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“We’re all here,” Indie says, “but we’ve got some extra cargo. Our runner brought back a case. ”
“That’s approved,” the commander says. “Is there anything else?”
“No,” Indie says. “We’re all clear. ” She glances over at me and I shrug. Apparently they’re not going to tell us anything more about Caleb’s second errand.
We wait for the other ships to take their turns departing from the street in front of the buildings. The computer sends us code again for our destination. Indie reaches for it first.
“Where now?” I ask her, even though I think I know what she’ll say.
“Back to Camas,” she says, “to get more of the cure. ”
“And then?” I ask.
“Then we come here again. This is our route, for now. ” There’s a hint of sympathy in her voice. “Someone else will take cures to Central. ”
“They’d better,” I say. I don’t care if the Pilot hears. In fact, I hope he does. Why not? Long ago people used to say what they wanted out loud and hope that someone would give it to them. They called it praying.
Cassia has something tangible though—the papers from the Carving. She’s only used a few of them to send messages. There must be plenty left for her to use for whatever she needs, maybe even enough to bargain for a cure. Cassia knows how to trade.
We start down the makeshift runway, building up speed.
The white and black uniforms on the ground grow smaller and smaller. We lift up. It’s not long before the buildings disappear, too, and then it’s all gone.
I can still hear the Pilot singing the Anthem of the Society.
I’m digging a grave for Vick. All day long, he talks to me. I know it means I’m crazy but I can’t help hearing him.
He talks to me while Eli and I pull spheres from the stream. Over and over Vick tells me his story about Laney, the girl he loved. I picture it in my mind—him falling in love with an Anomaly. Telling Laney how he felt. Watching the rainbow trout swim and
going to speak with her parents. Standing up to celebrate a Contract. Smiling as he reached for her hand to claim happiness in spite of the Society. Coming back to find her gone.
Is that what’s going to happen to me when I finally go to look for Cassia?
Cassia’s changed me. I’m a better person now because of her, but it’s also going to be harder than ever to get to her.
Indie brings us higher.
Some people think the stars must look closer from up here.
They don’t.
When you’re up here, you realize how distant they really are—how impossible to reach.
CHAPTER 7
XANDER
Something’s happening. But, because the quarantine cells are soundproof, I can’t hear anything except the tired sounds of the Hundred Songs.
Through the walls of my cell, I see Officials and Officers staring at the miniports in their hands and the larger ports arranged throughout the Hall. For a few seconds, everyone looks frozen, listening to whatever is coming from their ports, and then some of the people move. One walks over to a quarantine cell and enters a keycode. The person inside the cell steps out and heads for the main doors of the Hall. Another Officer moves into his path, trying to intercept him before he escapes, but right then the doors to City Hall burst open. Figures in Rising black swarm inside.
The Rising has begun. The Pilot’s speaking and I can’t hear anything.
The Officer releases someone else from a cell. That person heads for the doors, too, and the Rising officers in black hold back others to let her pass. Some of the workers look bemused. Most of them put their hands up in the air in surrender when they see the Rising.
It’s got to be my turn soon.
Come on.
A Rising officer appears in front of my cell. “Xander Carrow,” he says. I nod. He holds up the miniport, checking my face against the Rising’s picture of me, and enters a code into the keypad on the cell. The door slides open and I’m out.
The Pilot’s voice comes out over the ports. “This rebellion,” he says, “is different. It will begin and end with saving your blood, not spilling it. ”
I close my eyes for a second.
The Pilot’s voice sounds right.
This is the Pilot and this is the Rising.
I wish Cassia and I were together for the beginning.
I start for the door. All I have to do is leave City Hall and walk across the greenspace to the medical center. But then I stop. Official Lei is trapped inside her cell. No one has let her out.
She looks at me.
Is it a mistake that she’s still locked in her cell? I pause at the door for a second. But she shakes her head at me. No.
“Come on,” one of the officers says, pointing me toward the door. I’ve got to go. The Rising is happening now.
Outside, it’s chaos. The Rising has cleared the way from City Hall to the medical center, but they’re pushing back Officials, some of whom have decided to fight. An air ship screams overhead, but I’m not sure if it’s ours until I see it spray warning shots down into an empty spot near the barricade. People scream and step back.
