Page 103 of Storm Caller

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe after what happened to me, you might consider that there could be other ways to deal with Keepers.”

Her eyes narrow at that. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I was scared for my life. I ran because I thought no one would listen to me. I thought I was as good as dead. Do you think other people have felt that way, too?”

She goes quiet, studying me carefully, and I understand I’ve broken a rule. I wasn’t supposed to talk about this. I was supposed to pretend everything was fine. But maybe, while I’m trying to find the cure, I can also find a way to cure my former best friend of her fanaticism. I thought it would be easier to give up on someone I loved after she hurt me so much, but a part of me still feels responsible for her.

“It’s for the greater good, Poet. If a few people are wrongly accused for our safety, then it’s a small price to pay.” She pauses as she looks me in the eyes. “To believe anything else is treason.”

She blinks, and I blink, and then I nod. “Of course. You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Besides,” she says. “You had an entire trial to prove your innocence. Most people don’t get that. You’re always fine, Poet.”

She says it wearily and with a touch of bitterness.

But I also know she’s right.

“I got lucky,” I say.

“You’re always lucky, aren’t you?” she asks, tipping her head and giving me a tight smile. “My lucky friend.”

Then she squeezes my hand, but I sense no sincerity in the gesture. Is she actually jealous of me? If only she knew the truth.

I remember what General Sol said about the Extinguishers recruiting the weak-willed, and I wonder how I could have missed who Trinity was for so many years.

We’re both silent for a moment, and I notice Rook and Dire talking intently. I hope that Rook is getting something useful out of him. Dire’s expression is animated, with an intense “man-to-man” focus on Rook’s every word. He also appears to be getting pretty drunk.

Rook picks up the bottle again and refills Dire’s glass almost to the top.

“Anyway, tell me more about the E-squad,” I say, turning to Trinity, drawing her focus away from Rook. “You’ve never told me what you learn in training.”

Though I hate what she is, I have to admit I’m also curious.

She shrugs. “We learn a lot about the infection and how it works in the body. How to recognize the signs in someone.”

“Oh? What signs?”

“Mostly when the mental deterioration starts to happen,” she says. “Keepers are nearly indistinguishable from normal people before the infection spreads, so it’s tricky. Thankfully, we have the blood test monitor now. That helps.”

“What are the signs?”

She flicks me a cautious look. “Curious tonight?”

“I am,” I say, meaning it. What are they taught to look for? “The greater good, right?”

A flood of relief enters her eyes. Maybe she thinks I forgive her for what she did. Maybe she thinks I understand.

“I’m not supposed to talk about it,” she says, lowering her voice. “But I can trust you.”

Sure. Okay.

“Apparently, it starts with things like seeing double or talking to yourself. Hallucinations.” She goes on to list other symptoms I’ve never experienced. So either they don’t really know what it’s like for Keepers and they’re just guessing, or I’m fine, and Sol was right, and the illness won’t affect me. I’m not sure which to be more relieved about.

“For some Keepers, it can feel like their mind is stretched after they’ve touched Spark,” she says. “Some of them need it. They crave it, like an addiction. And they’re brainless enough to get themselves caught.” She snorts and takes a sip of her drink. “Can you imagine being addicted to something so toxic? You see why they have to be dealt with.”

“Right,” I say, feeling queasy. “So . . . sick.”