me lying in that ditch?

Only Annie and Horace Goodspeed had ever remembered Ben's birthday. Horace would grin at him and wish him 'many happy returns' as they passed outside or in a corridor. When Ben was younger, he had tried to reassure him and make him feel better about his father's neglect; it hadn't worked, but Ben appreciated his efforts. Horace had always understood him better than his father had. It was Horace's face he saw every time he had doubts about his plan. It would be a shame. He's a good man. He doesn't deserve it like the others do. In his heart, however, he knew that he could not make exceptions. Apart from one.

"How are things progressing?" Alpert had dispensed with the friendly greetings now. It was always straight to business.

"I still need more time to build up the supply. Three months should do it. I can't take too many canisters at once without them noticing the loss."

"Three months. Good. We'll hold you to that, Ben." Richard smiled a little. "You're doing very well."

"I need to ask a favour, " Ben said. "Or, rather, I need to impose a condition."

"'Impose a condition'? Benjamin, we'd rather you didn't make demands of us just yet…"

Ben continued, ignoring Alpert's rather affronted protest. "My wife. I want her to stay with me, Richard."

Alpert's dark eyes narrowed. "She isn't your wife, Ben. If we're being honest. And she can't stay. You can't pick and choose who lives and who doesn't. That's not the deal. We only want you."

"If we're being honest, Richard," said Ben, moving closer across the jungle floor with barely a sound, "you need me to do this for you or it simply can't be done. Which would place me in a position where I'm able to make as many demands as I want."

"Benjamin, be careful," Alpert said, looking down coldly at him. "I think you're forgetting who you're talking to."

"Annie's life will be spared, Richard, or I won't do a single thing for you and your people."

"They're your people, Ben. They've been waiting for this for years and so have you. You've been very patient. Don't throw it all away over a girl. You're better than that. You're so much more important. Please." Richard had never said 'please' before. I really have him worried, Ben thought to himself.

"I love her. She's pregnant with my child. They mean more to me than even this island. Either you take all of us or none of us. It's a very simple choice, Richard."

"We may not be able to take care of the entire compound by ourselves, Ben, but we aren't entirely powerless," Alpert warned, with a barely discernible waver in his voice. "You know that. If she is the only thing holding you back, we'll take her out of the equation. We're not bad people, but… we will do what is necessary. I'm sorry, Ben. I don't want to have to threaten you…"

He sounded apologetic, almost sincere, as he spoke of ending Annie's life. Ben's body tensed and his pupils were little more than pinpricks as he stared Alpert down. "Was that really a threat, Richard?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because what I heard sounded a lot more like the last attempt of a desperate man at asserting his authority. If you were trying to scare me into letting her die with the rest of them, then you failed. When you ask me to choose between you and her, you will always fail. Now listen to me, Alpert. In three months' time, I will have collected enough gas to kill every Dharma operative in the compound. When it's over, you and your people will move in and Annie will be there at my side. She will be protected and she will be welcomed. If you make any attempt to hurt her, I'll use one of the canisters on myself. Your people need me, Richard. You've said so, many times... I very much hope we can reach a compromise."

Richard looked at Ben long and hard, his arms folded and a strained expression on his face. "She'll distract you," he said, rather sadly. "She'll come between you and your duty to the island. Her and the child. Are you sure you can devote your attentions to both your family and your work?"

"Do you really think so little of me, Richard? I'm hurt." Ben could sense he was winning now. It was always obvious to him when the other person was beginning to cave.

"Won't she object when you tell her what has to be done? Can you be certain she'll stand by you if she knows what's going to happen?", asked Richard, with a small sigh of resignation.

Ben looked at him with calm, steely eyes. "I'll talk her into it."