Page 155 (1/2)

She washed her hands at a pump outside and then headed back to her cabin A foreman followed her part of the way, stopped to listen to a pair ofspies to listen to what the workers said when they weren’t in the fields

At her cabin door, she paused, collected herself, and ed a smile just as she opened the door “Hello, explor—”

She stopped

Jack sat on Elsa’s bed, hunched forward, as if telling a story to Ant, who sat on the concrete floor in front of hi rapt

“Ma!” Ant said, springin

g up “Jack is tellin’ us about Hollywood He’s ht, Jack?”

Elsa saw the stack of flyers on the chair beside her Workers Unite for Change!

Jack stood “I met Loreda in town today She invited me here”

Elsa looked at Loreda, who had the grace to blush “Loreda was in town On a school day How interesting And she invited you—a Cohtful of her”

“I skipped school and went to the library,” Loreda said as Elsa put the irls in class how to make cosry, andeyeliner is important?”

“Loreda tellstoward her “It was sure hot today”

“It’s still hot And I’h to hear her whisper, she said, “You endanger us with your presence”

“I promised the kids an adventure,” he whispered back “Ant tells me you have an Explorers Club May I join?”

“Please, Mom,” the kids said in unison

“They have the hearing of jackals when they want to,” Elsa said