as if the
Dumpster might grow hands and
filthy depths.
Maneuvering around
it,
pull the
baby into
she continues
down
its
the
alley.
There was a time, shortly
that
Dumpsters such
would be tempting
was passed,
to girls like her.
who would leave unwanted newborns in the
had become so common that it wasn't even deemed
Desperate
trash. It
as that
after the Bill of Life
girls
newsworthy anymore—it had become just a part of
Funny, but the
sanctity of
life.
Bill
Instead
life.
of Life was supposed to protect the
it
just
made
life
cheap.
Thank good-
ness for the Storking Initiative, that wonderful law that allows
girls like
her a far better alternative.
As dawn becomes
early morning, she leaves the alleys
53
and
it's
it
"finder's keepers" in the eyes of the law.
or not, the baby
is
Whether they want
legally theirs.
Please-please-pretty-please?
right
From the time she learned she was pregnant she knew she
would end up storking
finally
her
saw
it,
this baby.
She had hoped that when she
looking up at her so helplessly, she might change
mind—but who was she kidding? With neither the
the desire to be a mother at this point in her
life,
skill
nor
storking
had
realizes she's lingered longer
upstairs light
her,
chance in
than
is
on now, so she forces herself
the sleeping newborn, and leaves.
from
and
this
time
be right back," the
Three minutes
woman
later,
them something.
says.
Risa walks
away from the house with
she'll
54
an
"That was amazing," says Connor,
away from
with Lev from the edge of the woods.
wise. There's
to look
With the burden now
she has sudden strength. She
life,
away empty-handed, and sometimes the best
to get rid of girls like this is just to give
a bag full of clothes and canned food.
always been her best option.
She
in second place
door sighs, resigned to the fact that
at the
"Didi" isn't going
"I'll
like,
now?"
The woman
way
I'm,
now
lifted
has a second
be smarter—she's sure of it.
"What can
I
who had been watching
say? I'm an artist," she says.
the piano; you just have to
know which
people."
55
"It's like
playing
keys to strike in
Exposed. Vulnerable. Connor wishes they could have stayed in
fits
Connor. There's a jacket that
for Risa, but that's okay.
fits
Lev.
There are no clothes
She can play Didi again
at a different
the woods, but there are only so
can
eat. They'll find
many
acorns and berries he
food in town. Food, and information.
house.
"This
know how changing our
difference." Connor asks.
"I still
make
a
don't
Don't you ever watch
W?"
says Risa.
clothes
"On
is
when
they
AWOLs.
"We're felons," says Lev. "Because what you're doing—I
mean, what we're doing—is a federal crime.
"What, stealing clothes?" asks Connor.
"No, stealing ourselves.
Once
56
the unwind orders were
the best time not to be noticed,"
is
Connor
tells
the
others. "Everyone's in a hurry in the morning. Late to work, or
whatever."
the cop shows
they always describe what perps were last wearing
put out an APB."
"We're not perps," says Connor, "we're
going to
Connor
finds a
delivery boy.
is
newspaper
"Look at
in the bushes,
this!" says Lev.
misthrown by a
"A newspaper.
How retro
that?"
"Does
thing.
it
The
talk
about us?" asks Lev.
three of
Australia, lying politicians—the
the page clumsily.
easily
Its
He
them scan the
says
it
like
front page.
same old
stuff.
it's
a
good
The war
Connor
in
turns
pages are large and awkward. They tear
and catch the breeze
like a kite,
57
making
it
hard
to read.
means no pictures—and that means people won't recognize
us.
don't see
I
why
that's a
"I
don't
know—maybe
know
it
quiet
cares
how it
This
"Keep your voice down!" Risa says in an angry whisper.
Connor fights to keep his temper under control.
attention to
them.
Risa's
not stupid, thinks
He
doesn't
going to start yelling again and draw
He can
and Lev looking back
begins to
see Risa puzzling over the situation
and forth between the two of them.
Connor. She's going
58
things happen.
somewhere very
A
police car
close by, a baby
cry.
Run!
feels!"
say anything for fear he's
moment two
they screwed up."
Risa shakes her head. "It doesn't feel right
"Who
at that
possibility.
turns onto the street, and
no pictures?"
the police are keeping
because they don't want people to
he considers the
And
problem."
Risa folds her arms. "VWIY are there
as
to figure out that
instinct,
is
the
first
thought in Connor's mind, his
moment
but Risa grabs his arm tightly the
the police car, and
tation can
mean
situations.
But not
it
makes him
hesitate.
the difference between
today.
Today
it
gives
Connor knows
life
and death
beyond
his first thought,
and processes
59
his
hesi-
in dire
him enough time
something Connor rarely does in an emergency.
first
she sees
He
to
do
goes
second thought:
kids at the corner begin gathering their things.
there's permission to
begins
it,
Now,
at last,
run without looking out of place. Connor
taking a few strides ahead of Risa and Lev, then turns
back, calling with a calculated whine, "C'mon, you
guys—
we're gonna miss the bus again!"
The cop
to
it
car's right
and doesn't turn
them.
beside
them now. Connor keeps
If they are, hopefully they'll just
assume
this is
stiff
by
back
hear the conversation and
is
walking with wide eyes and
his side like he's crossing a minefield.
So much
for
being inconspicuous. "Do you have to walk so slow?" Connor
yells. ('If I
Connor's attention. The crying baby.
At the house in front of them, there's a bundle on the
The bundle is moving.
Connor instantly knows what
porch.
this
is.
He's seen a storked baby twice on his
though
it's
He's seen
own
it
before.
doorstep. Even
not the same baby, he stops in his tracks as
"C'mon,
Billy, you'll
if it is.
miss the bus!"
normal morning mayhem, and not think tuice.
Lev's version of "acting natural"
arms
his
to see if the officers inside are watching
too faint and too low-priority to care about suddenly snares
get another tardy,
I'll
get detention."
60
It's
Risa.
She and Lev are a few yards ahead of him. She
speaks to Connor through gritted teeth. "C'mon,
be an
'Billy.'
