08 Carl Meets Tanto

Carl stumbles upon one of Chin-Yau's most fiercely-guarded secrets—a scheme so mind-boggling no one would ever believe it. Unfortunately, Carl isn't the only one who has been discovering desperately-guarded secrets.

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SPEAKER_02 0:00

The author of the Exodus series is intentional about avoiding profanity and explicit sexual content. However, this episode does contain scenes of violence that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. The steel doors closed soundlessly, and Carl felt the lift jerk and then begin its descent. He watched the numbers on the display count down the levels as he allowed his mind to wander. A warm afterglow from Ming's last kiss on his left cheek was all that remained of the last three pleasant days. He imagined his cheek still tingling from where her soft kiss had landed. Chinny had been gone and he'd enjoyed spending the precious days and hours sneaking around the mountain laboratories with her, trying to find places where they wouldn't be caught. With Chin Yao gone, Ming was able to sneak away more often. He'd skipped one day of work, feigning an illness, and had been five hours late the following day, all in an effort to spend as much time with her as possible. Now it's back to work, he thought miserably. Now, how can I get us out of here? The frustrating question passed through his mind. They'd spent the hours together brainstorming how he and Ming could escape, or at the very least, end up in the same location after Carl's finished on the starship. Carl thought he'd probably be joining Chinny aboard the starship, at least for a while to make sure all the systems functioned properly and fix any bugs. Ming would probably be sent back to his palace, but there was always a slight possibility Chinny would want to take his pleasure companions with him on the starship. Carl hoped so. It'll take a miracle, he thought glumily. Carl sighed and saw the descending readout stop at level 10, the lowest level. The lift car continued to descend far below the laboratories. He leaned against the side of the lift car, tugged his coat tighter around his body as the temperature plunged, and looked up at the ceiling, dreading the day of work ahead. Chinya would be arriving later in the evening, and he would insist on an inspection no matter how late the hour. He probably wouldn't be able to see Ming again for days. The lift slowed, and Carl felt the pressure in his knees as it came to a rest. The steel torch parted and he walked into a blast of even colder air. The gorge-level chamber had three walls hewn from the hard mountain rock and one wall framed with diastyl columns, beams, and panels, shutting out the harsh elements. On the diastil wall, a large opening allowed light from outside to filter into the cavern. Next to the opening sat a small one-room guard house. A yellow light illuminated the small enclosure, and Carl saw the silhouette of the guard behind the window watching him. He waved and approached. It's just me, Shin, he called out. An old-looking man inside stood and slid aside half of the window. Haven't seen you for several days, Car. Shin's thick accent just couldn't handle the L's of English. Shin wrapped his thin arms around his body. His scrawny neck poked out of the gray parka he wore like a turtle from its shell. His dark, heavy-lidded eyes glittered. Long hair turning white hung in a long ponytail. A nasty scar ran from his left ear to halfway across his left cheek. He told Carl it was from an accident, but it had all the marking of being the results of a desperately won knife fight. Shin was only 49, but he looked 80. Carl felt the warm air emanating from the small space and huddled close to the opening. Well, even Carl, the super thrasher, needs a break once in a while. The guard nodded his head. Aha. Yao finds out you've been stracking, and you're definitely get a break. Shin gestured to Carl's legs. Perhaps your regs. Carl looked at him and felt a knot form in his stomach. Oh, you'd rat me out, Shin. He placed a hand to his breast. Me? Of course not, but others have noticed as well. You'd better be careful. I only missed a few hours yesterday. It's no big deal. Five hours, big deer, Shin corrected. And day before? Carl nodded his head.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Oh, I was sick.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

I think it was a touch of malaria. I couldn't have possibly been any use to anyone, he said, trying to get Shin to laugh. Uh-huh. Shin raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. You'd better watch your step. He smiled at Carl and poked his head out of the window and looked back toward the lift and then back at Carl. Old Shin can't keep covering for you. He muttered, picking up the time pad, and looked at it. He tapped a few keys, continuing to mutter, and then held it out to Carl. I like you, Carr. You only one who stops and visits with horror brownery Shin. I fix for you. Carl looked down at the pad and noted that Shin had gone back to the previous two days, and made some adjustments to the time so that it only looked like Carl had missed one hour yesterday and only a half day due to illness the day before that. He looked into Shin's smiling eyes. You Rike? Carl nodded. Oh, it's not even my birthday. But thank you. I really appreciate it. I can't keep covering for you. You work hard. Shin poked him in the chest and shivered as a blast of icy air swept into the space. Me working hard makes the other techs look bad. Carl scrunched his head deeper into the neck of his parka. We're almost done. I should finish the ship's programming today. Then there won't be much for me to do. The ship will pretty much run itself. Chin's head nodded up and down as if he'd lost control. Y'all will be very happy.

