Hope turned to Josh and Luke.
“This old idiot will be running for president, at this rate.” She frowned.
Flinch began advising students to read through the detailed experiment report that his assistants would hand out at the end of class. Hope gathered up her things and left the hall, leaving the two friends to exchange surprised glances and Josh to run out after her.
He caught up with her on the steps outside and took her by the arm.
“What got into you?”
“I can’t believe you clapped for him.”
“Oh, come on! What they accomplished is mind-blowing! You can’t deny it’s hugely promising. Think about all the people who will benefit from the research.”
“Did anyone ask Mako how he felt about being given an extra limb? You saw it for yourself. The world’s very first three-armed mammal. Where will it end?” Hope looked at him. “You think it’s pure coincidence that Flinch mentioned soldiers as the frontline beneficiaries of this research? Who do you suspect is funding this project?”
“The faculty?” Josh shrugged. “Private labs, maybe. What does it matter? What’s important is the result, no?”
“Labs run by doctors, or by the army? Set up to heal, or to provide cannon fodder?” Hope responded. “You seriously think they’ve been prompted to research ways to repair the damage they cause? ‘Off you go, kids. Go drop some bombs, and hey, don’t worry—lose a leg; we’ll fix you up with a new one. We can even stick one on ahead of time to make you even more effective. Real little war-proof troopers.’”
“Why did you choose to go into science if progress scares you this much?”
“Not for this, Josh.” Hope shook her head. “Heal illness? Sure. But I didn’t go into science to transform men into superhuman machines, or to torture animals and force them to do the things we don’t want to. Admit that Flinch unsettles you, in some way. Admit it. Tell me I’m not the only one to have had a glimpse of something dark on the horizon.”
“Okay,” Josh said, “Flinch isn’t exactly the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. He thinks highly of himself. But you’ve got to admit, he’s one hell of a pioneer. Stop seeing the evil in everything. What we just saw is something that really can benefit humankind. We just need to figure out an ethical framework for the research. That’s up to us to work out.”
“Each and every one of our emails is scanned by the NSA,” Hope said. “We’re living in an age where arms dealers have more influence than parents, with kids getting machine-gunned down in their own schools. And you want to stand up there and talk about ethical frameworks? Good luck, is all I’m saying. Although there’s something about your innocence that makes me love you even more.”
“You love me?”
“Shit, Josh!”
Hope had fallen silent, her eyes scouring the parking lot behind them. She could have sworn she’d seen something move.
“What?” Josh asked. “What is it?”
“Over there. The guy with the helmet. It looks like he’s checking out Luke’s car. That’s Luke’s, right?”
Josh could make out the Camaro on the other side of the parking lot. He dumped his things at Hope’s feet and broke into a run.
“Don’t be stupid—he might have a gun!” she called, following close behind him.
She did her best to catch up but was weighed down by all their things. Josh was drawing closer when the man swung a leg over his motorbike and roared off.
“So?” Hope pulled up beside him, panting.
Josh walked around the Camaro, inspecting it from all angles. Nothing unusual.
“Everything looks as it should be. You really do see evil everywhere.”
“I’m telling you, he looked shady. We scared him away before he could do anything.”
“Maybe he was planning on stealing Luke’s shitty car and replacing it with his awesome bike.”
Hope opened the Camaro’s doors.
“See what I mean?” she cried. “The door’s unlocked!”
Josh pushed in front of her and slid behind the wheel. The radio was untouched; the mess in the glove box was as it always was, and Luke’s cassettes were still there.
“There’s nothing missing. Luke must have forgotten to lock it.”
Josh got out of the car, catching a glimpse of the notebook peeking out from underneath the seat.
Hope shrugged. She handed Josh his things and began walking back toward the campus.
“Why don’t we catch a movie tonight?” Josh asked.
“Why not? That could help take my mind off things.”
“We could watch The Terminator again.”
Hope elbowed him in the side, and Josh caught her arm, pulling her in toward him for a kiss.
“I’ll come to dinner with your dad. How does that sound?”
“We need to be able to spend time together at night. We shouldn’t have to sneak around like kids. Plus, I want to fall asleep in your arms.”
“Now that Luke knows, there’s nothing stopping you from staying the night at my place whenever you want. Our apartment isn’t too far away. And there’s no rule against girls in our building.”
“What about Luke?” She smiled. “Does he have a rule against girls? You should ask him first. It’s better that way.”
Hope kissed him gently before slipping away.
Josh found Luke in the library and settled himself into the chair in front of him.
“Anything you’d like to tell me?” Luke raised an eyebrow.
“You need to start locking your car. I know, I know. You think nobody else would ever want to be caught dead in that piece of trash, and you’re right. But still.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I just had to run after this guy who was sniffing around the Camaro. Hope spotted him.”
“There must be something wrong with the lock. I could swear I locked it. But thank you.”
“Don’t you want to know whether anything was stolen?”
“You said it yourself, it’s a piece of trash. Nothing worth stealing. I’ll remember that comment next time you want to borrow it, by the way.”
“What is wrong with everybody today?” Josh sighed.
“I’m in a great mood. But as
