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I expect them to take us to Nevio’s office in the te corridor and to another door So he also has an office in the Council buildings They offered one to my mother, but she never used it She liked to do all her work in the temple

A peacekeeper opens the door for us, and I stand there and gape I can’t help it

Nevio’s office here is like nothing I’ve ever seen The walls are paneled entirely in wood I feel like I’ inside a tree, where its heart should be, and I don’t like it

"We need to take her with us to the surface," Nevio says

"Yes," Maire says

"I should have known" Nevio paces aroundsoly sound because it’s full of anger and condescension, nohave you known?"

"Not long," Maire says "I heard her that day in the temple when her sister went Above"

"And you didn’t tell rees

"Did anyone else hear you?" Nevio asks me

"Justus did," Maire says

"Justus," Nevio says dis at all "Anyone else?"

The Minister pacing, Maire betraying, neither one of the me as if I’ has changed--

"That boy she’s been running around with," Maire says, and my head snaps up "His na back

For one long, long second, they do stop Nevio quits pacing Maire doesn’t speak

Then Maire says, "True Beck"

No Not True How did she know?

"I overpiece of sculpture to ad, not a person "She told us to stop, and we did How long did it last?" he asks Maire

"Just for a moment," Maire says "And you?"

"The same," he says

For a few seconds, IIs he changing his et to decide?

He doesn’t

"I a Above," I say, inI’ve known it since I could first think or feel Hearing myself say it now takes away all uncertainty Maire shakes her head at me She told me that she wants oing Above

"You are," Nevio says "Take care of everything," he tells Maire "We leave as soon as they send down the transports"

"I know you hate ether The peacekeepers have vanished, and Maire and I follow the winding pathways of the Council buildings, a place I know only from the artfully constructed exteriors, the sand- and candy-colored stuccos of the buildings

I don’t deny it "You said that you’d let me choose"

"You were the one who made the final choice, who said the words just now," Maire says "Which is good Because this won’t work if it isn’t what you want And we are running out of time If you don’t come up with us now, you’ll be stuck Below forever"