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When the meal was over； Jeb said I deserved a rest。 He walked me all the way to my door； playing the
gentleman again。
“Afternoon； Wanda；” he said； tipping his imaginary hat。
I took a deep breath for bravery。 “Jeb； wait。”
“Yes？”
“Jeb…” I hesitated； trying to find a polite way to put it。 “I… well； maybe it’s stupid of me； but I sort of
thought we were friends。”
I scrutinized his face； looking for any change that might indicate that he was about to lie to me。 He only
looked kind； but what did I know of a liar’s tells？
“Of course we are； Wanda。”
“Then why are you trying to get me killed？”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter； processtext/abclit。html
”
I listed my evidence。 “You didn’t take the gun today。 And yesterday you left me alone。”
Jeb grinned。 “I thought you hated that gun。”
I waited for an answer。
“Wanda； if I wanted you dead； you wouldn’t have lasted that first day。”
“I know；” I muttered； starting to feel embarrassed without understanding why。 “That’s why it’s all so
confusing。 ”
Jeb laughed cheerfully。 “No； I don’t want you dead！ That’s the whole point； kid。 I’ve been getting them
all used to seeing you around； getting them to accept the situation without realizing it。 It’s like boiling a
frog。”
My forehead creased at the eccentric parison。
Jeb explained。 “If you throw a frog in a pot of boiling water； it will hop right out。 But if you put that frog
in a pot of tepid water and slowly warm it； the frog doesn’t figure out what’s going on until it’s too late。
Boiled frog。 It’s just a matter of working by slow degrees。”
I thought about that for a second—remembered how the humans had ignored me at lunch today。 Jeb
had gotten them used to me。 The realization made me feel strangely hopeful。 Hope was a silly thing in my
situation； but it seeped into me anyway； coloring my perceptions more brightly than before。
“Jeb？”
“Yeah？”
“Am I the frog or the water？”
He laughed。 “I’ll leave that one for you to puzzle over。 Self…examination is good for the soul。” He
laughed again； louder this time； as he turned to leave。 “No pun intended。”
“Wait—can I ask one more？”
“Sure。 I’d say it’s your turn anyway； after all I’ve asked you。”
“Whyare you my friend； Jeb？”
He pursed his lips for a second； considering his answer。
“You know I’m a curious man；” he began； and I nodded。 “Well； I get to watch your souls a lot； but I
never get to talk with ’em。 I’ve had so many questions just piling up higher and higher。… Plus； I’ve
always thought that if a person wants to； he can get along with just about anybody。 I like putting my
theories to the test。 And see； here you are； one of the nicest gals I ever met。 It’s real interesting to have a
soul as a friend； and it makes me feel super special that I’ve managed it。”
He winked at me； bowed from the waist； and walked away。
He never took the gun anywhere anymore。 I didn’t know where it was； but I was grateful that Jamie
wasn’t sleeping with it； at least。 It made me a little nervous to have Jamie with me unprotected； but I
decided he was actually in less danger without the gun。 No one would feel the need to hurt him when he
wasn’t a threat。 Besides； no one came looking for me anymore。
Jeb started sending me on little errands。 Run back to the kitchen for another roll； he was still hungry。 Go
fetch a bucket of water； this corner of the field was dry。 Pull Jamie out of his class； Jeb needed to speak
with him。 Were the spinach sprouts up yet？ Go and check。 Did I remember my way through the south
caves？ Jeb had a message for Doc。
Every time I had to carry out one of these simple directives； I was in a sweaty haze of fear。 I
concentrated on being invisible and walked as quickly as I could without running through the big rooms
and the dark corridors。 I tended to hug the walls and keep my eyes down。 Occasionally； I would stop
conversation the way I used to； but mostly I was ignored。 The only time I felt in immediate danger of
death was when I interrupted Sharon’s class to get Jamie。 The look Sharon gave me seemed designed to
be followed by hostile action。 But she let Jamie go with a nod after I choked out my whispered request；
and when we were alone； he held my shaking hand and told me Sharon looked the same way at anyone
who interrupted her class。
The very worst was the time I had to find Doc； because Ian insisted on showing me the way。 I could
have refused； I suppose； but Jeb didn’t have a problem with the arrangement； and that meant Jeb trusted
Ian not to kill me。 I was far from fortable with testingthat theory； but it seemed the test was
inevitable。 If Jeb was wrong to trust Ian； then Ian would find his opportunity soon enough。 So I went with
Ian through the long black southern tunnel as if it were a trial by fire。
I lived through the first half。 Doc got his message。 He seemed unsurprised to see Ian tagging along
beside me。 Perhaps it was my imagination； but I thought they exchanged a significant glance。 I half
expected them to strap me to one of Doc’s gurneys at that point。 These rooms continued to make me
feel nauseated。
But Doc just thanked me and sent me on my way as if he were busy。 I couldn’t really tell what he was
doing—he had several books open and stacks and stacks of papers that seemed to contain nothing but
sketches。
On the way back； curiosity overcame my fear。
“Ian？” I asked； having a bit of difficulty saying the name for the first time。
“Yes？” He sounded surprised that I’d addressed him。
“Why haven’t you killed me yet？”
He snorted。 “That’s direct。”
“You could； you know。 Jeb might be annoyed； but I don’t think he’d shoot you。” What was I saying？ It
sounded like I was trying to convince him。 I bit my tongue。
“I know；” he said； his tone placent。
“It doesn’t seem fair；” Ian finally said。 “I’ve been thinking about it a lot； and I can’t see how killing you
would make anything right。 It would be like executing a private for a general’s war crimes。 Now； I don’t
buy all of Jeb’s crazy theories—it would be nice to believe； sure； but just because you want something to
be true doesn’t make it that way。 Whether he’s right or wrong； though； you don’t appear to mean us any
harm。 I have to admit； you seem honestly fond of that boy。 It’s very strange to watch。 Anyway； as long
as you don’t put us in danger； it seems…cruel to kill you。 What’s one more misfit in this place？”
I thought about the wordmisfit for a moment。 It might have been the truest description of me I’d ever
heard。 Where had I ever fit in？
How strange that Ian； of all the humans； should have such a surprisingly gentle interior。 I didn’t realize
thatcruelty would seem a negative to him。
He waited in silence while I considered all this。
“If you don’t want to kill me； then why did you e with me today？” I asked。
He paused again before answering。
“I’m not sure that…” He hesitated。 “Jeb thinks things have calmed down； but I’m not pletely sure
about that。 T