The Missing

"You heard the boy, he wants to join." "Because you tricked him into it." "No, I did not. I don't believe his answer will change in the months to come." "You can discourage him. You know what happens in the games, you've seen it. You can--" "But I won't," The Colonel said. "And do you know why?" The nurse waited. "Because that boy will continue to look until the day he dies without succeeding if I don't help him." "How would you know? You know nothing of what the boy has been through. Not one of you try to stop the raids because you're doing it yourselves. How would you know that he won't succeed where you fa--?" "BECAUSE I AM STILL LOOKING!" The Colonel roared. He breathed deeply. "On his own he will fail. I am giving him a direction to take," he said quietly. "There must be some other means--" the nurse began. "There is a good chance that whatever means you are hoping for, Ms., is one that I've already tried. You look to your side and I will look to mine. Now if you'll excuse me, my transport is here." The Colonel walked away. "Why him? Why?" the nurse called after him. "Because with him I know he will do his best, because he must."