Page 61 of Jace

After what seemed like a long time, the red-haired woman began to slow to a light jog.

“Where are we going?” Susannah asked the woman, breathlessly.

“Just away from the diremoose,” she replied, slowing to a walk. “Doesn’t really matter where, we just need to be out of charging range, in case he throws the ropes.”

“Oh,” Susannah said, catching her breath.

“What were you doing out here?” the girl asked. Her tone implied curiosity, not aggression.

Her speech was accented compared to what Susannah was used to, but still easy enough to understand. She couldn’t help but wonder where the young woman was from.

“We were following the creek,” Jace answered. “We suspect one of the neighbors of foul play, and we wanted to see what he’s up to.”

“Downhill,” the woman guessed. “With the water wheel?”

“Yes,” Susannah said. “How did you know?”

“It’s not that impressive,” the woman laughed. “We don’t have many neighbors.”

“And we didn’t think we had any at all,” Susannah replied.

“The neighbor you’re thinking of doesn’t think so either,” the girl said mysteriously. “I’ll walk you as far as his land.”

“Thank you,” Susannah said, relieved when Jace didn’t argue. “My name is Susannah. And that’s Jace, and this is baby Zeke.”

The girl smiled and peeked at the baby’s chubby cheek resting on Susannah’s chest.

“I’m Zara,” she said.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Zara,” Susannah said. “And a big thanks to you and your group for saving us from that moose thing.”

“My people don’t usually like strangers,” the girl said carefully. “But we like you.”

“But we’ve never met before,” Susannah laughed. “And we had no idea you were here. We were told there was no one living on Han-2 but recent pioneers, and you guys know the territory too well for that to be the case.”

“My people arrived on Han-2 generations ago,” Zara said. “Their ship wrecked, like all the others, but there were some survivors, and they founded our community.”

“Wow,” Susannah said. “I can’t imagine how brave they must have been.”

“Me neither,” Zara agreed. “Though it’s all lost in legend now. One of the biggest things our founders laid out in the beginning was that no one was ever to return to the site of the wreck. Technology caused them to lose their loved ones and almost lose their lives. They took it as a sign that we should grow close to nature.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” Susannah said. “And it meant they were focused on the future instead of the past.”

“That’s exactly what our elder says,” Zara replied with wide eyes. “Hands on your work, hearts on your future.”

“I’m so glad we’re neighbors,” Susannah said. “I hope we can meet your community one day, under better circumstances.”

“We scared away the workers who were on your land,” Zara said suddenly.

Susannah glanced at the girl in shock. If the rest of her community was as open-hearted as Zara, this was a real surprise.

“They were tearing down the trees,” Zara said quietly, her eyes fixed on the creek as if she didn’t want to look at Susannah while she confessed. “Nature sustains us. The land is our life. It is our job to protect it.”

Susannah nodded, thinking it over. She had been having the same thoughts herself earlier today.

“Until a few years ago, no one had ever come to Han-2,” Zara said. “And when they did, they visited for a few days and left in their ships again. They didn’t find us because we didn’t wish to be found.”

“The influencer,” Susannah said, nodding. “I remember that.”

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