unknown 6:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:35

That's why we're here. Carl looked out into the dim whiteness outside the space. I'm not sure where Chinny will send me next. Maybe I'll take you with him on ship. You train our peeper how to operate ship. Carl smiled at that. I hope so, but most everyone has already received training. More icy air crept into the chamber, and Shin stepped back away from the window into the warm guard house. You go now. Ord Shin is too cord. Don't want to get sick. Our CU Raider. He reached forward and slid the window shut. Carl spoke before the window was completely shut. Thanks again, Shin. The old guard lifted a hand in acknowledgement. Carl turned toward the opening and walked out into the cold. Carl gazed up at a ceiling of low clouds hanging in the valley, obscuring the towering mountainous shaft walls rising up all around. On a clear day, you could see the walls of the deep canyon thrusting skyward on all sides, except where the construction of the ship was taking place. Above that area, the face of the mountain rose up and angled inward, sheltering the massive starship so that anyone approaching from above would never see it lying on the valley floor. Today, a thick cold soup of fog hung low in the gorge, and only the bottom third of the enormous ship could be seen. The cold scene looked especially gloomy today. He waved absently to two workers trudging by on their way toward the lift inside the mountain behind him. Directly ahead was the sheltered opening that led through a long access tube leading up into the starship's stern. The large engine nozzles gaped like enormous caves, their top half obscured by the fog. There were five of them, each measured 500 feet in diameter. From one nozzle to the other was nearly 2,600 feet across. They extended out over half of the access tube. Carl gazed up at them and wondered what they would look like once the engines were ignited. Four more workers stood outside the tube's vestibule in the bitter cold. They waved at Carl as he approached and then walked past him quickly, headed toward the lift. He turned and watched them leave, wishing that he was also with them, rather than just starting his shift. The automatic doors opened as he approached and he entered the access tube. Warm air blew into his face from up ahead and he loosened his coat and strode down the tube. Maybe Qin Yao will cut the inspection short. He thought hopefully as he neared the inclined part of the tube. The dull black engine nozzles shadowed the tube and he continued up the ramp into increasing darkness. He'll have traveled part of the day, and maybe he'll be tired, and I can return to my quarters early. Maybe Ming can come and He stopped his thoughts, knowing it would be foolish to even look at Ming when Chin Yao was at the mountain laboratories. He'd only parted with her less than an hour ago, and already he longed to see her again. Once he was in the flow, the time passed quickly. He rapidly put the finishing touches on the ship's complex computer system. The soft tap of fingertips on key displays from the other techs was the only sound within the room. The ship's command deck was laid out on two levels. The bottom level projected out with workstations arranged in front and to each side of the center. The upper level hung over the back two-thirds of the bottom level, with workstations positioned to each side. Placed in the center of the upper level toward the front edge was a luxurious chair, or rather throne, where Chin Yao would sit. They never laughed or even smiled at his jokes and pretty much ignored him unless they required something from him. He turned back to his key display. Okay, no one's paying attention to me. Carl tapped at the key display and a holo screen popped up. It read, Restricted Access. Enter Access Code. Thrasher Man, Thrasher Man. Nothing stops old Boogeran. He entered a complex combination of keystrokes and glanced around once again. All of the texts were absorbed in their work. Yeah, they wouldn't know what they were looking at anyway, he thought and continued. Now to create a little insurance. He grabbed one of the holo screens and placed it at the front. Carefully examining its display, his fingers danced across the key display, and a complex code of characters grew across the screen. Alright, I see. Program a backdoor to the engine control. He thought and grabbed one of the other screens and put it in front of his eyes. Okay, back door for security? Characters stacked up across the screen. When he was done with one screen, he closed it and went to another. He checked the time. 1126 p.m. Old Chinny'll probably be here in another hour. He continued to tap at the display, shuffle hole of screens, and furtively glance over his shoulder from time to time. After coding 22 different screens, watching text leave one by one, he relaxed back in his chair and erased his digital tracks. Okay, now for a lip test. He tapped at the screen and all of the files closed. Next he chose one of the more obscure backdoor access codes and tapped it in, and another holo screen materialized in front of him. He checked the command deck. All of the other workers had since left, and he was alone. A file named Itinerary captured his attention. Ah, maybe I can find out when the ship launches. A calendar popped up with several dates highlighted. Each highlighted date had a short explanation, and he read the first one. November 9th. Launch and systems test. November eleventh. Arrival at ring station. Eleven fourteenth. Science team arrive. November 16th. Begin testifying destination. Mars. So Chenny's gonna test his new ship by taking a jaunt around the planet. Hope Ming and I are aboard. He sighed and closed the file. It'll take a miracle. He scanned the whole screen again.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Wait a minute.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

