long as some other people choose to have none. But the Population Law became General Sherwood's proudest accomplishment. That's why even Barons aren't exempt. He points to that and says, 'See how much control I have over my people's lives.''
'So it is wrong,' Luke said, trying to grasp the point.
'I believe so. Yes,' Jen's dad said.
Luke felt a strange sense of relief, that it wasn't truly wrong for him to exist, just illegal. For the first time since he'd read the Government books, he could see the two things being separate. Maybe that was why he'd been too scared to go to the rally. If he'd truly believed, the way Jen had, then he might have gone.
And would he have been killed, as she was?
It was all too confusing and scary to think about.
Jen's father looked at his watch.
'I need to get back to work. I can only hide so much. If you want it, I can have the fake I.D. for you by tomorrow night. In the meantime, I'd advise you to-'
He broke off. Luke knew why: a sound from his worst nightmares-pounding on the door, and then the command, 'Open up! Population Police!'
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Before Luke had a chance to move, Jen's dad had picked him up and thrust him into the closet.
'There's a secret door at the back,' he hissed. 'Use it.'
Luke groped blindly, fighting through what felt like piles of hair. Behind him, he could hear Jen's dad yelling, 'I'm coming! I'm coming! That's a twelve-thousand-dollar door. If you break it down, you're going to pay!' Then Luke heard the computer making its
The pounding at the door grew louder, and a gruff voice yelled out, 'You have three seconds, George!'
Luke dug deeper into the closet. He couldn't even find the back wall, let alone any secret door. And then he heard a splintering sound from the front of the house. Seconds later, there were stomping footsteps in the computer room.
'What is the meaning of this?'
It was Jen's dad's voice coming from the hall, full of outrage. If he hadn't witnessed it himself, Luke never would have guessed that Jen's dad had been crying only moments before. He sounded too forceful, too assured, too confident that he was right and anyone who opposed him was wrong. The stomping stopped. From deep inside the closet, Luke heard someone snicker.
'Caught you with your pants down, eh, George?'
'Yes, yes, very funny,' Jen's father replied, not sounding the least bit amused. There was a sound that could have been a zipper being zipped. 'Has it come to this? A man can't even go to the bathroom without his door being broken down by a bunch of morons with power complexes? And you will pay for that door, I assure you.'
If Luke had been one of the Population Police, Jen's dad would have scared him to pieces. Luke would have backed out, muttering, 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.' He never would have believed that Jen's dad was hiding a third child. Hopefully, Luke paused in his burrowing into the Talbots' closet.
But the voice that answered Jen's father carried only the slightest edge of doubt.
'Come off it, George. You know we're entitled to search and seizure. We have reports of that computer being used for illegal purposes. Just a half an hour ago.'
'You're even bigger fools than I thought,' Jen's dad answered. 'Don't any of you read your memos? I reported to Central Command this morning that I was going to continue my sting operation in the illegal chat rooms. See, I wrote, 'Where's Jen?' and, 'Hello? Is anybody there?', which is what some lost, confused, third child who missed the rally might write. Are you so low-ranking that you don't know I was pretending to be the guerrilla leader Jen all along? Did you miss the commendation ceremony where I was rewarded for the disposal of forty illegals?'
Luke wondered that Jen's dad could say her name without his voice giving him away. If Luke didn't know Jen- hadn't known her, he corrected himself with a wince-and if he didn't know how much she'd trusted her father, he would have been certain that Jen's father had double-crossed her. As it was, his head swam with the fear that Jen's father still might betray him. How could he trust anyone who spoke so coldly of the 'disposal' of third children? Luke struggled on through the closet, reaching a stack of blankets at the back. Finally he touched the wall, but everything he felt was smooth. Jen's father said there was a door. There had to be a door.
The voices from outside the closet were muffled now.
'-see the memo-'
'I'm sure it's on your desk back at the office, with all the paperwork you never read.' Jen's dad raised his voice, so Luke could hear him clearly. 'Or can you even read?'
The Population Police officer ignored the insult.
'Show us on the computer.'
'Very well.'
Luke prayed that Jen's dad had something to show them. He could not find the door, though he ran his fingers along the wall, again and again. His heart was beating so loudly, he was sure the Population Police could hear him.
All he could hear of the Population Police and Jen's father were mutterings. Then the one officer's voice rang out, 'You're lying, George. We're going to search.'
'Just because of a computer malfunction? Fine. It's not my problem.' Luke was stunned by the indifference in Jen's father's voice. 'But when you don't find anything- and you won't-you know that I'm entitled to the Illegal Search and Seizure Benefits granted to Barons, and I will press charges. Should I use the extra money on caviar or champagne?'
'Aw, George, you wouldn't really sue.'
'You don't think so? Then go ahead. Start here.'
Suddenly the closet was flooded with light Luke stifled a gasp. How could Jen's father have flung open the door of the very place Luke was hiding? Desperately, Luke yanked a blanket over his head.
None of the Population Police answered Jen's father, but the pattern of shadows that fell on Luke's blanket made him think the Population Police were standing right in the doorway of the closet. He heard hangers scraping against a metal bar. And then the Population Police walked away.
Confused and terrified, Luke remained huddled under the blanket. He could hear muffled footfalls elsewhere in the house, and was certain they'd be returning to the computer room any minute. Before they killed him, he hoped they let him go back to his parents and tell them how much he loved them. He could apologize to Matthew and Mark, too, for not appreciating the checkers and card games they played with him when he knew they'd rather be outside. And probably he should apologize to his parents for disobeying, and coming to Jen's house in the first place. Except, even scared to death of being found, he couldn't scrape up full regret for that.
Anyhow, it wasn't likely that they'd let him see his parents before they killed him. He'd have to protect his parents, and refuse to even reveal who they were…
Luke's mind was still racing with frantic plans when he heard someone coming back to the computer room. There was only one set of footsteps, so he dared to hope-
'You could have swept up the glass on your way out!'
It was Jen's dad. Luke strained to hear an answer, but none came. Were the Population Police gone?
Luke kept his head down. He heard Jen's dad wading into the closet. Then he pulled the blanket off Luke and clamped his hand over Luke's mouth. Luke started to struggle until he read the words on the paper Jen's dad held in front of his face:
Luke relaxed and nodded to show he would obey. Jen's dad released him, flipped the paper over, and began
