Evelyn then lays out what she calls the Freedom Manifesto, Freedom being the new name she has given her faction. According to her document, every citizen of the city has the right to claim allegiance to a faction of their choice, or to choose Freedom. Freedom's role in society is to promote and protect equality - to food, security, health, education, and legal protection. Freedom representatives will be present in all factions, and all factions will send delegates to Freedom. If Freedom leaders are unsatisfied with any faction, they can imprison a faction's leaders or confiscate goods.
I hear Kang snort and comment that it doesn't sound much like freedom to him.
A heated negotiation ensues.
Leo and Cara return about an hour later carrying a large, insulated bag. Tris and I step away from the table to talk to them.
"What is it?" Tris whispers. Cara unzips the bag and we see that it's full of the purple serum. Tris gasps. "We forgot to destroy it," I groan.
Cara shakes her head emphatically. "Trust me," she says, "we don't want to destroy it. But it's really important that it not fall into the wrong hands." She passes the bag to me, and I take it uneasily. Leo smiles at me and gives Cara a kiss before returning to the table.
"What did I miss?" she whispers. We fill her in, and then she looks at us expectantly.
"What?" Tris asks.
"They're forgetting the most important thing," Cara whispers. We both look at her, waiting. "Oh come on," she says, rolling her eyes. "You both obviously have an aptitude for Erudite - act like it!" Admittedly, I just stare at her blankly.
"They're awfully focused on the mission inside the fence, don't you think?" Cara winks at us and strolls over to sit next to Leo at the table.
Tris and I look at each other in surprise. I raise my eyebrows at her. After a brief hesitation, she nods slowly. I nod, too, and then we both go back to the table.
After another hour, they've more or less reached a compromise. Evelyn is getting most of her manifesto, though it's the council of faction leaders that together decides penalties if any one faction is not playing its part. All factions will have representatives in each other's leadership. Cara has already volunteered to be Erudite's representative to Dauntless. Looking at Tori's face, I am not sure that's wise.
And there will be a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to sort through what has happened, make amends, and grant either amnesty or punishment. Erudite can only participate as an observer, and only individuals who are not implicated in the massacres.
Then Tori throws a wrench in the works. "I can't commit to any of this, of course," she says casually. "We have four Dauntless leaders right now, so it means none of us is legitimate until we hold an election and get the number down to three."
"Actually," I say quickly, before anyone can react, "I can fix that. I resign. I am no longer a Dauntless leader." Evelyn is shaking her head violently at me. Tori looks dumbfounded.
"Why would you do that?" Kang demands.
"Tris and I are going to lead the Divergent. Specifically, we are going to recruit and train Divergent volunteers for a mission to go outside the fence with us."
"It's time to find out why we were all put here and what's out there," Tris says firmly.
Marcus is quick to agree. "In fact," he says, "I will join your mission."
Johanna responds immediately, before either Tris or I can let Marcus know exactly what we think of that proposal. "Marcus, that is, of course, a selfless offer, but I think your most important mission lies inside the fence. Your faction has lost so much, suffered so terribly, and rebuilding will be a heavy burden. They cannot afford to lose you now - none of us can."
Marcus turns an icy, almost threatening look on Johanna, but her placid smile and gentle hand on his arm make it difficult for him to openly disagree. "I concur," says Cara.
"I think it will be important for you to lead the Truth and Reconciliation effort," Leo says gravely.
"That has to be a Candor responsibility!" Jack Kang exclaims, and another heated negotiation ensues.
"I think it's time for us to go," Tris whispers. "Let's find Christina and Uriah - and we might as well bring Inez with us." I smile at her, taking her hand and hitching the bag of purple serum up my shoulder.
