Terra by Gretchen Powell

Author:Gretchen Powell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ya, Science Fiction, young adult, dystopian
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Published: 2012-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The next morning, Adam doesn’t bring up what happened in the square, or our argument, so I follow suit. Since our tour of the West Q had been cut short and I’m not eager to talk about why, I don’t object when he insists on tagging along to school with Mica. He spends two hours conversing with Principal Conifer about lesson plans, teacher assignments, and test scores, while I create a mental countdown clock until the next Collection. Four days. If I can spend the next four days personally—and quickly—guiding him through whatever research points he has to hit, hopefully I can send him on his way without him ever finding out about the second machine.

After school, we make our way to the town center, where Adam wants to sit in on a public forum. I hate attending these things, so we hide in the back, where no one can notice me sulking while Adam scribbles down more notes. I quickly decide there has to be some kind of gene that allows you to become a Tribunal researcher, because there is no way that a normal person could find such mundane things so unremittingly fascinating.

The next day we spend the afternoon walking the docks in the East Quadrant. I don’t understand how Adam can possibly spend so much time inspecting the structure of each building, but he continues to take notes relentlessly. Blatantly disregarding my request to lay low, he converses with almost every person we come across. At first, I think the constant conversations are his attempt to quell the stares we receive, though I’m never sure whether those looks are for me, for Adam, or for our odd pairing.

Regardless of the reason, Adam introduces himself to anyone who gives us the side-eye. From there, the conversation goes anywhere, though more often than not it goes somewhere boring. Sometimes he barely says five words, and gets someone’s entire life story in response. The most interesting thing Adam asks about is Loran Underwood’s raider accident, and even that gets old quickly.

I try chiming in on the conversation when we run across a very cheery Mrs. Kuipers, but as soon as I open my mouth she shoots me a look so devastatingly cold that I immediately shut back up. If only I were so charming, I think, watching Mrs. Kuipers smile sweetly at Adam. At least my bruises have faded, so I look like I belong in decent society again. Though, it’s not like that counts for much these days.

* * *

“So I thought you might want to check out the Marketplace today,” I say. I’ve been racking my brain all through breakfast, trying to figure out what’s left in Sixteen for Adam to see. Collection Day is tomorrow, and the Marketplace is pretty much the last place left of interest. Hopefully, it’ll be packed with people he can prod for data, and he’ll have gathered enough research to move on. I frown as I consider this. I should be

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