I Will Breathe (Forbidden Book 1) by Regina Puckett Page A

“You’re exhausted.” She patted her bed and stood. “Use my bed and get some sleep.”
    He pointed at Boy. “I don’t know if I can with him sitting over there, staring at me.”
    Liberty walked over and patted Boy’s head. “You’re in good company. He’ll watch over you and keep you safe.” She headed for the door. “Get some rest and I’ll tell you about him later.”

Chapter Eleven
    No one said anything, but all three stood and stared below at what was left of the city. Most of the buildings were little more than rubble, and the ones that had survived the war and time’s decay were overgrown by plant life. Even though Liberty had seen this desolation many times, she still found it a sobering sight. It boggled her mind to think there used to be so many people living in one place.
    The most people she had ever seen in one gathering was less than thirty, and that was a rare sight. Distrust kept most from allowing others into their lives. Most only let her in because they needed the things she brought with her from the Forbidden Lands.
    “What’s that over there?”
    Liberty turned to look where Justice was pointing. “Father called them automobiles. I have no idea what they were used for, though, or why so many are in one place. Not much left of them now, just a few bits and pieces.” She perused the mountains of rubble, ranging off as far as the eye could see. “I wish Boy was here. He could tell us what everything is.”
    Mender took his eyes away from the city long enough to look at her. “Where to first?”
    “I know a good place to anchor the airships. Father discovered a factory that made jars. There’s enough left in it to last us a lifetime. What do you think the people you trade with will need the most?”
    He scratched an eyebrow. “Anything with which they can make more thrashers and tools for tilling.” He chuckled. “Truthfully, I think they make use of anything I’m able to salvage.” For the first time in days, he grinned. “What are we waiting for? I want to see everything.”
    His excitement was contagious but Liberty didn’t want anyone getting hurt. “Follow me, but on the ground we stick together. No one goes off by themselves.”
    Mender peered over the edge again. “Have you ever seen any people here?”
    She shook her head. “No, but that doesn’t mean someone hasn’t discovered this place since the last time I was here. We can’t afford to lose our airships and get stuck here.”
    Justice leaned even farther over the side, trying to get a better view, so Liberty grabbed ahold of his waistband and pulled him back until his feet were again on deck. “Why don’t you wait until we’re closer than five hundred feet?”
    He grinned. “Good idea.”
    Liberty couldn’t help but be charmed by the kid’s infectious grin. She had grown quite fond of her new found brother over the ten days it had taken them to reach the Forbidden Lands. However, she couldn’t but notice that he still jumped at every loud sound and had trouble sleeping for more than twenty minutes at time. She couldn’t imagine growing up afraid every second of every day, so both she and Mender had given him space and time to adjust to his new surroundings, and to them. The funny thing was, he had taken up her habit of sitting and talking to Boy, as if the robot could really hear him. She often found Justice in her cabin, polishing Boy’s metallic eyes and cleaning his glass head.
    She turned to Mender. “You should go over and help Robbie. We’re not far from my usual landing spot.”
    After the airships were on the ground and anchored, Liberty ran to her cabin to grab her father’s pocket pistol. For good luck she rubbed Boy’s head and then went out to meet up with Mender and Justice, to discuss their plans for the rest of the afternoon.
    Mender was lowering the Airus’s ladder by the time she got back on deck. While she waited for him to finish, Liberty glanced up at an ominous black sky as