Astral Tide (The Otherborn Series)

by Silver, Anna

  He grinned at her. “No worries…mate.”

  London started laughing. “You’re so confused.”

  “Tell me about it,” Tora chimed in.

  “Okay,” London said, getting serious. “Bullshit aside. Tell us what Hantu said about the dreamers. We need to know this.” She shifted the truck back into D and began rolling down the pavement again, picking up speed.

  “It’s like the saying goes: if you can’t beat ‘em, join’em. This is all conjecture, mind you, but our best guess is that once they realized the dreaming was spreading, they decided to change tactics and utilize it as a new resource under their control. I guess Avery has impressed them with her skills. It appears they’re taking the dreamers in, though for what purpose, we can’t say. Possibly using them to develop new technology, art, intelligence, or whatever they can get from them. In any case, they’re quarantining the problem, so to speak. By removing the dreamers from the Outroader population, they’re hoping to keep it under control.”

  “Like a factory of New,” London said. New was a dirty word behind the walls, even among most of the Outroaders. Creativity died with the dreaming. London knew she was taking a risk when she wrote her first song last year and played it for Pauly. He did too and he tried to warn her. In the end, it had gotten him killed. She had. Apparently the only place the Tycoons tolerated New was in their personal settlement, New Eden.

  “That’s horrible,” Zen said. “Slavery? You really think so?”

  “We were all slaves, anyway. Think about it,” London replied.

  “I guess, but still. I feel like we set those Outroaders up to be taken in. At least they’d had some kind of freedom before—”

  “Before we came?” London asked.

  “Exactly.” Zen’s jaw clenched. “This sucks. We didn’t sacrifice everything just to end up another weapon in the Tycoon’s arsenal.”

  London knew he was talking about Avery as much as anything or anyone else.

  Zen rubbed his large hands over his face and peered out the window. “You better slow down. I think that right turn is coming up. We’re nearing the Ag District.”

  “Okay,” London said, letting up some pressure on the gas pedal.

  “It’s so much faster if we cut through,” Kim said. He and Zen had been arguing about this all morning.

  “Kim, it’s decided. Get over it. We’re going to cut across the back side of the Ag District and avoid as much of the main roads as possible, okay? The Tycoon convoy came through here looking for us. Clark said so. We can’t risk the exposure, no matter how much time it saves.”

  “Suit yourself,” Kim said with a shrug.

  “I always do,” London jibed, pulling her hair over one shoulder. Her normally frantic curls had relaxed, despite the humidity, into a sheet of rolling waves. She liked it, but she couldn’t help remembering something similar happening to Si’dah in the Astral last night. Was it possible for her appearance to change here, to blend, like it did there? For now, she was shaking it off as a fluke. Between the slavery issue and Zen’s secrets, she couldn’t handle one more worry.

  * * *

  THE SOUND WAS unlike any she’d heard coming from the truck before, except when they’d gone dry in the Houselands outside of Capital City. Kind of a pathetic gurgle that accompanied the slowing speedometer. London pumped the gas pedal, pushing as hard as she could, but the engine didn’t respond with its signature high whine. Despite her efforts, the truck rolled to a complete standstill and its motor went silent. She turned the key and removed it after shifting into P.

  “What’s going on?” Zen asked, stretching. He’d fallen asleep next to her while they ambled through the back roads of the Ag District, moving steadily as they cut through the quilted acres of fields and crops.

  “I don’t know,” London said, opening her door. “When’s the last time we put water in it?”

  Zen shrugged. “Can’t say. Before the Bayou camps. I’ll grab a water tank from the back.”

  Kim and Tora were snuggled up together on a nest of old blankets among the scraps and remaining boxes of rations. London didn’t want to wake them—they looked so nauseatingly cute together. She decided to let Zen help her out.

