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"We would have to trust you to do the same," I say "We are human We are no better or worse than you" I remember that there are people like True now, people who developed traits in response to the sirens "You shape us; we shape you," I say "I believe it is what the gods intended For us to change and teach each other"

And I realize: I know the third rand act of sacrifice, her superb display of power on the island It was the way she saved voices and sent up shells for years, each one a personal, critical expression of faith and hope and humanity "You have heard some of us"

"Yes," someone says "We have"

I hear the sound of a hundred tiny wings, the soft cries of sods and fly above us "Oh," the people say in unison

As the bats pass by the s, their blue wings outstretched, it is as beautiful as the ocean

I a

I see Fen in the crowd I smile at him He did what I asked He let them free

Then one of the bats comes down, closer, closer It settles on my shoulder

And then another

And another

They soar right past Nevio and land on me Their claws hurt a little, but I know I seenize Atlantia inwith miracles I wear theer listen They stare at me Will they let Atlantia live?

Will the people Below listen to Bay? Will they accept the truth? Do they understand that they have to change, too?

"Thank you," I say to the bats "But you can go It’s all right"

I won’t use my voice to make people do what I want

And I won’t take from the bats in order to stay here

The bats fly up, and I feel their strength leave me My knees buckle

Peacekeepers close in on s in ht as a shell around a sea creature I hear , steady as ht You are the only one who could do this

"Because of my voice," I say

And because of the work you did that had nothing to do with your voice, Maire says You h to swiet to the shore from the island You cared for the bats for years, so they would coh to speak in the temple Above, and when you did, the people felt like they could believe you They knew that you spoke the truth

I open my eyes

I know the voice I heard was Maire’s--whether in my mind or saved so down at me is Fen’s I know that the soft sounds around me are the temple bats And I know al Below I can tell I feel the Above vanishing behind us, the place where I spent a single day in all my life The sun is in the past for me for now; the water feels deeper than it did before