What's this? His eyes peered at the screen and he leaned forward. It's a digital trail. Isn't part of my programming.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

Hmm. Where'd you come from?

SPEAKER_02 15:21

He checked to make sure his encrypted backdoor codes were still undiscovered, and then decided to follow where this new code path led. Thrasher man, thrasher man. Nothing stops old Boogaran. After several minutes of tapping out codes, he thrashed further along the trail, careful to cover his tracks. A white hologram popped up in front of the remaining holo screen. The whiteness coalesced into a face. Carl drew back and nearly fell out of his chair. The face was completely benign, having a bald head, white mustache, and beard. Its blazing yellow eyes studied him for a moment, and then it spoke.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

I do not recognize you.

SPEAKER_02 16:05

He stared at the image with wide eyes.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Come now. Are you new to the project?

SPEAKER_02 16:10

The face asked him.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

Emperor Chin Yao said that as things progress, new people would be brought on board.

SPEAKER_02 16:17

The face's voice was deep, sonorous, and seemed to penetrate into Carl's body, vibrating along his bones. Emperor. Gathering his wits and thinking fast, Carl spoke. Uh yeah, he asked me to familiarize myself with the project and gave me the access codes. Wonderful. Let us begin. The face smiled benevolently. What is your name? Uh-oh. Can't give him my real name. He scanned the screen behind the face and saw the words upload code translator and made up a name. E-Doc Marx Slater. The face didn't even pause to consider the strange name.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

Very well, EDOC. Let's begin by you explaining to me what you know about the God Project.

SPEAKER_02 17:04

Carl tried to keep his face impassive and act like he was fully authorized to access the project he'd just stumbled into. Well uh the God Project is an ultra-secret program contained within the ship system that his excellency.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

Emperor Jinyao, if you please.

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The face interrupted. What?

SPEAKER_01 17:30

As of 840 this morning, mortal time. Emperor Jinyao has become the Emperor of the new Enlightened World Empire.

SPEAKER_02 17:39

Carl put a hand to his ear. Uh sorry? Didn't catch that. You said enlightened world or empire? There must be some mistake. The face's brow rose.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

God does not make a mistake.

SPEAKER_02 17:58

You're a god?

SPEAKER_01 17:59

Of course I am.

SPEAKER_02 18:01

Don't you recognize me? Carl's mind world. Okay. The AI thinks it's a god. He returned to the original subject. Uh, what about the ELN?

SPEAKER_01 18:13

It was dissolved this morning, just prior to Emperor Chinyao becoming the first emperor of the new enlightened world empire.

SPEAKER_02 18:23

Nice title. Very clever. Did you come up with it yourself? Sarcasm was lost on God. No.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

Emperor Qin Yao did.

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The face said in a haughty tone.

SPEAKER_01 18:35

You will now refer to Qinyao as Emperor Qinyao.

SPEAKER_02 18:42

Now, where were we? Uh, your God. Don't you remember? The face raised its nose in an imperious gesture. My followers must be tested. Followers? He thinks I'm a disciple. But religious belief has been eradicated. There are no followers.

SPEAKER_01 19:02

There are. They just don't know it yet.

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The face nodded at him.