  She waited, tapping her foot, for Zen to meet her around the side by the little metal door. Her eyes shifted restlessly from one row of towering stalks to the other. A slight breeze stirred the long, blade-shaped leaves. She recognized the corn because the Twisted Oaks camp had a small field of it that they grew from year to year. The one benefit of their damaged planet and unseasonable warmth was that it extended the growing season. The Ag District was never without a crop to cultivate or harvest.

  “Hey,” Zen said, surprising her and making her jump.

  London placed a hand on her chest where her heart was turning over like a newly tilled field. “God, Zen. You scared me.”

  His smile only made her heart flop more. “We have a problem.”

  London hitched at her belt loops. She hadn’t eaten since that morning and her pants were sliding loosely down her hips. “What kind of problem?”

  Zen held up one of the plastic six gallon carboys they’d kept filled with water for fuel. It was bone dry.

  “Shit.” London tugged at her lip.

  “You can say that again,” Zen said with a frown.

  “Shit.”

  Zen raised an eyebrow and grinned at her.

  “You sure that’s the last one? None of the others have water either?”

  “Nope. I checked. We left in such a hurry. Normally I check stuff like that, but I was so distracted…” He didn’t finish because they both knew the answer. Seeing Avery had thrown such a kink in everyone’s chain they’d all forgotten to check their fuel supplies.

  London flapped her hands and started pacing. What were they going to do? It was dusk and they were stranded in the middle of an Ag District road. She couldn’t have been more grateful that they didn’t listen to Kim and follow the main roads. The only thing working in their favor was the lonely crops to either side.

  Zen came up and put a hand on each of her shoulders. “Calm down. I’m going to get Kim up and we’ll push this truck off into one of these fields until it can’t be seen. You and Tora can scout for water. There’s bound to be some nearby. They have to keep these crops watered somehow.”

  “Okay,” London agreed. It was as good a plan as any under the circumstances. “But the truck will leave a big hole in the rows. It’ll be obvious if somebody comes by.”

  “Then all we can do is hope no one does. It’s late. I can’t imagine why anyone would travel this way at night. Morning might be another story though, so let’s get started.”

  They got the others up and Zen and Kim managed, with London steering, to push their truck toward a small dirt lane that ran between the fields to their right. From there, they pushed it deep into the crops until they reached a copse of bordering trees and felt certain it wasn’t visible from the road they’d been on. Their only weakness was if someone traveled that lane, they’d definitely see the break in the crops and know something big had come through. The boys agreed to do their best to prop the stalks upright near the lane, but even as they tried, they managed only a sickly tilt that did little to disguise the opening.

  London and Tora each grabbed a container and left the boys to their work, moving through the corn next to the lane away from the road.

  “I know you’re worried,” Tora told her once they were out of earshot of Zen and Kim.

  “Huh?” London stared at a giant metal irrigator that stood like a ghostly sentinel in the distance. Turning one of those things on would alert someone to their presence, but if they could find its source, they might be in business.

  “About me. About last night. I know it upsets you when someone else knows something about the dreaming that you don’t because you’re worried they’ll turn out like Avery.”

  London turned from the irrigator to Tora. Even in the dying light, her green eyes flared
like ghoulish flames. London shrugged. She didn’t like to talk about Avery. Ever.

  Tora put a hand out and touched her arm. “London, I would never do something like that to you or to Kim. Do you understand? You have to start trusting me.”

  “I do trust you,” London lied. It wasn’t personal. She didn’t trust anyone like she used to.

  Tora sighed. “I love him. I’m in love with Kim.”

  London rolled her eyes. “That’s pretty obvious.”

  “So I would never hurt him like that. And hurting you would hurt Kim, so I would never hurt you either.”

  “Okay. I get it,” London said, starting to walk again.

  “Do you?” Tora didn’t look convinced. “Despite what you think, I care about you. I’m your friend, remember?”

  London stared into the open neck of her empty container. “So was Avery.” So was Zen, she thought, but she couldn’t say it. He was keeping secrets from her. And Kim had Tora. She was more alone than ever.

