One hundred: Back in the Compound

Blinking hard, I looked away. I couldn't tell him. I couldn't.

"You aren't just trying to get even with him for all the mean things he said to you during the war, are you?"

Stirring, I looked at Kiran, desperate to tell him, but then I looked down. Whistlor and I had made a deal. Sort of. Even if he tricked me. I'd still hold up my end of the bargain. Who knew? He was probably watching through the camera. I pressed my lips together.

"I thought as much," Kiran stroked my hand. "I won't let you take revenge on Whistlor for anything. He's a decorated war hero. He swears he never touched you. He's never lied to me."

"Have I?"

"No. Not really," Kiran rubbed his temples. "Maybe once or twice. That's what worries me. Either one of you is lying or something happened and you've remembered wrongly. Whistlor says he was just trying to calm you down."

Kiran had seen the recording and chosen not to accept all he'd heard. It was pretty clear in my mind, but I guess he couldn't let go of his friendship with Whistlor. They were soldier brothers, after all, or whatever it is they called it. I'd seen that those bonds were often stronger than any other relationship they might have with anyone else. There would be no persuading Kiran on this point. At least, not now. Not unless he caught Whistlor in the act and Whistlor would probably only touch me again if he thought I was planning something. It was obvious that Kiran was more inclined to believe Whistlor than me.

Hunching my shoulders, I just nodded. Miserable is as miserable does.

"Just one thing, Kiran," I said, trying not to let the tears in my eyes show and failing.

"Yes?"

"Please don't ever leave me alone with him. Don't ever let him close enough to touch me."

Kiran frowned, starting to get up.

"I might have remembered wrong," I said, holding onto his hand, "and I promise, I'm not just out for revenge. I'm not really that kind of person. I'm-I'm just scared of him. I won't cause trouble. I just want to live in peace somewhere safe where nobody wants to use or kill me."

"All right," Kiran relented, his lips still a bit thin. I could tell his patience was starting to wear thin. "Come on. Let me take you home."

Taking his hand, I followed him to the car, only hobbling a little. I was glad my right foot/ankle wasn't so sore now. There I sat, waiting while Kiran talked to Whistlor and the Rangers outside. When he got in, he tossed me a bottle of juice and drove.

We talked for a long time and Kiran brought me up to date on the current situation. A lot of people were returning to the city, although it belonged to the Boskies now. There were minor conflicts every now and then, but nothing big. Most of the soldiers had come home, although my country's soldiers still manned the border heavily. The Bosky side of the border didn't look so heavily manned, but Kiran said that they expected my country to try and take back the city some time, so it was twice as heavily guarded. They had Boskies still working undercover on the other side to actively prevent anything that might start the war again.

Boss had returned with his family and had started his business up again. Unfortunately, I was banned from touching a computer anywhere in the world, so Kiran said. But he'd let me visit or work as something else if I wanted.

What could I do besides computers? The only other things I knew I was good at was tending plants and running.

Kiran told me that Alistair had been released in the hopes he might work as a double agent, which he had refused. Although, and Kiran had watched me out the corner of his eye here, Mr Raring had hinted that he might be back if I asked it of him - if I was still alive. I smiled. It was good to know that Alistair hadn't given up on me either.

The drive seemed inordinately long and I had no idea where we were going.

When I did wake up again, we were driving through the city. It had changed. A lot. Rubble and buildings were still being demolished. Areas of it were still abandoned. New skyscrapers and buildings were going up everywhere. Despite the huge changes, I still caught sight of a few of the old landmarks.

"We're going back to the Compound."

"Yes," Kiran said, his expression straight.

My heart sank a little. I'd never escape that place, it seemed.

"You can have your garden there and maintain the memorials we put up there. It's become the Bosky Defence Compound. All our operations in maintaining border security are based there. You'll live with me in our apartment like before. We'll give you a special ID and you'll be able to come and go from the Compound as you like. You'll see the toilet block has been demolished. There's a new building there. It's a sports and recreation gymnasium. You'll be able to visit there as often as you like. In fact, I insist. All it'll cost you is some origami animals like you made for my men during the war."

At the Compound gate, the first thing I noticed was the missing trees and new-ish walls. These walls looked far more sturdy than the old ones. They were far thicker with spikes and barbed wire running along the tops. The wall was rendered smooth so that there would be no chance for someone to find finger or toe holds to try and climb over it. The Compound itself looked a more secure area than it had ever been.

There were new buildings and whole apartment blocks had been replaced with office buildings. The Field was full of memorials and graves on one side and gardens on the other, with a track for running or walking. There were training areas for soldiers, a multi storey car park that covered the old car park. There were new apartment buildings and new concrete footpaths with sheltered walkways. People in Bosky uniforms - a mix of their dress uniforms and usual uniforms, walked about in a business like manner. There were even a few women. Rare for a Bosky defence area.

Kiran took me to an office where they made an ID card for me. They hung it about my neck on a lanyard. Then after a long appointment at the new medical facilities where they performed a full physical examination that they wouldn't tell me the results of, Kiran took me back to our old apartment. The doctor had a very long conversation with Kiran in another room. It had been renovated, but was largely the same. He made me eat a bit and then I slept.

It was a sound sleep. It seems that I'd missed Kiran's presence by my side.