Pearl's Number: The Number Series

by Bethany Atazadeh

  Evalene set her tray back down as well. Jeremiah had repeatedly described the Divided States as dangerous. But the word had just taken on a whole new meaning.

  11

  Evalene

  EVALENE’S ANXIETY SPIKED. THE countries outside of Eden were supposed to be more civilized. This didn’t sound like an improvement at all. If it were possible, it almost sounded worse… “That’s awful,” she said as they emptied their trays and moved back out into the glass hallways. “Do they know which territories are still involved? Or could it be all of them?” She understood now why this Vector person stood so firmly against BioGrading.

  “I’m not sure,” Jeremiah admitted, leading them down yet another long hallway. “At least two territories may have a slave trade. We’ll steer clear of those if we travel outside Old York. But let’s see what Vector has to say first.”

  They walked a good distance, passing through two more housing sections and another dining section. By the time they reached a neon sign declaring “Overnights,” the smell of foods wafting on the air had disappeared and the sky above was fading as the sun set. Inside the new section, they found a small room in the center with a dozen hallways leading away in all directions, advertising a different Overnight option down each one. Jeremiah led them past the first two entrances without stopping.

  “Look,” Olive hissed to her as they passed, and the girls snuck a peek down the first hall. Inside they caught a glimpse of the overnight, painted a shiny pink with sparkling chairs in the foyer, and glamorous women standing at the front desk. Hurrying to catch up with the guys, they glanced inside the second overnight’s hall as well. Designed in a sleek gray that hinted at nothing, the hall curved out of sight.

  At the third overnight entrance, Jeremiah turned to go in. “Let me do the talking,” he said to them as they entered. Evalene nodded absently, trying to catch a glimpse of the other overnights as they went in. Sol waited for the girls, glancing up and down the nearby corridors out of habit. Evalene felt thankful for his vigilance. Between him and Jeremiah, she felt safe and able to let her guard down.

  Her first impression of the Overnight, however, was to turn around and walk back out. There were old couches along the hall with stains on the vivid, orange fabric. As they wandered further in, they found a simple front desk at the opposite end with orange highlights. The décor was manly and the theme was orange-everything.

  At the front desk was an elderly gentleman. His skin sagged deeply, especially around his eyes, giving him a droopy basset-hound look. He had thick gray hair and a belly. Nothing unusual, except that all of those things had been noticeably absent since they’d first set foot in the Divided States. She studied the various orange accents around the room to avoid staring.

  “Wait here.” Jeremiah pointed them toward the couches. “I’ll see if Vector can talk.”

  Evalene tested out a couch. Though it was worn, it was soft and comfortable. Her eyes felt heavy. It was likely the middle of the night back home. Sinking deeper into the couch, she listened as Olive kept up a steady stream of chatter about the rooms and the city. “Sol, what do you think?”

  Somehow Sol had managed to fade into the background, observing the staff and the room without anyone noticing him, the way he stood guard for the Council back home. Evalene didn’t miss the startled look that crossed the old man’s face when Sol stepped out to answer Olive. “It looks like it only has one exit,” he said, always thinking about the angles.

  “Mr. Bloom,” Vector’s voice carried across the room as he greeted Jeremiah. His wrinkles deepened into a smile. “So good to see you again. How are you?” He spoke Common, like everyone else they’d met in Old York, but his accent was clipped and his words were rushed, jumbling together.

  Jeremiah’s response was too quiet to make out, but he didn’t say much before the older man was hollering for someone to cover for him at the front desk. “Follow me,” he said, waving to the rest of the group with a smile. “This way, this way.”

  He took them around the desk and into the back, opening a wooden door. “This is my office,” he said as he went in. “Come in, come in.”

  The others followed him inside. Evalene stepped through the door last. She had to squeeze around the door before she could even manage to shut it. Olive was close enough to brush up against her left arm, and Sol was equally close on her right, still managing to somehow fade into the background, with a blank look and quiet demeanor that Evalene knew was intentional. He pressed into the corner, shoulder to shoulder with Jeremiah. Both of them crowded into the thin space between the desk and the wall. This ‘office’ was the size of a closet. And most of it was taken up by the old man’s enormous desk.

