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ago。”
He thought about that for a moment。 “It’s… odd。 Dealing with two people at once。”
“Odd；” I agreed。
“Are you hungry yet？”
I smiled。 “I thought I smelled bread。 Yes； I think my stomach is past the worst。”
“I was hoping you’d say that。”
His shadow sprawled out beside me。 He felt for my hand； then pulled my fingers open and placed a
familiar round shape in it。
“Help me up？” I asked。
He put his arm carefully around my shoulders and folded me up in one stiff piece； minimizing the ache in
my side。 I could feel something foreign on the skin there； tight and rigid。
“Thanks；” I said； a little breathless。 My head spun slowly。 I touched my side with my free hand。
Something adhered to my skin； under my shirt。 “Are my ribs broken； then？”
“Doc’s not sure。 He’s doing as much as he can。”
“He tries so hard。”
“He does。”
“I feel bad… that I used to not like him；” I admitted。
Ian laughed。 “Of course you didn’t。 I’m amazed you can like any of us。”
“You’ve got that turned around；” I mumbled； and dug my teeth into the hard roll。 I chewed mechanically
and then swallowed； setting the bread down as I waited to see how it hit my stomach。
“Not very appetizing； I know；” Ian said。
I shrugged。 “Just testing—to see if the nausea’s really passed。”
I looked at him； curious； but I couldn’t see his face。 I listened to a sharp crackle and a ripping sound…
and then I could smell； and I understood。
“Cheetos！” I cried。 “Really？ For me？”
Something touched my lip； and I crunched into the delicacy he offered。
“I’ve been dreaming about this。” I sighed as I chewed。
That made him laugh。 He put the bag in my hands。
I downed the contents of the small bag quickly； and then finished my roll； seasoned by the cheese flavor
still in my mouth。 He handed me a bottle of water before I could ask。
“Thank you。 For more than the Cheetos； you know。 For so much。”
“You’re more than wele； Wanda。”
I stared into his dark blue eyes； trying to decipher everything he was saying with that sentence—there
seemed to be something more than just courtesy in the words。 And then I realized that I could see the
color of Ian’s eyes； I glanced quickly up at the cracks above。 The stars were gone； and the sky was
turning pale gray。 Dawn was ing。 First light。
“Are you sure you have to do this？” Ian asked； his hands already half…extended as if to pick me up。
I nodded。 “You don’t have to carry me。 My leg feels better。”
“We’ll see。”
He helped me to my feet； leaving his arm around my waist and pulling my arm around his neck。
“Careful； now。 How’s that？”
I hobbled forward a step。 It hurt； but I could do it。 “Great。 Let’s go。”
I think Ian likes you too much。
Too much？I was surprised to hear from Melanie； and so distinctly。 Lately； she only spoke up like this
when Jared was around。
I’m here； too。 Does he even care about that？
Of course he does。 He believes us more than anyone besides Jamie and Jeb。
I don’t mean that。
Whatdoyou mean？
But she was gone。
Unlike most of the caverns here； the game room was much wider than it was tall。 I could see that now
because the dim blue lights hung from the ceiling rather than resting on the floor。 The ceiling was only a
few feet over my head； the height of a normal ceiling in a house。 But I couldn’t even see the walls； they
were so distant from the lights。 I couldn’t see the smelly spring； tucked away in some far corner； but I
could hear it dribble and gush。
Kyle sat in the brightest spot of light。 He had his long arms wrapped around his legs。 His face was set in
a stiff mask。 He didn’t look up when Ian helped me limp in。
On either side of him were Jared and Doc； on their feet； both with their arms hanging loose and ready at
their sides。 As though they were… guards。
Jeb stood beside Jared； his gun slung over one shoulder。 He appeared relaxed； but I knew how quickly
that could change。 Jamie held his free hand… no； Jeb had his hand around Jamie’s wrist； and Jamie
didn’t seem happy about it。 When he saw me e in； though； he smiled and waved。 He took a deep
breath and looked pointedly at Jeb。 Jeb dropped Jamie’s wrist。
Sharon stood beside Doc； with Aunt Maggie at her other side。
Ian pulled me toward the edge of the darkness surrounding the tableau。 We weren’t alone there。 I could
see the shapes of many others； but not their faces。
It was strange； through the caves； Ian had supported most of my weight with ease。 Now； though； he
seemed to have tired。 His arm around my waist was slack。 I lurched and hopped forward as best I could
until he picked the spot he wanted。 He settled me to the floor； and then sat beside me。
“Ouch；” I heard someone whisper。
I turned and could just make out Trudy。 She scooted closer to us； Geoffrey and then Heath copying her。
“You look rotten；” she told me。 “How bad are you hurt？”
I shrugged。 “I’m fine。” I started to wonder if Ian had let me struggle just to make a show of my
injuries—to make me testify against Kyle without words。 I frowned at his innocent expression。
Wes and Lily arrived then and came to sit with my little group of allies。 Brandt entered a few seconds
later； and then Heidi； and then Andy and Paige。 Aaron was last。
“That’s everybody；” he said。 “Lucina’s staying with her kids。 She doesn’t want them here—she said to
go on without her。”
Aaron sat beside Andy； and there was a short moment of silence。
“Okay； then；” Jeb said in a loud voice meant to be heard by all。 “Here’s how it’s gonna work。
Straight…up majority vote。 As usual； I’ll make my own decision if I have a problem with the majority；
funny。 A human was on trial for trying to kill an alien。 This had to be a horrible day for all of them。
“Who’s speaking against Kyle？” Jeb asked。
Ian started to stand beside me。
“No！” I whispered； tugging on his elbow。
He shrugged me off and rose to his feet。
“This is simple enough；” Ian said。 I wanted to jump up and clap my hand o