Don't
The
police
idiot."
Kids have already started piling onto the bus.
61
Now Risa
he doesn't just make bad decisions, he
realizes
makes dangerous ones. The school bus only has a few kids
on
it
and the driver angrily closes the door
as they step on,
comment about
behind them, making no
because
it's
not the only baby on the bus. Risa pushes past
Lev and leads the three of them
another
girl
with her
be any older than
eyes them,
the baby. Perhaps
own
six
and Risa
little
to the back.
months. The young mother curiously
tries
not to
make
After they're sitting in the back, a
nearest riders,
Lev looks
ous question. Finally
They pass
bundle of joy, which couldn't
he
at Risa,
says.
...
few rows away from the
why do we have
a baby?"
Connor
Alexis picks
looks out the window. "They* re look64
up the
Alexis
this is
Chase." Her
and drools over the seat back.
baby's limp hand,
she might wave the hand of a toy
and makes
doll.
it
wave
like
"Say hello, Chase!"
seems even younger than Risa.
Alexis peers
around
to get a look at the sleeping baby's face.
"A newborn! Oh, wow! That's so brave of you, coming back
to
school so soon!" She turns to Connor. "Are you the father?"
for a
before he comes to his senses and says, "Yeah. Yeah,
"That's sooooo great that you're
still
moment
I
am."
seeing each other.
Chaz—that's Chase's father—doesn't even go to our school
anymore.
"Ask him," says Risa.
Stone-faced,
must be new! I'm Alexis, and
at Risa curiously,
"Me?" Connor looks flustered and cornered
eye contact.
almost afraid to ask the obvi-
"Uh
"Hi, you
baby looks
He
mad when
got sent to military school. His parents were so
they found out that
I
65
was, you know, 'uploaded,' he
'i
says. "They've got
a great day care center, and really take care
of student-mothers.
Connor puts
to
his
Some
teachers even let us nurse in class."
hand over
Risa's shoulder.
"Do
fathers get
watch?"
stop,
making
he begins to
Chase bump
little
cry.
his chin
winces, but says nothing.
If
he thought he was out
He
of the dog-
house, he's dead wrong. As far as she's concerned, his
name
seat back,
and
Suddenly Alexis goes into mother mode, and
the conversation ends.
Risa heaves a deep sigh, and
Risa shrugs off his arm, and quietly stomps on his foot.
on the
sorry about
this."
Connor
says, "I really
Although he sounds sincere,
she's
am
not
accepting any apologies.
is
Alf.
Fido.
"It
looks like your brother
She looks
ahead and
to
is
where Lev was
talking to
boy
is
making
sitting,
him. She
Alexis's blathering.
is it
tries to
Lew
This day has not gone according to plan.
The plan was
tion.
your brother?' Alexis says to Connor.
66
•
but he's moved a seat
sitting next to
hear what they're talking about but can't hear anything beyond
Or
18
friends," says Alexis.
to get
away
as
soon as they reached
civiliza-
Lev could have run the moment they broke out of the
woods.
He
could have, but he didn't. There'll be a better time,
67
squad car go past.
BY TWO AWOL UNWINDS.
And now things are worse.
a storked baby!
Now there's
These two Unwinds are out of
control.
longer fears that they'll kill him, but that doesn't
any
less
selves.
.
they need
Yes. That's the best solution for
up on
relief for
the inside. Better to
them, for
now
they're all
broken
divided spirits could rest, knowing that their
their
ing
was spread around the world, saving
lives,
own spirit would soon
68
he's done,
he tugs the boy's shoulder.
It
takes two
tugs to get his attention.
these two. They're of no use
Ihat way
flesh
When
they need to be unwound.
be broken up on the outside instead.
other people whole. Just as his
YOU UNDERSTAND
1
make them
to anyone in their current state, least of all themselves. It
would probably be a
IF
He no
dangerous. They need to be protected from them-
They need
NOD
this baby. Stealing
liv-
making
rest.
Ley holds out the notebook, making sure he does
a
way
that
it's
"Hey, that's
Lev takes a deep breath. Connor's looking
says, trying to say as
..
.
in
such
my notebook."
He's got to be careful.
needed
it
not too obvious. The boy looks at him and says:
"I
much
as
know
it's
he can with
one ... page
69
at
him now.
your notebook," Lev
his eyes. "I just
.
..
the school has a day care center for student mothers, the baby
is
are a
"We'll go in," says Connor. "We'll hide in a place where
there aren't any security cameras.
Girls'," says Risa. "It'll
stalls to
The
there'll be.
more
it,
and
figures she's probably right on
both counts. "Fine. We'll hide until lunch, then
slip
•
the rest of the kids going off campus."
"Eventually
it's
the materials,
bathroom,
it
this
baby wants
going to want to be
if
you know what
will
I
first
period but then
it
quiets
with no sound but the echoing drizzle of
stall to
it
'You
mean
in here until lunch," Risa
Connor's
left.
"Even
if
announces
the baby stays asleep.
how long you can
hide in a bathroom.
you've done this often?" asks Lev, in the
stall to
his right.
'II
to cooperate," says Risa.
fed—and
mean.
I
don't exactly have
If it starts
crying in the
probably echo throughout the whole school."
70
left
'You'd be surprised
out with
.
assuming
the beginning of
"We won't make
from the
Connor considers
girls at
There
in.
a leaky flush handle.
hide in."
"You're
few
and they are
boys' bathroom.
be cleaner, and
when anyone comes
opened, so they have warning
very conspicuous.
•
Connor knows
this fits right into Lev's
a bad seed. Fine, let
him think
that. He's
•The bathroom door squeals. They
footsteps—it's a student in sneakers.
71
image of Connor as
probably
fall silent.
right.
Dull, rapid
Lev and Connor
raise
the school has a day care center for student mothers, the baby
is
very conspicuous.
are a
go in," says Connor. "We'll hide in a place
'We'll
there aren't any security cameras.
"Girls'," says
stalls to
Risa.
