“Yes, federal agents,” Dr. Simons says, but regretfully. “The federal authorities are hardly disinterested either.” So, despite what my dad had said to me at the time, maybe the visit from that NIH guy hadn’t been so routine after all. “Obviously, the entire government isn’t involved, but we don’t know which agencies have been compromised. Letting anyone know where we are at this point is just too big of a risk. Not to mention that North Point has exceptional resources. Why do you think no one came to the diner to investigate the stabbing? A company like North Point can buy its own version of the truth.”
My heart beats harder. My face feels hot. “You know about the stabbing?”
And I don’t know why I am surprised. If my dad knows, then of course Dr. Simons would, too. But still I feel so exposed. And so ashamed. I look around the cabin again to see if anyone is staring at me. I meet only Miriam’s eyes, and as usual, she just smiles warmly.
“Of course we know, Wylie. In this world, there are no secrets.”
It’s a little past eight a.m. by the time we are all outside. I’m standing on the front porch of the main cabin. The sun has fully risen. But it’s gray, the clouds low. It’s damp and much warmer, too. As it turns out, there was a detailed emergency action plan, and my dad’s “they’re on the way” was enough to set it in motion, even if Jasper’s jacket was not.
Without being directed on specifics, everyone has dispersed to their preassigned duties. I consider querying some of the others about the details. But so far I haven’t actually exchanged more than hellos with any of them. It seems best to keep it that way, to draw as little attention to myself as possible. Especially now, when all I’m doing is biding my time until we can run.
Because I’ve decided that these people can do whatever they want; Cassie and I are getting the hell out of there.
I watch Adam and Fiona carry shovels down the driveway. Gladys and Beatrice, Robert and Hillary are walking to and from the woods in the opposite direction behind the cabins, collecting sticks and piling them in the center of the lawn. They are all so calm and purposeful, so ready and accepting. Trusting. They certainly do not seem panicked or afraid, not like they are looking for a way out. It’s as though they knew the risks when they came up here to help my dad and are willing to pay the cost, no matter how steep it ends up being.
“What’s with all the sticks?” I ask, motioning to Gladys and Beatrice when Dr. Simons comes to stand next to me on the porch.
“Nothing too sophisticated, I’m afraid. Some controlled fires that will give us a chance to leave out the back,” he says. “If anyone does end up locating us, which—to be clear—is still not a foregone conclusion.”
Dr. Simons’s face changes as he peers in the direction of the cabin Jasper and I started out in. When I turn, Cassie is headed toward us, across the open grass. She’s changed her clothes, jeans now, a sweater, and a longish wool coat. None of it exactly goes together, but on Cassie looks casually chic. All except the weird, bright-orange knit hat on her head. It’s like something a hunter might wear, and it looks odd and out of place. There’s no way it belongs to her.
“I thought Stuart told you she went to lie down,” I say. And it was Dr. Simons who convinced me not to go after her once everyone had headed off to their jobs.
“Yes, well, that is what he told me.” Dr. Simons looks confused himself.
As Cassie gets closer, I can see she has an odd look on her face. Then I notice the cigarette in her hand. For once, I’m not judging. If somebody told me I was an Outlier, I might start smoking, too. But the way Cassie drops it is so strange. It’s like she wasn’t even aware she was holding it in the first place. And past her, I see Stuart. He’s out in front of the cabin we started out in. He takes a long drag of his own cigarette and exhales over his head. He’s far away, but I feel like it was for our benefit, like he wants us to know they were talking.
Cassie being upset and confused is understandable. Upset enough that she’s willing to chat Stuart up just to get a cigarette? That is not good at all.
“Are you okay?” I ask when she finally reaches us. And I wish it didn’t sound so much like I was accusing her of something. “Where were you?”
“Taking a walk,” Cassie says, crossing her arms and looking away.
She seems much worse. Before, she was upset about being an Outlier and everything with Jasper, but now she seems jittery and angry, too.
“You must be careful, Cassie,” Dr. Simons says, and I’m glad it’s him instead of me. “It’s not safe for you to be off on your own.”
Cassie glares up at him, and for a second I think she’s going to tell him off. I kind of want her to. But she just bites her lip and looks away.
“Wylie, why don’t you help Cassie carry those sticks down the driveway. You should see Fiona down there in the woods. We’re using the sticks as the base for the firewall. Obviously, there are some sticks down there, but not enough. So we need to get more from the woods behind the cabins,” Dr. Simons says. “It would be helpful if you could both lend a hand. Besides, I think it would be good for everyone to keep busy.”