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wasn’t sleeping with it； at least。 It made me a little nervous to have Jamie with me unprotected； but I
decided he was actually in less danger without the gun。 No one would feel the need to hurt him when he
wasn’t a threat。 Besides； no one came looking for me anymore。
Jeb started sending me on little errands。 Run back to the kitchen for another roll； he was still hungry。 Go
fetch a bucket of water； this corner of the field was dry。 Pull Jamie out of his class； Jeb needed to speak
with him。 Were the spinach sprouts up yet？ Go and check。 Did I remember my way through the south
caves？ Jeb had a message for Doc。
Every time I had to carry out one of these simple directives； I was in a sweaty haze of fear。 I
concentrated on being invisible and walked as quickly as I could without running through the big rooms
and the dark corridors。 I tended to hug the walls and keep my eyes down。 Occasionally； I would stop
conversation the way I used to； but mostly I was ignored。 The only time I felt in immediate danger of
death was when I interrupted Sharon’s class to get Jamie。 The look Sharon gave me seemed designed to
be followed by hostile action。 But she let Jamie go with a nod after I choked out my whispered request；
and when we were alone； he held my shaking hand and told me Sharon looked the same way at anyone
who interrupted her class。
The very worst was the time I had to find Doc； because Ian insisted on showing me the way。 I could
have refused； I suppose； but Jeb didn’t have a problem with the arrangement； and that meant Jeb trusted
Ian not to kill me。 I was far from fortable with testingthat theory； but it seemed the test was
inevitable。 If Jeb was wrong to trust Ian； then Ian would find his opportunity soon enough。 So I went with
Ian through the long black southern tunnel as if it were a trial by fire。
I lived through the first half。 Doc got his message。 He seemed unsurprised to see Ian tagging along
beside me。 Perhaps it was my imagination； but I thought they exchanged a significant glance。 I half
expected them to strap me to one of Doc’s gurneys at that point。 These rooms continued to make me
feel nauseated。
But Doc just thanked me and sent me on my way as if he were busy。 I couldn’t really tell what he was
doing—he had several books open and stacks and stacks of papers that seemed to contain nothing but
sketches。
On the way back； curiosity overcame my fear。
“Ian？” I asked； having a bit of difficulty saying the name for the first time。
“Yes？” He sounded surprised that I’d addressed him。
“Why haven’t you killed me yet？”
He snorted。 “That’s direct。”
“You could； you know。 Jeb might be annoyed； but I don’t think he’d shoot you。” What was I saying？ It
sounded like I was trying to convince him。 I bit my tongue。
“I know；” he said； his tone placent。
“It doesn’t seem fair；” Ian finally said。 “I’ve been thinking about it a lot； and I can’t see how killing you
would make anything right。 It would be like executing a private for a general’s war crimes。 Now； I don’t
buy all of Jeb’s crazy theories—it would be nice to believe； sure； but just because you want something to
be true doesn’t make it that way。 Whether he’s right or wrong； though； you don’t appear to mean us any
harm。 I have to admit； you seem honestly fond of that boy。 It’s very strange to watch。 Anyway； as long
as you don’t put us in danger； it seems…cruel to kill you。 What’s one more misfit in this place？”
I thought about the wordmisfit for a moment。 It might have been the truest description of me I’d ever
heard。 Where had I ever fit in？
How strange that Ian； of all the humans； should have such a surprisingly gentle interior。 I didn’t realize
thatcruelty would seem a negative to him。
He waited in silence while I considered all this。
“If you don’t want to kill me； then why did you e with me today？” I asked。
He paused again before answering。
“I’m not sure that…” He hesitated。 “Jeb thinks things have calmed down； but I’m not pletely sure
about that。 There’re still a few people… Anyway； Doc and I have been trying to keep an eye on you
when we can。 Just in case。 Sending you down the south tunnel seemed like pushing your luck； to me。 But
that’s what Jeb does best—he pushes luck as far as it will go。”
“You… you and Doc are trying toprotect me？”
“Strange world； isn’t it？”
It was a few seconds before I could answer。
“The strangest；” I finally agreed。
CHAPTER 25
pelled
Another week passed； maybe two—there seemed little point in keeping track of time here； where it was
so irrelevant—and things only got stranger for me。
I worked with the humans every day； but not always with Jeb。 Some days Ian was with me； some days
Doc； and some days only Jamie。 I weeded fields； kneaded bread； and scrubbed counters。 I carried
water； boiled onion soup； washed clothes in the far end of the black pool； and burned my hands making
that acidic soap。 Everyone did their part； and since I had no right to be here； I tried to work twice as
hard as the others。 I could not earn a place； I knew that； but I tried to make my presence as light a
burden as possible。
I got to know a little about the humans around me； mostly just by listening to them。 I learned their names；
I also learned more about my neighbors。
Ian and Kyle shared the cave on my hallway with the two real doors propped over the entrance。 Ian had
begun bunking with Wes in another corridor in protest of my presence here； but he’d moved back after
just two nights。 The other nearby caves had also gone vacant for a while。 Jeb told me the occupants were
afraid of me； which made me laugh。 Were twenty…nine rattlesnakes afraid of a lone field mouse？
Now Paige was back； next door； in the cave she shared with her partner； Andy； whose absence she
mourned。 Lily was with Heidi in the first cave； with the flowered sheets； Heath was in the second； with
the duct…taped cardboard； and Trudy and Geoffrey were in the third； with a striped quilt。 Reid and
Violetta were one cave farther down the hal