  The four of them stood like this, squished together around the desk, while Vector sat, casually crossing his wrinkled hands over his belly. He lifted his bushy gray eyebrows at Jeremiah, which stretched those bags under his eyes even wider. “Well, now we have privacy. What can I do for you?”

  “It’s a small favor,” Jeremiah began, setting his elbow on the narrow bookshelf in the corner. Evalene squinted at him, confused at his casual attitude. “There’s rumor that Eden refugees used to pass through your prior Overnight section, is that true?”

  “It is.” Vector settled in to tell the story. “I had one of the best sections possible, right up next to the airport. Everyone stayed with me—I mean, everyone. Until those bio-freaks took it away from me to renovate and expand. Fool expansion cost me everything. Practically had to rebuild from scratch.”

  Evalene couldn’t stand the small-talk. “We’re looking for my mother,” she spoke up. “She was a refugee here, about 10 years ago. Her name is Pearl Vandereth. Do you know her? Or know where she might be?”

  “Evie,” Jeremiah stopped her train of questions. He had a strange note of urgency in his voice, which was enough to make her pause. She pursed her lips in frustration.

  “That’s quite alright,” Vector said to Jeremiah, giving her a smile that somehow felt calculating. “I can definitely search my database for your mother’s name, not a problem at all.” He picked up a small object off the desk that looked like a strange earring. Placing it over his ear, he pressed a finger to it. The object flashed a vivid blue display in front of his face, wrapping around his head to the other ear, forming a curved screen only he could read. His hands hovered over his keyboard, but he pulled back with a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid that it’ll cost a bit, I’m sure you understand. It’s an expensive program, and charges every time it’s used. You know how it is.” He named a price that made Jeremiah scowl.

  “I’m sure it can’t be that much,” Jeremiah countered, naming a different price. His voice was firm. When Vector tried to argue, Jeremiah interrupted, an underlying tone in his voice that brooked no further discussion. “It couldn’t possibly be that much. I’m sure for a friend you have a discount, especially for a friend who was planning to stay here tonight.”

  Vector coughed, but nodded with a smile, “What am I thinking? Of course, there is a bargain package when you’re also getting rooms for the night. How many nights will you be staying?”

  “Just the one for now,” Jeremiah said. Vector took the hint, graciously accepting the terms. Settling on the cost, Jeremiah drew out a handful of the Old York papers, counting out a large number and handing them over grudgingly. Vector insisted on logging them in as guests before they proceeded. Once two of his “nicest” rooms were fully booked, one for the men, and one for the ladies, he turned back to his screen once more.

  It took Vector only a few moments of typing before he shook his head. “Pearl Vandereth, you said?” At Evalene’s nod, the head shaking returned. “She passed through, but she didn’t stay long. Looks like just a few nights at my old place.” He swiveled in his chair to face them, resting his hands over his belly again.

  That was it? Evalene’s eyes darted to Jeremiah, desperate. He held up a hand and nodded, before Vector looked over at him. It took all her willpower to stay qui
et.

  “Vector, you wouldn’t happen to have any other notes on the refugees?” Jeremiah’s words were friendly, but there was a bite to them. “I’m sure you can understand Pearl’s daughter would like to find her mother. If you could help out a friend, I’d very much appreciate it.”

  “Absolutely! Not a problem at all. Let’s see, I do have one other database where I occasionally add notes.” Vector immediately turned back to the computer, then paused, removing his hands from the keys. “Unfortunately, I hate to say this, but it’s equally pricey.” Evalene was beginning to understand Jeremiah’s pretense of indifference. He’d told them to let him handle it—she could kick herself for not listening!

  A knock sounded on the door. An employee poked her head inside. “Sir? Do you have a moment?” she said.

  “What is it?” Vector snapped, “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

  “It’ll take just a few minutes, sir,” the employee said. When Vector huffed and nodded agreement, she disappeared, leaving the door cracked open.