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Take yourself.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

Do you believe in a higher power? Carl shook his head while thinking to himself. I do, but he doesn't need to know. Carl decided to refrain from antagonizing God and picked up where he left off. The face frowned, and Carl quickly corrected to himself. Emperor Chin Yao, at some later date, will use the God project to further establish his power. Because of its secret nature, I have not been told any more. He hoped he'd been vague enough that no suspicion was generated, but poised his fingers over the key display in case he had to shut down the system and erase his tracks if that was going to be possible.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

That is good. I will help you with the rest.

SPEAKER_02 19:56

The face beamed.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

If you haven't guessed by now, I am not.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

Carl compressed his lips together and concentrated on not laughing. He glanced around the command deck and made sure no one had entered. He was still alone and turned back to the face, which continued.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

At least I will be accepted as such when Emperor Jinyao initiates my programming.

SPEAKER_02 20:21

You're God. But God doesn't exist. Uh at least that's what the League has been pounding into our heads for the past thirty years. Quite right. The face confirmed.

SPEAKER_01 20:34

Despite the League's efforts to eradicate religion, Emperor Jin Yao knows that many still believe in some form of God. Even the League cannot control the thoughts of the people. They can only punish those who confirm their illegal religious belief by an outward expression.

SPEAKER_02 20:52

Carl remained silent. It was true. Even he had a belief in a higher power and knew several others who secretly confided their faith in him.

SPEAKER_01 21:01

At the proper time, Emperor Chinyao will announce that religion is no longer Allah, and encourage the world to believe in whatever they wish.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

Okay, so Carl pointed at the face. Which God are you? What is your name?

SPEAKER_01 21:19

To some, I am known as the Allah. To others, Krishna. Jesus Christ. Buddha. And the list goes on. I will fulfill all of these roles when the time is right.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

Uh how can you be all of those gods?

SPEAKER_01 21:38

All such religious beliefs have many things in common. It will be rather easy to convince all people that I am their god. They all believe that a great deliverer will come at the end of the world to set up a peaceful society and abolish war and suffering. I am that God.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Shook his head, but you're just a computer program. The face frowned. The world doesn't know that, nor will they.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

I will announce myself to their senses by speaking directly to them through whatever medium is present. I will command them to worship and revere Emperor Chinyo, my right arm and serve.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

Wait, wait a minute. Are you saying your programming will somehow fool the people of the world into believing that God has come that you're it? Then turn over the ruling of the world to Chin I mean Emperor Chin Yao? The face narrowed its eyes and smiled.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Ah, E Doc. Now the light comes on. You have been enlightened.

SPEAKER_02 22:53

Carl leaned back in the chair, staring at the floating head. His thoughts swirled around the incredulity of Chin Yao's plan to enslave the world. But who will believe this? Uh sir. How will you announce this to the people of the world?

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Please call me God, or by whatever name your God is known.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Okay. Carl struggled to call the face Jesus, but just couldn't. Uh, your most high excellency.

SPEAKER_01 23:27

Ooh, I like that.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

How? How will it be announced?

SPEAKER_01 23:32

Electral audio, visual, sensory manipulation. Call it humanism. Generated through all of the digipads and holo screens that almost everyone possesses. Each person will hear and see me inside their head and believe that it is their God speaking to them.

SPEAKER_02 23:53

Oh, well, okay. But how will the other senses be affected? Is it to be an audiovisual experience only? Of course not. The face seemed upset by this.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

We can also implant into their minds the touch, smell, and taste senses of experiencing their God coming into the world. Yavanism. I will announce my divine leadership unto them and appoint a ruler for the earth. That will be Emperor Chin Yao.

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Carl's head spun with the magnitude of such a venture, but what happens after that? Details, details. The Holo Face closed its eyes and shook its head.

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I'll simply announce that I am leaving things in Emperor Chen Yao's more than capable hands.

