Downsiders by Neal Shusterman

Author:Neal Shusterman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Countermeasures

In those first few hours after the Brass Junction was breached, the Downsiders did not sit idly by to watch their world be invaded. Rather, they had been quite industrious in booby-trapping the tunnels that led from the Brass Junction. Trip wires were set to open sewer valves on the unsuspecting invaders. Blockades of mortar and cow skulls were built to deter the encroaching Topsiders, who were believed to be of limited intelligence and easily frightened away. But if these tricks failed, more drastic measures would need to be taken, and no one could agree on what those measures should be.

Thus, the benevolent anarchy that had maintained the Downside through this decade without a Most-Beloved was quickly deteriorating into the type of anarchy in which heroes and leaders were forged. The Wise Advisors knew this—unfortunately, they also knew that they themselves would never be mistaken for either heroes or leaders. If they weren’t careful, the people would dredge themselves up a champion of their own—an idea wholly indigestible to the Advisors. What they needed was a prechewed candidate, easily swallowed, and less likely to give the Wise Advisors acid indigestion. And so, when people came to them asking what they were doing to end this Topside onslaught, they would tell them they were consulting with young Railborn Skinner, who had some brilliant ideas.

This was news to Railborn, because although he did have some ideas, he had never shared them with the Wise Advisors. For several days now, the Advisors had been lauding his upstanding qualities in public, and inviting him and his family to dine with them each night. Naturally, other Downsiders just assumed that his status in this highest circle had been developing over many months, not just several days. In fact, the Advisors treated him as if they knew him all his life—and when they would call him over to include him in some weighty business, he would turn around, still thinking they must be talking to someone behind him.

“We see great promise in you,” they told him, in front of enough witnesses to make it stick. “We always have.” Apparently they saw in him a light he often dreamed he possessed, but never seriously believed, and Railborn wasn’t about to question their motives or their sincerity.

The result of all this was that friends and acquaintances who had mostly ignored Railborn in the past now stood when he entered a room and made him the center of attention. Strangers began to ask his advice on matters he knew nothing about. People liked him—everyone liked him—and it almost made up for the fact that he hadn’t really liked himself much since sending Talon to his death.

But no one knew that he was the one had who squealed on Talon. No one but the Advisors, and they kept it their little secret, holding it over his head like a dark sword.

On that dread day when Talon was sent to final judgment, he and Gutta had rested from their Hunting duties to mourn the passing of their friend.

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