Angels of Darkness

language, ile . It means ‘we,’ ‘us,’ but it also means civilization, the best of us, the best of our kind. The mandate is ‘ Ile must survive.’”
    That explained nothing. “That’s it?”
    â€œThat’s it. On this world, under this set of circumstances, the people among whom you lived are ile . We exist to make sure they survive. When we’re no longer needed, we’ll die out like many other subspecies before us.”
    The more he explained things, the more confused she became. For now she had to just gather the crumbs of information and hope all would make sense sooner or later.
    Lucas walked on, down the wide path of smooth stones. Karina scrambled to follow. They walked side by side along the path and over a bridge. The gardens burrowed into nooks in the buildings here and there, forming small sitting areas. To the left two women sat on a bench, discussing something. They looked so normal. Both wore jeans; the older of the pair had on a flowered top, white on blue; the younger woman wore a familiar yellow blouse—Karina had looked at it in J. C. Penney last week.
    Last week. A lifetime ago.
    The women saw Lucas. Their faces took on a certain tightness, as if they were straining to keep calm. They looked her over next. Karina met their gaze and saw pity in their eyes. Suddenly it made her furious. If Lucas grabbed her throat right now, they wouldn’t lift a finger to help her. They would just sit there and watch him choke her to death and feel sorry for her. She raised her chin and stared at Lucas’s back. No, thank you. She didn’t need anyone’s pity.
    Henry’s words came back to her. Lucas is the most feared. “They’re afraid of you,” she said.
    â€œI’m the security specialist here; I have the right of judgment,” he said. “I can kill anyone on base at any point without any retribution.”
    â€œYou protect them, and all you get in return is fear. Why do you keep doing this?”
    Lucas kept walking. “Because everyone must have a purpose. The Mandate tells me what I am doing is right and must be done and because I’m the biggest and the strongest it’s my duty to put myself between my people and danger. I would do it for you.”
    He would. She believed him. “Lucas . . .”
    â€œYes?”
    She wanted to tell him that if he ever shielded her or Emily, she wouldn’t be afraid of him. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to put up with people shrinking away from him, but inside a cold rational voice warned her that she was losing her grip on reality. The plan had to be to escape. The plan couldn’t be to fall for Lucas and be that one sole person who comforted him.
    He was looking at her.
    â€œI’m really confused right now,” she told him. “So this actually doesn’t mean anything.”
    He nodded. “Okay.”
    â€œBend your arm at the elbow.”
    He did. Karina reached out. What am I doing? She put her hand on his forearm and raised her chin. The two women on the bench stared at them, openmouthed.
    â€œNow we walk,” she murmured, avoiding looking at him.
    â€œWe can do that,” he agreed. They started down the walkway. His arm was rock-steady under her fingers. A few moments, and the dense greenery of rhododendron shrubs hid the women from their view.
    â€œWhy?” he asked.
    Because she lost it, that’s why. “Would you hurt those two women?”
    â€œNot unless they tried to hurt someone else first.”
    â€œThen they’re in no danger and they know it, but they still make a big production out of you walking by, minding your own business.”
    â€œThat still doesn’t answer my question,” he said.
    â€œCan we stop talking about this?”
    He didn’t say anything. They simply kept walking. It was surreal, Karina reflected. Beautiful flowers, Emily and a tame bear-dog, and she and Lucas striding side by side.
    â€œI’m tired,” Emily said.
    Karina bent down and picked her up. The effort nearly made her lose her balance. Apparently she was weaker than she thought.
    Cedric sniffed at her feet.
    â€œLet her ride him,” Lucas offered.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLet her ride him. He doesn’t mind.”
    â€œI want to ride!” Emily squirmed in her arms.
    Karina surveyed the bear-dog. He was almost as big as a pony. Gingerly she lowered Emily on his