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my arms。
Jamie frowned。 “Fine；” he said； and shoved his own bowl across the counter。 “You don’t eat； I don’t
eat。” His stomach grumbled audibly。 He folded his arms across his chest。
We stared at each other for two long minutes； both our stomachs rumbling as we inhaled the smell of the
eggs。 Every now and then； he would peek down at the food out of the corner of his eye。 That’s what
beat me—the longing look in his eyes。
“Fine；” I huffed。 I slid his bowl back to him and then retrieved my own。 He waited until I took the first
bite to touch his。 I stifled a moan as the taste registered on my tongue。 I knew the cooled； rubbery eggs
weren’t the best thing I’d ever tasted； but that’s how it felt。 This body lived for the present。
Jamie had a similar reaction。 And then he started shoveling the food into his mouth so fast it seemed he
didn’t have time to breathe。 I watched him to make sure he didn’t choke。
I ate more slowly； hoping that I’d be able to convince him to eat some of mine when he was done。
That was when； with our minor standoff over and my stomach satisfied； I finally noticed the atmosphere
in the kitchen。
I would have expected； with the excitement of eggs for breakfast after months of monotony； more of a
feeling of celebration。 But the air was somber； the conversations all whispered。 Was this a reaction to the
scene last night？ I scanned the room； trying to understand。
Peoplewere looking at me； a few here and there； but they weren’t the only ones talking in serious
whispers； and the others paid me no mind at all。 Besides； none of them seemed angry or guilty or tense or
any of the other emotions I was expecting。
No； they weresad。 Despair was etched on every face in the room。
Sharon was the last person I noticed； eating in a distant corner； keeping to herself as usual。 She was so
posed as she mechanically ate her breakfast that at first I didn’t notice the tears dripping in streaks
down her face。 They fell into her food； but she ate as if she were beyond noticing。
Jamie looked at Sharon and sighed before he answered me。 “No； Doc’s fine。”
“Aunt Maggie？ Is she hurt？”
He shook his head。
“Where’s Walter？” I demanded； still whispering。 I felt a gnawing anxiety as I thought of harm befalling
one of my panions here； even those who hated me。
“I don’t know。 He’s fine； I’m sure。”
I realized now that Jamie was just as sad as everyone else here。
“What’s wrong； Jamie？ Why are you upset？”
Jamie looked down at his eggs； eating them slowly and deliberately now； and did not answer me。
He finished in silence。 I tried to pass him what was left in my bowl； but he glowered so fiercely that I
took it back and ate the rest without any more resistance。
We added our bowls to the big plastic bin of dirty dishes。 It was full； so I took it from the counter。 I
wasn’t sure what was going on in the caves today； but dishes ought to be a safe occupation。
Jamie came along beside me； his eyes alert。 I didn’t like that。 I wouldn’t allow him to act as my
bodyguard； if the necessity arose。 But then； as we made our way around the edge of the big field； my
regular bodyguard found me； so it became a moot point。
Ian was filthy； light brown dust covered him from head to toe； darker where it was wet with his sweat。
The brown streaks smeared across his face did not disguise the exhaustion there。 I was not surprised to
see that he was just as down as everyone else。 But the dust did make me curious。 It was not the purple
black dust inside the caves。 Ian had been outside this morning。
“There you are；” he murmured when he saw us。 He was walking swiftly； his long legs cutting the distance
with anxious strides。 When he reached us； he did not slow； but rather caught me under the elbow and
hurried me forward。 “Let’s duck in here for a minute。”
He pulled me into the narrow tunnel mouth that led toward the eastern field； where the corn was almost
ripe。 He did not lead me far； just into the darkness where we were invisible from the big room。 I felt
Jamie’s hand rest lightly on my other arm。
After half a minute； deep voices echoed through the big cavern。 They were not boisterous—they were
somber； as depressed as any of the faces I’d read this morning。 The voices passed us； close by the crack
where we hid； and Ian’s hand tensed on my elbow； his fingers pressing into the soft spots above the
bone。 I recognized Jared’s voice； and Kyle’s。 Melanie strained against my control； and my control was
tenuous anyway。 We both wanted to see Jared’s face。 It was a good thing Ian held us back。
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。
“He really thought he had it this time。 He was so sure。… Oh； well。 It will be worth all this if he figures it
out someday；” Kyle disagreed。
“If。”Jared snorted。 “I guess it’s a good thing we found that brandy。 Doc’s going to blow through the
whole crate by nightfall at the rate he’s going。”
“He’ll pass out soon enough；” Kyle said； his voice beginning to fade in the distance。 “I wish Sharon
would…” And then I couldn’t make out any more。
Ian waited until the voices faded pletely； and then a few minutes more； before he finally released my
arm。
“Jared promised；” Jamie muttered to him。
“Yeah； but Kyle didn’t；” Ian answered。
They walked back out into the light。 I followed slowly behind them； not sure what I was feeling。
Ian noticed for the first time what I carried。 “No dishes now；” he told me。 “Let’s give them a chance to
clean up and move on。”
I thought about asking him why he was dirty； but probably； like Jamie； he would refuse to answer。 I
turned to stare at the tunnel that led toward the rivers； speculating。
Ian made an angry sound。
I looked back at him； frightened； and then realized what had upset him—he’d only just seen my face。
He raised his hand as if to lift my chin； but I flinched and he dropped it。
“That makes me so sick；” he said； and his voice truly did sound as if he were nauseated。 “And worse；
knowing that if I hadn’t stayed behind； I might have been the one to do it。…”
I shook my head at him。 “It’s nothing； Ian。”
“I don’t agree withthat； ” he muttered； and then he spoke to Jamie。 “You probably ought to get to
school。 It’s better that we get everything back to normal as soon as possible。”
Jamie groaned。 “Sharon will be anightmare today。”
Ian grinned。 “Time to take one for the team； kid。 I don’t envy you。”
Jamie sighed and kicked the dirt。 “Keep an eye on Wanda。”
“Will do。”
Jamie shuffled away； casting glances back at us every few minutes until he disappeared into another
tunnel。
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。
“They weren’t too heavy for me；” I told him。
He grinned again。 “I feel silly standing here with my arms empty while you lug these around。 Chalk it up
to gallantry。 C’mon—let’s go relax somewhere out of the way until the coast is clear。”
His words troubled me； and I followed him in silence。 Why should gallantry apply to me？