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nearly fell over Wes。 “Oh； Andy！” she sobbed； the tone of her voice reminding me of Melanie’s。
Paige’s outburst changed the atmosphere momentarily。 The silent crowd began to murmur； most of them
rising to their feet。 The sound was one of wele now； as the majority went to greet the returned
travelers。 I tried to read the strange expressions on their faces as they forced grins onto their lips and
“It’s going to be okay； Wanda；” Ian murmured under his breath。
I glanced at him wildly； searching for that same guilt on his face。 I didn’t find it； only a defensive
tightening around his vivid eyes as he stared at the newers。
“What the hell； people？” a new voice boomed。
Kyle—easily identifiable by his size despite the grime—was shoving his way around Jared and heading
toward… me。
“You’re letting it tell you its lies？ Have you all gone crazy？ Or did it lead the Seekers here？ Are youall
parasites now？”
Many heads fell forward； ashamed。 Only a few kept their chins stiffly in the air； their shoulders squared：
Lily； Trudy； Heath； Wes… and frail Walter； of all people。
“Easy； Kyle；” Walter said in his feeble voice。
Kyle ignored him。 He walked with deliberate steps toward me； his eyes； the same vibrant cobalt as his
brother’s； glowing with rage。 I couldn’t keep my eyes on him； though—they kept returning to Jared’s
dark shape； trying to read his camouflaged face。
Melanie’s love flowed through me like a lake bursting through a dam； distracting me even more from the
enraged barbarian closing the distance quickly。
Ian slid into my view； moving to place himself in front of me。 I strained my neck to the side to keep my
view of Jared clear。
“Things changed while you were gone； brother。”
Kyle halted； face slack with disbelief。 “Did the Seekers e； then； Ian？”
“She’s not a danger to us。”
Kyle ground his teeth together； and from the corner of my eye； I saw him reach for something in his
pocket。
This captured my attention at last。 I cringed； expecting a weapon。 The words stumbled off my tongue in
a choked whisper。 “Don’t get in his way； Ian。”
Ian didn’t respond to my plea。 I was surprised at the amount of anxiety this caused me； at how much I
didn’t want him hurt。 It wasn’t the instinctive protection； the bone…deepneed to protect； that I felt for
Jamie or even Jared。 I just knew that Ian should not be harmed trying to protect me。
Kyle’s hand came back up； and a light shone out of it。 He pointed it at Ian’s face； held it there for a
moment。 Ian didn’t flinch from the light。
“So； what； then？” Kyle demanded； putting the flashlight back in his pocket。 “You’re not a parasite。 How
through the silent spectators。 As he got closer； Jamie still clinging to his hand with a bewildered
expression； I could read his face better under the mask of dirt。 Even Melanie； all but delirious with
happiness at his safe return； could not misunderstand the expression of loathing there。
Jeb had wasted his efforts on the wrong people。 It didn’t matter that Trudy or Lily was speaking to me；
that Ian would put himself between his brother and me； that Sharon and Maggie made no hostile move
toward me。 The only one who had to be convinced had now； finally； decided。
“I don’t think anyone needs to calm down；” Jared said through his teeth。 “Jeb；” he continued； not
looking to see if the old man had followed him forward； “give me the gun。”
The silence that followed his words was so tense I could feel the pressure inside my ears。
From the instant I could clearly see his face； I’d known it was over。 I knew what I had to do now；
Melanie was in agreement。 As quietly as I could； I took a step to the side and slightly back； so that I
would be clear of Ian。 Then I closed my eyes。
“Don’t happen to have it on me；” Jeb drawled。
I peeked through narrowed eyes as Jared whirled to assess the truth of Jeb’s claim。
Jared’s breath whistled angrily through his nostrils。 “Fine；” he muttered。 He took another step toward
me。 “It will be slower this way； though。 It would be more humane if you were to find that gun fast。”
“Please； Jared； let’s talk；” Ian said； planting his feet firmly as he spoke； already knowing the answer。
“I think there’s been too much talk；” Jared growled。 “Jeb left this up to me； and I’ve made my decision。”
Jeb cleared his throat noisily。 Jared spun halfway around to look at him again。
“What？” he demanded。 “You made the rule； Jeb。”
“Well； now； that’s true。”
Jared turned back toward me。 “Ian； get out of my way。”
“Well； well； hold on a sec；” Jeb went on。 “If you recall； the rule was that whoever the body belonged to
got to make the decision。”
A vein in Jared’s forehead pulsed visibly。 “And？”
“Seems to me like there’s someone here with a claim just as strong as yours。 Mebbe stronger。”
Jared stared straight ahead； processing this。 After a slow moment； understanding furrowed his brow。 He
All the joy had drained from Jamie’s face； leaving it pale and horrorstruck。
“You can’t； Jared；” he choked。 “You wouldn’t。 Wanda’s good。 She’s my friend！ And Mel！ What about
Mel？ You can’t kill Mel！ Please！ You have to —” He broke off； his expression agonized。
I closed my eyes again； trying to block the picture of the suffering boy from my mind。 It was already
almost impossible not to go to him。 I locked my muscles in place； promising myself that it wouldn’t help
him if I moved now。
“So；” Jeb said； his tone far too conversational for the moment； “you can see that Jamie’s not in
agreement。 I figure he’s got as much say as you do。”
There was no answer for so long that I had to open my eyes again。
Jared was staring at Jamie’s anguished； fearful face with his own kind of horror。
“How could you let this happen； Jeb？” he whispered。
“Thereis a need for some talk；” Jeb answered。 “Why don’t you take a breather first； though？ Maybe
you’ll feel more up to conversation after a bath。”
Jared glared balefully at the old man； his eyes full of the shock and pain of the betrayed。 I had only
human parisons for such a look。 Caesar and Brutus； Jesus and Judas。
The unbearable tension lasted through another long minute； and then Jared shook Jamie’s fingers off his
arm。
“Kyle；” Jared barked； turning and stalking out of the room。
Kyle gave his brother a parting grimace and followed。
The other dirty members of the expedition went after them silently； Paige tucked securely under Andy’s
arm。
Most of the other humans； all those who had hung their heads in shame for admitting me into their
society； shuffled out behind them。 Only Jamie； Jeb； and Ian beside me； and Trudy； Geoffrey； Heath； Lily；
Wes； and Walter stayed。
No one spoke until the echoes of their footsteps faded away into silence。
“Whew！” Ian breathed。 “That was close。 Nice thinking； Jeb。”
“Inspiration in desperation。 But we’re not out of the woods yet；” Jeb answered。
“Don’t I know it！ You didn’t leave the gun anywhere obvious； did you？”
“Nope。 I fi