"It'll
The
where
boys' bathroom."
be cleaner, and
there'll
it,
and
be more
figures she's probably right
on
both counts. "Fine. We'll hide until lunch, then slip out with
the rest of the kids going off
"Eventually
it's
it
campus."
will
you know what
I
fed—and
mean.
I
Risa.
don't exactly have
If it starts crying in
the
probably echo throughout the whole school."
70
the beginning of
they are
left
first
in.
period but then
it
There
quiets
with no sound but the echoing drizzle of
"We won't make
stall to
it
in here until lunch," Risa
Connor's
left.
"Even
if
announces
the baby stays asleep."
how long you can hide in a bathroom."
mean you've done this often?" asks Lev, in the stall to
"You'd be surprised
"You
his right.
baby wants to cooperate," says
going to want to be
the materials, if
bathroom.
this
girls at
down and
from the
Connor considers
assuming
few
when anyone comes
a leaky flush handle.
hide in."
'You're
opened, so they have warning
Connor knows
a bad seed. Fine,
this fits right into Lev's
let
him think
The bathroom door
that. He's
squeals.
They
image of Connor as
probably
fall silent.
footsteps—it's a student in sneakers. Lev and
71
right.
Dull, rapid
Connor
raise
to
my family.
I
have two brothers and a
by the stork before
was born.
I
Connor wonders
them, or
if
he's just
rather not know.
storked babies,
if
It
sister
who were brought
was never a problem."
Lev actually thinks the stork brought
using
"What
and send
it
as
an expression. He decides he'd
a wonderful family.
their
own
flesh
They take
and blood
to
in
be
unwound. Oh, sorry—tithed. "
Clearly offended,
supposed
to give
Lev
10 percent of everything.
And
it
storking's in
"Yeah, but
"Once you
Lev.
get storked,
my parents
figured, who's
and we waited
gonna know? My parnews from
to hear the
across the street about their new, unexpected arrival
.
but
..
never came. They never talked about getting storked and
away
them about
that we'd
dumped
because
it,
the baby
As Connor speaks, the
to shrink
isn't!"
it
would be a dead
it
we
give-
on them."
stall,
as
small as
it
is,
seems
around him. He knows the others are there on
either side, but he can't help but feel desperately alone.
"Moses," says Lev. "Moses was put in a basket in the Nile
and was found by Pharaoh's daughter.
baby,
announces
ents swore us to secrecy,
couldn't ask
says, "Tithing's in the Bible; you're
the Bible too."
No,
"That's illegal,"
that babfs yours."
He was
and look what happened to him!"
72
the
first
storked
"Things go on like
it
never happened. Everything was
quiet for a while, and then two weeks later,
and there on that stupid welcome mat,
73
is
I
open the
door,
another baby in a
strangers
It
was coughing
like
a seal and
skin
its
"A
"Jaundice," says Risa, gently.
and eyes were
lot
of babies
yellow."
show up
at
StaHo that way. "
ing they could do.
I
and
it
to the hospital, but there
was there when
unloved,
"l
remember
topic—zafter
the answers.
all,
if
Lev
udll
it
all
keep
I
saw
it
die."
tears back.
Connor
He knows
to
come
baby was going
to
be so
brought into the world?"
Lev says
to
God, Lev claimed
is, "I
God."
didn't
Imow you
to
have
all
believed in
"Anyway,
In a few
the hall.
I
know
The problem
just
is
wanted you
moments
to the unloved. In a per-
the difference. But this
people
to
who
ing ?bout everything
"That
it is.
the bell rings, and there's
commotion
in
Girls laughing, talk-
and nothing.
"Next time wear a
I
think
isn't
know."
The bathroom door creaks open.
dress.
borrow your history book?"
test
was impossible. "
Unending squeals from the door and constant tugs on
Connor's locked
stall door.
no one has any desire
74
homes
their
wrong, and everyone would
"Can
have some pronouncement on the
when it comes
But
died.
was noth-
he doesn't want them
thinking, if a
why would God want
He wonders
it
grits his teeth, to
the others can't see them, but
anyway.
would open up
world everything would be either black or white, right or
a perfect world.
"My parents brought
closes his eyes,
fect
No
one's
tall
to look under.
75
enough
The
to look over,
late bell rings; the
explode,
It will
and he
way. Slipping out of the
nerve-racking.
his
will die right
here in a school hall-
bathroom once the
He had unlocked
bell rang
his stall door,
had been
and had kept
hand on the handle for ten minutes waiting for the elec-
tronic buzz of the bell to
he'd had to
make
ers hearing his
(Why did
them?)
It
to the
bathroom entrance without the oth-
brand-new sneakers squeaking on the
them sneakers
they call
He
himself.
it
mask the sound of its opening. Then
couldn't
if it
was so hard
to
floor.
sneak in
open that squealing door, then walk out by
would be too conspicuous. So he waited until a
bathroom-bound
rung, he only
had
girl
did
it
to wait a
door and he pushed his
for him. Since the bell
had
just
few seconds. She pulled open the
way past
76
her,
hoping she didn't say
Lev knows that things must be put back on
the best place to do
to
kill
Connor and
around, and
does
it
if
Risa,
he does
The thought of
it
it
can't
them
will
won't happen at
be safely on
ought to be. As
it
is
happen here with so many kids
this right, it
of
right, all three
their unwinding, as
track. This
a school. If there are any secret plans
it:
still
it
If
he
way
to
all.
their
was ordained
to be.
frightens him, but these days of not
knowing what the next hour
will
bring—that
is
truly terrifying.
Being torn from his purpose was the most unnerving thing
that
had ever happened
God
let it
happen.
to children
who
It's
to Lev,
a lesson.
but
It's
shirk their destiny:
possible way.
77
now he
to
understands
why
show Lev what happens
They become
lost in every
have, they don't bring
face
them
here.
The thought
of having to
them makes him feel ashamed. Doing the right thing
shouldn't
nurse
tells
"I'm not going
strangely,
call
Lev
him.
