Beating Heart Cadavers Read Online Free

open.”
    “Of course not, Matthew,” Ratsel said, giving a little chuckle. “That would be barbaric. But there are other ways to … deal with them.”
    Caine sat back in his seat. A frown had formed on his brow, and Ratsel leaned forward, seeing that he had finally gotten his attention.
    “You're aware that the amount of time and resources that Oneris spends mining for Hilitum has gravely impacted the country over the years, yes?” Ratsel asked. Caine gave an indistinct nod. Ratsel wasn't convinced that he knew much about anything. “What's more, our miners are growing ill from their prolonged contact with the metal – physical and mental disturbances, seizures, deaths. If we continue to cater to the Mare-folks' needs before our own people's, it can only lead to crisis. It would be different if the Mare-folk had any value to us, but considering that they're sluggish and weak, they're normally unemployable. And – of course – the issue with the sterilization only makes them more of a risk –”
    “But we can't just get rid of them,” Caine said.
    Ratsel gazed at him.
    “Oh?” he asked. “Why not?”
    “Well –” Caine said, seemingly trying to grasp for a reason. “I mean, just because they're born with metal hearts isn't a reason to … to ...”
    “You're coming from a noble place, Matthew,” Ratsel said reassuringly. “And I agree. If it was just an issue with a little thing like that, we wouldn't be concerned. But I'm asking you to look at this from the position of a leader. Think of the bigger picture. People are suffering – real people – because of the time and energy the government feels it needs to expend on people who only harm us in return.”
    “So … couldn't we just drive them out? Half of them have fled to Hasenkamp already, haven't they?”
    Ratsel gave a quiet laugh and looked down at his hands. The fingers flexed of their own accord as though they sought to grasp the front of Caine's jacket and make him understand the point that was so clear to everyone else.
    “You have a son, don't you, Matthew?”
    “What?” Caine shook his head as though the question wasn't straight forward. “Yes – I do.”
    “How old is he now? Four?”
    “Next month.”
    “And he's been having some … trouble, hasn't he?”
    Caine didn't respond. His mouth had thinned into a line.
    “What I'm getting at, Matthew, is that your son's needs are suffering because the government can't devote enough time to his care as they should. We spend an exorbitant amount of money each year aiding the Mare-folk, and for what reason? So that they can infect us? So that they can stay unemployed? So that they can continue adding nothing of value to our society?”
    Ratsel waited, still watching Caine closely. He had begun to pick at the lint on his sleeve again, and his eyes were clouded as though forming a wall between what he should see and what he simply hoped to.
    “Onerian doctors have been trying to find a cure, you know,” Ratsel said. “They think the solution is to find a way to stop the metal from leaching from the hearts and into the bloodstream.”
    “But you don't?”
    “All that I'm saying is that it's been years, and will undoubtedly be longer, and still the Mare-folk are here. But if the doctors were focused on more … prevalent matters, then maybe Onerians who need medical help would be getting the assistance that they need instead of the Mare-folk.” Ratsel raised his eyebrows, still trying to drive the point home. “We should be using our resources to find a cure for real hearts, not metal ones, don't you think?”
    Caine brushed at his sleeve, his brow still knit firmly over his eyebrows.
    “What are you suggesting?” he asked.
    “We shut off the charging facilities.”
    Caine made a face.
    “We kill the Mare-folk?”
    “We allow them to die out naturally,” Ratsel countered. “It's not so different than what you suggested before by exiling them to Hasenkamp – just a bit more