“Do you think she’s okay?” I stared at Charley’s closed eyes. “She’s totally out.”
“I think so. Her cut’s not that bad. She’s really thin and probably dehydrated, not to mention exhausted. Twelve days is a long time.” Holding the deadleaf compress steady, Natalie used her free hand to gently brush hair away from Charley’s eyes. The simple kindness of it made my throat tight. Like Rives said, Nat was a good girl.
As if she’d read my thoughts, Natalie looked up, smiling. “When I saw her earlier, it took me back to the day I stumbled into the City, and I’d only been wandering three days. Twelve! No wonder she’s so skinny. I’d kill for her legs, though.”
I couldn’t help glancing at Charley’s legs. They were covered by a thin sheet, but I remembered them being long, lean, and sexy as hell. My mind flashed back to Charley on the beach, then bloody in my arms.
Open your eyes, I thought.Open your eyes so I know you’re okay.
“Thad?”
Natalie was staring at me.
“Yeah?” I cleared my mind, or tried to.
“Anyone else back?”
“Not that I know of. But I saw today’s gate. It flashed at Black Bay. Jason almost caught it. He was close.”
Natalie sighed. “Close doesn’t count. And if you saw the gate, it means Samuel didn’t catch it either. Or Li.”
“Nope. Or anyone else.” I shot Natalie a pointed look. “So you’ll head out tomorrow?”
“The next. I want to stay for the Nil Night.”
“Okay.” I looked back at Charley, who was either unconscious or asleep. “Anything I can do for her?”
Natalie cocked her head at me. “Not right now. She needs rest and water. Tell you what. How about I sit with Charley until you get back? You go take care of business, then take over. Deal?”
“Deal.”
As I rose, Natalie said, “Thad. One more thing.” Her soft voice was choked. “Will you carve for Kevin?”
The tightness in my throat was back. “I’d be honored.”
She nodded her thanks and gave me a silent wave.
It was my second trip to the Wall today, only this one was eminently more satisfying than the first. Going straight to Kevin’s name, I took pleasure in carving a check beside it. His empty space had been waiting long enough.Congratulations, man.You did it.
The edginess was gone.
Off to find Rives, I bumped into Samuel, my roommate who’d left early this morning to Search near the lava fields. His dark skin dripped water, and it wasn’t rain, not on this side of the island.
“Sorry, man,” I said, reaching out to clasp his hand. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“Maybe.” Samuel nodded, reflexively. “I thought I saw one. I went at it, hard.” He shook his head, his disappointment still fresh. We’d all run for false alarms. “But hey”—he forced a grin—“I’ve got time. Twenty-nine days, but who’s counting?”
“Right.” We both laughed, because the answer waseveryone.
“You hear about Kevin?”
“No.” Samuel’s face closed. “What’s the word?”
I grinned. “He made it. A girl found his clothes in the red lava field.”
And just like that, hope was back. “All right.” Samuel nodded, cracking a smile. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“Absolutely. We’ll make it.” I clasped Samuel’s hand.
