by Jordan Rivet
“Okay. I’ll work on Yvonne. Be careful, David. We can’t afford any mistakes here.”
“Don’t worry about me. Get some rest.” David squeezed her hand but didn’t lean in to kiss her. Instead he bowed over her hand, brushing her palm with his fingers, and turned to go.
Esther climbed the stairs to the dormitory next to the spreading tree. It was deserted. All the women would be at the festival for a while yet. Esther made a slow circle around the large room, looking for any hints that could help them. Several of the women had carved their names on their bunks or embroidered them on their pillows. Esther couldn’t find any evidence of Naomi here at all. Why did her head hurt so much?
She kicked the soft moccasins off her feet and sat on her own bunk. Her lids felt heavy, her eyes scratchy and hot. She lay down on top of the quilt Yvonne had found for her. She should get undressed, but she wanted to rest for a minute first. Shadows closed in around her.
Chapter 24—Fever
WHEN ESTHER AWOKE, SHE had a vague awareness of people moving around her, but all she felt was heat. Or was it cold? She was shivering. Her head pounded and spun. Was there a storm? Something wrong with the engines?
She descended into blackness.
The next time she clawed toward consciousness, she heard voices.
“Can’t believe she’s so hot . . .”
“She needs more blankets.”
“. . . didn’t realize anything was wrong. I just went to work, and when I came back . . .”
The sea swirled around her. She was in a volcano. Where were her storm goggles?
“Should we get her friends?”
“They went out with the hunting party.”
“Can’t break the fever . . .”
“. . . need to . . . soon if she’s going to have a chance . . .”
The waves pounded down on her skull. No, she was trapped beneath the engine block. That’s why she couldn’t move. She should call for Cally, but she had no voice.
She wanted her mother. She saw her rising out of the sea, foam and starfish in her hair. Naomi, still a little girl, held her hand. She pointed at Esther, and Nina smiled. Then a wave swallowed them both.
The next thing Esther knew she was being lifted. Arms strong around her. They smelled like dirt.
Light in the trees. Still moving. An engine sputtering to life.
She felt something soft. It was dark. Blurring in her ears. She was in the bath with that almost-too-hot water. No, she could breathe this time.
Sensation faded again.
Chapter 25—Inside
ESTHER AWOKE WITH HER face covered in sweat. She wiped her forehead, her fingers shaking. She felt like she’d spent the entire day carrying heavy parts from the engine room to the top deck.
She blinked rapidly, and the room around her came into focus. She was no longer in the single-women’s dormitory. Her surroundings were sterile. White plaster walls. A narrow, high window with no curtains. She lay on a hard bed, which was the only thing in the room except for an empty chair.
The door was made of heavy steel, and it was closed. Esther remembered her captivity on Calderon Island a few months ago and felt a tug of panic.
She sat up shakily and examined her arms. A tube sticking from one of them snaked toward a stand with a glass bottle full of liquid. Esther had heard of IVs before, but she’d never had one. This one looked like it was made out of an old soda bottle. She eased the tube out of her skin and pinched her arm to stop the trickle of blood.
That heavy steel door made her nervous. Was she a prisoner? Had the Dentist already figured out why they were really here?
Then it hit her like a swinging boom. Naomi! Her sister was here at the lake somewhere. Alive. Maybe in danger.
Esther slid off the bed. She was a bit unsteady on her feet, but she could at least hold herself upright. If she was imprisoned and not just in an infirmary, this might be her chance to get answers.
From the weak light slanting in through the window, Esther guessed it was either approaching evening or she was in a deeply shaded area. That didn’t help her much. Had she been in here for almost a full day? The window was too high to see out, and she didn’t trust herself to climb on top of the chair at the moment. She crept to the door and listened.
There was no sound outside her room. She counted ten heartbeats, then tested the doorknob. She gasped in relief when it turned. She wasn’t locked in. The Lake People couldn’t have figured out what she was up to yet. She pulled the door toward her, finding it surprisingly heavy. She was weak. Her arms were noticeably thinner than they should be. Had she had been sick for longer than a day? She remembered then that the Lucinda had been sent away. What of her father, David, and Cody?
She peeked out at a corridor lined with identical doors. It was fairly long. She didn’t think she’d seen a building this big in the town, apart from the Dentist’s Lodge. This didn’t feel like that polished wooden interior. She crept out of her room, but there was no one around to stop her. The hall was deathly quiet. There was a set of double doors at one end of the corridor. At the other end a heavier-looking door had a panel with two buttons next to it. There was something familiar about that.
Esther walked toward it unsteadily, and she was within ten feet before she realized it was the door to an elevator. Of course! Her brain must be a little scrambled by her illness.
Esther stood before the elevator for a split second before making her decision. She might never have another chance. She had to learn as much about this town as possible if she was going to find Naomi. She hit the button.
Esther held her breath as the elevator car arrived, preparing an excuse for being out of bed, but when the doors opened the little box was empty. She stepped inside and examined the panel of buttons beside the door. The building had only four levels. The first three were neatly labeled: G—Infirmary; B1—Storage; B2—Detention. B3 had a button but no label. She wondered briefly what was down there, then pushed the button for the Detention Level.
