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suffering under your own roof。”
He eased himself to the floor a few yards away and started humming quietly。 I was asleep before he’d
finished the first bar。
When I woke up； I knew that I’d been solidly asleep for a long time—a longer stretch than I’d slept
since ing here。 No pains； no frightening interruptions。 I would have felt pretty good； except that
waking on the pillow reminded me that Jared was gone。 It still smelled like him。 And in a good way； not
the way I smelled。
Back to just dreams。Melanie sighed forlornly。
I remembered my dream only vaguely； but I knew it had featured Jared； as was usual when I was able
to sleep deeply enough to dream。
“Morning； kid；” Jeb said； sounding chipper。
I peeled back my lids to look at him。 Had he sat against the wall all night？ He didn’t look tired； but I
suddenly felt guilty for monopolizing the better acmodations。
“So the guys are long gone；” he said enthusiastically。 “How ’bout a tour？” He stroked the gun slung
through a strap at his waist with an unconscious gesture。
“Now； don’t turn sissy on me。 Nobody’s going to bother you。 And you’ll need to be able to find your
way around eventually。”
He held out a hand to help me up。
I took it automatically； my head spinning as I tried to process what he was saying。 I would need to find
my way around？ Why？ And what did he mean “eventually”？ How long did he expect me to last？
He pulled me to my feet and led me forward。
I’d forgotten what it was like to move through the dark tunnels with a hand guiding me。 It was so
easy—walking barely took any concentration at all。
“Let’s see；” Jeb murmured。 “Maybe the right wing first。 Set up a decent place for you。 Then the
kitchens…” He went on planning his tour； continuing as we stepped through the narrow crevice into the
bright tunnel that led to the even brighter big room。 When the sound of voices reached us； I felt my mouth
go dry。 Jeb kept right on chatting at me； either missing or ignoring my terror。
“I’ll bet the carrots are sprouted today；” he was saying as he led me into the main plaza。 The light
blinded me； and I couldn’t see who was there； but I could feel their eyes on me。 The sudden silence was
as ominous as ever。
“Yep；” Jeb answered himself。 “Now； I always think that looks real pretty。 A nice spring green like that is
a treat to see。”
He stopped and held his hand out； inviting me to look。 I squinted in the direction he gestured； but my
eyes kept darting around the room as I waited for them to adjust。 It took a moment； but then I saw what
he was talking about。 I also saw that there were maybe fifteen people here today； all of them regarding
me with hostile eyes。 But they were busy with something else； too。
The wide； dark square that took up the center of the big cavern was no longer dark。 Half of it was fuzzy
with spring green； just as Jeb had said。 Itwas pretty。 And amazing。
No wonder no one stood on this space。 It was a garden。
“Carrots？” I whispered。
He answered at normal volume。 “This half that’s greening up。 The other half is spinach。 Should be up in a
few days。”
The people in the room had gone back to work； still peeking at me now and then but mostly
concentrating on what they were doing。 It was easy enough to understand their actions—and the big
barrel on wheels； and the hoses—now that I recognized the garden。
“Irrigating？” I whispered again。
“That’s right。 Dries out pretty quick in this heat。”
I tugged Jeb’s sleeve and squinted up at the dazzling light。 “How？”
Jeb smiled； seeming thrilled with my curiosity。 “Same way the magicians do it—with mirrors； kid。
Hundreds of ’em。 Took me long enough to get them all up there。 It’s nice to have extra hands around
here when they need cleaning。 See； there’s only four small vents in the ceiling here； and that wasn’t
enough light for what I had in mind。 What do you think of it？”
He pulled his shoulders back； proud again。
“Brilliant；” I whispered。 “Astonishing。”
Jeb grinned and nodded； enjoying my reaction。
“Let’s keep on；” he suggested。 “Got a lot to do today。”
He led me to a new tunnel； a wide； naturally shaped tube that ran off from the big cave。 This was new
territory。 My muscles all locked up； I moved forward with stiff legs； unbending knees。
Jeb patted my hand but otherwise ignored my nerves。 “This is mostly sleeping quarters and some
storage。 The tubes are closer to the surface here； so it was easier to get some light。”
He pointed up at a bright； slender crack in the tunnel ceiling overhead。 It threw a hand…sized spot of
white onto the floor。
We reached a broad fork—not really a fork； because there were too many tines。 It was an octopus…like
branching of passageways。
“Third from the left；” he said； and looked at me expectantly。
“Third from the left？” I repeated。
“That’s right。 Don’t forget。 It’s easy to get lost around here； and that wouldn’t be safe for you。 Folks’d
just as soon stab you as send you in the right direction。”
I shuddered。 “Thanks；” I muttered with quiet sarcasm。
He laughed as if my answer had delighted him。 “No point in ignoring the truth。 Doesn’t make it worse to
have it said out loud。”
It didn’t make it better； either； but I didn’t say that。 I was beginning to enjoy myself just a little。 It was so
nice to have someone talk to me again。 Jeb was； if nothing else； interesting pany。
“One； two； three；” he counted off； then he led me down the third hallway from the left。 We started
passing round entrances covered by a variety of makeshift doors。 Some were curtained off with
patterned sheets of fabric； others had big pieces of cardboard duct…taped together。 One hole had two
real doors—one red…painted wood； one gray metal—leaning over the opening。
“This is the only space I can think of for now。 The only one that’s fitted up decent for human habitation。
It will be empty for a few weeks； and we’ll figure something better out for you by the time it’s needed
again。”
He folded the scr