SPEAKER_02 24:43

Carl turned his head to the corridor. He thought he heard a noise. The command deck door was wide open and he saw bobbing shadows in the corridor. Oh, foolish to have the door open while doing this. He turned back to the face. I must go now. Wait, I must. He shut down the program and tapped quickly at the keys, thrashing his digital tracks. Oh, if Jin Yao finds out and knows I was into that program. He left the thought hanging. With a final tap to the display, the holo screen vanished. The one he'd worked on earlier took its place. The soft tap of three pairs of feet came from the corridor, and then he heard them on the command deck. He could sense them standing behind his chair. Carl Bogoran, a deep voice spoke. Carl whirled around and felt his stomach plummet to his feet. Julong and two of Qin Yao's troopers with automatic rifles held across their chest, stood behind his chair.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 25:43

Act calm. Julongster, out walking your pets? He said with more courage than he felt. One of the troopers glared and growled at him. Julong stepped forward. You will come with us. May I ask where? Carl said, rising from his seat. Julong's lips bent up in an unpleasant smile. Oh, you will see. He swallowed and discovered his mouth and throat had dried up. One of the troopers led the way toward the command deck's exit. The other trooper pointed with his rifle in the direction his companion went. And Carl, seeing no alternative, followed. The second trooper immediately positioned himself behind Carl and prodded him in the back with his gun. Julong walked beside Carl. At last, Emperor Chinyao will see you for what you are: a liar, cheat, and slacker, he said with a triumphant sneer smeared across his face. Carl ignored everything he'd just said except for the part about Chin Yao's self-promotion. I guess it's true. Chinny's now Emperor. But where are they taking me? Did you long spy on me tonight? How do you know what I was doing? I covered my tracks. Even he will spend years trying to find out where I've been in the system. Frantic thoughts raced through his mind, trying to figure out where he'd slipped up. One idea kept coming back to the forefront, but he tried to disregard it. Unfortunately, it wasn't working. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Jumong. You've been spying on. Don't look at me that way, white monkey. You've done this to yourself. Did you honestly think you could outsmart me? A particularly vile look crept onto his face. Oh. By the way, your friend, Shin? What's he got to do with this? He's paid a heavy price, covering for your worthless skin. Carl frowned and his heart sunk. What'd they do to poor old Shin? What? No clever jokes? Where's your sense of humor now, Mr. Bogaran? Julong continued his gloating tirade. Oh, I'll enjoy seeing you beg for mercy from Emperor Chin Yao. Carl spit on the deck. Julong gnashed his teeth. He nodded at the trooper following, and the butt of a gun slammed into Carl's back. He crummed to the floor in pain, and the trooper yelped to his feet. Speaking of skin, I wonder if Emperor Cheng will let you keep yours. White Julong hissed and placed his finger on his chin. Oh, you've used up all your charm around here. There's a new world order. And vermin like you are about to be crushed once and for all. Julong and the trooper led him down another corridor and then stopped at a lift. Carl noted other workers casting curious glances in his direction. He tried to appear calm as if nothing unusual were happening. The lift doors chugged open, and he followed the troopers into the lift, with Julong behind him. One of the troopers punched in a code on the lift's key display, and Carl felt the lift rise. After what to Carl seemed an extremely short, the lift doors opened and he was escorted into a large, ornately decorated room colored in reds, oranges, and yellows. On each side were plush couches and small tables. Across from the entry, a large desk with intricately carved wooden dragons at each corner faced him. Tendrils of steam from a white porcelain cup placed near its edge curled toward the ceiling. Behind the desk, stretching from one end of the room to the other, a floor-to-ceiling window looked out into the foggy darkness. In front of the window, a lone figure stood looking out at the nothingness. Carl tried to swallow again. Oh, I'm dead. Bind him up, and you may go. Chinyao spoke without turning around. Zhu Long stepped back and each trooper grabbed an arm. Carl tried to break their iron grips. He set his feet in the floor and resisted being dragged. One of the troopers punched him in the left kidney, and he let out a whoosh of breath. He was drugged to a corner of the room, and one of the troopers pulled the slide back on his gun with a loud click and placed the muzzle against Carl's temple. Move again and you're dead, he said. The other trooper went to the nearest wall and tapped on a control display. Next to Carl, two panels in the floor opened and two metal blocks with a pair of shackles rose up. Above him, Carl watched a panel slide aside and two chains drop from the ceiling, each with a metal cuff attached to the end. He sniffed and fought back a rush of tears and emotion. Despite the trooper's threat, Carl shrank back a step. Each trooper grabbed one of his wrists and forced them into the dangling manacles. He felt the cold metal bite into his wrist as they retracted into the ceiling, spreading his arms wide. Next, each ankle was jammed into one of the floor shackles, and the two metal blocks slid away from each other, forcing his legs painfully apart. His groin ached as tension increased, and he fought back the urge to cry out.

