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We’re all going to die

How is Fen staying so clear about all this?

And then I re for months

But Bay and True--they have to live I have to do what I can to make that happen And I want to live, too

Maire said I would knohen it was tio out in the temple I have to speak

I putto help e as I stand up

"You’re right," I say to Fen

He stands up, too "I’ll come with you You shouldn’t have to do this alone"

"I won’t be alone," I say I feel like Bay will be withelse I need Fen to do

"Please," I say "Let thees For the first time, I see him break "I can’t," he says

I realize that he thinks I mean Bay, and True And I understand

"The bats," I say, pointing to the cages "Can you find a way to let theo?"

Fen nods Relief washes over me The bats are not meant to be locked up like this They need to be free I will speak better if they are free

"Thank you," I say to Fen "I’ll see you again" And then, before I creep out into the hall of the teh I’m not who he wants and he’s not who I want, we understand each other I will do what I can to save what’s left

CHAPTER 29

Priests and guards line the halls Many of theates, and on the small island

You don’t seethe, their faces so near that I know the colors of their eyes

And they don’t seethe people of the Above and have thehin the Beloithout my real voice In a way, it feels familiar

The temple is full, and Nevio stands at the pulpit Where are the sirens? Ciro said the Council planned to bring their bodies to the te Then I see black boxes set up in the side aisles, and a note of foreboding rings in ht

I count the up the hood of my brown robe The temple is full of people--they even stand in the aisles, in the nave--and if I keep out of the main aisle, and move slowly, I don’t think anyone will notice ain, not yet, but I have to see the sirens’ bodies I have to know

"People of the Above," Nevio says, "we are glad and grateful to be back a"

His voice sounds perfect here His tones seeht, and what he says is a flawless co what he is, I can’t tell when he speaks the truth There is often some of it mixed in with his lies

I walk until I reach the nearest box It is raised above the ground but low enough for