'
'You'll
home," he
be going
tells her.
and he decides not to go into
home
The nurse
it.
looks at
Now
him
"Never mind. Can
I
my parents?"
that for you?"
.
.
to
at the school
phone
phone
them know you're okay—and talk as long as you
and
like."
She looks at him for a moment, then decides to give him
78
he can shake the thought
why would you do that?"
Dan starts to sound desperate.
me
carefully.
No
one
else
anyone knows, you've been
far as
who
"Lev, listen to
knows that you're gone.
tithed,
and people don't
are tithed.
Do you
under-
You have
to call
stand what I'm telling you?"
"But
in the corner, then
in her pocket instead. "You call
like
but
ask questions about children
She looks
fumbles for the cell
.
Pastor
me. Listen
As
shaking his head
starts
away. "But
soon.
She looks at him, incredulous. "You mean, no one's done
let
will."
make you ashamed.
"The police have been called, everything's being taken care
of," the
somehow God's
vinced them that your being kidnapped was
my
.
.
I
want
parents and
to
tell
be tithed.
I
need
to be.
them. You have to get
me
to harvest
camp.
Now
Pastor
Dan
gets angry.
79
"Don't
make me do
that!
nostrils,
to feel
and the
against a ball.
been
next, there's a spike of joy, like
what he used
when he swung away and heard the crack
like
He
is
unknown
that ball now, soaring away. His
a ballpark, hasn't
never changing. But
of his bat
now
it?
All lines, structure,
he's
been
life
and
has
rules,
hit over the wall into
but this
school
is
a high school; the organized lines of elementary
fire drills are
long gone, having been replaced by the
brazen hormonal zigzags of kids whose bodies are too big for
own
good.
"Lev?" says Pastor Dan. "You're scaring me. Talk to me.
Then she
Lev takes a slow, deep breath, then
There are two policemen by the front office—they actually
says,
"Good-bye,
sir."
soon be caught,
if
they haven't been caught already.
will
The nurse
no longer standing at the door—she's chiding the principal
how
he's
handling this situation.
80
"Why
sees something strange.
Something troubling.
seem intimidated by the mob of kids flowing past them and out
Lev sees police cars arrive outside. Connor and Risa
for
filling
with students. Teachers try their best to keep them organized,
their
territory.
Then he hangs up without another word.
is
As she leaves the room, the hallways are already
didn't
you
call the
the front doors of the school. But
firemen?
And how
why policemen? Why
not
could they have gotten here so quickly?
They couldn't have—they must have been
alarm went off. But why?
81
called before the
nostrils,
to feel
and the
when he swung away and heard
against a ball.
been
next, there's a spike of joy, like
He
is
the crack of his bat
that ball now, soaring away. His
like a ballpark, hasn't it? All lines, structure,
never changing. But
unknown
now
he's
been
life
and
has
rules,
hit over the wall into
"Lev?" says Pastor Dan. "You're scaring me. Talk to me.
slow,
deep breath, then
says,
"Good-bye,
Then he hangs up without another word.
Lev sees police cars arrive outside. Connor and Risa
soon •be caught,
is
if
they haven't been caught already.
no longer standing
for
how
he's
at the
sir."
but
this is a
school
80
"Why
didn't
will
The nurse
you
high school; the organized lines of elementary
fire drills
are long gone, having
been replaced by the
brazen hormonal zigzags of kids whose bodies are too big for
own
good.
Then she
sees something strange.
Something
troubling.
There are two policemen by the front office—they actually
seem intimidated by the mob of kids flowing past them and out
door—she's chiding the principal
handling this situation.
filling
with students. Teachers try their best to keep them organized,
their
territory.
Lev takes a
As she leaves the room, the hallways are already
what he used
call the
the front doors of the school. But
firemen?
And how could
why policemen? Why
they have gotten here so quickly?
They couldn't have—they must have been
alarm went
off.
not
But why?
81
called before the
mother nursery, but the nursery
definitely
time
it
came from
is
way down the
sounds oddly muffled, and
crying.
This cry
the lab. She hears the cry again, only this
angrier.
sound. Someone's trying to cover the baby's
from
hall.
She knows that
mouth
to keep
it
"Party's over,"
she
calls out.
have to leave with everyone
But they don't come
out.
that she can't quite
make
Annoyed, she steps into the lab and storms down the cen-
and
right until she finds
82
them crouched
so easy to forget that's
to see another teacher looking in
from the door.
He's a bit disheveled, having fought the raging rapids of kids
funneling out of the school.
He
obviously hears the baby's
could he not?
"Is
out. There's that muffled cry again,
it's
She knows—she sees—how often compassion
voice from behind her: "Hannah?"
She turns
still
else."
are.
Then a
"C'mon, you and your baby
some intense whispering
ter aisle looking left
so full of rules and regiments,
takes a back seat to expediency.
These teen mothers always do that when they
only makes the baby'cry louder.
followed by
life
it
have their babies where they don't belong. They never seem to
realize
a
what they
'
everything
'Yeah," says
all
right?"
he
asks.
Hannah, with more calm in her voice than she
actually feels. "I'm taking care of
The other teacher nods and
it."
leaves, probably glad not to
share the burden of whatever this crying baby situation
83
is.
She
get
if
will help
them
them. Whoever they
to safety.
What
are,
she will do her best to
kind of example would she be setting
"Let
rate,
she didn't?
me
go ahead," the teacher
and just walk out with the
Without the baby
says.
"The two of you sepa-
rest of the kids."
to look at, Risa
knows she
can't hide the
panic in her eyes, but suddenly she realizes that
17
•
baby. Yes,
police
He
didn't just
she's just leading
them
knows
run away, he turned them
teacher says she's helping them, but what
if
she's not?
this is
in.
This
What
if
to the police?
a
Lev turned them
may
in.
