What will the Rising think of me? Will they view my data differently? They must. They have more of it. They know about my dash into the Carving and my rush down the river. I’ve taken so many risks. I have changed. I feel it, know it.
The door opens.
“Cassia,” the man says. “We’ve analyzed your information. ”
“Yes?” Where will they send me?
“We’ve decided that you would best serve the Rising from within the Society. ”
Chapter 53
KY
Please state your full name. ”
Which one should I use? “Ky Markham,” I say.
“Society status?”
“Aberration. ”
“How did you learn about the Rising?”
“My father was a member of it a long time ago,” I say.
“How did you find us?”
“From a map we found in the Carving. ”
I hope the answers I’m giving are the same ones she did. As always, we didn’t have enough time. But I trust my instincts and I trust hers too.
“Was there anyone traveling with you other than the two girls who came earlier on the boat?”
“No,” I say. This one is easy. I knew Cassia will never give Eli and Hunter away, no matter how much she wants to believe in the Rising.
The man leans back. His voice is even. “Now,” he says. “Ky Markham. Tell us more about why you came to join us. ”
After I finish talking, the man thanks me and leaves me alone for a few moments. When he comes back, he stands in the doorway. “Ky Markham. ”
“Yes?”
“Congratulations,” he says. “You’ve been assigned to work as an air-ship pilot and sent to Camas Province to train. You’ll be of great service to the Rising. ”
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’ll leave late tonight,” he says, pushing open the door. “Eat and sleep in the main hall with the others. ” He points to one of the larger tents. “We’ve been using this camp to gather escapees like yourself. In fact, one of the girls you came with should still be here. ”
I thank him again and make my way to the hall as quickly as I can. When I push open the flap of the tent, she is the first person I see.
Indie.
I’m not surprised—I thought this might happen—but my heart sinks anyway. I’d hoped to see Cassia again here. Now.
I will see her again.
Indie sits alone. When she sees me she moves down the table so there’s room at the end for me. I walk past the others eating and talking about their assignments. There are a few girls but most are boys and all of us are young and wearing black plainclothes. A line for the food has formed at the opposite end of the tent, but I want to talk to Indie. I sit next to her and ask the first, most important thing. “Where’s Cassia?”
“They sent her back to the Society,” Indie says. “Central. Where Xander’s going. ” She spears a piece of meat with her fork. “Cassia still doesn’t know his secret, does she?”
“She will soon enough,” I say. “He’ll tell her. ”
“I know,” Indie says.
“How did they send her back?” I ask.
“By air ship,” Indie says. “They sent her to a work camp where someone in the Rising can filter people back into Society on the long-distance train. She’s likely all the way to Central by now. ” Indie leans forward. “She’ll be fine. The Rising checked her data. The Society hadn’t even Reclassified her yet. ”
I nod, leaning back. Cassia must be disappointed. I know she hoped to stay in the Rising.
“How was the run?” Indie asks.
“Long,” I say. “How about the river?”
“Poisoned,” she says.
I start laughing then, relieved to have confirmation that Cassia is all right from someone who—in spite of everything—I trust. Indie joins in too. “We made it,” I say. “None of us died. ”
“Cassia and I fell in the river,” Indie says, “but we seem to be fine. ”
“Thanks to the rain,” I say.
“And my piloting,” she says.
“They’ll notice you, Indie,” I say. “You’re going to matter to them. Be careful. ”
She nods.
“I still think you’re going to run,” I tell her.
“I might surprise you,” she says.
“You have before,” I say. “What’s your work assignment?”
“They haven’t told me yet,” she says, “but we leave tonight. Do you know your assignment? Where are you going?”
“Camas. ” If I had to go someplace away from Cassia, Camas is where I’d pick. Vick’s home. I might be able to find out what happened to Laney. “Apparently my data indicates that I would be a good pilot, too. ”