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“It’s Mari’s.”
“The nurse at the front desk?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Her husband is a miner, he carved it for her.” Elizabeth took the bird figurine back. “Is it flintoid?”
“Yes.”
“Nova, you can never tell anyone this.”
“What? That Mari is an undercover millionaire?”
Elizabeth shook her head like she still wasn’t really believing her.
“You can never tell anyone that this is flintoid.”
“Why?”
“This is Mudden marble,” she insisted.
“Considering that people here know what Mudden marble looks like, that wouldn’t be a very convincing lie.”
“No, I mean, thisisMudden marble. Mari’s husband pocketed a small amount while working down in the mine. That’s why she keeps it hidden.”
Nova’s stomach twisted into a knot as understanding hit her. “You mean this is what you are mining in those mines? This is what we were supposed to steel?” She asked.
“Yes.”
She began to feel a bit light-headed, finally understanding the shock on Elizabeth’s face.
“No wonder they wanted to hang us.”
“This explains so much,” Elizabeth said. “For years we’ve been trying to figure out what else the Mudden clan is selling that is making them so much money. But it was the marble all along.”
“Flintoid comes from Mudden?” Nova said in disbelief. “Who do you think knows?”
“No one,” Elizabeth said. “This is Kemp’s best-kept secret. I doubt he’s told anyone outside of his family. I’m surprised he’s managed to keep it a secret for so long.”
“Even on the civilized planets, there aren’t many people who know what solid flintoid looks like. Flintoid isFartech’s best-kept secret.”
“This changes everything,” Elizabeth said. “I need to talk to Rex.”
“Do you think Altair knows?” He did seem to be out of the loop when it came to most things involving his family.
“I don’t know, but you can’t ask him. You can’t say anything to anyone.”
Nova nodded.
“This means Fartech is buying the marble from the Mudden clan,” she said.
“Be ready to go at any time,” Elizabeth said. “We might be leaving sooner than previously planned.”
“Does that mean I’ve finally earned my new identity?”
“Yes,” she said, opening the door and stepping out. “I need to talk to Rex.”
Chapter Eleven
Nova had flintoid on the mind when she got home that night, so much so that it took her a moment to remember why Altair was smiling at her like a teenager in love when she walked through the door.
