—You can make it up with some mechanical knowledge. There’s a room called Engine Room so I can probably find the engine—engines?—in there, but I don’t know anything about engines, let alone boat engines. I sure as hell don’t know how to break one “properly.”
—I will provide you with all the information you need. I can ask Ms. Resnik if you do not feel up to the task.
—I can do it. Now that I think of it, why didn’t you? Ask Kara, I mean.
—I would like this operation to be handled as discreetly as possible. Ms. Resnik is more inclined towards impulsive decision making than you are.
—Hmmm. I’m not so sure. She’s been … reasonable the past couple years. You might not recognize her.
—Do you? Recognize her?
—Yeah. She’s in there. I’ll catch a glimpse of her every now and then. It’s not that I dislike the tame version of her—she’s doing it for me. I’d have to be a real asshole to blame her for it—but sometimes I wonder if she’s wiser or just broken. The thing is, she doesn’t seem unhappy. She says she’s happy, and a lot of the times I believe her.
—And what have you done for her?
—Not sure what you mean.
—Have you altered your expectations in any way?
—Expectations about what?
—Life, love. What it means to be a couple, a family? It may not be any of my business, but I get the impression that she has seriously altered her expectations about a great many things in order to meet yours. Perhaps you could meet her halfway. In any case, she seemed in good spirits when I last spoke to her.
— …
—Are you giggling?
—I am. She is in good spirits. That’s just it. I haven’t seen her as giddy in a long, long time. Of course, we’re gonna die tomorrow, but if that’s what it takes to make her feel like that. It’s not like I ever wanted her to change. I didn’t ask for this. The last thing I want is for Kara to be … domesticated. I told her that. I told her a hundred times.
—You also talked to her about building a family.
—Yes. I want kids. Someday. That doesn’t mean I want the person I love to turn into something she’s not.
—I understand your point of view, but, if Ms. Resnik is contemplating motherhood, she might have her own expectations of what it means to be a mother, a good mother. Those might not be compatible with her former self.
—Kara’s a smart woman. She knows there are many ways to be a good mother.
—Before Ms. Resnik became … Ms. Resnik, she was a little girl, with a mother of her own. No relationship is perfect, and I imagine that this little girl knew exactly what kind of person she wished her mother to be. Do not underestimate how powerful the wishes of that little girl are, to this day.
—I seem to remember your telling me you were in no position to give relationship advice to anyone.
—True. Relationships are not my forte, but without divulging too much information of a personal nature, I can tell you that I did have a mother and father.
—You know, I like that you’re taking an interest and you make a really good point. Well, good enough to make me feel like an ass anyway. That would have been a great conversation to have, like, five years ago. We have a briefing in a few minutes. I also have a boat to stop. If you can get me instructions tonight, I can try it while everyone’s asleep.
—I will endeavor to do so. I can access the blueprints they used for the construction of your vessel. I also know an engineer who can help us disguise your act of sabotage as a normal mechanical failure. If I am not mistaken—
—Yes?
— …
—Hello?
—Forget everything I just said. Please tell the captain to increase speed. You must assemble in London as fast as you can.
—What’s going on?
—Are you in your room?
—Yes.
—Turn on the television.
—What channel?
—Any channel.
FILE NO. 1440
NEWS REPORT—JACOB LAWSON, BBC LONDON
Location: Regent’s Park, London, England
There are tanks on our streets. Over one hundred Scimitar combat vehicles from the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Light Dragoons were called in from Swanton Morley. Fifty-four Challenger 2 tanks from the King’s Royal Hussars also arrived during the night from Tidworth. They are joined by countless transport vehicles, and eighteen thousand soldiers, half of whom are reservists, tasked with the evacuation of an estimated four hundred thousand Londoners.