The sound of the door mming shut was followed by the patter of footsteps, suggesting the girl had run off to see what was happening. Mamie clicked her tongue. "This kid''s pretty wary."


    But Scales sensed it was more than that. When they''d first entered the vige, several people had been standing outside their homes, watching. The moment they saw them heading for the Smith family''s gate, their gazes turned strange. They even gathered in small groups, whispering amongst themselves. Scales was too far away to hear, but he could read their expressions: suspicion, surprise, guardedness, and scrutiny.


    A momentter, the door opened again. This time, it was Carlson Smith.


    He''d been in the kitchen when he heard his sister call out that some ssmates were looking for him. His first thought was of Roseanne and the others, and he was so startled he''d dropped and shattered a bowl. When he opened the door, he saw he was right.


    "What are you guys doing here?!" A sh of joy crossed his face, but it was quickly reced by shock, astonishment, and a hint of worry and disapproval.


    He knew how difficult the journey was from Lumina to their vige, how rough the roads were. That''s why he disapproved. He didn''t think he was worth the trouble.


    "Are you okay?" Roseanne looked him up and down. He seemed to be in one piece, his spirits weren''tpletely crushed, but...


    In the freezing weather, he was only wearing a thin cotton jacket. The hands that should have been conducting experiments, handling equipment, or typing on a keyboard were red and raw from the cold. His neck was bare, without even a scarf.


    Mamie''s eyes widened. "Aren''t you cold?!" she blurted out.


    Carlson Smith scratched his head. "I''m used to it. Doesn''t feel cold." Then, as if just remembering his manners, he quickly invited them inside.


    The three of them stepped inside, and Carlson Smith flipped a switch. The darkness vanished, exining why it had been so gloomy before. Roseanne nced around. It was an old, fural-style house with a central living area, three bedrooms, and a backyard connected to the kitchen, Awooden loft had been bui


    upstairs for storing things like hay, sausages, and sweet


    potatoes-anything that could be kept long-term.


    started


    "...sses started two weeks ago. Why haven''t youe back to


    campus? We tried calling, but your


    phone was off. We thought something had happened."


    Roseanne''s gaze settled on Carlson Smith, her tone turning serious "Do you have any idea what happens when you miss this much school? You''ll be marked for excessive absence! If it gets bad enough, the university has the right to expel you! You''re gambling with your future."


    No matter what his reasons were, he should have at least called the university to exin the situation. "And what about Arkle?" Roseanne pressed. "He hasn''te back either, and we can''t reach him. What''s going on with you two?"


    Carlson Smith gave a wry smile and was about to exin when the little girl who had opened the door darted out from a corner, spreading her a in front of him.


    arms protectivrother Hedidn''t


    "Don''t me my


    want this! He didn''t have a choice!


    She looked to be around ten years old, her face still childish, but she spoke with rity. "It''s okay, Gail," Carlson said gently. "They''re my friends. They''re only saying this because they''re worried about me."


    Gail Smith nced back at him, and after receiving a reassuring look, she stepped aside and began picking at her fingernails.


    "Sorry for making you worry," Carlson Smith said with a smile that looked more pained than anything else. "Things at home... I just couldn''t get away. And my phone broke, so I had no way to contact you."


    "Don''t your parents have a phone? Couldn''t you have borrowed one of theirs to make a call?" Mamie asked, confused.