But
if they're lucky,
only have a description
scruffy-haired
of
boy and a dark-haired
them
girl
Take away the baby, and that could be half the kids
The teacher—Hannah— passes
these local
to
go by:
with a baby.
in this school.
the policeman a few yards
ahead of them, and he gives her only a momentary glance. But
Don't think about that now! Keep your eyes on the baby.
then he looks toward Risa, and his eyes lock on
Policemen know panic when they see
she's just given herself away.
84
might not
matter—and now she understands why the woman took the
Risa
Police dovvn the hall! Police at the exits! Risa
Lev's doing.
it
it.
But
if
her eyes are
her. Risa
knows
Should she turn and race back into
85
"I'll
have to thank her
Up
ahead,
Hannah
The answer comes even
later."
reaches into her pocket with her free
hand, pulls out her car keys, then turns
parking
lot. It's all
going
to
left
toward the faculty
entire idea in her mind.
what
be okay, Risa thinks. She's going to
she's
about
before Risa can formulate the
She speaks without even knowing
to say.
"Start clapping!
get us out of here. Risa might just start believing in miracles,
"What?"
and angels... And then she hears a familiar voice behind
"Start clapping. Trust me!"
her.
A
"Wait! Stop!"
She turns
to see
Lev—he's spotted them—and although
he's far away, he's quickly
working his way through the crowd
toward them.
"Risa!
It
nod from Connor makes
clear that
he gets
it,
if
they were at a concert cheering for their
favorite band.
wasn't enough to just turn
them—and
it
and he begins bringing his hands together, slowly at first, then
more and more quickly. She does the same, both of them
applauding as
Connor! Wait!"
cops directly to
single
them
in,
now he's
86
And
leading the
he's not the only one. Alexis
still
at
them
beside them, a student drops his backpack and stares
in utter horror.
87
"There's
an antique shop on Fleming
Street," she tells
them. "Ask for Sonia. She can help you."
"We're not clappers,"
know
"I
you're not.
is all
Good
Risa can think to
them
apart, taking
Hannah
come
to a halt as
moment
the wild crowd
in a different direction. Risa
arms bawls, but
its
screams of the mob. In a
street.
hundreds of kids race in a
frenzy to escape the terrorists, wherever they are.
Risa's
cries are
moment
A
stampede thins out enough
knee of
mad
The baby
in
nothing compared to the
they are across the street,
appearing
his jeans
down
is
off
campus,
side streets.
torn.
is
He
bitten his tongue.
Most of the mob
stumbles and realizes they're in the middle of the
Traffic has
must have
say.
luck."
There's no time to thank her. In a
pulls
Finally, the
himself up.
in the street
Only
Lev
to pick
blood—he
the situation.
and beyond,
dis-
stragglers are left.
"Don't just stand there," says a kid hurrying past. "There
are clappers
on the
roof!"
"No," says another kid,
All
around
heard they're in the cafeteria."
"I
Lev, the bewildered cops
determination in their stride, as
go, only to turn
if
they
pace with a
know
exactly
false
where
to
around and pace with the same determination
Connor and Risa have
88
for
tastes
tries to assess
in another direction.
and gone with the crowd.
He
left
him.
89
"There's
an antique shop on Fleming
them. "Ask for Sonia.
"We're not clappers,"
"I
know you're
There's
pulls
them
not.
no time
Street," she tells
She can help you."
to
is all
Good
thank
apart, taking
himself up.
Risa can think to
must have
say.
luck."
her. In a
Hannah
Most
moment
the wild crowd
has
come
hundreds of kids race in a
to a halt as
frenzy to escape the terrorists,
Risa's
arms bawls, but
its
screams of the mob. In a
wherever they
cries are nothing
moment
and gone with the crowd.
are.
they are across the street,
mob
down
is
off
He
tastes
blood—he
tries to assess the situation.
campus, in the street and beyond,
side streets.
No," says another kid,
All
Only
dis-
stragglers are left.
heard they're in the cafeteria."
"I
around Lev, the bewildered cops pace with a
determination in their stride, as
go, only to turn
in
if
they
know
exactly
false
where
to
around and pace with the same determination
another direction.
Connor and Risa have
88
torn.
is
He
"Don't just stand there," says a kid hurrying past. "There
in
to the
knee of his jeans
are clappers on the roof!"
mad
The baby
compared
A
bitten his tongue.
of the
appearing
in a different direction. Risa
stumbles and realizes they're in the middle of the street.
Traffic
the stampede thins out enough for Lev to pick
Finally,
left
him.
89
The baby
to Risa
about
is
it,
and Connor wants
inconsolable,
but knows that he
can't. If
it
to
complain
hadn't been for
him, the baby wouldn't even be part of the equation.
There aren't
are enough.
all
Mostly
that
it's
many people on
kids
trying to
more rumors about clappers
detonate themselves.
"I
hear they're anarchists. "
"I
hear
"I
hear they just do
it's
some weird
it
knows what they really stand
in a
The shop has
A
no one
flying cars
"Can
for.
90
looks
things from perhaps every point in
display of iPods
old movie plays
so effective because
"That was smart back there,'
He
up
at
and other
American
gadgets from his
little
chrome-rimmed dinner
table.
on an antique plasma-screen TV. The
movie shows a crazy vision of a future that never came, with
it. "
is
There's one cus-
alert.
tweed coat.
store to get away.
grandfather's time cover an old
do
The threat of clappers
man
because he wanders deeper into the recesses of the cluttered
history.
religion.
to
tomer: a sour-faced
them, disinterested and maybe disgusted by the baby,
the street, but there
from the high school just knock-
ing around, probably spreading
on the door jingle. Low-tech intruder
Connor
tells Risa,
as they
An
I
old
and a white-haired
scientist.
help you?"
woman
as
hunched
as a question
mark comes out
Risa gives
whole shop would be gone.
per, this
The
old
Connor
woman
stares at him,
and
hold—there's some sort of
to
But Connor doesn't look away. "See
them.
