Chapter 7
Jewel looked over the computer display. "Take a look at this, Dr. Dwyer," he said.
Brigid shuffled forward. He hadn't killed her, but he had delivered one of his trademark "punishments"—suffocation and endless pain until the person felt certain that they had to be dead.
"We've got so many tasty options," Jewel said. "What do you think?"
The display was a maneuverable image of the planet.
"Options for what, Master Jewel?" Brigid said nervously.
"Our first target," Jewel said. "We're gonna outline the borders of an entire country in flames, then disintegrate everything within. Show the world we mean business. What do you think we should go for first? France? Egypt? China?"
"You can blow up China?" Brigid said uneasily.
"Yes," he said. "You like that? That'd make an impression."
"I don't know that I'm comfortable with killing that many people, Jewel," Brigid said.
"Well, then, why don't you quit this job?" Jewel asked. The blade that Brigid immediately felt on her throat made it perfectly clear what quitting entailed.
"I'm just saying…" Brigid said bravely. "You want people to like you. Wouldn't you prefer that? It's not too much of a stretch to be feared and liked."
Jewel withdrew the blade. "You've offended me, Brigid," he said. "I might… you know, spin around and kill some random underling." He laughed. "Totally kidding. Don't worry. I appreciate your advice, but it's not needed. I'll be liked just fine." He turned back to the computer display.
"Jewel?" Brigid asked.
"Yeah, pudding?"
"What… what is it you really want out of this whole thing?" Brigid said. "I don't really see much… fulfillment out of this."
"There's conflict," Jewel said. "All the national borders and ethnic divisions… I'm going to end that. People won't care about that anymore. Am I right or am I right? It's a silly thing. There's only one Earth. There's only one kind of human."
"I see," Brigid said. "Well, I guess that's good…"
"And of course," Jewel said. "There will be only one thing superior to Earth and the human race: me. Just me." He tapped a few commands on the computer display.
"Tell me again why blowing up whole countries is part of the plan," Brigid said.
"Well, I can't rule the entire human race all by myself," he said. "There's too many of them. It's a burden. Gotta thin it out a bit. To, let's say, one hundred."
"One hundred?" Brigid whispered. "You mean… one hundred people in your immediate court?"
"One hundred people existing in the entire world. Much more manageable."
Brigid's eyes widened. "You're… you're wiping out the entire human race except for a hundred people?"
"It's easier than keeping track of them all. I'm holding auditions, seeing who will be able to raise the most fanatical kids. That's why I don't need the flock or my old ICBG cohorts—not enough human blood in them. It'll dilute the puppy mill. Don't worry, Dwyer, you don't need to audition. I know how much you value your own ass. You pass by default."
"Thanks," Brigid said. "I mean that in all sincerity, thanks. That's all I ever wanted."