SPEAKER_00 31:56

No fear, no fear. Fear incriminates.

SPEAKER_02 32:00

The troopers stood back, looked at their handiwork, turned and bowed toward Chin Yao, and then retreated. Carl heard the door open and then close. I have waited a long time for this, little white monkey. He advanced and slapped Carl's cheek. The raw sound was loud in the room. Yeah, you're so brave. Waiting till I'm all tied up. Carl spat, his cheek burning. Juong, you may go. Chin Yao spoke without turning around. But but Emperor Chinyao, I want to stay and will leave us. Yes, Emperor. Ju Long's face turned red. He glared up at Carl, fiery loathing glittering in his eyes. He turned and stalked toward the door. Carl heard it shush twice. When the door closed, Chin Yao began speaking. Emperor. Don't you think? I'm still getting used to it. Still speaking to the window, Chin Yao said, You know, Mr. Bogoran, I'm glad I listened to the designer who planned my quarters aboard this ship. I didn't think I'd ever have use for the restraint you find yourself in. But here we are. Haven't even left the ground, and already, I'm finding a use for them. Chinya turned his head and looked at Carl from over his shoulder. I guess I should listen to my designers more often. He certainly earned his fee in this instance. Don't you think? A thin smile spread across his pale lips. Are you enjoying your time here at my mountain lab? The question sounded innocent enough, but Carl perceived its hidden intent. He remained silent.

SPEAKER_00 34:06

Oh man. No matter what I say, I'm dead.

SPEAKER_02 34:12

Chinyao wore a thick yellow-green fur cloak. When he turned, it swung behind him with a heavy swish. His face was impassive, but Carl caught a glint of steel near his side. A short-bladed knife was grasped in Chinyao's black gloved hand. Carl's eyes widened and he tried to swallow again. Muscles in his abdomen clenched. He struggled in his bonds, but his body was strung taut. Chinyao strode toward him, raising the gleaming steel so the ceiling lights flashed across its cold surface. Do you know what this is? Carl stared at him as he approached. Sweat trickled into his eye. Not very talkative tonight, are we, Mr. Bugaran? He stopped and stood so close to Carl that he could see the speckles in his malevolent eyes. Chinyao raised the blade up to Carl's face and rotated the blade millimeters from his skin. Carl caught flashes of his own scared eyes reflected on its surface. He smelled black tea on Chinyao's sour breath as he spoke. Anyway, it's an ancient design. This particular specimen comes from the 13th century. He stepped back and held the knife out, admiring it. It's called a tonto. He turned his back on Carl and took two steps toward the window, pausing to gaze out. It's a weapon from a country called Japan from many years ago. A land where an ancient breed of warriors known as Samurai lived. They carried three weapons, of which this was one. Chinyao faced Carl. His eyes glittered with fire. The katana, Wakazashi, and this one. Chinyao raised the blade, rolled its handle in his fingers and thumb. Silvery light flashed. He finished in an almost reverent voice. The Tanto. A trail of sweat trickled down Carl's inner thigh, and he fought a wave of nausea. Be strong, be strong. He hates weakness. The katana and wagazashi were mainly for sword fighting. Chinyao gazed at the blade. The Tanto, however, was used for a more intimate purpose. A close-in type of weapon. Chinyao stepped toward Carl. Of course. All three were extremely sharp. He smiled up at Carl. Would you like a demonstration? Involuntarily, Carl's lips began to twitch and he bit down on it. Stay silent. Usually you're so talkative. He brought the silvery blade up to Carl's left cheek. He barely felt the razor's edge nick his skin. Oh, how careless of me. Now I've accidentally cut your cheek. Carl pulled his lips inward and bit down on his tongue, turning his head away from the blade. Trickles of sweat fell down his forehead and into his eyes. The salty moisture stung in the fresh cut on his cheek. Mr. Bogaran, I think you'd like a little demonstration. Wouldn't you? Chinya moved the blade to Carl's left upper arm and sliced into the cloth of his tunic, making a circle around his deltoid. He then trailed the blade along Carl's arm to his wrist. The blade sliced the fabric as if it was non-existent, and the sleeve fell to the floor. I've been practicing, and now, with just the right amount of pressure, I can cut just what I want to. He continued to cut away the remainder of Carl's clothes until he hung completely naked. You see? Chinyao stepped back and looked up at Carl. There was a pink trail along the edge of the blade, and Carl felt a trickle run down his right inner thigh. Chinyao held up the blade and smiled. Oops. Got you again. Guess I'll need a little more practice. He wiped it absently on the thick fur of his cloak. Now, Carl. I know something about you that is well let's just say somewhat embarrassing for the both of us. Carl's mind raced. What's Jenny talking about? Does he know about Ming? He continued with an edge to his tone. I know you've been friendly with one of my companions, Mr. Bogaran. He folded his arm, still holding the blade. It stuck up from the crook of his arm. No. Tell me her name and I'll end this quickly. Refuse. And you'll regret it.

