Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) - Marissa Meyer Page 0,59
not all of us.”
Her skin began to crawl. It was amazing how fast the old fears returned. After weeks of being invincible in the face of one of Earth’s most merciless killers, the threat was back. Her immunity could be compromised.
And she was in Africa, where it had all started.
A knock startled them both. The guard stood in the hall, damp from a recent shower and wearing some Earthen military clothes found aboard the Rampion. Though his wounds were no longer visible, Cinder noticed that he was carrying himself stiffly, favoring his unwounded side.
In his hands was a tray of flatbread that smelled thickly of garlic.
“Heard you talking. I thought your surgery might be finished,” he said. “How’s your friend?”
Cinder glanced at Wolf. He, too, would be vulnerable.
Everyone in this room was Lunar, she realized with a jolt. If Dr. Erland was right, then they were all vulnerable now.
Cinder had to swallow to unclog her voice. “He’s still alive.” Leaving Wolf’s side, she held a hand toward the guard. “I’m Cinder, by the way.”
He squinted. “I know who you are.”
“Yeah, but I figured a formal introduction would be nice, now that we’re on the same side.”
“Is that what you’ve decided?”
Cinder frowned, but before she could respond, he’d shifted the flatbread to his other hand and grasped hers.
“Jacin Clay. Honored.”
Not knowing how to read his tone, which sounded almost mocking, Cinder pulled away and glanced at the doctor, who had his fingers pressed against Wolf’s wrist. Evidently, he had no intention of joining the introductions.
Cinder wiped her palms on her pants and eyed the tray. “So, what? You can shoot a gun, fly a spaceship, and bake?”
“This was brought by some kids.” He pushed the tray toward Cinder. “They said it was for you, but I told them you couldn’t be bothered.”
She took it awkwardly. “For me?”
“‘The cyborg,’ to be specific. Seemed unlikely there would be two of you around.”
“Huh. I wonder why.”
“I suspect it will not be the first gift you receive from the citizens of Farafrah,” said Dr. Erland.
“What for? These people don’t know me.”
“Of course they do—or at least, they know of you. We are not so cut off from the world here as you might think. Even I had a reputation when I first arrived.”
She set the tray down on the desk. “And they haven’t turned you in? What about the reward money? And the fact that you’re Lunar? Don’t they care?”
Instead of answering, Dr. Erland slid his gaze toward Jacin, who was now leaning statue-like beside the door. It was easy to forget his presence in a room when he stood so still and said so little. No doubt his training as a guard had taught him that. No doubt he was used to going unnoticed.
But while Cinder had made the choice to trust him, it was obvious from the doctor’s expression that she was so far alone in that decision.
“Right,” said Jacin, pushing himself off the wall. “I’ll go check on your ship. Make sure no one’s backing out screws and calling them souvenirs.” He left the hotel room without looking back, his limp almost passing for a swagger.
“I know, he seems a little … abrasive,” Cinder said once he was gone. “But he knows who I am, and he saved my life, and Wolf’s. We should treat him as an ally.”
“You may choose to reveal all your secrets, Miss Linh, but it does not mean I must reveal mine, or those of the people in this town.”
“What do you mean?”
“The people here do not care that we are Lunar, because we are not the only ones. I estimate fifteen percent of the population of Farafrah, and other neighboring oases, is made up of Lunars, or those of Lunar descent. This is where many of our people choose to come after they escape, and they have been immigrating here since the time of Queen Channary. Perhaps even earlier.”
“Fifteen percent?” she asked. “And the Earthens know?”
“It is not widely discussed, but it seems to be common knowledge. They have come to live in harmony together. Once the plague struck, many Lunars took to nursing the sick and burying the dead, as they themselves did not catch the sickness. Of course, no one knew they were the original carriers. By the time that theory was posed, the two races had become too intermingled. They work together now, helping each other survive.”
“But it’s illegal to harbor Lunar fugitives. Levana would be furious.”