2100 AD: A Sly Pretense by Tariq Saleim

Author:Tariq Saleim [Saleim, Tariq]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Sector 91, Sub-Sector 1 (formerly known as Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Nile had recovered well over the last few weeks and Coco was happy. The faster he recovered, the sooner she could go back home—away from this Militia torture cell, she thought. She was sure that the Commander would make her pay for her actions, but she was trying not to be bothered about it. At worst, she would get demoted. Being jobless scared her, but she could stomach a demotion, especially when it helped in saving someone’s life, even if only temporarily.

She walked up to Nile, pulled up a chair and sat next to his bed, fully aware that the cameras in the ward were recording and the Commander was probably watching her from his office. She did not care—not anymore. The attendant in the ward looked at the two of them and then pretended to be busy with her chores.

Nile made an interesting case for her. A thirty-seven-year-old man, willing to die for something he believed in, not willing to give up a friend’s identity despite the torture, thinking of his family when his own life was slipping away, and who believed in God. Where do they make such men these days? she thought. What does he know that makes him this brave?

She speculated about Nile’s fate after she was gone. It was a matter of days before she would leave and a new doctor would be assigned to Nile. The Commander would torture him again, then save him, and then torture him again. This would continue until Nile gave the Commander what he wanted—if Nile indeed knew something.

She could not help compare Nile to Hawk, her boyfriend back home. Hawk would probably never take a stand for anything, even for her. Hawk would do anything necessary to be successful without much consideration of ethics. She was sure he was cheating on her behind her back. He was not the loyal type, but she forced herself to hang onto him. Why do I do that? she asked herself. Because men are like that. You either live alone or settle with someone like Hawk.

She had never cheated on Hawk and it bothered her to think about him sleeping with other girls. There was nothing she could do about it. She was sure if she brought up the subject, Hawk would bravely accept her allegations and show her the door. She was not ready to leave.

Nile, on the other hand, had a wife and three kids whom he loved dearly. Such a man would never cheat on his wife, she reckoned. He could not even cheat on his business associate when his life depended on it. How does it feel to be the woman of such a man? His wife must feel so secure in his arms—his strong arms. She must feel so fulfilled when he makes love to her.

“Are there more men like you?” she asked quietly. She had undeniably fallen in love with her patient—a love that transcended the physical and ventured into the spiritual.

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