"l
got
Connor
it
from sticking
still
a hard gaze for
it's
those weary eyes.
fire in
this
my neck out
hunch?" she asks
for people like you.
won't break his gaze. "Guess
wrong place, then." Glancing
at Risa,
he
we came
him.
says, "Let's get out of
Connors arms.
feels
It
much
woman
swings her cane
sharply and painfully across his shins. "Not so fast.
so happens that
Hannah
called me, so
I
It
just
knew you were
still
bouncing the baby,
92
lets
out a frustrated breath.
says,
the
It's
first
"Hold
She puts
this."
time she's given
it
to
than he expected. Something so
There's nothing keeping
They could
stork
this
it
It's
want it, but he
ting the
tied to this
baby anymore.
thing in the morning.
first
theirs
by
him
stupidity,
it
even
less
into trouble
93
.
.
.
And
don't
owe
not biology.
He
someone
get-
can't stand the thought of
baby who wants
that always got
itself.
makes Connor uncomfortable. They
baby anything.
doesn't
again
them
tion begins to ferment into anger.
coming.
Risa,
lighter
and
weakened now—it's just-about exhausted
yet the thought
turns to leave, and the old
a dirty look
loud and demanding ought to be heavier. The baby's cries have
to the
here."
He
the baby in
him
than he does. His frustra-
It's
the
same kind
back home.
It
of anger
would cloud
his
satisfied.
leave a
In a few moments, she crooks her finger
little
space for her to
spill in
enough
to
another spoonful of milk,
a
hope
it's
With the baby quieted,
it's
few
tricks. Let's just
at
StaHo. You learn
not lactose intolerant."
as
if all
been suddenly released. Connor's eyelids grow heavy, but he
won't allow himself to fall asleep. They're not safe yet.
may never be, and he
mind begins
looking for him, or
Ariana.
can't let his guard
to drift off.
if it's
He wonders
down now.
to
Still,
his parents are
just the police now.
What would have happened
along with him, as she
if
They
them
He
if
his
still
thinks about
she had
come
had promised? They would have been
94
some
Then
don't
old
be trouble
"That's
the day's tension has
just
a few hours.
"We
The
then lets the baby suck on her finger again.
"Wow, that's impressive," says Connor.
"Sometimes I got to take care of babies
"Maybe
we'll
want
woman
to
'Ca
place to rest for
be on our way.
be any trouble," says Risa.
laughs at that. "Yes, you do! You want to
to everyone
what you
food," says Connor,
you meet." She points her cane
are now.
TROUBLE
puts her cane down, and softens a
in caps-lock."
bit.
at Risa.
Then she
"That's not your fault,
though. You didn't ask to be born, and you didn't ask to be
unwound,
either."
She looks back and
forth
between the two
of them, then says to Risa just as bald-faced as can be: "If you
really
again.
to stay alive, honey, have him get you pregnant
They won't unwind an expectant mother, so that will
want
buy you nine whole months."
Risa drops her jaw, speechless, and
95
Connor
feels a flush
"So what's in
it?"
Connor
The
and
"Correspondence," she says. "But
matters.
It's
kids don't move.
They appear
to
be close to Connor's
asks.
what's underneath."
it's
not what's in
it
that
Risa's age.
exhausted.
Fellow Unwinds, for sure. They look wary and
Connor wonders
if
he looks
as bad.
Then with her cane she pushes
"For God's sake, stop staring," she says to them. "You look
away the rug where the trunk had been to reveal a trapdoor
like a
pack of
rats."
with a brass pull-ring.
Sonia shuffles around the dusty
"Go on," says Sonia, pointing again with her cane. Connor
sighs
and grabs the
steep
stone steps leading
her
down
open the trapdoor
to reveal
into darkness. Risa puts
down
bowl and, holding the baby over her shoulder in burping
position,
"Thig
the early
hid
ring, pulling
approaches the trapdoor, kneeling beside Connor.
is
an old building," Sonia
tells
twentieth century, during the
hooch down there.
them. "Way back in
first
Prohibition, they
to Risa
and Connor. "There
are
cellar,
pointing things out
canned goods on these
shelves,
and a can opener around somewhere. Eat whatever you want,
but don't leave anything over or you really will see
Bathroom's back there. Keep
get
some formula and
"Oh, and
bite
it
clean.
I'll
go out in a
bit
rats.
and
a baby bottle." She glances at Connor.
there's a first-aid kit
on your arm, whatever
Connor suppresses a
around here somewhere
that's all
grin.
for the
about.
Sonia doesn't miss a thing.
96
97
The
kid,
despite the rags he's wearing,
"We
that's
get sent to harvest
comes from money.
camp and they cut
what happens next," says the
girl.
finally got
us apart,
She's Asian,
girl is
and
looks almost as tough as the kid with the tattoo, with hair
Mai. Her parents kept trying for a boy, until they
one—but not
nothing new," Mai
the fourth.
"It's
in the days
when
were
dyed a deep shade of pink and a spiked leather choker on
big kid
is
boeuf but apparently
end-of-the-world crap?"
parallel scratch
fingernails.
"It's
The
sharply. "Will
Connor
notices that the kid has four
marks on one side of
girl
you shut up with your
his face, consistent With
has a black eye.
not the end of the world," she grumbles. "Just the end
Mai was
them. "Back in China,
baby
girls left
and
right."
He had dreams of being a military
had too much testosterone, or steroids,
Roland.
her neck.
Shark Boy looks at her
tells
girls first.
they only allowed one kid per family, people
killing off their
The
before having four
or a combination of both, leaving
him a
little
too scary even for
the military. Like Connor, Roland got into fights at
school—
although-Connor suspected Roland's fights were much,
worse. That's not what did
up
him
in,
his stepfather for beating his
much
though. Roland had beaten
mom. The mother
took her
of us."
husband's side, and the stepfather got off with a warning.
"You're beautiful
when
you're nihilistic," says the smirker.
98
Roland, on the other hand, was sent to be unwound.
99
to help pass the hours. There's a
and Roland
insists that
acts like he's doing
it
it
to
Risa have
back room
it
for herself
be kind, but
it's
to the
basement,
and the baby. He
obvious that he's doing
because he can't stand the baby's crying.
