Thad’s answer threw me. Before I could rephrase, he kept going, like some gorgeous island interviewer. “Charley, sorry for getting so personal, but how old are you?”
“Seventeen.” I raised my chin. “How old areyou?”
He smiled. “Seventeen.”
“Really?” I said, unable to hide my surprise. “You look older.”
Thad laughed. “That’s what a little island living does for you. Speaking of island living, don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like you could use some food. And sleep. Why don’t you come with us to the City? We’ve got plenty of food and beds, and you can meet everyone when you’re ready.”
I stared at him. I didn’t know him, and now I was thinking about going off with him, to a strange city who knows where. After twelvedays in isolation, the thought was a huge relief. I couldn’t believe I hesitated, and yet, I did.
“It’s okay, Charley,” Thad said quietly. “We’ve all been where you are.”
“Not all,” Jason spoke up. “Samuel came from the east, and Talla came from the groves—”
“Jason.” Thad looked at the younger boy. “Enough. You know what I mean.”
Grinning, Jason drew his fingers across his lips in a zipping motion. Thad turned back to me. “Charley?”
Looking into Thad’s eyes, I decided to trust him—as if I had any other option. “Okay,” I said, feeling shaky and weirdly overwhelmed. My adrenaline high was gone.
I thought of my dagger, my pitiful half-woven fishnet, and hollow coconuts. It wasn’t much, but it seemed important to take them—to have something of mine. Ofme, of whatever was left of me, which judging by my hip bones, wasn’t much. “Let me just grab my things.”
Thad looked curious. “Need any help?”
“I’ve got it.” I wanted a minute to gather my thoughts, because my head was scary out-of-sorts.
I turned, moving so quickly my brain sloshed in my head. Behind me, Thad kept talking to the boy whose name I’d already forgotten. The boys’ voices faded. My legs felt heavy; each step took more effort than the last. The coconuts became bricks. Black spots danced in front of my eyes, blurring like spots on a hungry hyena.
I had a moment of absolute clarity when I knew exactly what was about to happen. And just like before, I was powerless to stop it.
CHAPTER
10
THAD
DAY 278, LATE MORNING
As Charley turned, I wondered what she had to grab. She’d only been here twelve days. Longer than most rookies lasted slumming solo, but still, not a lot of time to start a collection.
I looked at Jason. “Stay put. And stay alert, okay?”
Jason nodded. “I’m on it.”
I followed Charley to the edge of the brush. Watching her move, without warning, my mind flashed back to the moment she’d stepped onto the beach. She’d stood on the black sand, chin raised, Kevin’s shorts slung low on her hips and his bandana wrapped around her chest, her dark hair whipping around her shoulders, like a kick-ass character from a graphic novel.
I’d been shocked.
Shocked by her looks, shocked by her clothes. I was so shocked that she’d beaten me to the meet-and-greet, which was a first. Her accent was thick, like honey. I liked the way words dripped off her tongue, but what I liked the most right now was that she’d found Kevin’s clothes—just his clothes.
Back in the present, relief and elation slammed through meagain, two waves of a tight set, washing away days of worry.You did it, man.
I couldn’t wait to give Natalie the good news. I’d let Jason tell her, I decided. Let him relive it again. And I’d tell Rives about the hyena.
A bamboo lean-to blended into the trees, sleek and impressive. Beside it, Charley moved slowly. Maybe she was reconsidering coming with us. When I’d asked her to come to the City, she’d looked at me like I’d asked her to go skinny-dipping. She wouldn’t be the first to bail on the City, but the thought of her scouting Nil alone made me cold.
She picked up a rock, some green strips, and two coconuts. The coconuts were small and underripe, and I was about to tell her to leave them when she took an odd step sideways.
