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I took note of the position of the sun, confirming that we were indeed heading east. “You’reallgoing back to Cambria?”
“Not all,” said Keane. “We’ve spent the past few weeks making plans and arguing about where we should go, but I, for one, can’t think of nothin’ but returning to the city. A few men prefer to stay on the boat, but the rest of us . . . well, we’ve got some ideas.”
Dread settled into my stomach. I couldn’t imagine his “ideas” were particularly peaceful. I did, however, want to get back to my father, so I wouldn’t try to stop them from returning if it got me where I wanted.
Cait opened two more barrels, revealing gunpowder and ammunition.
“Nice,” said Keane. “We were almost out of that, too. Probably used the last of it in this pistol fight.”
We continued to open barrels and crates, revealing more food, flour, and water. One was full of puffy orange vests with the wordsflotation deviceacross them. I picked one up and squeezed the spongey vest, wondering what it could be made of.Next, I reached for a smaller crate behind the barrels and took off the lid. It contained several small black radios.
I reached in, carefully picking one up. It was smooth and made of a material I couldn’t name. It had a row of soft orange parts that shifted when pressed, and a glossy blue rectangle that reflected the sun.
“What in Irvine’s name is that?” Keane reached into the crate to take one, studying it as he turned it over in his hands.
“I think it’s called a radio,” I said.
“How do you know that?” asked Cait.
“Remember that book I stole from the Academy?”
She nodded.
“It had drawings and descriptions of things like this. If I remember correctly, these are called buttons.” I pointed to the orange shapes.
“A voice came out of it earlier,” said Cait, looking at the crate with distrust. “And when the Enforcer spoke into it, someone heard her.”
“It can communicate over long distances,” I said. “So we should be careful.” I lowered my voice. “Whoever else has one of these might hear us.”
Cait and Keane looked at each other, their expressions darkening.
“Okay.” Keane stood and hefted the crate in his arms. “These devilish contraptions are goin’ overboard.”
“Wait!” I said, jumping up. “Just think how useful they could be.”
“We don’t understand how they work,” said Cait. “They could be listening to us right now!”
“We don’t understand them, but I bethedoes.” I pointed to Dunn, his knees pulled into his chest and his forehead down.
Keane hesitated, but I grabbed the crate, ready to fight him if he tried to toss them into the water.
“What if we could speak to Lachlan from miles away?” I asked Cait. “And what if we could get one to, well . . . whoever you want to see in Cambria,” I said to Keane. “Think of the possibilities!”
Cait’s face softened, but suspicion still shadowed her eyes. “As long as we don’t know who might be on the other end, we can’t use them.”
Just then, a voice spoke from the radio I held. “Come in, Enforcer Merrick.”
I dropped it with an involuntary yelp.
Dunn looked up from across the deck, his eyes alight.
“How does it work?” I asked him.
“Give it to me and I’ll show you,” he said, climbing to his feet.
“Oh, hell no,” said Cait, stepping in between us.
“Come in, Enforcer Merrick,” said the man's voice again, more urgently this time.