Mai
reads. There's a
the corner,
whole collection of dusty old books
and Mai always
ing surrendered the back
unit
and
sets
up
his
own
pies the space like he's
When
he's
has,
to Risa, pulls
not sitting in his
rations,
"Now
little cell,
"I
gets
occu-
in a cell.
he's reorganizing the
I'll
what and when."
100
He
take care of the food," he
that there's five of us,
and decide who
it.
had experience with being
food in the basement into rations.
announces.
out a shelving
private residence behind
if
just
enough
his socks
moment he
ter
than none.
Hayden
is
if it's all
him
until
does,
to
back
off.
He
doesn't check to see
he thinks Connor
isn't looking.
Connor snickers. Small victories
just an
that goes
against a
situation too painful to allow himself to feel. Usually
thing about
like
that
that simply
Hayden, but
makes
it
Connor
there's
some-
impossible not to
him.
Connor
redivide the
Hayden
are bet-
on around him
act—a way of defending himself
disliked rich, affected kids like
And
whether
a bit of a riddle. Connor's not sure
amused by everything
he's actually
or
for
match
the
in
one in her hand. Roland, hav-
room
him
sits
next to Hayden,
Roland has gone behind
who
glances to
his shelving unit.
101
make
sure
4
night.
with in his mind
Connor can
offer.
is
far
"Don't
more entertaining than anything
tell
Roland," he says. "The only rea-
son he's being so nice to the two of you
in
is
because he believes
Connor
the sanctity of the nuclear family."
whether Hayden's being serious or
sarcastic,
He
can't
tell
suspects he'll
never figure that out.
"Am
I
last of the
Spam, looks
"My life as a Morlock," he
supposed to know what that is?"
sighs.
"Light-sensitive
into the
says.
this is
at the
Hayden has
food shelves.
what we've become.
102
V%en he listens
looks like Mai's
mind
somewhere
lit
a candle he found in the debris,
making the
cinnamon over mildew. Hayden passes
basement smell
like
forth over the flame.
to
He
doesn't
move
his
slowly
burn himself, but he does move slowly enough to
Hayden
feel the heat.
Hayden
says.
notices
Connor watching him.
"You can tease
it all
if
Are you a pyro?" Connor
Connor can
it
asks.
boredom with obsession.
sense, however, that there's
103
"It's
you move too
you want and
gets you, if you're quick enough."
"You're confusing
closely,
try-
is
hand back and
slow,"
Except for the green-rubber costume part."
Connor glances
It
funny how a flame can only burn your hand
underground frogmen, often portrayed in
bad green-rubber costumes. Sadly,
are also awake.
else.
enough
Hayden chows down the
empty can, and
Mai and Hayden
ing to sleep, but her eyes are open and her
more
to
it.
never
has put the candle down,
all this talk
passing his hand across the flame.
of unwinding
He
is
just like
likes to linger at the
that—but Humphrey kind of
day his parents sign the order
edge of dangerous places. Dangerous thoughts. Connor thinks
'
about his
own
a way, they're
"Fine,"
favorite edge,
both
behind the freeway road
sign. In
alike.
Connor
tells
him. "Think about stuff until your
I
want
to think
about
is
sur-
snatch him, ship him
unwound without
"So
find your shallowness both refreshing
same
"No,
I
just to spite
time.
Do you
think that means
think your parents
and disappointing
I
need therapy?"
deciding to unwind you
"Good point. You have a
lot of insight for a
Morlock." Then
moment. The smirk on
his face fades.
.
what you would
and
Off,
They just
did,
and the
it's
over for
him .—He's
Mai.
because there
up where Hayden
each other means you need therapy.
gets quiet for a
sign the order?
a hitch.
that's it?" asks
"No
to
Hayden
have him unwound."
'Why?" asks Mai.
"Why do any parents
viving to eighteen."
at the
to
considering. Anyway, one
Juvey-cops came for him bright and early one morning. They
head explodes. But the only thing
"I
fits,
left off.
is
a hitch," says Connor, picking
"See, the Dunfees, they're not
call stable people.
begin with, but after their kid
They were a little bit nuts
is unwound, they lose it
completely. "
Now
Mai's tough-girl exterior
104
105
is all
but gone. She truly
is
"And he
gets
a
printout of every single person
who
Humphrey. Then the Dunfees go traveling
around the world to find them
so they can kill them, take
received a piece of
.
.
.
People said he just got unwound, but then again
maybe the
Dunfees got him." Then Hayden blows out the candle,
them in darkness.
leaving
back the parts, and bit by bit make Humphrey whole
No
way.
"'Cause
put
'all
On Connor and
why people
"That's
call
him Humphrey," Connor
the king's horses and
Humphrey together
all
the king's
men
.
.
.
adds.
Risa's third
them upstairs—but one
day there, Sonia
"First the thieving ox," she says, pointing
at Roland.
air,
until
each of
couldn't
again. "'
The thought hangs heavy in the
calls
at a time, in the order they'd arrived.
Hayden, leaning
'
forward over the candle, suddenly throws his hands out toward
down
Apparently she knows about the stolen
the stairs
MP3 player.
'What do you suppose the Dragon Lady wants?" Hayden
asks, after the trapdoor is closed.
Mai and shouts, "Boo!"
"To drink your blood," says Mai. "Beat you with her cane
They
all
flinch in spite of themselves—Mai most of
Connor has
to laugh. "Did you see that?
all.
for a while. Stuff like that."
She practically
"I
jumped out of her skin!"
wish you'd stop calling her the Dragon Lady," Risa
"She's saving your
ass—the
least
106
107
you could do
is
says.
show some
Then she
"You don't have to read anything."
blank paper.
eral sheets of
"What,
my last
will
"I
want you
and testament?
"A will implies you have something
don't,
What I want you
the paper, a pen,
you
I
Make
love.
don't care.
say,
it
But
to
do
a
is
letter."
as long as
you want, or
on—which you
She hands him
Do you
understand?"
