“That’s just a myth to scare people. Week one million will be like all the others. Its importance doesn’t exist,” Riley said.
“People said the same thing about Gateway.” I gestured to Logan. “Yet we’re one password away from the location.”
Logan met my gaze. “How should I type it? Week one million or the millionth week?”
“Try both.”
Unable to remain seated, Riley and I joined Logan at the computer. I held onto the back of his chair as he typedthe millionth weekand hit enter. The words disappeared and the password prompt returned. This time he enteredweek one million.
“Are you sure?” Logan’s finger was poised over the key.
I let go of the chair and clutched Riley’s arm. “Yes.” I wanted to turn away, but I watched the screen. It turned black then lines of text raced across, matching my heart’s rhythm. I couldn’t read the words; they kept jumping up as more white lines streaked on the screen.
“Logan?” I didn’t care if I used his name.
“Yes! Got it!”
I wrapped my arms around Logan’s neck and kissed him on the cheek, then turned and hugged Riley. Caught up in the excitement, he leaned back and picked me off the floor, spinning me around.
Logan rattled off a bunch of numbers.
“How do I find it?” I asked, still dizzy and thrilled Riley’s arms supported me.
“Oh, right.” Furious typing and a crude schematic of Inside appeared, showing a cube with a pulsing dot near the bottom of one side. “Looks like it’s along the West wall in Quad G1. That’s hydroponics.”
“You’d think the workers would notice it,” Riley said.
“Maybe it’s one of those near-invisible hatches Trella found,” Logan said.
“Near-invisible?” Riley looked at me.
I broke from his embrace. “Some doors are hard to see. Perhaps the vines had grown over it.”
“Oh, yeah. Lots of vines,” Logan said.
Annoyed, Riley crossed his arms. “Your friend’s a lousy liar. What are you hiding?” When I hesitated, he said, “Enough. The location…the existence of Gateway is huge. No. It’s way bigger than that…it’s a whole other phenomenon. The repercussions are going to be unimaginable if it is really there and it works. I need to know everything right now, or I’m going to…”
“To what? Report me? You risk being implicated.”
“No. I’m going to follow you. Yes, even through those vents until I know the whole story.”
Logan eyed him. “You’ll get stuck.”
“It’s ridiculous. He’s not going to do it,” I said.
“Then I won’t let you leave until you tell me.” Riley straightened his shoulders, trying to look bigger.
“Two against one,” I said. “And I’m armed.” I rested my hand on my tool belt.
He deflated, but, by the gleam in his eyes, I knew he hadn’t given up.
“How about in exchange for Sheepy?”
“Really? You’d give me Sheepy?” I called his bluff.
“Yes.”
He meant it, and my reaction surprised me. I would have loved to have the little sheep. “No. Sheepy stays with his mama.” I put my hand up to stop Riley. “Just let me think.”
