The Bastard Cadre by Lee Carlon

Author:Lee Carlon [Carlon, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Peak City Press

31 Divine Motivation

Avril’s eyes grew heavy as he watched the road ahead. Rattan had said he needed rest, so Avril let his eyes close and put his head back. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he stretched and looked around.

Ethan sat at the driver’s console, watching the road ahead, even though the AI was driving.

Just like old times, Avril thought.

He adjusted his position to get comfortable, raised his knees, and put his feet on the edge of his seat.

“The gods must want something,” Avril said, deciding to pick up the conversation where they’d left it before he fell asleep.

“They do. They’re at war. They want to destroy each other, and they don’t care what happens to us,” Ethan said without taking his eyes from the road ahead.

“Why are they at war?” Avril asked and wondered why he’d never asked that question before.

Ethan didn’t answer.

“What are they fighting for? There must be a reason,” Avril said.

Ethan still didn’t answer, but after a moment he said, “Life feeds on death.”

Avril scoffed, “Man, have I missed your sunny disposition.”

“I’ll put it another way, then. Conflict drives things forward. Can you imagine a life with no conflict or tension? People say they want to live in peace, but peace is rare. It almost never happens in Rasa, and even when it does, people drive themselves crazy with the tension between what they think they want and what they need.”

“You’re saying the gods are at war because conflict is necessary? That can’t be true.” Ethan stayed silent, so Avril pressed him, “You really think conflict is necessary?”

Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know, but it seems that way. Think back, how many times did we find ourselves in conflict with the people we met out here?”

Avril raised his eyebrows at Ethan and asked, “And how many of those conflicts were because Obdurin bound me into a cadre?”

“Okay, bad example, but honestly, not all of them. People attack each other because they’re worried about being attacked. If you’re wondering around out here in the wasteland and you’re not armed, anybody you meet will think you’re crazy, and half of them will take whatever you’ve got.”

“That’s not true,” Avril said.

“Life evolved from competition over resources, the strong got stronger and eliminated the weak. It’s in the universe’s DNA.”

“Love and compassion evolved too,” Avril said.

Ethan turned to Avril, and said, “Not in the gods.”

“They must be fighting for a reason,” Avril said.

Ethan sighed and said, “Well, I don’t know what it is, but even if they told us why they’re at war, how could we believe them? How would we know they’re not just telling us stories to make us hate their enemies and fall in line? The gods don’t care about us, Avril. They never did.”

“This is why you didn’t tell me I’m bound to Obdurin?” Avril asked.

Ethan nodded. “It’s part of it. I think you deserve better than to have some old man who’s playing a god’s games decide on the course of your life before you were even born.

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