"What if I don't love anybody?"
She purses her lips and shakes her head
are
all
love,
then pick someone
108
who needs
to
It's
five
Mona
slowly.
minutes before he can come up with another
directions, too.
could you?
At
first it's
angry, as
he knew
it
would
be.
to
becomes about
all
their kid? Yet
if there's
no
hear what you
they've
it
by the third page
to hurt
it
mellows.
It
it
becomes
to the point, getting
.
first
them, and to remind them exactly what
thrown away when they signed the order
him. But then
gone
How
Why did you? What kind of people could do this
the good things that happened in their lives together. At
"You
line,
but once he does, the words start flowing—and in strange
he does
the same. You think that because no one loves
you, then you can't love anyone. All right, then,
one you
you want;
with everything you wished you could
but never had the chance.
Unwinds
someone
letter to
as short as
presses his pen to a fresh page and WTites, Dear
and Dad.
Is that it?"
to pass
ter to.
He
to write.
and an envelope. "Write a
fill it
pulls out sev-
them
all
to
to
unwind
about remembering—or more
remember, so that when
he's gone, there will
109
be a record of
all
he's
the things
all this
time just on the other side of that curtain. Connor
knows she must have heard him bawling, but she doesn't say a
thing.
She looks
weight,
at his letter, hefts
it
in her
hand
and raises her eyebrows, impressed. "Had a
lot to say,
the table again.
"Now
I
When
he's done,
eighteen,
it.
Will
you must promise that
you make
Connor nods.
"I
as she
she takes the envelope from him. "I'm
going to hold this letter for you," she tells him. "If
me
you'll
that promise?"
think you're decent."
I
have—people
We move
in
aren't all good,
you survive
come back here
to
aren't all
light all of
our
110
lives.
Right now, I'm pleased to be in the light."
On
his
way downstairs, she makes sure
smack him on
to
him
it
only makes
laugh.
He
telling
doesn't
j.
tell
Risa what's in store for her.
Somehow
her would be stealing something from her. Let this be
between
her, Sonia, the pen,
and the page,
as
it
had been
for
him.
She leaves the baby with him as she goes up
promise.
lived
and people
and out of darkness and
the butt with her cane hard enough to sting, but
Write
get
as long as
want. you to put a date on the back.
down the date of your eighteenth birthday."
Connor doesn't question her anymore. He does
I
"Maybe, maybe not. One thing you learn when you've
bad.
Connor only shrugs. She puts the envelope facedown on
to
with that cane,
to feel its
did you?"
asks.
me
111
to face the old
Sonia leads them to a back door that opens into an
There's a truck waiting for
truck.
On
its
side
Sonia hadn't
The
It's
driver stands beside the
who
looks like he'd
more
likely
Then
yet,
truck.
be delivering
Mai head
for the
emptiness.
It's
good home," Hannah
transfers the
relief,
enough
says.
She takes
a
to her.
out of her arms Risa feels a
is
but also an indefinable sense of
to leave
aching, the type of thing an
is,
baby
a feeling not quite intense enough to leave her
in tears, but strong
limb. That
and Connor.
before a
her with a phantom sort of
amputee must
new one
is
feel after losing a
grafted on.
"You take care, now," says Sonia, giving Risa an awkward
Risa notices a figure standing in the shadows. Risa's
to bristle defensively,
steps forward, she realizes
and Risa
tremendous sense of
you two."
neck hairs begin
"We'll give her a
step closer,
The moment the baby
open back door of the
drugs than kids. Roland, Hayden, and
"Not
a small delivery
the ice cream man.
truck, but Sonia stops Risa
who
there.
a picture of an ice cream cone.
lied. It is
He's a scruffy guy
illegal
is
them
alley.
who
it is. It's
saved them at the high school.
112
but
when
the figure
Hannah, the teacher
hug.
"It's
a long journey, but
I
know you can make
Journey to where?"
Sonia doesn't answer.
"Hey," says the driver,
"I
don't got
all
night."
it."
misses the baby.
moment
It
was thrust upon her
at the worst possible
patients
would get medical
attention. "Love the ones
you
life—why should she have any regret about
can," Nurse Greta told her. "Pray for the rest." Risa took the
being rid of it? She thinks about the days before the Heartland
advice to heart, and selected a handful of favorites to give
War, when unwanted babies could just be unwanted pregnan-
extra attention.
cies,
in her
quickly
made
to go away.
other choice feel the
Did the
way she
felt
women who made
that
now? Relieved and freed
from an unwelcome and often unfair responsibility
yet
In her days at the state home,
take care of the infants, she
The
infant wing
tical cribs,
when she was
assigned to
would often ponder such
things.
had been massive and overflowing with iden-
each containing a baby that nobody had wanted,
114
herself,
name them.
named by a human being
all, her name wasn't all that
instead of letting the randomizing computer
Risa liked to think she had been
instead of by a computer. After
common.
vaguely regretful?
These were the ones Risa named
"It's
short for sonrisa," a Hispanic kid once told her.
"That's Spanish for 'smile."' Risa didn't
know
if
she had any
Hispanic blood in her, but she liked to think she did.
connected her
"What
to her
It
name.
are you thinking about?"
115
Connor
asks, tearing her
"This
is
how
works," says another kid
it
been in the truck when
One
around.
another.
('You
The
safe
arrived at Sonia's.
'
already
'We get shuffled
house for a few days, then another, and then
Each one
gonna
it
who had
is
tell
a
closer to
little
us where that
where we're going.
is?" asks
Roland.
someone else might answer
his aid. So he says, 'Well, it's
kid looks around, hoping
for him, but
only what
I
no onexcomes
to
hear, but they say
'
we end up
in a place called
.
.
.
'the graveyard."'
No
response from the kids, just the rattling of the truck.
Ute graveyard. The thought of .it makes Risa even
Even though
tight
she's curled
around her
like
up knees
to chest,
a straitjacket, she's
116
still
colder.
arms wrapped
freezing.
Connor
117