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And that hen she told her

Sara hadn’t believed her at first But not exactly that: she felt as if her mind had split in two, and one half, the half that didn’t know, that believed she was still a Little, sitting in circle and playing in the courtyard and waiting for her parents to tuck her in at night, was saying goodbye to the half that sooodbye to herself It made her feel dizzy and sick, and then she started to cry, and Teacher took her by the hand once more and led her down another hallway and out of the Sanctuary, where her parents aiting for her, to take her home-the home that Sara and Michael lived in still, that she’d never known existed until that very day It isn’t true, Sara was saying through her tears, it isn’t true And hertoo, picked her up and held her close, saying, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry It is, it is, it is

This was the memory that always replayed in her mind whenever she approached the Sanctuary, which seemed so much smaller to her than it had back then, so much more ordinary An old brick schoolhouse with the name F D Roosevelt Elementary etched in stone over the door Frole Watcher standing on the top of the front steps: Hollis Wilson

"Howdy, Sara"

"Evening, Hollis"

Hollis was balancing a crossbow on his hip Sara didn’t like them; they had a lot of power but were too slow to reload, and heavy to carry besides Everyone said hoas just about impossible to tell Hollis apart from his brother until he’d shaved his beard, but Sara didn’t see why; even as Littles-the Wilson brothers had come up three years ahead of her-she had always knohich hich It was the little things that told her, details that a person lance, like the fact that Hollis was just a little taller, a little more serious in the eyes But they were obvious to her

As she ascended the steps, Hollis tipped his head at the pot she was carrying, his lips turned up in a grin "Whatcha bring me?"

"Jack stew But it’s not for you, I’m afraid"

His face was aet hi his head Sara could read the hunger in his face "I can’t tell you how much I miss jack stew Can I smell it?"

She drew the cloth aside and opened the lid Hollis bent to the pot and inhaled deeply through his nose

"I couldn’t o inside?"

"Forget it, Hollis I’; the offer wasn’t serious "Well, I tried," said Hollis "Okay, let’s have your blade"

She withdrew her knife and passed it to him Only Watchers were allowed to carry weapons into the Sanctuary, and even they were supposed to keep theht of the children

"Don’t know if you heard," Hollis said, tucking it into his belt "We’ve got a new resident"

"I was out with the herd all day Who is it?"

"Maus Patal No big shock there, I guess" Hollis gestured with his cross toward the path "Galen just left I’m surprised you didn’t see hiht Gale could have walked right past her and she wouldn’t have noticed And Maus, pregnant Why was she surprised?

"Well" SheWas it envy? "That’s great news"

"Do me a favor and tell her that You should have heard the two of the Probably woke up half the Littles"

"She’s not happy about it?"