Page 42 (2/2)

My mother wrote that Nevio didn’t intend for me to read those words, but I remember every one of them

I don’t cry when the siren comes over the loudspeaker to tell us all that the breach has been sealed off, that we are not in danger anymore, that we can take off ourback into the roos

I don’t cry when the siren tells us that ill soon be able to return to our hoer

When my mother died, there were times when I wept like Bay did, like I would never stop But of course I stopped eventually You have to stop crying if you plan to survive

"Where was the breach?" someone asks

"We don’t know yet," Josiah says

"How bad was it?"

"We don’t know that, either," Josiah says "They’ll tell us when they can"

"You were so brave," someone says to me Now everyone smiles at me, seems pleased with hoell I handled ht," I say

"You didn’t know that would be the case," Elinor says "We should have shared with you Even though it’s against the rules" She looks ashen, shocked at herself "But we didn’t"

"It doesn’t matter," I say "I would have done the same" I wouldn’t have shared my air with any of these people Not even with Elinor Bay and my mother and True--they are the people I’d risk ize"

"I never kneas so coldhearted," Elinor says

"Rio’s not surprised," Bien says "She knohat people are capable of"

Right then the siren speaks froret to say that the breach was in the deepmarket," she says "We have had to seal it off to preserve the safety of the rest of the city"

What does that mean? I want to ask, but I know and I a stunned "That means there will be no survivors"

The people of the deepone Aldo The bettors Cara and the man orked with her

I will never swio back there today? To sell the fish in his cart?

Maire is safe, locked away in the holding cells up closer to the surface

But True

Elinor sinks to her knees Bien has forgotten me There is a look of terror in her eyes

Everyone whispers and cries out their questions What kind of a breach was it? Too h air? Did they drown or suffocate? Which would have been worse?

"The gondolas are not working," the siren says, "but you hborhoods were destroyed We will give you more information as soon as we can"