The elevator descended. This was too easy. Esther clenched her fists, wishing she had her tool belt with her. Almost there.
When the doors opened, the Dentist stood before her.
Esther stared at him, her heart sputtering and racing. Her reflexes were slow. She felt foggy.
“Hello, Miss Harris,” the Dentist said. He didn’t seem surprised to see her.
“I’m lost,” Esther said.
“Indeed you are. You’re heading in the wrong direction, I’m afraid. You’ve been ill.”
“I—”
“You’d best return to your room. Luckily, I’m heading that way myself. I’ll escort you.”
“Okay,” Esther said. She tried to sound groggy, and it didn’t take much acting.
The Dentist stepped into the elevator with her. She shifted so she could look down the corridor behind him. The Detention Level was one long room separated into compartments with rusty metal bars, making Esther think of the chicken hatchery.
In the cage closest to the elevator doors, just to the left, sat a young woman.
Esther froze, hope stopping her breath. The young woman had curly dark hair lying lankly on her forehead. She was short.
And she had Esther’s mother’s nose.
It was Naomi. Esther was sure of it. They locked eyes for perhaps two seconds. Then the elevator doors closed.
When Esther looked up, the Dentist was watching her.
“See anything interesting?” he said softly.
“What’s in there?”
“That is our detention facility, as I’m sure you know, seeing as you hit that button.”
“I feel kind of out of it,” Esther said. “I think I’ve been sick.”
“Yes,” the Dentist said. “But you’re feeling better now I trust.”
“Not really.”
“Then you must get more rest.”
The elevator doors opened, and the Dentist steered her out. He guided her down the hall, his grip firm. E
sther was reminded how very tall he was. Her head didn’t even come up to his shoulder.
She waited for him to confront her, to accuse her of trying to steal one of his prisoners. He obviously knew she was sneaking around on purpose. She didn’t want to play games. Did he know specifically about her connection to Naomi, though? There was a good chance Yvonne had told him everything, but she couldn’t give anything away just in case.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“The Bunker. Don’t worry. We have very good nurses.”
“What’s in the lowest level?”
The Dentist didn’t answer. He guided her firmly back into her room. Before closing the door, he gave her a final long look, his golden eyes glistening.
“Get well soon, Miss Harris.”
The lock clicked behind her.
Esther collapsed onto the bed, her heart racing. Naomi was here, two levels beneath her feet. She was in a cage, but she was still alive—at least for now. It was really her. Esther could barely process it. Alive. Alive. Alive. She felt feverish, triumphant. But the short walk up and down the corridor had taken a toll on Esther’s weakened body. She slept again.
When she woke, a sleeping David Hawthorne occupied the chair by her bed. He still wore the clothes he’d borrowed from Bole, the shirt open at the neck.
Esther rolled onto her side to face him. “Psst, David,” she hissed. “David Elliot Hawthorne!”
He jerked upright, disoriented. His eyes were red, and his hair wasn’t quite as perfectly combed as usual. When he saw she was awake, he leapt off the chair and knelt by her side.
“How are you feeling?” he said quietly.
“A little shaky. Are we prisoners?”
“No, this is the infirmary. The hospital.”
“I know. But there’s a prison here too. Have you seen—?”
“Shh. Not now, Esther.” David glanced significantly at the door. “You had a fever. The Shepherds think you caught something from the muddy river. It’s a wonder I didn’t get it too.”
“How long have I been here?” Esther asked.
“Three days.”
“What? Salt! What’s been happening out there? We need to—”
“They’ve been taking good care of us,” David said, jerking his head toward the door again. “I was worried. I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
“I’m a little the worse for wear, but I should be fine. Have you heard anything from the Lucinda?”
“They’re still on the river about a day’s journey out. I talked to Zoe and reassured her that we’re fine here.” David raised his voice a little. “I told her how warmly we’ve been welcomed and that the lake might be a great place for us to settle. The others are impatient to see it, of course.”
David looked at Esther warningly, and she cast about for a safe question to ask.
“How is my dad?”
“Simon’s fine. He was here until about an hour ago, when I made him go get some fresh air. You scared us both. It’s good to see you awake.” David leaned in as if to kiss her cheek, but instead he put his face close to her ear and whispered, “They’re listening to everything. We’ll talk when you get out.”
Esther grabbed David’s shirt and kept his face close to hers.
“I saw her,” she hissed. “Naomi is in a cell two levels below us. But the Dentist saw me sneaking down there.”
“He hasn’t confronted us.” David frowned. “What’s he waiting for?”
“I don’t know, but we need to move fast. Can we get the others up here to help?”
David pretended to adjust Esther’s pillows and whispered, “The Dentist claimed it was a misunderstanding that they got a message telling them to leave, but he’s dragging his feet on giving us permission to bring them in. He keeps saying they need to prepare to give the visitors a proper welcome.”
“We should have a plan in place for when they arrive,” Esther said, possibilities whizzing through her mind like a spooling engine. “We can’t afford to waste time.”
“You need to focus on getting better,” David said. “I’ll work on a plan with Simon and Cody.”