  Vector stood, pressing the ear bud to turn off the glasses. He set the little earpiece next to the keyboard and began to squeeze through the tiny space between Jeremiah and the desk. “Sorry, sorry,” he mumbled. “Overnight business. Always something needing attention. You know how it is.” He was large enough that getting past Jeremiah and Sol was a struggle. He couldn’t open the door to leave until Jeremiah stepped back behind the desk and Sol followed, taking Jeremiah’s place in the corner. Evalene squeezed toward Olive, leaving just enough for Vector to make it out of the crowded room. “I’ll be just a moment,” he promised as he shut the door behind him.

  “At this rate, he’s going to go through a whole week’s worth of our supply money. Maybe more,” Jeremiah said, dropping into Vector’s desk chair, frowning at the door. Evalene winced. Why had she spoken up? Jeremiah knew what he was doing.

  But Olive wasn’t listening. She stepped around Evalene, moving toward Sol, squeezing by him much more easily than Vector had. “Move, move,” she said to Jeremiah as she came around the desk, waving for him to get up and away from the computer.

  His forehead wrinkled in confusion, but he did as she asked. Olive plopped into the chair. She picked up the earpiece, switching it back on. Olive wore the tech with confidence, as if it was far from her first time. A couple taps on the keyboard and then her fingers flew across the keys.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” Jeremiah whispered, glancing anxiously at the door.

  “Yup!” Olive sang as her eyes scanned the blue screen that only she could see. A couple more taps of the keys and the mouse. Never stopping her work for a second, she added. “Who do you think programmed all our farm tech? Fixed it when it broke down? I know computers inside and out.”

  Her responses were clipped, short, completely unlike her as she concentrated all her attention on the screen and her fingers danced across the keyboard, “I’m scanning the whole database for Pearl’s name.” The room grew tense as they waited. “Found something,” she said after an agonizing minute. Evalene fought the urge to snatch the earpiece so she could see for herself. Olive read out loud: “Pearl Vandereth requested info on Seguro Falls. No money, accepted necklace as trade.”

  Evalene blinked. “Does it say if she’s still here? In Old York?”

  “I’m not seeing anything–” Olive continued typing at high speed, pausing again a few seconds later. “Oh wait! It says here she left a week later. He has a note that she mentioned BioGrades and then he moves on to the next entry… hmm… that can’t be it…” She tapped a few more buttons, and Evalene found herself tapping her foot to the same impatient rhythm.

  “Hurry,” Jeremiah whispered, “I hear Vector coming back.” Sure enough, the older man’s voice rumbled down the little hallway, coming closer with every step.

  12

  Evalene

  THE DOOR HANDLE JIGGLED. Olive paled, yanking the earpiece off and throwing it back onto the desk. Sol stepped up to the door as it began to open and bumped it with his shoulder, hard, causing it to smack into Vector’s forehead. He yelped on the other side of the door, pausing to rub the sore spot as Evalene watched through the crack, which gave Olive just enough time to leap over the huge wooden desk and climb back to her original place on the other side.

  “So sorry,” Sol apologized smoothly, swinging the door open for Vector, rubbing his own shoulder sympathetically at the ‘accident.’ Evalene’s heart beat erratically. The blood rose to her cheeks in a flush and her breathing felt too loud.

  “My fault,” Vector grumbled, not noticing her reaction at all, scowling at Sol as if he’d forgotten he was there. “Excuse me.” He shuffled around Sol and Jeremiah once more, settling back into his seat and clearing his throat as he reached for the earpiece. “Where were we? Ah, that’s right-”

  Another knock sounded on the door, making Evalene jump. The same staff member poked her head in again, wincing, “Sir, apologies, but Velma is insisting on speaking with you personally…”

  Vector swore, setting the earpiece back down. “If she didn’t pay so well…” he trailed off, shrugging to the group as if to say, ‘you understand.’ They exchanged glances as he jostled past them again. The moment the door clicked closed, Olive hopped back over the desk, snatching the earpiece and whipping her screens back up. Sol stepped in front of the door, standing guard, ready to block Vector again if necessary.

