@@@@@He wasn't bluffing–he was already invisible
@@@@@He wasn't bluffing–he was already
invisible around the first cornerI raced after him, horrified by the thought that I might run into
someone else in this obviously inhabited wingI caught up to him before he reached the big
intersection of the tunnelsHe didn't even look at me as I slowed beside him to match his pace
“'Bout time that northeast field was plantedWe'll have to work the soil firstHope you don't
mind getting your hands dirtyAfter we're done, I'll see that you get a chance to clean yourself
up He sniffed pointedly, then laughed
I felt the back of my neck get hot, but I ignored the last part“I don't mind getting my hands
dirty,” I murmuredAs I recalled, the empty northeastern field was out of the wayPerhaps we
would be able to work alone
Once we got to the big plaza cave, we started passing humansThey all stared, infuriated, as
usualI was beginning to recognize most of them: the middle-aged woman with the long
salt-and-pepper braid I had seen with the irrigation team yesterdayThe short man with the
round belly, thinning sandy hair, and ruddy cheeks had been with herThe athletic-looking
woman with the caramel brown skin had been the one bent to tie her shoe the first time I'd
come out here during the dayAnother dark-skinned woman with thick lips and sleepy eyes had
been in the kitchen, near the two black-haired children–perhaps she was their mother? Now we
passed Maggie; she glowered at Jeb and turned her face away from meWe passed a pale,
sick-looking man with white hair whom I was sure I'd never seen before
“Hey, Jeb,” he said cheerfully“Whatcha up to?”
“Turning the soil in the east field,” Jeb grunted
“Want some help?”
“Oughtto make yourself useful,” Jeb muttered
Ian took this as an assent and fell into step behind meIt gave me goose bumps, feeling his eyes
on my bac