“I can’t just sit here.”
“I understand. But don’t get caught sneaking around again.” David stood. “I’ll go get your dad. Don’t want him finding out you’ve been awake for a whole thirty seconds and I haven’t told him yet.” He looked over at the door and raised his voice. “And I’ll bring you some berries, Esther. They’re really swell here.”
“Can’t wait.”
Chapter 26—Sisters
WOMEN WEARING THE WHITE-ROBED Shepherd’s attire tended to Esther in the infirmary. Her primary caregiver, a woman in her sixties with lank, gray hair, went by the name Whitefern. Esther wanted to leave the infirmary as soon as she was able to stay conscious for more than an hour, but Whitefern kept her on a very strict schedule. She bustled around, fussing and clucking like one of Yvonne’s chickens. She fed Esther soup four times a day and wouldn’t allow her to hold the spoon herself. She even accompanied her to the bathroom. She alternated between chattering about the blessings of the lake and lamenting her many ailments: aching back, failing eyesight, bum knee, various rashes and boils. The only body parts that didn’t seem to bother her one bit were her teeth.
Being confined to bed at Whitefern’s mercy was incredibly frustrating for Esther, but she did her best to smile at Whitefern often and thank her for her care. She had to keep up the story that she and her companions might settle at the lake. She tried to appear moved and impressed by the work of the Shepherds.
As long as the Dentist continued to pretend he didn’t know they were lying about their real reason for being there, they had time to work out a plan. And Esther had time to do some reconnaissance.
Unfortunately, Whitefern sat up with Esther for the entire first night after she regained consciousness. Esther had planned to sneak back into the basement at the first opportunity, but she didn’t count on the woman’s diligence. Whitefern knitted with a pair of wooden needles all night long, at it every time Esther woke and tried to slip away.
On the second day Esther was conscious—her fifth day in the Bunker—Cody came, along with David and her father, to visit. The men tried to keep their conversation to neutral topics. They told her the townspeople had warmed to them in Esther’s absence and had taken them on scouting, hunting, and berry-picking expeditions. Cody regaled her with the tale of David’s quest to pick berries for her and his subsequent fall into a bramble patch, resulting in small scratches all over his arms.
The men were trying to deflect suspicion and put the townspeople at ease by throwing themselves into the life of the lake. Cody took to it naturally, and he even accompanied some of the townsmen on their nightly curfew patrols. As the youngest among them, he found everything fresh and exciting, and the townspeople seemed to enjoy introducing him to new experiences. Simon had managed to get his hands on a copy of the Code to study, and David was getting to know the Elders to find out who was most influential.
They were all doing their part, but Esther knew there was something only she could do. Her father must know it too, because before they left he leaned close to hug her and said, “Please keep safe, button. I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks. I almost lost you.”
“I’ll only take necessary risks.”
“Esther . . .”
“I’ll be fine, Dad.”
Esther knew what she had to do. There was only so much the men could accomplish out there. They had to find out how many guards the Detention Level had, how they’d be armed, and how difficult it would be to get Naomi’s cage open. They needed answers about the Bunker itself before they could make a move. That was up to Esther.
But on the second night, Whitefern was just as assiduous in keeping an eye on her. Esther began to wonder whether the woman slept at all. She fought drowsiness, hoping to catch the woman drifting. Sleep pulled at Esther like an undertow. She finally gave up and fell asleep to the sound of
clacking knitting needles.
She dreamt of her mother tapping her fingernails along the countertop in their sunlit kitchen in San Diego. Naomi darted through the room toward the open front door, a stack of books clutched to her chest. She disappeared into the blazing outdoors before Esther could call out to her.
David and her father visited again on the third day and reported that the Dentist had finally given them permission to bring more of their crew up to the village from the Lucinda. Through a frantic, whispered discussion—interspersed with loud statements about the weather for the benefit of whoever was listening outside the door—they agreed they would try to get Naomi out of her cage while the townspeople were preoccupied with welcome activities for the crew. It might be the distraction they needed. They didn’t know yet which day the crew would arrive, but Esther needed to get the information about the Detention Level soon.
Fortunately, that night—the third after Esther woke up from her fever—Whitefern fell asleep at her bedside. Esther had seen her take something from her pocket and pop it surreptitiously into her mouth. A short time later she had stopped complaining about her back pain. She settled into her chair, and soon her head began to nod, her knitting needles slipping down her lap.
Esther watched Whitefern’s head nod for half an hour, fighting to stay awake herself. She felt much better than before, but she still grew tired easily. She had to be back to her full strength when they made their move.
When Whitefern’s head finally drooped to her chest, Esther waited for a count of one hundred to make sure she wouldn’t jerk awake. Whitefern’s breathing grew deeper. She seemed to be settling in for a nice long nap.
Esther climbed carefully out of her bed, begging it not to creak. Whitefern didn’t stir. Esther had put her socks on earlier in preparation, and now she crept across the room without a sound. She held her breath at the door and eased it open to escape for the second time. Or at least that’s what she tried to do. She met resistance at the door handle. Whitefern had locked them in.