  “London, we’re not all Avery. You have to stop carrying her around with you everywhere we go. And whatever is happening with you and Zen, he’s not Avery either. He’s better than her.”

  London swallowed. Damn Seer, couldn’t she have any secrets? “What’s going on between Zen and me is none of your business.”

  Tora drew back as if slapped. “I don’t think Kim would feel the same. Or Hantu. But I’ll back off for now because I know it’s sordid and you’re confused. I just wish you’d open up to me a little bit more. Sorting through your head is like sifting through a scrap heap.”

  “Then don’t,” London snapped. “I don’t like you rummaging around in my thoughts.”

  “Okay, then tell me what’s up with you instead. You’re so closed, we never know where you stand anymore. And Hantu said we have to work together, you and me, if we’re going to get past the blockages you all are harboring and begin to take this world back.”

  London slapped at a corn stalk. She knew Tora was right. Everything she was saying made sense. But she’d just begun to open up with Rye before New Eden. And then Avery’s betrayal was like a slap in the face and Rye was yanked away from her. Now she was more spooked than ever. She thought she could start to unravel herself with Zen, but something in his intentions toward her had changed and she didn’t know how to feel about that. And now he was holding back, keeping things from her. She felt betrayed all over again.

  “I think Zen is hiding something from me. Something about Rye.” London’s confession came spilling out.

  Tora looked shocked.

  “You said you wanted me to open up.” London threw a hand up. “I need your help.”

  Tora clamped her mouth shut. “You’re right. Okay. How can I help?”

  “Why don’t you work your mind powers on someone else for a change. See if you can read what he’s keeping from me.”

  “Are you sure?” Tora asked. “It may not be something you really want to know.”

  London looked at her, and despite how she tried to fight them, her eyes glazed over with tears. “I know. But—I can’t concentrate, I can’t even think about anything else. And Zen is acting different. I just…I have to know what’s going on with him, Tora. I have to know what he won’t tell me about Rye. What if it changes everything?” She was babbling now, but she couldn’t help it. She’d never had an actual girl friend except Avery.

  “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. I’m not making any promises. Zen is—well, let’s just say he’s pretty powerful in a lot more than just his body. He’s not always an open book.”

  London nodded.

  “Whatever it is, London, he’s holding back because he doesn’t want to hurt you. That much I know already.”

  It sounded all too familiar.

  Chapter 6

  * * *

  Pet Project

  THEY CROUCHED LOW between the stalks, peering through the open pasture for any sign of water. Night had fallen, but a nearly full moon silhouetted everything in a pale aura.

  “I can’t see for all these cows,” London said with a disgusted huff. “We’re going to have to get closer.”

  Across the pasture, in the distance, a structure was visible. London was willing to bet it was a barn. But even so, a house wouldn’t be far off.

  “I don’t know,” Tora told her. “I don’t like it.”

  London gripped her empty container. “We don’t have much choice. We need water. There’s bound to be a hose, or spigot, or something closer to that barn.”

  Tora shook her head. “I know. I just have this bad feeling.”

  London took a deep breath, quelling her frustration. “Can you be a little more specific, Tora? Is it the barn, the moon, or the minefield of cow shit we have to cross?”

  Tora gave her a sharp look. “I don’t know. I’m not getting any details. Just an intuitive sense of…ickyness.”

  “Ickyness? That’s probably the cow patties,” London said wrinkling her nose.

  “Make jokes then. You know that’s not what I mean.” Tora folded her arms. “Something just doesn’t feel right here.”

  London stood and brushed at her pant legs. “Too bad. ‘Cause I’m sensing nothing but water, and water beats ickyness. Let’s move.”

  She started out across the pasture, keeping as low a profile as she could without being reduced to her hands and knees in the muck. She heard Tora exhale behind her, but the Seer followed, like it or not. London knew ignoring Tora’s extra sense wasn’t always wise, but whatever was spooking her couldn’t possibly outweigh their need for fuel. If they stayed low and kept quiet, they should be able to refill their carboys somewhere nearby and hustle it back to the truck long before the sun came up.

