The images flickered across the screens, and the number of viewers increased exponentially, drawn by the simple holo of water released into the sky. No one alive had seen a real geyser before, and the magic of water spraying into the air was like an apparition. The view count quickly climbed into the millions as the holo spread like a virus.
“What have you done?” asked Torq, his voice shrouded with rage.
“We’ve tapped the aquifer,” said Ulysses, “and shown everyone how it’s done.”
The short holo played again and again. It had been made with the inexpensive security cameras at the dam site and uploaded to the wireless from the simple booth at the gaming center. It carried Will’s ID, because he was the one who had uploaded it, and the YouToo! record would soon be set in his name. But I didn’t mind, even though it was my idea. Let the world see its fortune: water, billions of liters, still pure and untouched, in hidden aquifers around the globe. Kai would show us, and we would drill, and the rivers would run free once more.
“You’re finished,” said Ulysses. The bird twitched on his neck. “The world doesn’t need you. It doesn’t need any of us.”
Torq glared at him, but he was powerless. He could kill us, but it would be too late. Kai had given the people water. Where there was water—even just a little—there was hope. And hope was the enemy of despots and tyrants. It shimmered at the edge of the blue stream in the glint of the desert sun.
“It’s not over,” said Torq. His brown body shook with fury, like a man whose kingdom had burned down around him. “We’ll see how long the people remember.” Then he turned, heels clicking, and led his men from the room.
It was only then I noticed Sula holding the harpoon behind her back, her hand gripping so tight that her knuckles were white. I touched the woman’s arm until her hand relaxed and slipped mine between the warmth and the weapon.
“Come,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 22
We said good-bye to Kai and Driesen outside the gaming center. In front of everyone, Kai took my hand and kissed me. It was embarrassing but also sweet, even if Will did make a coyote whistle that turned my head at the last minute.
“See you tomorrow?” Kai asked. He was still weak from high blood sugar, but his voice was strong and clear.
Tomorrow was a school day, I realized, an ordinary day, although it seemed like it couldn’t be. “I’ll see you at the bus stop,” I said. I leaned into him, and this time I kissed him back—on the mouth—and I didn’t care who was watching.
The black limo was waiting at the corner. Its gasoline engine purred, and the exhaust gathered lazily like a cloud. A new bodyguard held the rear door open, and Kai followed his father inside. For a moment he disappeared behind the darkened and reinforced glass, but as the limo pulled away, he opened the window and waved. The last thing I saw was his blond hair streaming wildly behind him and his mouth open to catch the wind.
Ulysses drove Will and me in his pirates’ truck down the dusty road where I had first met Kai. But now I imagined trees shading the shoulders and tall grass swaying in the median. I saw children riding pedicycles and adults walking arm in arm beneath a cool evening sun. I saw the road leading to Basin and beyond, straight and clear and safe. A road that might take us anywhere.
Ulysses parked the truck near the main entrance to our building. He and Sula descended first, and Cheetah bounded out behind them. Will and I stopped by the open gate, taking in the familiar sights of home. Our apartment was just as I remembered it. Painted shutters brightened the windows. Two cacti flowered in a terrarium by the door. A welcome wreath hung from the railing.
We climbed the rickety steps. The lights were off in our neighbor’s apartment, although there was nothing unusual about trying to save credits on electricity. I knocked on our door, and the sound echoed hollowly inside.
“Maybe they’ve gone shopping,” said Will dubiously.
We both knew our mother could not leave the house. If our father was gone, something had happened.
I knocked again. This time we heard shuffling and scraping, and then the door opened. Our father stood there, smiling wearily, not surprised at all, as if we had simply returned late from water team.
“We’re home,” I said.
The man who stepped between us was instantly recognizable. His trim beard and tight face. His white teeth razored perfectly between his lips.
“Hello, Will. Hello, Vera,” said the chief administrator.
There was something familiar as well about the two men in blue shirts who flanked him. Then it came to me: they had been watching Kai at the gaming center. But who were they? And why was the chief administrator here?
“I’m sorry,” said our father. “He insisted on waiting for you.”
“What’s going on, Dad?” asked Will.
Before our father could respond, Cheetah sprang into the room, followed by Ulysses and Sula. One of the blue-shirted men went for his belt, but Sula knocked the gun out of his hand before he could even grip it. Ulysses pulled his gun on the other man while Cheetah held the chief administrator at bay.
“Please!” said the administrator. “There is no need for fisticuffs.”
“They just want to talk to you,” added our father.
“Then talk,” said Ulysses, still holding the gun at the administrator’s temple.
“It would be a more pleasant conversation if we could all be seated.”
Cheetah growled.
“Talk,” repeated Ulysses.
The administrator harrumphed. He was not used to taking orders from pirates, but Cheetah looked as if she was hungry.
“Very well,” he said, eyeing the dog. “We understand you’ve just had an interesting adventure with some of our friends on the coast.”
“You know all about it,” I said.
“Yes.” The administrator tried to smile, but his teeth prevented his lips from closing. “And we know all about your friend as well.”
“Kai?”
“Finds water with his nose. Very useful.”
“You saw the wi-cast. He can find hidden aquifers.”
“How fortunate for the republic. To have this valuable resource right here—in our own town.”
“Yes,” I said cautiously.
“Not the sort of thing you’d want to waste. By sharing him with another republic, for example.”
“That aquifer runs all the way to Minnesota,” I said. “And the water that’s in it falls from the sky. No one owns it.”
“But you’re wrong,” said the administrator. “The Canadians own it. And the Minnesotans. And the Europeans too.” A tiny fleck of blood darkened his lower lip. “Why shouldn’t we take what’s rightfully ours?”
“Because it’s not rightfully ours.”
“The boy lives in Illinowa. In Arch. He can make us all wealthy.”
“It’s that kind of thinking that turned the forests to deserts.”
“Don’t be naïve, girl. You’ll never get the rivers flowing. Your friend Kai needs to help his own people, and we need your help convincing him.”
I shook my head. Now I knew why the administrator was here, and why the men had been following Kai at the gaming center. But I would never help him steal the water for himself. I told him none of us would.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said. “One you will regret.”
Ulysses raised his gun, but I silenced him. “No,” I said. “It’s you who’ve made the mistake, taking what doesn’t belong to you. Now we need you to leave.”
“You heard Vera. Leave.” Ulysses motioned to the door with his gun, and Sula shoved the man in front of her. Cheetah started barking, and the administrator scampered backward.
“Think about it,” he said, as he stumbled out the door. “You won’t have another chance.”