World of Shell and Bone by Adriana Ryan

Author:Adriana Ryan [Ryan, Adriana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adriana Ryan
Published: 2012-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

After the meeting, Shale and I stop near the door. I watch as Mica speaks to one of the men in the group, and then throws his head back to laugh at something that’s been said. I’ve never seen my brother so relaxed. It looks, I realize, like he’s found his family.

When his eyes travel around the room, he sees me waiting and comes over.

“I’d like to speak with you a minute,” I say. My throat feels dry. “If it’s convenient.”

His eyes dark, he nods. “Let’s step outside. It’ll be quieter.”

Shale squeezes my shoulder as I pass by him. “I’ll wait here for you.”

Outside, the din of the men’s voices recedes until it sounds like a melancholy tune hummed under someone’s breath. A warm wind whips my hair into my face.

“What do you want to talk about, Vika?”

He looks like our mother around the eyes. I wonder how I never noticed that before. “I saw a photograph of Ceres taken last year. She…looks different. Changed.”

There’s a beat as we gaze into each other’s eyes, looking for unspoken words or their hidden meanings. Then Mica looks away. “Yes. The Asylums have changed the children, and not for the better. Some say they’ll never recover.”

But I don’t want to speak of other children. I want to speak of our sister, our blood. “Do you think she’s forgiven us?” My voice comes out a whisper.

Mica doesn’t respond, and I’m about to repeat myself, when he says, “There’s nothing to forgive. We did nothing wrong. We were only children when she was taken.”

“Even so, I’m going to put this right. I’m going to get on a ship to China, and Ceres will get the best treatment from the doctors when we get there. They’ll have to help her, don’t you think? They’re a civilized nation; they wouldn’t let her suffer. All of this will be a nightmare she can wake up from.”

“Do you really believe it’s going to be that easy?” There’s a small, twisted smile on Mica’s face.

“What do you mean?”

“Our government. Have you thought about it? Why are they letting people emigrate at all?”

“Because the resources on New Amana are rapidly being depleted.” I wonder if this is some sort of a trick.

“Yes, but why would they let you go scot-free, Vika? Out of the goodness of their hearts? And what of the new rule that only allows the healthiest, toughest people to emigrate? No older people are allowed to go, no matter how much of their life they’ve dedicated to service.”

My mother’s face flashes through my mind. There’s a sickly taste in my throat. “I thought…I thought it was because China needs the strongest to do the most physically challenging jobs. What are you saying?”

Mica leans in close enough for me to smell something deep and wet and green on his breath. “The Rads have information. Those approved to emigrate are being trained in a certain part of China by our government officials. These women have brand new identities, so the majority of the Chinese government has no idea who they are, how powerful they are.

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