‘Do what?’
‘Know what I am thinking?’
The old man chuckled. ‘Miss, I’ve been watching you for a long time. I know your tells.’
‘Tells?’
‘Expressions. You don’t hide your emotions anymore. That’s all you did in the city, except when you figured out how to erase your memories.’
She looked up at him. ‘Is that a good thing?’
June, Vanessa and the Inventor nodded at the same time.
He said, smiling, ‘Welcome to human life.’
4
Anya
The food stores had dropped to their lowest levels. With all of Kaylie’s team to feed as well as their own, rations were down to the bare minimum. But Anya wasn’t worried. During her time as a prisoner in Praesidium, she and Alex had eaten like kings. That meant there must be a food replicator or a garden or something in the city.
The dining hall was busy that evening. Anya sat with Dom at one table while Sheila, June and Imogen sat at another. Kaylie, who’d been helping in the valley, kept to her team. The woman who shared an intimate past with Dom no longer bothered her. Anya had been through too much with Dom to let anything come between them.
She looked over at Sheila’s table. Of the six Anya had completed the first floor of Arcis with, only three survived: June, Anya and Jerome. She hoped he and Alex were okay.
Dom dipped his spoon into the meagre portion of beans on his plate. Next to it were three apple slices gone brown and a piece of stale bread. His head was still, resting in his hand, but his eyes were not. At least there wouldn’t be many supplies to take when they finally left for the city. The dwindling food supplies was another reason they couldn’t stay.
She kicked him under the table. ‘Hey.’
Dom startled and looked up at her. ‘What?’
‘Are you okay?’
He faked a smile. Her time in Arcis had trained her to know everyone’s tells. But she was most attuned to his.
‘No you’re not. What’s wrong?’
Dom’s lips thinned. He looked around, as if he were avoiding her question.
His eyes found hers. ‘Did the shooting session help?’
She kicked him again. ‘Stop changing the subject.’
Dom pulled his legs back. ‘Ow!’
‘I didn’t hurt you, you baby. If I did, you’d know about it.’
Dom smiled; it was the first genuine one she’d seen from him since Max died.
Max! How could she be so insensitive?
Anya reached out for him and touched the top of his hand. He pulled it back from her, glancing around the room. She paused, her hand in the air, waiting, until he inched his hand forward. Then she swatted it. Lightly. He laughed.
Her own smile lasted mere seconds. ‘How are you coping without Max?’
Dom’s shoulders dropped and she worried she’d sent him into a deeper, darker pit.
‘I’m fine,’ he said.
She wanted to ask more but Vanessa, Charlie, Thomas, Jacob and Carissa entered the food hall and drew Dom’s attention away. All eyes were on them, covered in rock dust, looking like they’d come from some deep excavation project.
Dom sat up straight. They approached their table. Other soldiers looked hopeful. As did June, who had also perked up at their arrival.
Vanessa sat down beside Anya. She scooted up to make room for her. Charlie sat next to Dom. Jacob and Carissa remained standing.
‘It’s done,’ Vanessa said. ‘The wolves shifted the last of the problematic boulders out of the way.’
Anya could smell the effort that had gone into the removal. She and Dom had offered their help, but Jacob had said the wolves would work better with a trusted few.
‘All of them?’ Dom asked.
Charlie nodded. ‘Like we planned.’ His lips were pinched. ‘I guess we can go now.’
All eyes were on Dom for his next answer.
Anya’s heart tugged for him. The weight of responsibility had been thrust upon him so fast.
‘It’s not the right time.’
His reply surprised Anya, matching Charlie’s earlier disputed one. What had changed his mind?
‘Of course not now,’ said Jacob, resting his fingers on the table, ‘but in the morning. We need to get June urgent medical help.’
Dom blinked, as though he’d forgotten. ‘Of course. In the morning. We’ll head out after breakfast.’
Vanessa got up. She headed to the food counter, and Jacob and Carissa did the same. But Charlie stayed seated.
‘You need to tell them what’s happening,’ he said to Dom, nodding at the room. ‘It’s what Max would have done.’
Dom’s shoulders stiffened. ‘Of course. I’m sorry.’
He stood up and announced to an eager group, ‘The wolves have moved all the boulders, clearing a path for the trucks to leave. We will head to the city in the morning. Everyone should pack up tonight.’
A restrained buzz ran around the room. But that energy didn’t hit their table. Something was off about Dom and Anya wanted to know what.
Dom asked Charlie, ‘Did you turn the anti-magnetic field back on?’
‘Yes.’
‘And the spotters?’
‘They’ll stay up on the pass until we’re ready to go. You should order them down at dawn.’
Charlie stood up and clapped Dom on the back once. He followed the others to the counter for food.
The second he left, Dom shoved his plate of food away and stood up. ‘I’m going to pack.’
He left the room, leaving Anya alone.
She checked her watch. It was only seven thirty. What was there really to pack?
Sheila frowned at her and mouthed, What’s wrong with him?
Anya replied, Max, even though she wasn’t sure.
Sheila nodded. Whatever issues she’d had with her at the shooting range had disappeared. Anya had no energy for grudges.
She followed Dom out into the hallway. There was no sign of him, but there were only two places he might be.
