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that followed my appearance。 The kitchen wasn’t crowded； just ten people lounging against the counters；
eating their tough rolls and drinking their watery soup。 But I killed all conversation again。 I wondered how
long things could last like this。
The answer was exactly four days。
It also took me that long to understand what Jeb was up to； what the motivation was behind his switch
from the courteous host to the curmudgeonly taskmaster。
Ian worked with us； when it was clearly not his turn； and this bothered me。
I had to eat in the kitchen again。 Jamie was there； and he kept the room from total silence。 I knew he
was too sensitive not to notice the awkward hush； but he deliberately ignored it； seeming to pretend that
he and Jeb and I were the only people in the room。 He chattered about his day in Sharon’s class；
bragging a little about some trouble he’d gotten into for speaking out of turn； and plaining about the
chores she’d given him as punishment。 Jeb chastised him halfheartedly。 They both did a very good job of
acting normal。 I had no acting ability。 When Jamie asked me about my day； the best I could do was stare
intently at my food and mumble one…word answers。 This seemed to make him sad； but he didn’t push
me。
At night it was a different story—he wouldn’t let me stop talking until I begged to be allowed to sleep。
Jamie had reclaimed his room； taking Jared’s side of the bed and insisting that I take his。 This was very
much as Melanie remembered things； and she approved of the arrangement。
Jeb did； too。 “Saves me the trouble of finding someone to play guard。 Keep the gun close and don’t
forget it’s there；” he told Jamie。
I protested again； but both the man and the boy refused to listen to me。 So Jamie slept with the gun on
the other side of his body from me； and I fretted and had nightmares about it。
The third day of chores； I worked in the kitchen。 Jeb taught me how to knead the coarse bread dough；
how to lay it out in round lumps and let it rise； and； later on； how to feed the fire in the bottom of the big
stone oven when it was dark enough to let the smoke out。
In the middle of the afternoon； Jeb left。
“I’m gonna get some more flour；” he muttered； playing with the strap that held the gun to his waist。
The three silent women who kneaded alongside us didn’t look up。 I was up to my elbows in the sticky
dough； but I started to scrape it off so I could follow him。
Jeb grinned； flashed a look at the unobserving women； and shook his head at me。 Then he spun around
and dashed out of the room before I could free myself。
I froze there； no longer breathing。 I stared at the three women—the young blonde from the bathing
room； the salt…and…pepper braid； and the heavy…lidded mother—waiting for them to realize that they
could kill me now。 No Jeb； no gun； my hands trapped in the gluey dough—nothing to stop them。
But the women kept on kneading and shaping； not seeming to realize this glaring truth。 After a long；
breathless moment； I started kneading again； too。 My stillness would probably alert them to the situation
sooner than if I kept working。
Jeb was gone for an eternity。 Perhaps he had meant that he needed togrind more flour。 That seemed
like the only explanation for his endless absence。
just my imagination。
Jeb dropped a heavy burlap sack to the floor with a deep thud。 “That’s a lot of flour there。 You try
carryin’ it； Trudy。”
Trudy snorted。 “I imagine it took a lot of rest stops to get it this far。”
Jeb grinned at her。 “It sure did。”
My heart； which had been thrumming like a bird’s for the entire episode； settled into a less frantic
rhythm。
The next day we were cleaning mirrors in the room that housed the cornfield。 Jeb told me this was
something they had to do routinely； as the bination of humidity and dust caked the mirrors until the
light was too dim to feed the plants。 It was Ian； working with us again； who scaled the rickety wooden
ladder while Jeb and I tried to keep the base steady。 It was a difficult task； given Ian’s weight and the
homemade ladder’s poor balance。 By the end of the day； my arms were limp and aching。
I didn’t even notice until we were done and heading for the kitchen that the improvised holster Jeb
always wore was empty。
I gasped out loud； my knees locking like a startled colt’s。 My body tottered to a halt。
“What’s wrong； Wanda？” Jeb asked； too innocent。
I would have answered if Ian hadn’t been right beside him； watching my strange behavior with
fascination in his vivid blue eyes。
So I just gave Jeb a wide…eyed look of mingled disbelief and reproach； and then slowly began walking
beside him again； shaking my head。 Jeb chuckled。
“What’s that about？” Ian muttered to Jeb； as if I were deaf。
“Beats me；” Jeb said； he lied as only a human could； smooth and guileless。
He was a good liar； and I began to wonder if leaving the gun behind today； and leaving me alone
yesterday； and all this effort forcing me into human pany was his way of getting me killed without
doing the job himself。 Was the friendship all in my head？ Another lie？
This was my fourth day eating in the kitchen。
Jeb； Ian； and I walked into the long； hot room—into a crowd of humans chatting in low voices about the
day’s events—and nothing happened。
Nothing happened。
There was no sudden silence。 No one paused to stare daggers at me。 No one seemed to notice us at all。
Jeb steered me to an empty counter and then went to get enough bread for three。 Ian lounged next to
“How are things going？ How are you holding up with Andy gone？” he asked her。
“I’d be fine if I weren’t so worried；” she told him； biting her lip。
“He’ll be home soon；” Ian assured her。 “Jared always brings everyone home。 He’s got a real talent。
We’ve had no accidents； no problems since he showed up。 Andy will be fine。”
My interest sparked when he mentioned Jared—and Melanie； so somnolent these days； stirred—but Ian
didn’t say anything else。 He just patted Paige’s shoulder and turned to take his food from Jeb。
Jeb sat next to me and surveyed the room with a deep sense of satisfaction plain on his face。 I looked
around the room； too； trying to see what he saw。 This must have been what it was usually like here； when
I wasn’t around。 Only today I didn’t seem to bother them。 They must have been tired of letting me
interrupt their lives。
“Things are settling down；” Ian mented to Jeb。
“Knew they would。 We’re all reasonable folks here。”
I frowned to myself。
“That’s true； at the moment；” Ian said； laughing。 “My brother’s not around。”
“Exactly；” Jeb agreed。
It was interesting to me that Ian counted himself among the reasonable folks。 Had he noticed that Jeb
was unarmed？ I was burning with curiosity； but I couldn’t risk pointing it out in case he hadn’t。
The meal continued as it had begun。 My novelty had apparently worn off。
When the meal was over； Jeb said I deserved a rest。 He walked me all the way to my door； playing the
gentleman again。
“Afternoon；