Page 107 of A Better World

“Maybe.”

Gal leaned against the door for support. She looked older. She’d somehow gone from twenty-five to forty years old in less than half a year. “Can you get them?”

“I don’t know.”

Gal backed up. Linda came inside. The house was pleasantly messy. To the left, three couches made a wide circle around a large screen where cartoons played. A pair of bored tweens watched a wolf blow down a house of straw. To the right was a dining room where an odd lot of about ten people ate and talked softly. Gal waved to the one who looked like a supervisor.

“It’s okay. We can do my hands later. My best friend’s visiting,” Gal said. Then she led Linda straight ahead. They sat on the hall steps.

“How many people live here?”

“I can’t tell. Everybody comes and goes,” Gal said. “It’s people from PV who got kicked out, but it’s also for people in general. Townies volunteer to do night watches and check bags and make sure we’re not loaded. But you can’t call them townies. They don’t like it.”

“Yeah. Don’t do that,” Linda said. “Are those Kim Jackson’s kids watching the screen?”

“I think so? The principal, right? She got kicked out last week. They said she couldn’t write good recommendations.”

Linda told Gal what she’d seen. After that, they talked practicalities. To retrieve Sebbie and Katie, she would have to access a locked basement at a hospital from which she’d been barred. She’d have to retrieve the kids and drive them across the border. This wouldn’t be easy.

Gal made a claw, scratched her forehead. “My Katie and Sebbie won’t cause any fuss. Just tell them their mommy sent you. Say ‘heaven’s gate.’ That’s our special saying. They’ll walk right out. They’ll know it’s me. Sally won’t stop you. She won’t know what to do. Nobody expects you to risk your golden ticket. They couldn’t even imagine it. And once it’s done, they’ll never confront you. Katie and Sebbie aren’t supposed to be there. They’d have to admit that.”

Linda wondered at that, figured very possibly theywouldget angry. Theywouldconfront. But Gal was desperate, saying anything. Linda didn’t blame her. “Do you really believe they’re going to hurt your children at this festival?” Linda asked.

Gal took Linda’s hand in hers. The skin was tough as shark fins. “Ask Percy Khoury.”

“I’m asking you. Are you sure these people mean harm?”

“I’m sure,” Gal said, but she hesitated.

“You’ve never seen it, though, the festival. You don’t know.”

“No. But you can know a thing is true without having to see it.”

“You’re asking me to take a huge leap of faith,” Linda said.

“Not really.”

Linda looked ahead at the arched entrance, the old lead windows leaking air. She liked this house. “I don’t know if I have this in me. Even if I wanted to help you. People are good at different things,” Linda said. “I’m not good at whatever this is.”

“They’ll die if you don’t,” Gal said.

“Russ said they’re being treated in secret. They know Trish isn’t fit, and they think you’re unfit, too.”

“Do you believe that?” Gal asked.

No. She did not. “You nearly killed them once. Why should I deliver them to you?”

“So don’t give them to me. Give them to strangers. Give them to anybody but Hollow.”

Linda thought on all that, said the thing she’d known she’d say as soon as she’d gotten in her car. “I’ll help you.”

They worked out the logistics. “I’d like something back,” Linda said before leaving.

“Anything,” Gal said.

“I’d like your room here, once you’re gone.”

“I need you to be honest with me,” Linda said. Russell had just walked into his office. She was sitting behind his desk.

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