Page 13 of Last Chance to Save the World

Then again, that towerisancient. “So, in the middle of the twentieth century—I can’t remember when...The sixteen hundreds? Eighteen? Something like that. Anyway, there were pirates—”

“Pirates?” Rian says. “Like you?”

“I’m not a pirate; I have an ethical code.”

“A looter’s code. And looting is basically pirating.”

“You have no sense of nuance.Anyway, they—”

“Who?” Rian asks.

“I don’t know,” I say, exasperated. “I know coding, not history. Anyway,theybuilt a series of towers along the coast. Watchtowers. And if someone saw a pirate ship approaching, they lit a fire on top of the tower, and then the next tower over would see it, and they’d light their tower, and then the next and the next—”

“I get the picture.”

“And the whole island would be on alert and ready before any pirate ship even landed.” We’ve reached the top of the path now. “It was a decent system.”

“I’m just in awe that a series of towers built in the seventeenth and/or nineteenth century is still standing.”

“Well, this one is, and one more on the main island. The rest fell a long time ago. And this one isn’t technically the original. It was moved as the coast eroded and then rebuilt, and it’s mostly just a ship of Theseus at this point. But there are enough history nerds that Mom has a job keeping the tower up in between tours. It doesn’t come with much pay, but at least the living quarters are included.”

I pause at the top of the cliff to see how Rian reacts to the full view of the tower. He doesn’t look nearly as impressed as he should.

“How do you get in?” he asks.

“There are some steps and a door on the other side.” It was a watchtower against pirates; of course there’s only one door.

I take one minute to drink it in. It’s been years since I’ve seen this place—since I’ve seen Mom in person—and...I don’t know. It feels like it may be the last time.

So much has gone wrong already, and we’ve not even made it to Fetor’s headquarters.

I take a deep breath.

I tried living with Mom, right after I got my record clear. I tried, and I know she tried, too.

But we’re just so different. She was fine staying right here for the rest of her life.

And I wanted nothing less.

But she’s nobler than me. Even when my father got sick. She wasn’t bitter about it, not the way I still am.

Even in a world as polluted as Earth, she still sees the value of it. The need to stay, to help, to fix everything.

I know she thinks the way I escaped is selfish. I know she doesn’t approve of . . .

Of me.

“Ada?” Rian asks when he sees how I’ve stopped. He comes closer. “Hey,” he adds at my dark look. “Penthouse suite in New Venice after this? We don’t have to stay.”

I shake my head.

It’s too late now.

Rian follows my gaze to see the woman standing at the top of the steps, framed by the limestone doorway. Her skin is a shade darker than mine, her hair a shade lighter, hidden under a vivid purple scarf. She stands with her hands on her hips, looking down at us, her stern stance a contrast to the smile curving her lips.

Apprehension squeezes my stomach, hard.

But I turn to Rian with a huge grin. “Time to meet my mother.”

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