Astray by Parker Amy Christine

Author:Parker, Amy Christine [Parker, Amy Christine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780449816042
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2014-08-26T07:00:00+00:00

I was brought up in your world. I know very well how depraved it is.

—Pioneer

FIFTEEN

When we open the door to Cody’s house, the first thing I hear is Pioneer’s voice—for real this time. The sheriff and Cody’s mom are sitting on the sofa in front of the TV, and Pioneer is on the screen. I suck in a breath. He’s completely bald. His head is shiny and pale—smooth. He looks old and harder than before. He’s sitting at a table, his wrists shackled and his arms stretched out in front of him. I can’t help noticing that his hands are pressed together palm to palm like he’s getting ready to pray. Across from him is a man in a suit. I recognize him. He’s the same person that interviewed Julie at the hospital.

“Lyla, Cody.” Cody’s mom attempts to get up from the sofa. The wreath she was working on starts to slide off her lap and she has to sit back down to keep it from falling. “Stan, shut it off.”

“No, it’s okay, leave it,” I say. I look back at the screen and we all go quiet so we can hear what Pioneer will say next.

“Mr. Cross. Thank you for agreeing to speak with us today,” the interviewer begins.

Pioneer’s lips curl into his warmest smile, but now that he’s so thin, it’s not nearly as endearing as it used to be. His skin stretches over his cheekbones, sinks in underneath them, and his teeth seem much too big for his mouth. “I’d prefer it if you’d call me Pioneer. I don’t go by that other name anymore.”

“Okay, Pioneer, then.” The interviewer gives him an indulgent half smile. “If we could, I’d like to start by having you tell us what the Community is all about.” He leans forward until his elbows rest on the table, steeples his fingers beneath his chin, and stares at Pioneer. It makes him look concerned. I wonder if he really does care, or if he’s watching the clock while Pioneer talks. Are Outsiders immune to Pioneer in a way that everyone in the Community isn’t?

“Well, first off, let me say that I am grateful that you gave me an opportunity to tell my side of things. Up until now the police and the government have done all the talking, and I think folks have giant misconceptions about me and my family,” Pioneer says with more country twang to his voice than usual … than ever.

“We built Mandrodage Meadows just after 9/11. I met a fine group of people around that time who were as fearful about the direction that the world seemed to be heading in as I was. Every single one of us was concerned about bringing up our children in a place so rife with violence and destruction. We wanted to feel safe again. It wasn’t long before we figured out that if we pooled our resources we could make our dreams come true. We could build a place where we could

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