The Deceivers by Haddix Margaret Peterson

Author:Haddix, Margaret Peterson [Haddix, Margaret Peterson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult, Childrens
ISBN: 9780062838414
Amazon: 0062838415
Goodreads: 53914874
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Published: 2020-04-07T07:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Seven

Natalie, a Few Minutes Earlier

“We can trade off,” Natalie said, settling down onto Other-Natalie’s bed, while Other-Natalie watched her curiously from the desk chair. “We’ll take turns asking questions. I’ll go first.”

“Why don’t I get to go first?” Other-Natalie asked. “I’m the real Natalie Mayhew! While you’re just . . . what is your name?”

“Natalie Mayhew,” Natalie responded automatically. “And there. You did get the first question. I even answered it.”

Other-Natalie’s face flushed, and Natalie knew exactly how she felt, being tricked.

Careful, Natalie told herself. Don’t make her mad.

“Fine.” The other girl all but snarled the word. “Your turn.”

See, she’s going to play fair, Natalie thought. Because I would play fair, if I were her.

It was dizzying to peer back at Other-Natalie and try to figure out how to see her. Were Other-Natalie and Natalie exactly alike, pretty much the same person except for living in separate worlds? How different could someone be when she had your same face, your same hair, your same brain, your same parents?

She doesn’t have the same parents, Natalie reminded herself. She has the Judge, not Mom. And her dad’s running for governor, not selling sports cars. And she lives in the bad world, so that’s got to affect her, too. . . .

And Other-Natalie’s parents were still married. And her grandma was still alive. And her mother wasn’t missing.

Natalie glanced up at the poster sagging down from the wall, to remind herself of that difference with Other-Natalie, too. With the top part of the poster bent over the bottom, Natalie could see only the poster’s white backing. But she could remember the menacing look on all the kids’ faces in that poster—even Other-Natalie’s.

“What are you looking at?” Other-Natalie asked, turning to follow Natalie’s gaze. She let out a loud gasp. “Did you do that? Did you start tearing that down, and Grandma caught you, and, and . . .”

Natalie caught herself flinching guiltily. And Other-Natalie saw. What could Natalie say now? If she lied, Other-Natalie would see straight through her. And if she told the truth . . .

Well, how would I react if some stranger came into my room and started trashing it?

“Hey—it’s my turn for questions, remember?” Natalie went for the snarly, defensive mode. But Other-Natalie’s eyes were so wide and awestruck, her expression almost hopeful, that Natalie softened her voice. “Let’s talk about other stuff first.”

Natalie wouldn’t have relented if she’d been in Other-Natalie’s place. But maybe they weren’t completely alike. Other-Natalie only glanced back at the poster once more, tilted her head to the side, and muttered, “So, ask.”

It surprised Natalie into blurting, “Are you and your grandma close?”

This wasn’t the right question for getting Other-Natalie on her side, for getting her help rescuing Mom, Mrs. Greystone, and Joe. And it was only the beginning of what Natalie wanted to know about Other-Natalie and Almost-Grandma. She could have gone on, Are you and your grandma best buddies? Is she the person who cares about you most in all the world?

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