“So, we have less than two weeks.” I tried to keep my voice calm, as if hoping it would help calm the rest of me.
“That’s right,” she replied.
“Is that enough time to prepare?”
“Absolutely,” Anna replied with a confident nod. “We managers aren’t allowed more than two weeks for training anyway—the time limit is part of the rules of our test. As I said, you called me at a good time.”
The aircraft lurched and nausea hit me. I looked straight ahead. The mountainside of Founders’ Isle sped past us. We soared over the waves toward Fraser Isle, the artificial island I inhabited but did not call home.
What Anna called a “good time” had been the worst time of my life.
“What do you want to do at the fortress this evening?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even.
“Oh, nothing strenuous,” she replied. “We need to officially register for the Course as a team.Try to be at Gate 14 by 8 p.m., and when you arrive at the reception, ask to be taken to Springs Turret.”
“Springs Turret?” I frowned.
Anna gave me an amused look. “Yes. It’s where my family lives.”
“Oh,” I said, taken aback. They had a whole “turret”to themselves? Those things looked to extend at least eight stories up into the air, surrounding the fortress’ upper heights like a massive, spiked crown.
“Yup. I guess it’s one of the perks of having a governor for a father. It’s also one of the reasons why I haven’t left home yet.” She chuckled.
A memory surfaced in my mind at the mention of her father. I remembered, soon after we had arrived from the jungle on the islet, overhearing Anna on the phone with her father outside the crumbling outreach building. I had only caught the tail end of their conversation, but I recalled now that she had seemed tense, and it had sounded like he was getting on her case about something work-related. It gave the impression that he was her boss as well.
“I would come to collect you in the plane tonight,” Anna continued, “but my mechanic’s taking it in for maintenance later this afternoon, so I’m afraid you’ll have to take the shuttle.”
We both went quiet as Fraser Isle came into view. A few moments later, we landed on the dock. I stepped out into the salty wind. The dock was currently empty—just like the rest of the artificial island appeared. It was still the middle of the day and the residents would be at work.
My thoughts drifted to the rest of my family. I wasn’t sure how I would explain to my aunt and uncle what I’d just agreed to. I had signed a confidentiality agreement, so I couldn’t give them detailseven if I wanted to.
I would turn into Hayden, infuriatingly tight-lipped whenever they tried to press for details. Maybe now I could sympathize with how he felt every time I pushed for information about his quick achievement of bronze.
Hayden. I still didn’t know for certain what he’d actually gone through. And, even now, he likely couldn’t tell me. But I wanted to speak to him again, soon.
“Bye, Tani!” Anna called. “See you this evening!”
The glass casing sealed around her and she soared off.
TWENTY-THREE
Inside my house,I headed straight for the sink and poured myself a glass of water. I drank it slowly while leaning against the wall and staring out the window. I still had several hours before I had to leave for Founders’ Fortress. I ought to get some rest. I had slept badly last night due to worry for my parents, and Anna’s “pre-screening” this morning had exhausted me.
A flash of auburn hair caught my eye outside the window. I moved closer to the glass. Jessie walked briskly along the opposite sidewalk. A tall, thickset, brown-haired man accompanied her. In contrast to her brown uniform, he wore deep red—the same color I had spotted several people wearing within the fortress during my brief visit there earlier. I wasn’t sure which department it denoted.
Who was he? What was Jessie doing back here in the middle of the workday?
They were heading toward her house.
I leaned over the sink to watch as they reached her front gate. The man opened it for her in a gentlemanly manner. Shemounted the porch steps, then turned around, and I got a full view of her face for the first time.
Even from this distance, she looked pale, her mouth tight. She gave the man a brief smile, though it seemed polite and forced.
I couldn’t make out the man’s expression, since his back faced me, but he reached into his backpack and rummaged for something. A few seconds later, he’d pulled out a black, flat package. He handed it to Jessie, saying something. She took the package and nodded. The man said one last word to her, and then he moved back to the gate, closed it behind him, and walked back the way he had come.
I got a better view of him this time when he passed my window. To my surprise, his features looked familiar, as if I’d seen him before. Yet I was quite certain I hadn’t.
Feeling unsettled, I waited the few moments it took for him to exit our street. Then I hurried outside and along the road to Jessie’s house. By the time I reached it, she had already closed the door.