  “That was close,” Olive whispered to them as the blue screens flashed back up, her voice sounding loud in the tiny room. “I forgot to close anything…” Just when Evalene’s pulse had steadied, it jumped again at Olive’s words and the realization Vector had almost caught them.

  Olive typed rapidly, pausing a few times to read, before her fingers slowed and she stopped altogether, biting her lip, looking across the desk at Evalene. “I’m sorry, Evie. I searched his whole database and can’t find anything else on Pearl. All his notes are focused on how much he was paid. He has a few recent interactions with other refugees—it looks like almost all of them are still in the area—but nothing on Pearl after that date...”

  “Maybe my mom just went for a short trip,” Evalene said, leaning across the desk, as if somehow she could see Olive’s screen. “Maybe she came back from that Seguro Falls place?”

  But Olive shook her head, worry wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry Evie, but that note about her leaving is the last time he ever mentions her. I think she really left.”

  Evalene’s shoulders drooped and she sank back against the wall, wishing for a chair. Jeremiah leaned over Olive’s shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of her screen. “Can you find a map? Something we could use to figure out where this ‘Seguro Falls’ is? How far away?”

  Nodding, Olive started typing furiously before Jeremiah had even finished speaking. “One sec…” she mumbled, squinting at the screen, clicking the mouse, then back to the keys. “Here we go.” Jeremiah craned his neck, struggling to see, and Olive held up a finger. “I can get a better visual for you guys… one more sec…” She hit a final key and the top of the grainy, black desk whirred to life. A bright-blue color like Olive’s screen winked on and a 3-D image rose from the surface.

  “This,” Olive said gesturing widely at the desk’s surface, “is the Divided States.” She swung back to the keyboard, tapping commands to make it zoom in slightly, panning across the cities and wilderness, lakes and mountains, until Evalene could make out the massive wall surrounding Old York, just like they’d been told. The group studied the map intently. Shoving a finger directly into the 3-D image, interrupting some of the blue lights, Jeremiah pointed to the tiny dot next to the ocean. “This is where we are now.”

  Olive zoomed in on the spot until they could see the bubble-like quality of the city that blocked out the offensiveness of nature. All the domes were completely connected to each other, stretching for hundreds of miles across the entire territory without end. The only thing that stopped them was a massive bu
lk of rock that formed an extremely thick wall.

  Olive scrolled further, and they flew across the map, Old York disappearing as it fell off the side, until Olive hit the opposite side of the continent, whispering the words as she realized what they meant. “This is Seguro Falls.” It was far. Very, very far.

  Evalene met Jeremiah’s gaze, and for a moment no one spoke. Jeremiah broke the silence to ask, “Olive, is there any way you could print a smaller version of the map? And quickly?”

  She nodded, leaping into action, shutting down the

  3-D map in search of a printable. Without the glow of the map, the room suddenly seemed darker. “Done,” Olive said, typing a few commands to close down her screens. “He’ll never know we were here.” She set the earpiece down carefully in the same place Vector had left it, then cocked her head in the silence. “Wait, where’s the printer?”

  A whirring noise came from the hallway outside, a machine coming to life, and the group exchanged panicked glances. Vector’s voice echoed down the hall coming toward them, “I’ll take care of the rest in an hour. Handle it until then.” His voice was coming closer. The sound of the printer hummed outside in the hall as it began to pump out a page, one line at a time.

  Sol waved silently for Olive to hurry, and she jumped over the desk for the third time, smacking her hip against the side and hissing in pain, limping into her spot next to Evalene in the corner, just as the door began to open. “I remembered a few other sites I could try,” Vector was already speaking as he entered the office. “Not too expensive, either. I bet we can figure out where your mother went in no time.”

  “Are you alright?” Sol asked Olive in a loud voice, speaking over Vector, pulling the door open wide as if to help him in, but effectively keeping the man from closing it behind him at the same time. Taken aback by both his volume and the fact that Sol was drawing attention to himself, Evalene could only glance between Sol and Olive as her friend frowned. Before she had a chance to answer, Sol clapped a hand on Vector’s shoulder and gestured to Olive, “I’m afraid our friend isn’t feeling well. Came out of nowhere.”