The children were reorganizing and setting up a new race, and Sullha thought of a way to start the conversation.
"I'm dreaming about visiting London," she said. "That's what the dreamy expression is about."
The pencil kept moving over the page. "London? Like in that book you were reading?"
"That's the one. It had descriptions of fancy streets and fancy shops. One of the women in the book bought a hat there. It had a feather in it. I have been thinking about that hat for weeks."
Asira's pencil slowed a fraction. "You want a hat with a feather?"
"No. It's just a symbol of what I crave. I want to walk down a street where there are shops, and I want to walk into one of them and look at things, and maybe even buy something, and then leave. I want that kind of freedom." She sighed. "Ever since I read that book, I have vivid dreams about living freely, and when I wake up, I'm so disappointed to find myself here."
Asira's pencil strokes slowed down.
"We can only dream," she said. "None of us is ever leaving this place."
"What if there was a way?"
The pencil stopped, and Asira went very still. "What do you mean?" She looked up at Sullha with sharp eyes that were devoid of humor. "There is no way. We are surrounded by a three-meter-tall wall on an island in the middle of the ocean. We have nowhere to go."
"What if we did?"
Sounds of argument rose at the climbing frame, Tomek and another boy negotiating over whose turn it was on the monkey bars, and they both glanced at the boys and then back at each other when the argument resolved itself.
"You're serious," Asira said quietly.
"I am."
She set the pencil down on the clipboard. "How?"
"I don't have all the details yet. I can only tell you that there is a plan, that it has a good chance of success, and that it is happening soon. Days. Possibly a week."
Asira's eyes widened. "That's very soon."
"It is."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you can join us if you're up to it. It's not risk-free."
Asira drew a breath. "Count me in."
Sullha smiled. "You don't even know what you're agreeing to."
"If there is a way out of here, I'll take it. That's the only thing that matters. What do I need to do?"
"First of all, you don't tell anyone. Not even the slightest hint. Don't even mention the word freedom, especially not next to any of the Sacred Mothers."
Asira nodded. "Of course. That would be stupid."
"They hum or sing or whistle. That's how you can tell who is a member of the order, even if she doesn't talk about it. It's how they express their joy and contentment at doing the Sacred Work."
"I've noticed that. I just didn't know why they were doing it."
"If you have anything you want to take with you, gather it and have it ready. It needs to be inconspicuous, something you can explain away even if it's discovered. We never know when the guards will decide to inspect our rooms. If they ask, tell them you are trying to keep things neat and organized. Keep it tucked away."
Asira nodded. "How many of us are leaving?"
"I don't know yet. Not many. We have to be careful."
