Seed by Lisa Heathfield

Author:Lisa Heathfield [Heathfield, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780762456369
Publisher: Running Press

Ring-a-ring of roses, a pocket full of posies. A-tishoo! A-tishoo! We all fall down.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Where had she been, though?”

Ellis and I are balanced in an apple tree, hidden from the house.

“She was fine.”

“But where was she?”

When I had asked Kate the same question, she had snapped at me. Told me not to ask again. She dressed quickly this morning, hid her arms from me, and now I don’t know whether I imagined the bruises. But I did not imagine that she disappeared for a whole day, and that Kindred John must have known where she had been.

“Mom had to go into a room,” Ellis says. “She won’t tell me more.” I pretend I don’t notice him rip the leaf from its branch and screw it up in his palm. “She said it was the right thing and she didn’t mind. But I don’t believe her.”

“Papa S. has forgiven her,” I assure him. But did she really need forgiveness? Ellis throws the leaf down to the ground below us.

The apple that I choose to pick is half-red, half-green. I pass it to Ellis. “Elizabeth says your music takes her pain away,” I tell him.

He holds my gaze as he bites into the apple. “Is she any better?”

“Not yet,” I say. “Soon though.” Because she will be fine. Nature won’t take her away from us.

The hills in the distance are silent. I breathe in Seed’s air and try to let it calm me.

“How can anyone want to live on the Outside, when you can have this?” I say.

“There’s beauty on the Outside too, Pearl,” Ellis says, tracing the musty bark with his finger.

“There’s murder and dishonesty and laziness and liars.” I look right at him, because I know he can’t deny it. He’s been there. I know he’s seen it all.

“It’s not all like that. Only bits of it.”

“You know they poison the water, don’t you?” I ask. I don’t want to scare him, but if he doesn’t know then I must warn him. “Papa S. has been to meetings with people in the government. They put viruses into the water, to make people sick.”

“Why would they do that?” Ellis laughs, but he’s not happy.

“They’re bad people, Ellis, the ones who run the country. They think they can take Nature into their own hands.”

“Right,” Ellis says. “And I suppose you believe in the bogeyman?”

“Who’s he?” Why is he being like this? I’m only trying to help him.

“It doesn’t matter,” he says. “But what does matter is that you shouldn’t believe everything you’re told.”

“What about the floods?” I say.

“What floods?” Ellis asks.

“The floods that are taking over miles of land. They’re Nature’s revenge.”

“For what?”

“For everything. Nature will destroy everything, apart from Seed,” I say.

Ellis is smiling at me. Is he happy that he will be safe, or is he mocking me? “And Papa S. told you all of this?”

“He knows it all.”

“Bit of luck I’m here, then,” Ellis says.

“Yes,” I say and I smile at him. He isn’t laughing at me now. He understands.

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