Sneak (26 page)

Winston said quickly as they lurched over a jagged bump in the road.

“No problem,” Eddie said, though his knuckles were white as

he gripped the door handle beside him.

“My parents were a part of what changed that. A big part. An

unpopular part. Hard to believe these days, the way everyone worships him, but back then Cylis had to work hard for his support. It’s not an easy thing, you know, bringing so many countries together peacefully. The States were always one country, so Lamson’s job was a little less tough over here. But in Europe . . . it took quite a lot of strategy.”

“I’d imagine so,” Eddie said, unsure of where any of this was

going.

“Tell me honestly—have you ever heard of the Rathbone

family?” Winston asked.

“No . . .”

“No. I hadn’t thought so. Well, had you grown up in the E.U.

instead of here, you most certainly would have. The Rathbones are an important political family; have been for generations, leading right up to the Total War.”

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“Oh,” Eddie said. “Neat.”

“Now, notice how very little I have to turn the steering wheel in order to change the car’s direction. Do you see that?” Winston glanced at Eddie expectantly. And Eddie looked back, trying hard to follow what he felt sure were two separate conversations that Winston was having with him at the same time.

“My father’s support for the chancellor was a turning point for Britain, you see,” Winston continued. “First Brits to be Marked, my parents were.” He shook his head. “It made them none too

popular in New London at the time, I can assure you. Their

relocation here was a safety precaution back in the day. Though I rather think my parents have come to like having more . . .

privacy.”

“Well, why’d they do it in the first place?” Eddie asked. “Why support Cylis, if it was so unpopular?”

Winston laughed. “Because Cylis struck them a deal, of

course! If they hadn’t been the ones to take it, someone else would have. The E.U. was inevitable by that point, and my parents knew it. They figured as long as
someone
was going to reap the rewards of an early endorsement—why not them?

“This dial here will tell you how much gas you have left. That’s very important. Do you see it?”

“I see it . . . ,” Eddie said, his head spinning.

“I couldn’t talk about it back in the house, but every bit of the wealth you’ve seen in the Rathbone mansion—the building, the

food, the clothes, this car . . . all of it is in exchange for my father’s support back in the day.”

“But isn’t it a bit . . . impractical? Living all the way out here?”

“Oh, tremendously! I’m sure Cylis would much rather not be

sending his minions out here every other week with supplies and
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delicacies and what have you . . . but a deal is a deal, and my parents continue to take him up on it.”

“
Him?
Wait, Winston, are you saying . . . do you . . .
know
Cylis? Personally?”

“Of course,” Winston said. “He’s visited many times.”

Eddie wasn’t even remotely sure anymore how much of this

was true. “Sounds . . . nice,” he said, finally.

Winston laughed. “But then, my parents . . . they are con-

flicted people.”

“Okay . . . ,” Eddie said.

“They never did feel quite right about the whole deal, to

tell you the truth. Even the riches couldn’t entirely settle their consciences. So they became lifesavers. Secretly, and at great risk to themselves, they turned Cylis’s gift into a weapon against him; they turned his mansion into an anchor on the Unmarked

River.”

“That’s . . . very nice of them,” Eddie said uneasily.

Winston laughed. “It was,” he said. “It was. And then . . .”

“What? What are you getting at?”

Winston slowed the car to a stop. It sat in the middle of the

old highway, idling softly. “This conversation never happened, do you understand? If you bring it up, I’ll deny it. I need to go on living here once you’re gone.”

“Um, okay. Sure,” Eddie said.

Winston nodded. “I am certain that by now you have noticed

my father’s missing hand.”

Eddie nodded slowly. Winston turned the engine off. He

opened the car door.

“Where are you going?” Eddie asked.

“Nowhere. We’re switching seats.”

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Eddie stared at him through the windshield, confused.

“Winston— I can’t drive.”

“Haven’t you been paying attention?” Winston said. “I’ve been

teaching you this whole time.” He walked around to open the passenger side door and handed Eddie the keys.

“But . . . but . . .”

“Not to worry. By my guess you have until sundown to figure

it out.”

“Sundown? Why sundown? Winston, I’m . . . I’m not a fast

learner,” Eddie warned.

Winston only shrugged. “You’re going to have to be. Edward.

I’m afraid your friends are in grave danger.”

9

Dane, Hailey, and Logan had spent the rest of the day up in the village’s radio hut by the tower on the ridge above the valley. Once Hailey had explained the situation to Hans and Tabby, the couple had wasted no time in showing the three of them the way to the station, as well as every last trick of how to broadcast.

It took nearly an hour of trying and listening and wading

through weak signals and static—long enough that Mrs. Phoenix

was about to sign off—before, finally, Hailey’s voice seemed to make it through.

“Mom!” she said, across all those miles. “Mom! Can you hear

me? We’re okay. We’re doing just great. You don’t have to worry about us, Mom!”

For a moment, there was silence on the airwaves.

“Is my grandson with you?” Logan’s grandmother asked.

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“He’s here,” Hailey said.

“Good,” Sonya said. “Tell him he’s grounded!”

10

Winston said nothing more about his parents or Eddie’s friends on the ride back. “I’d hate to worry you unnecessarily,” he said.

“There’s still a chance that your friends are just fine. Eyes on the road,” he added, noticing Eddie’s furious stare.

In the end, Eddie did manage to drive the two of them back

to the mansion by sundown. But Winston’s guess was wrong.

Already, no one was there.

“We’re too late,” he said.

“Too late for what? Winston, what’s going on around here?”

Winston was only half paying attention. He dashed from room

to room as he spoke. Eddie did his best to follow. “Edward. I’m afraid your group isn’t the first to come by since my father lost his hand,” he said. “I’m sorry to tell you, but my parents have become a . . . a bit of a trap along the Unmarked River. They take Markless in, fatten them up, give them hope, and then drive the hook straight into their backs.”

