As we reach the top of the hill and turn toward the exit, Kenai breaks the silence. “So, great leader, you said we needed to talk.” He cracks his knuckles to let off excess energy.
“I’m not the leader anymore. Won’t ever be,” I say.
“Yeah, right,” Nome says, turning around to look at me, and the car swerves to the right.
“Eyes on the road!” Miles yells, and grabs the steering wheel.
Nome adjusts the car and peers at me through the rearview mirror. “If you’re not leader, who’s going to be? Me?”
“Gaia help us,” murmurs Kenai, and Nome gives him an indignant “hey!”
Kenai nudges me gently. “Can I assume these emergency driving lessons mean you definitely can’t be talked into coming to Roswell with us?”
I shake my head. “No, but I’d like you to go—to help with the regrouping of the clan. Stay while decisions are being made. Decide where you want to go. And once everyone makes their choices, I want you to come find me and tell me.”
“I know the reasons you gave the group for not coming,” Kenai says, “but there’s more, isn’t there?”
I lean my head back against the seat and sigh. “They’re going to make me be leader whether I want to or not. If I go to Roswell, everyone will look to me for direction. I don’t even want to be a factor in their decision-making. I can’t be there.” I look Kenai in the eyes, and see that he understands. Agrees, even. “I’ll decide what I’m going to do, though, once I hear the decision of the clan.”
We ride in silence, until a few minutes later Miles has Nome pull over to the side of the road, and shows her how to put the car in park. Kenai takes the driver’s seat, and Nome climbs into the back with me, leaning over first for a meaning-laden hug. Kenai pulls onto the road with a jerk, and I quickly show her how to put the seat belt on.
She watches me with wide eyes. “Where will you go?”
At this, Miles turns around, and a whole wordless conversation takes place between us. Finally he says, “I’m going wherever you’re going.”
“Are you sure?” I make my expression blank and wait. It doesn’t matter what I want, this decision is up to him.
He nods, showing me that his choice is made. “Besides, you need me. I’m your oracle—how are you going to figure out what to do without me?” He raises one eyebrow, and I can’t help but crack a smile.
The tension broken, Nome says, “Okay, then, Oracle. Enlighten us as to what Juneau is planning.”
Miles flashes a smile at me. “I don’t have to say it as a riddle, do I?”
I laugh. “No. I prefer straight-out prediction, please.”
He makes sure Kenai is doing okay with the driving, and then turns back to us. He squints, as if he’s looking at something far in the distance, and strokes his chin seriously. “I see a very cold place in Miles and Juneau’s immediate future. A road trip to Alaska. A plane would be more convenient, of course, but since Juneau has no ID”—Miles glances at Nome and clarifies—“identification papers, without even taking into account her acute hatred of air travel, they will travel by car and boat.”
He looks at me for reassurance, and I grin. “Sounds good so far. Go on.”
“Once in the land of tundra, they will proceed immediately to a certain dog shelter, where a very joyful reunion will take place.”
Tears spring to my eyes, and I cover my mouth to hold in my emotion. Miles pretends he doesn’t see and continues.
“With their enthusiastic dog companions, Juneau and Miles will venture to the emergency shelter and on to the yurt encampment to retrieve everything of value, thus ensuring the economic future of the clan.”
I compose myself and say to Nome and Kenai, “He’s right. With what I’ve seen our gold can buy, we’ll all have enough for a good start in this new world.”
“And finally,” Miles says, wrapping up, “the companions make their way back to the mainland, traveling to Utah to stay with a crazy mountain woman in her ecologically correct cabin in the woods, allowing Juneau time to . . .” He hesitates and glances at Nome and Kenai.
“Go ahead and say it,” I urge.
“De-brainwash—” Miles chances.
“We could all use some of that!” Kenai says, roaring with laughter, and the car swerves slightly before he straightens it out.
Miles smiles and continues, “While she awaits word from her faithful friends about the fate of her clan members. The end.”
“Bravo!” Nome shouts, and we both give him a round of applause.
Miles looks pleased with himself. “Did I get close?” he asks me.
I’m awestruck by his accuracy. Fake oracle prophecies aside, this boy really knows me. “It’s exactly what I was thinking,” I reply.