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I wrote was memory or dream； or sleep…typing； maybe。”
I went along with the words—Melanie’s words—as they flowed easily from my mouth； I even added
my own lighthearted laugh at the end。 It was dishonest of me。 Shameful behavior。 But I would not let the
Seeker know that I was weaker than my host。
For once； Melanie was not smug at having bested me。 She was too relieved； too grateful that I had not；
for my own petty reasons； given her away。
I bit my lip hard。 Melanie wanted so badly to make another denial； to claim the boy was just part of a
dream。Don’t be stupid； I told her。That would be so obvious。 It said much for the repellent nature of the
Seeker that she could put Melanie and me on the same side of an argument。
I hate her。Melanie’s whisper was sharp； painful like a cut。
I know； I know。I wished I could deny that I felt… similarly。 Hate was an unforgivable emotion。 But the
Seeker was… very difficult to like。 Impossible。
The Seeker interrupted my internal conversation。 “So； other than the new location to review； you have
no more help for me on the road maps？”
I felt my body react to her critical tone。 “I never said they were lines on a road map。 That’s your
assumption。 And no； I have nothing else。”
She clicked her tongue quickly three times。 “But you said they were directions。”
“That’s what I think they are。 I’m not getting anything more。”
“Why not？ Haven’t you subdued the human yet？” She laughed loudly。 Laughing at me。
I turned my back to her and concentrated on calming myself。 I tried to pretend that she wasn’t there。
That I was all alone in my austere kitchen； staring out the window into the little patch of night sky； at the
three bright stars I could see through it。
Well； as alone as I ever was。
While I stared at the tiny points of light in the blackness； the lines that I’d seen over and over again—in
my dreams and in my broken memories； cropping up at strange； unrelated moments—flashed through my
head。
The first： a slow； rough curve； then a sharp turn north； another sharp turn back the other way； twisting
back to the north for a longer stretch； and then the abrupt southern decline that flattened out into another
shallow curve。
The second： a ragged zigzag； four tight switchbacks； the fifth point strangely blunt； like it was broken…
The third： a smooth wave； interrupted by a sudden spur that swung a thin； long finger out to the north
and back。
Inprehensible； seemingly meaningless。 But I knew this was important to Melanie。 From the very
beginning I’d known that。 She protected this secret more fiercely than any other； next to the boy； her
brother。 I’d had no idea of his existence before the dream last night。 I wondered what it was that had
broken her。 Maybe as she grew louder in my head； she would lose more of her secrets to me。
Maybe she would slip up； and I would see what these strange lines meant。 I knew they meant something。
That they led somewhere。
They led back to Jared； of course。 Back to both of them； Jared and Jamie。 Where else？ What other
location could possibly hold any meaning for her？ Only now I saw that it was notback； because none of
them had ever followed these lines before。 Lines that had been as much of a mystery to her as they were
to me； until…
The wall was slow to block me。 She was distracted； paying more attention to the Seeker than I was。
She fluttered in my head at a sound behind me； and that was the first I was aware of the Seeker’s
approach。
The Seeker sighed。 “I expected more of you。 Your track record seemed so promising。”
“It’s a pity you weren’t free for the assignment yourself。 I’m sure if you’d had to deal with a resistant
host； it would have been child’s play。” I didn’t turn to look at her。 My voice stayed level。
She sniffed。 “The early waves were challenging enough even without a resistant host。”
“Yes。 I’ve experienced a few settlings myself。”
The Seeker snorted。 “Were the See Weeds very difficult to tame？ Did they flee？”
I kept my voice calm。 “We had no trouble in the South Pole。 Of course； the North was another matter。
It was badly mishandled。 We lost the entire forest。” The sadness of that time echoed behind my words。 A
thousand sentient beings； closing their eyes forever rather than accept us。 They’d curled their leaves from
the suns and starved。
Good for them；Melanie whispered。 There was no venom attached to the thought； only approval as she
saluted the tragedy in my memory。
It was such a waste。I let the agony of the knowledge； the feel of the dying thoughts that had racked us
with our sister forest’s pain； wash through my head。
It was death either way。
The Seeker spoke； and I tried to concentrate on just one conversation。
“Yes。” Her voice was unfortable。 “That was poorly executed。”
“You can never be too careful when it es to doling out power。 Some aren’t as careful as they should
be。”
She didn’t answer； and I heard her move a few steps back。 Everyone knew that the misstep behind the
mass suicide belonged to the Seekers； who； because the See Weeds couldn’tflee； had underestimated
their ability toescape。 They’d proceeded recklessly； beginning the first settlement before we had
adequate numbers in place for a full…scale assimilation。 By the time they realized what the See Weeds
were capable of； were willing to do； it was too late。 The next shipment of hibernating souls was too far
away； and before they’d arrived； the northern forest was lost。
“I’m sorry I can’t help you further。” I said the words firmly； trying to make the dismissal clear。 I was
ready to have my house to myself again。To ourselves； Melanie inserted spitefully。 I sighed。 She was so
full of herself now。 “You really shouldn’t have troubled yourself to e so far。”
“It’s the job；” the Seeker said； shrugging。 “You’re my only assignment。 Until I find the rest of them； I
may as well stick close to you and hope I get lucky。”
CHAPTER 7
Confronted
Yes； Faces Sunward？” I asked； grateful to the raised hand for interrupt