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I don’t trust the water anymore

Many people walk the river paths today The sun feels war has asked everyone to keep to their Society-assigned jobs for now, until the Plague is fully contained, so most people are at work But still, there are childcare providers bringing little kids to throw stones into the river, and workers with foilware trays, enjoying the new freedo their lunch wherever they want All of these people must be immune or cured to walk so freely They’re like us They know they’re safe

I glance at the barricade wall, which also runs near the river Even though the Rising is firmly in control, there are still restrictions for now as to where we can go The medics and workers behind the walls can’t coue

Cassia told ht be on the other side of that barricade, working in the h we’ve both been here for months I wish I had seen Xander I’d like to talk to hi--if he’s found it everything he hoped it would be

I don’t wonder if he still loves Cassia I’ froue broke, but they’ve i asn’t already immune So I think she’s safe, one way or the other But I don’t know

I sent her aher how sorry I was that I couldn’t reach her that night at the lake I asked her if she was all right and told her that I loved her

I traded four of h I can’t do it too often or I’ll get in trouble

The silence frooff and risking everything to try to get to her Even if Iwould shoot ood if you’re dead, I reood by staying alive, either I don’t kno er I can wait before I’ll have to risk it

"Why not ju atin?" I ask Indie

"Maybe," Indie says Everyone’s still a little perplexed by Indie, but more and more they also respect her It’s hard not to after you’ve seen her fly

I’nize a face in the crowd One of the traders who used to bring me notes fro ti for me today?

The way Archivists trade is different now The Rising closed down the Society’s Museuanda So we have to wait outside of the Museums to make contact or find each other in the crowds

The handoff is quick, as usual She passes aze level and cool, and we bu normal on a crowded path From the outside, I’m sure it all looks perfectly natural, but she’s handed off soas if she buet soe is late, likely because she’s had the Plague How did she e to hold on to the paper? Did anyone else read it while she was still?

My heart races like a rabbit in search of cover out on the plateau This note has to be fro to me I wish I could read it now But I’ll have to wait until it’s safe

"If you could fly anywhere, where would you go?" Indie asks

"I think you know the answer to that," I tell her I slip the paper into my pocket

"Central, then," Indie says "You’d fly to Central"

"Wherever Cassia is"

Caleb looks back at us and I wonder if he saw the exchange I doubt it The trader was fast I can’t figure Caleb out He’s the only one who brings cases back e’re dropping off the cure None of the other ships are taking on cargo The commander always tells us it’s approved, but I think there’s ned to ith Indie and ure out which of us it is Maybe both

"What about you?" I ask Indie, keeping o? Back to Sonoestion is ridiculous "I wouldn’t go back to where I’ers close around the paper in es against her skin This is the closest I can get to touching or seeing her right now

Indie watchesdisconcerting Unexpected She leans closer and speaks quietly so that the others can’t hear "I’ve been wanting to ask you Why didn’t you steal any of the tubes ere in the Cavern? I saw Cassia and Eli each take one But you didn’t"

Indie’s right I didn’t take a tube But Cassia and Eli both did Cassia took her grandfather’s tube Eli stole the one that had belonged to Vick Later, both Cassia and Eli gaveI hid the camp

"I didn’t need one," I say

Indie and I stop The rest of the group shouts and hollers They’ve found the spot where they want to jump, a deep place downriver frooing in and it’s close enough to the path that people can stop and watch

"Coht at Indie and me "You afraid?" he asks

I don’t bother to answer Connor’s coant, and mediocre He thinks he’s a leader I know he’s not