  Despite her efforts to move carefully so as not to upset the animals, as she shuffled past a cow and her calf, the cow let out a low wail and a snort before scooting away. Great, an organic Ag alarm.

  “I hate cows,” London whispered.

  Tora was right behind her. “Just keep moving. That big one over there with the horns is eyeballing me.”

  London dared a glance to her right where, sure enough, a massive bull pawed once, then twice, at the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut and picked up the pace as much as she dared. They needed to get out of this pasture as quickly as possible.

  Before long, they made it to a cross fence of barbed wire and London held one strand aloft carefully as Tora slipped through. When it was her turn, she got hung on a spike and tore her sweater, but untangled herself with Tora’s help. They lifted their containers over and turned toward the looming shadow of a two-story metal barn.

  “See,” London whispered. “Just a barn.”

  Tora eyed it suspiciously then let her gaze wander. As predicted, the twinkling windows of a farmhouse were only a stone’s throw away. “And a house. And a family. And who knows what else.”

  “Tora, just keep your voice down and follow me. We’ll be out of here in no time.” London’s eyes had found the glinting edge of a large aluminum trough emerging beneath the fence line only a few feet away. She hadn’t seen it before because a group of lazy cows were positioned in her way. But from this side of the fence, she could see the moonlight reflecting off the still surface of what lay within—water.

  They tip-toed over to the trough and London submerged her container, watching the air bubble up from inside as the water replaced it. A nearby cow shifted at the intrusion and mooed quietly. But even a quiet moo was fairly loud and London scowled.

  “Shut up, you good for nothing—” she started to whisper when Tora tapped her on the back.

  “Hurry,” Tora urged her.

  London lifted her half-full carboy, it would have been too heavy to carry completely filled, and moved over for Tora, who immersed hers. Huddled over the trough, they watched the water spill in until they were certain they had enough to get well past the Ag District and look for a new source.

  “Good, let’s go,” London said under her breath when they heard a small sn
eeze behind them. They both spun around, startled.

  Before them stood two young children, a boy and a girl, in their shiny reprocessed pajamas and black rubber boots. They were holding hands and watching them with wide, curious eyes. London figured they couldn’t have been more than nine or ten. Their tow heads were equal in height, and their white lashes shone in the moonlight. They had to be twins.

  Tora ran a hand through her chin-length hair. “We were just getting some water,” she said in a hushed tone, glancing back at the house. She looked at London with an expression that said help?

  “Yeah,” London whispered, following Tora’s lead. “It’s a secret. Can you guys keep a secret?”

  The twins nodded silently.

  “Good,” London said. “Because you can’t tell anyone you saw us, okay?”

  “That’s right,” Tora added. “Only you guys can know we were here. That makes us your secret friends.”

  “Look,” London said, remembering to check her pockets. She pulled out a few scrapped plastic buttons, two old pre-Crisis pennies, and a safety pin. Always good for quick trade, she tried to keep little things like that tucked away.

  The little girl let go of her brother’s hand and stepped forward. She pointed to a pink button with two small holes in the center that rested in London’s palm. It was shaped like a flower.

  “For you,” London told her and the girl snatched it up. The boy darted forward and scooped up the safety pin and the coins. He turned them over and over in his fingers.

  “See,” London told them. “We’re good friends to have.”

  The twins nodded. A door slammed in the distance and London and Tora both ducked down instinctively. The sound of several feet crunching gravel came from near the house.

  “Kayla! Crow! You two out here?” a maternal voice called.

  “We’re here, Momma,” the boy, Crow, yelled back while Kayla placed a finger over her lips to warn London and Tora to keep quiet. She gestured toward the barn and they followed her to the dark crack between its two main doors.