CHAPTER 19
SHE WAS ATTACKED, most likely a flesh trader looking for merchandise. The boy saved her, but then the EOs came.”
Rachel sat on the parlor couch, despondent. Everyone was there, listening to Jonathan tell what had happened in town. Her mother was so upset that she could barely speak to her. Her father had made certain she was unhurt and then turned his attention quickly to Jonathan. Ms. Moore and Indigo looked stricken, and Fisher looked like he could not believe her idiocy.
“We have to get him out of there.” Ms. Moore was near tears.
“But how, exactly?” Vivian knew what Ms. Moore was thinking and she knew she was probably right; Pathik was in some cell, where very bad things were going to happen to him. She didn’t know how they would ever get him out of it.
“Will he be in Bensen?” Indigo spoke calmly. “Or will they take him to a bigger city?”
“They will probably take him to Ganivar, once they discover he really doesn’t have a genid.” Daniel looked worried. “Who knows where they’ll take him from there. If they think he’s from Away they’ll send him somewhere for testing. Somewhere with high security. I think if we’re going to move, we have to move now.” He turned to Ms. Moore. “Do you have any weapons?”
“I have a stunner. Only one.”
“That may be enough.” Indigo took Ms. Moore’s hand.
“They have lots of stunners. One won’t make a bit of difference,” said Jonathan.
“We can trade for him,” said Indigo.
“You mean the maps?” Ms. Moore felt hope stirring for the first time since she saw that Pathik wasn’t with Jonathan and Rachel. “We can trade the maps. They’ll want those.”
Indigo started to say something, but Daniel interrupted. “She’s right. Pathik’s more important than the maps.”
“That’s very true. But I was going to say—”
“I didn’t bring them.” Rachel sounded miserable. “I thought they would be safer at camp. I left them with Nandy.”
“They are safer there, Rachel. You made the right decision.” Indigo thought for a moment. “We could trade something they think is the maps.”
“They’ll check,” said Vivian.
Indigo nodded. “Yes, they will.” He looked at Ms. Moore. “I think it’s worth a try. But I’ll be the one to go do it.”
Daniel began to protest, but Indigo shook his head. “We have no time, Daniel, to argue. And I need you to help get everything ready. Perhaps Jonathan will be willing to drive me into town?”
“I can do that.” Jonathan tipped his hat back on his forehead. “Rachel said they never ran a check on my truck, so they won’t have it flagged. I bet they’ll have the boy at the main Enforcement station until tomorrow, at least. Seems to take them a while to figure things out.”
“Do you have anything that might pass for valuable maps, Elizabeth?”
“The printouts!” Rachel jumped up. “Remember, Ms. Moore? Your great-grandfather’s?” Ms. Moore had shown Rachel some printouts that detailed the way the U.S. looked before the Line was built and activated, along with a diary that had belonged to her great-grandfather, before Rachel Crossed to get the medicine to the Others. He had been in the military and was involved in the aftermath of activating the Line.
“The rest of you get everything ready to Cross,” said Indigo. “It’ll need to happen fast.”
“I’m so sorry,” whispered Rachel. “I should have told him no.”
Indigo held out his arms to Rachel. She went to him, grateful for his hug. “Pathik is his own person. You saying no wouldn’t have stopped him from going.” Indigo patted her back. “All will be well.”
“I’m going to go get the stunner. Rachel, you know where the box with the printouts is—can you go get it?” Ms. Moore hurried from the room, with Rachel on her heels.
Fisher had been watching Indigo intently. Now he walked over to him.
“Usage says harm no one.” Fisher spoke so softly nobody but Indigo heard.
“I know what Usage says, Fisher.” Indigo smiled. “I’m glad to know that you know it so well too.”
Ms. Moore came back with the stunner. She showed Indigo how it worked. Rachel appeared with the maps she’d fetched from a box in the cellar. Everyone began to move toward the front door until Indigo stopped them.
“If they are watching, this crowd bursting out the front door is all it would take. Let’s keep our heads.” He turned to Ms. Moore. “I love you, Elizabeth. As I always have.” He looked at the rest of the assembly. “Pack fast. Be calm. Be ready to Cross when you hear the truck coming back.” Then he turned and walked out the door. Jonathan followed. Fisher watched them leave with a worried look on his face.
NEITHER OF THE two men said anything for the first ten minutes of the ride back to Bensen. They both seemed to be involved in their own thoughts. Jonathan was the first to speak.
“You really do love her, right?”
Indigo gave him a sidelong look. “I do.”
“Why do you think she didn’t go with you, back then?”
“I don’t know. I think she was afraid, more afraid than she thought.”
“If it helps any, I think she regrets it.”
Indigo stared out at the road ahead of them. “I’ve always known that. And it never helped a bit.”
No more was said until they reached Bensen. Jonathan parked the truck a block from the Enforcement office. He pointed the building out to Indigo.
“What’s your plan?”
“Do you know the layout inside?”
Jonathan nodded. “It’s a small town. The Enforcement office is the place people go to buy vehicle licenses or pay fines.” He closed his eyes, picturing the interior in his mind. “All on the first floor. A reception area in front. Offices in back. Cells too. Not that I’ve seen the cells.”
“How many officers?”
“Usually just four on a shift. Two roaming, one at the desk, one in the back. They might have called in extra men, though, for this.”
Indigo looked at Jonathan. “I’m not counting on the maps to work.”
“Didn’t figure you were.” Jonathan waited.
“If he comes out, I want you to go.” Indigo watched to see if Jonathan understood.
“Want me to wait any?”
Indigo shook his head. Then he opened the truck door and got out. Jonathan watched him walk away, watched him reach the door of the Enforcement office. He stopped outside for a moment. Then he pushed the door open and disappeared.
The maps lay on the passenger seat where Indigo had left them.