“Why in Hell’s name are you puttingthatidea in her head?” Tom shouts, except he’s wrong. Sid didn’t; it’s exactly what I was worried about.
I dry my eyes and meet the flinty gaze of the man I once struck with my slingshot. Despite our bad start, he seems to be the closest thing I have to an ally.
“Please…” I don’t know what I’m begging for. I don’t even know what he can do for me. Tom is the immigration officer, not him, but I realize now just how lucky I was that he ever listened to me. “My sister is sick. I’ll doanything.”
His eyes are as clear and blue as the summer sky. When his gaze falls away from mine, that sky clouds over.
That’s it, then. I’m going to jail, all because I did what anyone would in the wilds. These people are nuts, just like my mother knew they would be.
Sid Charles clears his throat. “I’ll take her.”
Take mewhere? I almost blurt this out loud, but so long as it’s not jail, it’s probably an improvement, so I manage to shut up for once.
“Come again?” says Tom.
“You said you aren’t worried about me. If this is about finding a sanctuary host who will take her, then I will. Me and the boys will be fine.”
There’s a beat of silence, thick and uncomfortable.
“Pat, would you excuse us? You can leave, too.” Tom gestures at the armed guard, who seems eager to get out of this situation. Pat, for her part, lingers by the door, as if this has finally gotten interesting. “Both of you.Out.”
I’m not sure if I feel better or worse watching them leave. Obviously, I’m glad the gun is gone, but whatever ishappening now is something Tom wants as few witnesses to as possible. That thought freaks me the hell out.
Once the door is shut, Tom straightens and serves Sid a commanding look. “I won’t allow it. You have a minor living on your property.”
“Carlos is a tough kid. He’ll be fine. Besides, it might be nice for the sister if there’s someone her age who can show her around school,” Sid argues. “I can talk to my guys, but I know they’ll agree. And if the major objection is placing her with a willing sanctuary host—”
“Look, Mr. Charles—Sid.” Tom sets down his briefcase, as if this will help make his point better. He places a hand on Sid’s shoulder. “As a friend—”
Sid snorts in a way that suggests Tom is stretching the definition of that word.
“As amentor, then. I would highly recommend you reconsider. There will be other sanctuary cases you can take. Better ones. If this is a matter of optics—”
“It’s a matter of not losing our shit over something that wasn’t that serious,” says Sid.
“I’m not being unreasonable! Attacking a guard posted at a foreign border would have been cause for arrest during the pre-Quake days, too. There’s precedent.”
“Well, I didn’t report an incident. And the hand injury could have been from anywhere. The doctor didn’t see the shot,” says Sid. “So unless you want to turn this into a drawn-out legal process? I mean, if we’re talkingopticshere…”
“You wouldn’t.” Tom’s face blanches. To my amazement, it seems Sid has leverage over him, though I can’t guess what kind. “You have just as much to lose. More, even.”
Sid shrugs.
Tom glances between the pair of us. He’s clearly still furious, but eventually, he grabs his suitcase. “To hell with both of you, then. If you can’t make rational decisions, that’sno fault of mine. Very well, Mr. Charles. Congratulations on obtaining your first sanctuary case.”
“Thank you, I…” Wait. I’ll admit, I was only half paying attention during Tom’s bafflegab a while ago, but I think I understand where this is going. “Does this mean you expect me to live withhim?”
“If you would prefer the penitentiary, I am more than happy to—”
“No! No, of course not, but…” I look at Sid, who for the first time since this started is regarding me as if I’m insane. Maybe I am, starting an argument over lodgings so soon after getting out of jail time. “Thank you?”
Tom cocks an eyebrow. “Still sure you want to take her, Mr. Charles?”
“Uh… yes.” The word almost doesn’t sound like a question.
“Your funeral,” says Tom, opening his briefcase. “With that, why don’t I get your papers? Ms. Hollins, as a sanctuary seeker, you are entitled to temporary lodgings, rations, and a path to citizenship, should you choose to pursue it. Your application will be evaluated after two years.”
“Two years?” Sid repeats. “It should only be—”
