Promised by Caragh M. O'brien Page B

asked.
    â€œEmily is the spokeswoman for the Vessel Institute,” Myrna said. “Whether she’s also pregnant, I don’t know. Her second son is only a few months old, but I suppose it’s possible. I guess she’d be the thirteenth.”
    â€œYou just said Emily led the baby strike. How could she become the spokesperson for a baby factory?” Gaia argued. “It doesn’t make sense. How is this system any better than advancing babies?”
    â€œThese mothers have a choice,” Myrna said. “They sign on with their eyes wide open.”
    â€œWait. You approve of this?” Gaia asked Myrna.
    â€œI’m just telling you how it works,” Myrna said coolly.
    â€œListen, I don’t want to interrupt,” Dinah said, “but we’ve got some practical problems of our own right now. Shouldn’t you be at the head of the caravan, Gaia?”
    Gaia lifted the binoculars again and realized the vanguard was approaching the first, poorest houses of Western Sector Three. Soon they would reach the dip where she wanted them to turn down into the unlake. After all their planning and their weeks in the wasteland, they had reached the brink of arrival.
    Gaia turned to find Mikey behind her and gestured to the boy. “Red flag,” she said, and the boy lifted one high into the air. Within moments, other red flags went up along the line ahead of and behind them, and people stopped where they were.
    â€œIf you’ll excuse me,” Gaia said to Myrna. “Leon, please take Myrna to Jack to see what she can do for him.”
    â€œI’m coming with you,” Leon said.
    â€œI want you to stay out of sight for now,” Gaia said, absently adjusting Maya on her hip once more. “I’m hoping your presence is still a secret from the Protectorat. For that matter, I’d just as soon he doesn’t hear about Jack yet, either.”
    â€œHe’ll find out soon enough,” Leon said.
    â€œBut not now. Not right from the start,” she said.
    He came a step nearer. “Gaia. Be reasonable. I want to be with you. This is important.”
    Gaia glanced around at the others and then dropped her voice. “You’ll distract me,” she admitted. “I don’t want to have to worry about you. Stay back, with Jack and Myrna.”
    Leon’s eyes flicked oddly. “That’s insulting, you know. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Are you asking me as the Matrarc or as my fiancée?”
    She gave a slight, apologetic smile, already backing away from him. “Which way will you argue with me less?”
    He watched her a silent moment, his mouth set, and then he turned to Will. “Go with her. Don’t let her leave you. Don’t let her do anything stupid.”
    â€œWill do,” Will said. His teeth flashed in a grin before his voice turned solicitous. “Keep yourself safe, buddy.”
    â€œShove off, Chardo,” Leon said. He gestured at the toddler on Gaia’s hip. “You want me to take Maya?” he asked Gaia.
    Gaia hesitated, and glanced at the load he already carried. “No. I’ve got her.”
    He clearly thought that was a poor decision, too. “Fine,” he said, and turned back with Myrna.
    Gaia knew she’d annoyed him, but at the same time, she was relieved that Leon wouldn’t be in the lead with her. She had a secret fear that he would take some risk in the Enclave that she’d be helpless to prevent. She turned, beckoned to Will and Dinah, and began striding the length of the caravan toward the vanguard.
    â€œAll right, green flag,” she said to Mikey when they eventually reached the low rise where Peter was waiting with a corps of archers and scouts. The caravan of people shifted, collected itself, and began moving again.
    Peter tipped his hat brim as she fell in beside him. “I’m finally seeing where you came from, Mlass.”
    She