SPEAKER_00 39:14

He doesn't know it's mean. I must protect her.

SPEAKER_02 39:17

Carl thought wildly.

SPEAKER_00 39:19

Just keep your mouth shut.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

He told himself and picked a spot on the window and gazed out at the dark. Fury flashed across Chinyao's face, replaced by a blank look. He advanced toward Carl. Do you like these? Cold steel pressed against Carl's groin, and he began to shake. Ever heard of the term eunuch? Carl continued to focus on the foggy nothingness out the window, and his eyes grew wider. Sweat began to pour down his face from his forehead.

SPEAKER_00 39:48

No. No. Not my focus.

SPEAKER_02 39:55

No weakness. Carl knew at the first sign of weakness, it would be over.

SPEAKER_00 40:00

Think of Ming. Think of Ming. Think of Ming.

SPEAKER_02 40:04

He'd heard the rumors of how Chin Yao dealt with weakness. Chin Yao thrust up against Carl's body and shouted, Tell me. Drops of spittle sprayed Carl's face. You little weasel. Tell me now. This is how an emperor behaves. Carl took strength from Chin Yao's lack of regal poise. He closed his eyes and bit down on his tongue as he felt the blade's flat surface shift against his skin. He braced for excruciating pain. The blade was suddenly gone. He opened one eye and saw Chin Yao turned away from him, headed toward the desk. He picked up his tea and sipped, and then faced Carl. A tight smile spread across his face. I'm impressed, Carl. I didn't think you had it in you. He sipped again and then set the cup on the desk. It's only a matter of time, and I'll find out which girl betrayed me. I assure you her death will be miserable. He advanced toward Carl. As for you, my brave little thrasher, your death will be a long time in coming. The journey will be one of suffering and misery like you've never even dreamed about. I have the perfect punishment in mind. He walked back to his desk and tapped on a display screen hovering over it. A trail of blood travelled down Carl's leg and his body was drenched with sweat. He watched Chin Yao as he approached, wondering if this was some psychological torment. Before he could think, he engaged his mouth. You you meant to kill me once my work was complete anyway. Chinyao nodded and smiled. A quick, painless beheading. Now you'll wish you'd been beheaded. He turned and walked to the desk as the entry door shooshed open, and the same troopers that had brought Carl entered. Chinyao waved absently over his shoulder. Prepare him for a trip. Carl watched the two troopers approach. Desperate thoughts of safety for Ming and himself filled his head. The troopers released him from the shackles, gestured with their guns, and led him from Chinyao's chambers. Carl stumbled into the corridor, rubbing his wrists, and then paused in the corridor, realizing he was completely naked. Uh, guys, this is a bit embarrassing. What about clothes? He asked. The troopers chuckled and prodded him with their guns. Just keep moving. Carl covered himself as best he could, and with a gun prodding his back, he was marched through the ship's corridors, out into the access tube, and then outside. The sub-zero temperatures attacked his bare skin and he shivered uncontrollably. He was force marched across the frozen snow and into the mountain lift chamber. A blotch of red covered the ground as he was led past where Shin had greeted him earlier. A different person sat inside the little guard house, and Carl allowed a tear from his eye. It froze to his cheek instantly. I'm sorry, Shin. If you crave rebellion, high stakes, heists, and lunar warfare, this science fiction audio drama will leave you breathless. Read the entire Exodus five book series, available wherever digital and physical books are sold.