Chapter 7



Lily hurt all over. Her muscles burned with fatigue, slowing their travel. She was hungry. They had found a few plants that Lily had decided were edible, and they had come across an apple tree in full fruitation. Lily was eating an apple as they walked.

They had not seen any planes since the first one.

"Do you think they've given up on us?" Fiona asked.

"Probably. We aren't that important. Besides, that man saw us both go into the river." Lily took another bite of her apple, and gazed up. "Jonas is probably crushed."

"Crushed? We would he be crushed?"

"I don't mean squished, Fiona. I mean he'll be upset." Fiona nodded slowly.

"My life mate will probably be upset too."

"Who is he?" Lily asked.

"Asher."

"Asher, Jonas's friend?"

"We aren't supposed to say his name," Fiona turned to her. "He was Lost."

"So were we. Rules of the community don't apply to us any more. Besides, what are they going to do?"

"Nothing, I suppose."

"Well then, let's forget about the rule about the Lost. And, I think, from now on, we shouldn't worry too much about rudeness. If you have a question you want to ask me, ask."

"Really?"

"Fiona, we are the only two around. We may never speak to another person again. We can't be afraid to ask. But, you don't have to say anything you don't want to. I won't push for answers."

Fiona stopped. She stared at Lily.

"Lily, I do have a question."

"Go ahead, then."

"Do you believe Jonas, your big brother, died when he fell in the river?"

"No," she replied softly. "And I don't think he fell in the river either. I think he escaped the community."

"Why?" Fiona asked. "What would make him do such a rash thing?"

"Like us?" Lily asked bitterly. Fiona nodded, her face flushing. "I apologize for my harsh tone, Fiona, but, well. . ."

"I accept your apology, Lily. Don't worry."

"He stole a newchild."

"Jonas stole something?"

"The newchild's name was Gabe. He was staying with us, so that he would sleep the night. Gabe refused to sleep whenever Jonas was not around, and so all the Nurturers voted to have Gabe Released." Fiona's hands flew to her mouth.

"That's terrible! An innocent baby!"

"They do it all the time," Lily added bitterly. "Any child who is not perfect, and one of identical twins, they are killed, along with any who do not progress fast enough."

"I never knew!" Fiona whispered. "Now, I understand why you wanted to flee as much as I did."

"I killed a newchild," Lily continued softly. "I didn't know. How could I, when they don't know?"

"When?" Fiona asked.

"The day we fell in the river together."

"Oh, Lily, I'm sorry."

Lily took a moment to compose herself. She shook her head, and started walking.

"I've killed fourty seven Old, and seen countless other Releases," Fiona told her. Her voice was shaking. "Lily, they trusted me, and I ended their lives!" Lily put her hand on Fiona's shoulder. "Lily, how could they do this to us, turn us into murderers?"

"They don't know. Only the Receivers know." Lily threw the apple core to the ground, and kicked it. "We can't be the only ones who know," Fiona protested.

"There may be others, in Elsewhere. I don't know. Jonas knew, and the Old Receiver, and probably the new Receiver knows too. But the others, they don't understand."

"Someone must have gotten that memory, the one of the dead boy."

"Probably one of the community members who applied for Release after they gave back their memories."

"Like, my mother," Fiona whispered. "She was killed. I was there. She asked me to be there. And I didn't know!" Fiona suddenly began to weep. She curled up, crying.

"Fiona," Lily put her hand on her shoulder. "Her suffering is over. There are things in my memories that give me cause, that I would have gladly handed myself over to be Released just to avoid the pain."

"Why didn't you?" Fiona asked.

"Because, Jonas told me to bear it, and he helped me through it, through better memories. He warned me. Asked me before he gave me a bad memory, if I could stand to take it."

"He asked you?" Lily nodded. She helped the girl up to her feet.

"Many times."

"You've been in contact with him?"

"Yes. Since I was a Twelve."

"You've been receiving memories since you were a Twelve?"

"Yes."

"Every night?"

"More or less."

"But, how did Jonas get all those memories? He only trained for a year."

"I don't know," Lily admitted.

They started walking again.

"I hate them," Fiona announced.

"Who?"

"Who ever created the Sameness, I hate them. Look what they did to us, to your family! What gives them the right to meddle with us, with our lives?"

"I don't know," Lily replied sadly. "There is nothing in my memories that tells me why the Sameness was created. It was created, though. There was another way of life."

"I hope that there still is another way of life."

"Well, we will find out soon enough. Eventually, we've got to come across people, don't we?"

"I suppose."

"Well, let's keep going. There is still plenty of night left."

"I'm sick of this darkness, Lily. Can't we find a place to stop, and wait for a day and a night?"

"In a few days, Fiona, I promise. Once we are sure that they won't be looking for us."

"I guess I can handle that. Let's move it, then. I hope we find another fruit tree soon."

"Same here. I've only got enough fruit to last us until tomorrow, maybe the next day if we eat very little."

"Keep your eyes open, then."

"I will."