I nodded, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. Regardless of Anna’s seemingly logical explanation, there was something odd about these people. Something that caused that dull poke in my stomach to return full force.
My meal arrived half a minute later, and I didn’t enjoy the scent of it nearly as much as I should have.
I attempted to continue the conversation. “So what do you ladies do for a living?” I glanced at Anna’s three friends.
“Ah, we all work together in the meteorologist office at the top of Founders’ Fortress,”Alice replied.
“Oh, in that big glass construction, right at the very tip?” I asked.
Alice nodded.
“What does that involve?” I asked.
“Studying weather patterns, mostly, and trying to predict storms,” Jane replied.
“Our parents have posts in Fairwell’s government—some part of the Governors Board—and we’re lucky enough to notneedto work,” Sally added matter-of-factly. “But we do, of course! It’s part of Fairwell’s ethos. Everyone must have an occupation. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.” She chuckled, biting into a cupcake.
“Right,” I said slowly, around a mouthful of hot pizza. So, it seemed like theywere‘rich kids’. “If your parents work in the government, does that mean you live in Founders’ Fortress?”
“Yes, we do,” Alice replied. “But we have our own apartments, or at least I do.” She smirked at Anna.
My eyes traveled to Anna. “Is your family also involved in governance?”
Anna nodded. “Yes, my father is deeply involved—and I live with my family up in the fortress.”
“Anna’s been saying she’ll move out of her parents’ for years,” Alice said, grinning.
“Yeah, but living with them is just way more convenient,” Anna grumbled. “I’d have to travel to get to Mom’s peach pie.”
Her friends laughed.
“The fortress is an impressive building,” I commented after a beat. If I craned my neck upward, I could see the beginnings of its massive stone base from here.
“It is, isn’t it?” Anna smiled. “Well, with your work ethic, I’m sure you’ll be reaching bronze soon enough—and you’ll have to pay a visit there to exchange your e-ring.” From theglint in her eyes, I suspected that she somehow knew I had diverged from construction this morning.
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Oh, I just saw you on the leaderboard this morning, when I checked into our outreach office up in the fortress. You’re right near the top of our list of our latest arrivals in terms of earnings and access to new opportunities.”
Leaderboard? They were monitoring usthatclosely? I stared at her. I’d had no idea they paid this much attention to detail in regard to us. I felt split between impressed and creeped out.
“Well, I’m, uh, trying to increase my earnings,” I said after an uncomfortable beat. “I have to get my parents off that islet, remember? And then there’s my three-year-old sister.”
“Of course,” Anna replied genially. “And I wish you the best of luck with everything. In fact—” She paused, giving me a considering look. “Why don’t you feel free to call me, if you find you need some personal career advice? I don’t want to step on the toes of your official employment officer, of course, and I’m by no means a replacement for him. I have very little free time on my hands, so you should always go to him first. But, if you ask the right questions, I wouldn’t mind throwing you a bone every now and then.” She winked cryptically.
“Oh, thanks,” I said, uncertain what she meant exactly, but hardly about to refuse. “Sh-Shall I give you my phone so you can add your number?”
“Sure.”
I dug my phone out and watched as she punched in her number. I was tempted to drill her with questions now about which jobs would help me the most, but was socially aware enough to detect that now wasn’t the right time for it.
“Nothing like knowing the right people,” Alice added, her tone equally cryptic.
I nodded, again unsure what they were really talking about.
“Hey, Anna,” Jane said, stretching out her arms with a yawn. “I gotta go, sweetheart. Tyson’s expecting me.”
Anna brushed a finger over her ring. “Oh, wow. Look at the time! Where has it flown? I gotta go too, actually—I’ve got a meeting to attend with my dad. No rest for the wicked, eh?” she said, giving me another wink.
