He wandered over, bag of chips in hand. “It’s not the same. Walkers leave. Doesn’t mean they stop Walking.”
“Montrose,” my dad said, rumbling like a kettledrum.
“Leave?” I asked.
My dad patted my hand. “It’s incredibly rare for someone to renounce their place within the Walkers, Del. But . . . if someone chooses that path, they’re not permitted to Walk again. They’re monitored.”
“Is that what they call it these days, Foster?” Monty’s gnarled fingers gripped my arm, stronger than they looked. “What did you think Free Walkers were? An army of bogeymen? They’re the ones who escape.”
“Escape?” I was intrigued, despite myself. Free Walkers were like urban legends, or something out of a comic book, a group of anarchists and religious fanatics working to unseat the Consort. But they were a myth. Without the Consort, the Key World would fall, and the multiverse would unravel. Even anarchists weren’t that crazy. Nobody over the age of six believed Free Walkers existed.
Six-year-olds and Monty.
“Enough!” my dad barked. Then, more quietly, “The Free Walkers are a story, Del, like a fairy tale. People tell it to remind us why our work is so important. The Consort exists to guide the Walkers. The Walkers exist to protect the Key World. This is our calling, and even if it’s difficult—if there are costs—”
Monty snorted.
“If there are costs,” Dad repeated, “they’re necessary. For our own survival, for the Originals . . . for the multiverse. You’ve paid more than most, I know, Monty. But Winnie and I have raised our daughters to be aware of their responsibility. We’d appreciate if you didn’t try to undermine that. This is who we are.”
“But is it who Del wants to be?” He looked at me, eyes sharp despite the rheumy film. “Is it?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
But there was a piece of me that wondered if Monty was right. Was it possible to Walk, even without the Consort’s approval? After all their threats and punishments, was there another way?
A better way?
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
ELIOT SHOWED UP Saturday night with a movie and a jumbo box of Lemonheads. “I figured you might not be up for going out to the movies.”
“Definitely.” I filled him in on the fight between Dad and Monty while I made popcorn.
He blinked. “Do you believe him?”
“About the Free Walkers? No. Who would want to destroy the Key World? It’s suicidal. I do wonder about Walkers who don’t work for the Consort. Would they really never Walk, just because the Consort said not to? I do it all the time.”
“Don’t remind me,” he said, and sampled the popcorn. “Needs more butter. I suppose there are things the Consort could do. Anklets, like the courts put on people who are under house arrest. If you set it to go off when the surrounding frequency changed, that might work. Or a device to alter your frequency, so you couldn’t get through a rift. Or—”
“You’re having too much fun with this,” I said, shoving the bowl at him. “Movie time.”
When we were settled on the couch, I picked up the DVD case. “Again? We’ve seen this one a million times.”
“You know I love a good space western.” He hit play. “I like it when the good guys win.”
“That’s because you’re such a good guy,” I said as the previews rolled. “Hey, how’s the project with Bree going?”
“Great,” he said, a smile in his voice.
“Seriously?” I twisted to face him. “Bree Carlson. It’s going great?”
“Sure, as long as I let her do whatever she wants. Not unlike working with you.”
I punched him in the arm and he laughed. “Kidding!”
“You’d better be.” I hesitated. “Have you had a chance to run Simon’s frequency?”
His laughter evaporated. “No. Strangely enough, I can be around the guy for five minutes without touching him, so I haven’t recorded a sample yet.”
“Somebody’s in a mood,” I said, and slumped down. “Forget I asked.”
“I’d love to.”
Halfway through the movie, someone knocked at the front door.
“Let Addie get it,” I said, curled up under a chenille throw. “I’m too comfy.”
“Too lazy,” Eliot said affectionately, but he didn’t move either.
I heard Addie at the door, the conversation obscured by the explosions on screen. A minute later the lights came on.
“Hey!”
“We have a visitor,” she said, and Councilman Lattimer strolled in.
“You’re late,” I blurted. Eliot and I both scrambled up.
“I don’t recall setting a specific time for our visits. Apologies if this is inconvenient.” His tone made it clear he didn’t care.
“It’s perfect,” Addie assured him.
“Excellent. I came to check on your father’s progress, as well. We’re quite eager to have him back.”
“He’s better, thank you,” Addie said, her voice tight. “Are you seeing an uptick in frequency poisoning lately?”
My breath caught. She was telling him she knew about the anomaly. Addie had never been any good at cards. She couldn’t bluff, she bet too low, and she always showed her hand too early.
“We are. It’s quite troubling.” Lattimer assessed her coolly. Then his face broke into a smile. “You’ve put it together, then. Well done.”
“Thank you, sir. I’d be happy to help, if the Consort needed me.”
That was her game. Impress Lattimer, get in on the anomaly, move up in the Consort. Not a bad plan, but one lucky hand didn’t make you a good gambler.
“I don’t doubt you’d be a great asset to us,” he said, and Addie glowed, then dimmed.
“My parents don’t think so.”
“Your parents are not in a position to dictate how we deal with the current crisis. I, however, am.” His eyes flickered to me. “It’s important to ally yourself with those people who have the greatest value.”
My father had nearly died trying to fix “the current crisis.” Hearing Lattimer dismiss him so easily reminded me of Monty’s tirade. “What about the Free Walkers? Are they valuable?”
It was a shot in the dark, but it struck true.
He swung around, the motion as smooth and dangerous as his tone. “Free Walkers don’t exist. But if they did, they—and anyone who associated with them—would be tried for treason. I cannot imagine who would tell you such dangerous tales.”
Beside me, Eliot tensed, silently willing me to shut up.
Lattimer waited for an extra beat, as if daring me to answer. When I said nothing, he shifted back to Addie. “Your grandfather must be improving.”
“He’s better,” Addie said cautiously.
Lattimer nodded. “I look forward to this week’s report. I’m always curious to find out exactly what the three of you have been up to.”
What Monty had been up to, he meant. Addie fell all over herself agreeing and saw him out. When she came back, she snapped, “Do you want to get expelled? Free Walkers? Have you lost your mind?”
“He’s a jerk.”
“Who cares? He is your way back into the Walkers, Del. You should be trying to impress him, not acting like a lunatic conspiracy theorist.” She turned to Eliot. “Can’t you talk sense into her?”
He backed away, looking slightly panicked. “I’m just here for the movie.”
She rolled her eyes. “Del’s the only one stupid enough to believe that.”
“I’m not stupid!”
“What you did tonight was the textbook definition of stupid. All risk, no reward. You want to be crazy and reckless, fine. But at least do it for a good reason.” She turned on her heel and stomped upstairs. Wordlessly Eliot turned the movie back on.
Addie’s words stung, but she wasn’t completely right. I knew a bluff when I saw one. Lattimer was lying about the Free Walkers, and that was all the reward I needed.