companions. “Guess we shouldn’t have killed him.”
Zenn
46.
“I sent them,” I said for the fourth time. General Darke sat in his office, his hands folded neatly in front of him on the desk. “You were with me when I sent them.”
He nodded. “I was. I’m wondering why they haven’t returned.”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe the Resistance is not as dead as we’d like to believe.”
“Clearly,” I said. “Four of our Rises are in ruins, and we have no way to repair them. If we let our people out of their homes they’ll know we have no idea what we’re doing. And they’ll think they can do a better job than we can.”
General Darke frowned, the only indication that he knew my statement was true.
“Harvest is Insider friendly,” I continued, “so I can’t go there. Arrow Falls doesn’t have much in the way of tech. Grande—”
“They’ll have recording equipment,” General Darke said. “Perhaps you should take today to travel and get some transmissions made.”
“I don’t have any more time to waste,” I agreed.
“I am going back to Castledale,” the General said. “I will take a task force of Enforcement Officers with me. We’ll return with the tech required to restore the barrier.”
His condescending tone grated on my nerves. I nodded because I didn’t trust myself to speak.
“It’s settled, then,” he said.
“We’ll meet again tomorrow morning.”
“Evening,” General Darke clarified. “My flight is twice as long as yours.”
“Until tomorrow evening.” I left his office and went directly to my hoverboard.
The flight to Arrow Falls felt twice as lonely as it once had. Before, I’d always had a companion, someone to talk to, even if I didn’t want to talk. Before, I’d had Saffediene.
It hurt to think about her, a lot like it pained me to think about Vi. I wondered how long it would take before I became as cold and heartless as the General.
As I flew over the mass graves, I thought of Marco. Maybe I didn’t need to be more emotionally detached.
Maybe I was already more like Jag Barque than I’d thought.
The Director of Arrow Falls, a tall, thin man with gray hair, met me on the roof of their tallest building. He wore his traditional robes the color of deep, rich coffee. I wore what I’d been wearing for the past six days—a pair of jeans and a jacket over a long-sleeved, standard-issue T-shirt.
“Director Bower,” the Director said, and his words carried a weight I had not been expecting. I was a Director now. Director Bower.
“The tech the General requested is being prepared for you now,” he continued. “Won’t you have lunch before you begin your recordings?” He swept his hand toward an open door that I did not feel like entering. I wondered what repercussions I might suffer if I declined. I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to lose any of my newfound authority.
“Thank you, Director Underson.” I ducked into the darkness and took my first steps down a stairwell leading into the depths of the building.
After many flights downward, we emerged into a brightly lit room where technicians scurried from task to task. Some cast nervous glances at me, while others focused on their work as if their lives depended on it. It did, because I had asked them to produce the technology I needed, and I could take their lives if they did not deliver. A balloon grew inside my chest, filled with importance and pride. I tried to stop the swelling inside, feeling simultaneously ashamed and arrogant.
Director Underson glided through the room, and the technicians parted for him. Their counters seemed overfilled and underpolished, but I didn’t say anything. While tech wasn’t the crux of Arrow Falls’s worth, they clearly had a lot of supplies. I had thought their focus was improving soil quality.
“We also provide help when needed,” Director Underson said, clearly reading my thoughts. “Van Hightower and I were close, personal friends. His death saddens me.”
In a world where emotions are rarely shown, the Director’s words surprised me. He didn’t appear sad, and I didn’t have an empathic talent to tell if he genuinely felt sad or not.
He led me to a bank of traveling rings. “Blue for ascent, green for descent,” he explained. “We’re going to the second floor, where I’ve prepared my private dining room for lunch. You can use my study to complete your recordings.”
“Thank you,” I said, suddenly wary to record new transmissions for the Citizens of Freedom. I knew if I didn’t, the consequences would be dire. I felt caged in my new position as Director, when I should’ve been enjoying my freedom.
I waited while Director Underson stepped into a green ring and disintegrated before my eyes. After a moment, I then stepped into the same ring.
My particles reassembled in a faux-wood-paneled room where a glass table had been set for five. The drapes were drawn; the only light emanated from yellow tech fixtures along the far wall. The room felt narrow and closed off, which added to my
Director Underson selected a seat at the head of the table. I sat on his immediate right, wondering if it was proper to ask who would be joining us.
Before I could, one of the doors opened at the opposite end of the room. Three stern men at least twice my age entered. Each of them wore their Thinker robes, and the dark brown seemed to suck more light from the room.
I stood to greet them, lowering my chin before I realized that I held the same rank now.
“Director Bower, do sit down. It’ll take some getting used to, won’t it?” Director Underson asked, not unkindly and with a small smile. That smile vanished as he nodded to our lunch companions.
“Directors Marsh, Hideawae, and Long,” he said, indicating each man with a wave of his hand. The men took the remaining chairs, with Director Marsh next to me. “They are my board of advisers here in Arrow Falls. I’m sure Freedom has a similar council of Thinkers.”
Before I could answer, Director Underson continued. “Directors, this is Zenn Bower, the new Director of Freedom.”
Director Long crossed his arms while the other Directors welcomed me.
“Doesn’t Freedom employ a plethora of Thinkers?” Director Long leaned back in his chair.
“Oh, yes.” I kept my eyes locked onto his. Looking to Underson for guidance would only make me appear weak. Not a trait I wanted to exhibit. “One for each of our Rises, and there are about twenty of those.”
Director Long looked at the Director next to him, but it looked like he was rolling his eyes at me.
“Have you lived in Freedom, Director Long?” I asked.
Director Underson dropped his fork and someone gasped. No one was more shocked than me. I didn’t even know where the question had come from.
Director Long narrowed his eyes at me. “Stay out of my head.”
“I didn’t—I mean—I can’t read minds.” Tension buzzed along the surface of my skin, making my hair stand on end. Clarity of thought accompanied the sensation, and I leaned forward. “But I think you lived there. Maybe got passed over for a promotion. That’s why you dislike me.”
A stretch of silence punctuated my statement. I thought about mentioning General Darke and how he’d appointed me as Freedom’s Director, but I stayed quiet.
“There, there.” Director Underson chuckled, finally breaking the moment. “Director Long is exactly where he