“
What?
How?” Eddie demanded frantically. “What happens to them?”

“The men arrive. They call themselves Moderators. They take

the Rivergoers away. And before they do, they indulge us with each one’s stated crime. They sit my parents down, and they describe the impending punishment in awful detail. It’s a tradition that began at my parents’ request. By now it is simply routine. They force me to listen. They can’t imagine why I wouldn’t want to hear . . .”

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“Why you wouldn’t want to hear about what?” Eddie asked,

trying to keep up.

“Acheron.”

Eddie nearly froze still. “
Acheron?
”

“That’s right.”

“Have they . . . have they told you much about it?”

Winston laughed. “Every chance they get! That’s the whole

point! I don’t want to hear about it anymore! I can’t stand another round of it!”

Eddie swallowed hard.

“How would you like to spend the rest of your life in a pit

getting bitten by snakes and lizards?”

“Snakes?” Eddie asked doubtfully. The idea sounded insane.

“That’s what they tell me! But that’s just a for instance.

Acheron’s the biggest prison in the world. Inside . . . it seems anything can happen. Torture so unimaginable . . . and it’s a life sentence, every time.”

“Well, has there never been an escape?”

Winston shook his head. “Can’t be done. The whole prison’s

surrounded by hundred-foot thick walls.”

“How is that possible . . . ?” Eddie asked.

Winston threw his hands up in surrender. “I’ve no idea! This

is simply what they tell me! And the worse your crime, the deeper you’re sent . . . into those walls . . . those awful tortures . . .”

“But there must be
some
type of entrance . . .”

Winston shook his head. “They brag about that. Say the place

is an island. One single entrance so hidden and secure, it might as well be solid brick.”

“Really?” Eddie said. “That’s
really
it?”

Winston shrugged. “That and the power supply.” But very

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suddenly, Winston stopped talking. He looked wide-eyed over

Eddie’s shoulder.

And Eddie turned around.

Mr. Rathbone towered above him.

“Cheers, Eddie. Looking for anyone?”

“What have you done with my friends?” Eddie demanded.

Mr. Rathbone clucked his tongue. “Not to worry,” he said.

“We’ve been sure to treat them every bit as respectfully as you Markless have treated me.”

“You’re a monster!” Eddie said.

But upon hearing this, Mr. Rathbone exploded. “We were

kind
to you beggars! We brought you in! We fed you! For
years
, we were nothing but kind, asking for not one thing in return!

We were
sympathizers. Lifesavers
. And how do you people repay us?
You
cut
off
my
Mark, hand and all!
You take it in my
sleep
! And you
run
off
with
it
, to buy—what?—new shoes? A tablet? A
candy
bar?”

“That isn’t us!” Eddie protested. “My friends and I—we’re

not like that.”

“
You’re all like that!
You’re all the same! All of you skinflints!

You think we’re monsters?
We’re
monsters? You people are a para-site on this Union! You should be stomped out like bugs!”

Eddie listened in horror until finally, behind him, Winston

had had enough. He stepped forward, handing Eddie the keys to

his parents’ car . . . and he pounced.

Immediately, Winston and his father were on the floor, roll-

ing around on the polished wood, knocking into ornamental

tables, breaking vases, mirrors, clawing, struggling.

“There’s only one place left for them to be,” Winston gasped

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between receiving a few punches to the gut. “Outside—check the cellar!” He struggled to hold his father down. “
Run!
”

11

Things were quieter in the Village of the Valley. Logan and Dane sat in the cool grass as the Potomac streamed past. Hailey gathered her things from the house. The wind whistled over the hills.

Somewhere in the field, a cricket was chirping.

“I can’t believe she grounded me,” Logan said.

And Dane laughed. “She did have a point. Your parents

probably really are as worried as she made them sound . . .”

Logan frowned. “You ready?” he asked.

The canoe was finished. It was time for the final leg to Beacon.

“I’m not coming,” Dane said.

And Logan looked at him, confused. “Of course you are.”

“I’m not. I’ve already talked to Tabby and Hans about it. I’m

staying here.”

“Dane, you . . . you can’t. We need you.”

“You need me
here
. I’ve been thinking about it. I’d be helpful to you here. You know your grandmother’s signal won’t make it to Beacon. But mine might. Logan, I can be the bridge between you and Hailey and your families. Between you and Hailey and all of New Chicago, for that matter.”

Logan shook his head. “Dane, you’re not understanding me.

I’m not leaving you here.”

“Well, then you’re either going to have to stay yourself, or

you’re going to have to drag me. Because I’ve made up my mind.”

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Dane sighed. “You and Hailey . . . you’re the real team here. I’m just the baggage.”

“You are not
baggage
, Dane. You’re my oldest friend!”

“And I’ll still be your oldest friend, Logan. Hailey’s too. I

don’t need to travel to Beacon to be that.”

“Dane. There has to be a better solution than just leaving you stranded here . . .”

Dane looked up, craning his head back. He took a deep breath,

and a little cloud of condensation puffed out from his mouth.

“I like it here, Logan. Haven’t you liked it here too?”

“Well . . . I mean, sure, but . . .”

“But you have a sister to save. I know.” Dane frowned. “I don’t, though.” He gazed at the dark night sky, cloudy and cool. “Instead I have my friends—Logan, Hailey, and the Dust. And as I see it, staying here is the best way for me to help them. What if Peck and the rest of the gang are listening in somewhere? What if you need your grandmother’s help down the line? Logan, this mission you’re on . . . you need all the help you can get. We proved today that this valley’s radio station is a unique advantage. And I think I can make a real difference with it.”