The Deep by Jen Minkman Page A

you need patrols
guarding the entire length of the Wall. So no one can hop over on
the sly.”
    The Bookkeeper’s face
clouds over. “Just when we were so happy about the reunion of East
and West.”
    “We don’t have to close off
the Scilly Way entirely,” Daryl says. “We’ve carried out a number
of arrests in the past few days. I can blacklist the Phileans who
were involved and make sure they’ll be stopped at the
border.”
    Everybody pauses to ponder
the new plan. “I think it’s a good idea,” Nathan then says. He
gives me a warm smile. “Could you and Ben go to Newexter and
discuss this with the Eldest? I would go myself, but I’m needed too
much here at the moment.”
    “I’ll help you,” I reply.
“Even better, I hereby offer you my services as acting assistant,
as long as Walt is still on the Other Side.”
    Nathan nods briefly, a
grateful look in his eyes.
    Ben clears his throat. “I’d
rather stay here, to be honest,” he admits.
    “But you told us about this
possibility,” the Bookkeeper argues. “Alisa has never visited
Newexter before. You’ll be our deputy and travel to your old
village with her. Carl, can you select ten shipbuilders who can
work on the fleet in Newexter as soon as possible?”
    Carl nods. “I have eight
men who live in the suburbs with their families, close to the
farms. If they’re gone, there’s hardly anyone around to notice. And
I trust them.”
    “Okay. Eight it
is.”
    The three men at the table
continue talking, but I get up and follow Ben when he abruptly
jumps up and leaves the room.
    “Are you okay?” I want to
know.
    His face looks anxious.
“Well, no. I don’t want to go to Newexter. I guess you can
understand why.”
    “But I need your help,” I
protest, trying to make my voice take on a pleading tone. To be
honest, I would probably survive a trip to Newexter on my own, but
I suddenly get the feeling that a trip home would be good for Ben.
If only to see his brother again. Ben can try to convince me all he
wants – he must miss his brother. Even though Saul is a dangerous
guy. Or was, anyway. After the revolution in both east and west,
nobody is the same anymore. It’s very well possible that Saul has
turned his life around, too.
    Ben sighs deeply. “Okay,
fine,” he grunts reluctantly. “But I am not joining the
shipbuilders’ team in Newexter. Carl needs people for his mock team
at St Martin, so I’m going to stay in Hope Harbor.”
    “Of course you can.
Nobody’s forcing you to go back.”
    “Uhm – I think the
Bookkeeper did just that,” Ben says sarcastically.
    I smile briefly. “Fair
enough. But I meant for good.”
    “Good.” He stares at the
floor. “When do we leave?”
    “Right now,” Carl’s voice
pipes up behind us. When I turn around, I catch the serious look in
his eyes. “As soon as you get the Eldest’s permission, you should
let me know so I can send my workers on their way.”
    “Will do.” I pull Ben
along, through the hallway and outside, to pack some food and
drinks for our journey into the unknown.

8 – Alisa

    The first part of our trip
isn’t too hard – we hitch a ride with a farmer, who is returning
home with an empty carriage after delivering some grain and wool in
town. His farm is in the suburbs close to the forest.
    “Where are you lot going?”
he asks curiously when we have almost reached his destination.
Apparently, he has noticed our bulging backpacks.
    “We’re visiting my
brother,” Ben replies. “He lives in Newexter.”
    “Ah, yes.” The man gives
him a pondering look. “You came to live with us after the
reconciliation. Weren’t you a part of the team working on a second
ship?”
    “Yes, but I quit,” Ben
gripes. “I don’t think there’s much point in going on. All of our
work was destroyed.”
    “Yeah, well.” The farmer
pulls over and lets us get off. “You might be right.”
    “We have to trust in the
Force within,” Ben continues. “And whatever’s waiting