“Exactly.” They were meticulous about their records, recording everyone who came into Salvation . . .
“Families,” Zander murmured.
Venn shot him a look.
The older man shrugged. “It’s just a thought, but . . . maybe they’re prioritizing families. If they receive a petition from a name that matches one in their records, they may choose to see that person because they can reunite them with their loved ones.”
“It’s possible,” Venn said slowly. When they’d entered the camp, they’d been asked to give their real names. That’s why they’d kept the Holm surname for the children; if their father came looking for them, it would make them easier to find. Vera had even taken the name to ensure no one tried to take the children from their care.
Venn hadn’t. And he doubted there was anotherGrannardhere, so if Zander’s theory was correct, that could be why he wasn’t being picked by the record master.
“Maybe you should ask Vera to come here and make a request,” Zander said.
He didn’t want to bring her out here for no reason. Not when he could test the theory first.
He pushed to his feet. “Let me try something.”
“I hope it works.” Zander chuckled once. “How foolish will we feel if we’ve read something ominous into something that’s actually a kindness? Reuniting families should be the priority, after all.”
Something about the camp still felt wrong to Venn, but he had to admit it was possible he was throwing shadows onto something that wasn’t actually threatening at all. Experience had made him paranoid and over-cautious.
He left Zander seated on the ground and approached one of the representatives outside the tent. The man was one Venn has spoken to several times, and he faced Venn with thinly veiled annoyance. “Your appointment request has already been noted. The record master will see you if he’s able—”
“I’m looking for a man called David Holm,” Venn cut in. “His family is worried about him.”
The representative sighed. “You’re not the only one looking for someone. The record master will see you when—”
“Can you please just pass along the message?”
The man rolled his eyes. “I will, but I assure you, the record master will only see you as soon as he’s able.”
Venn didn’t push further, but he did watch as the man ducked into the tent. He settled back beside Zander. “I suppose we’ll see if this works.”
Not a half hour later, the same representative exited the tent, his eyes seeking Venn. They made eye contact, and the man waved Venn forward.
“Fates, it worked,” Zander said, clearly as surprised as Venn.
The representative looked a little less annoyed, but still harried as he guided Venn into the tent. The structure was vast, as Venn knew from studying the outside of it for so many days, but he was still surprised by how tall the fabric ceiling was and how wide the rooms were. Rugs were placed on the ground, giving it a more comfortable and permanent look. There was a table, and yet another representative sat there. He entered Venn’s name into the appointment log, and then gestured for Venn to enter the room on his left.
He did, ducking under the doorway and then straightening in a slightly larger tent room.
An older man sat at a table, logbooks all around him, ink stains on his hands. “You’re Venn Grannard?” the man asked.
“Yes.”
“And you were hired to help the family of David Holm find him?”
Close enough to the truth. “Yes. I entered the city with them ten days ago, and I’ve been trying to find a record of David Holm ever since.”
“Do you know when David Holm would have entered the city?”
“I’m not sure. Any time in the last few weeks, I suppose.”
Venn expected the record master to look irritated at such a large timeframe, but he merely instructed Venn to take a seat as he started scanning his book.
He didn’t particularly feel like sitting, but he moved to the chair in the corner anyway, if only it would make the record master more at ease.
After several long moments—but much faster than Venn had expected any result—the record master cleared his throat. “I have an entry here for a David Holm. He came alone to Salvation, but he spoke of a family in need.”
