Unfound: Nonny Book Two

By Adam B. Ford

What would you do if you were fifteen years old and you still had no super-power?

Paley Curtis, now fifteen and accepting of the fact that she has no talent in a world where everyone has a super-power, grinds through a summer job with a mysterious company spying on her every move. The days pass by as she learns about those

• Language: English
• Publisher: H Bar Press
• Release date: Jun 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986152288

Adam B. Ford

Adam B. Ford lives in Vermont with his two dogs, Bulo and Koey. Bulo has mastered the art of teleportation around the Green Mountain National Forest (the inspiration for the setting of this book), but Koey is still working on her skills. Both of them have far too much energy and insist on being taken for walks every day. When he's not writing, Adam teaches snowboarding and plays ultimate Frisbee. Someday he might grow up.

Book preview

1.png

UNFOUND

NONNY, Book Two

©2023 Adam B. Ford

Cover artwork @2023 Clarissa Martinez

This book was set in Faustina, by Alfonso Garcia. Chapter headings are Rudge, by Adam B. Ford. Cover title type is Pangolin, by Kevin Burke. Handwriting fonts are BudHand, by John D. ‘Bud’ Banks; Daniel, by Daniel Midgley; Indie Flower, by Kimberly Geswein; Nanum Pen, by Doo-yul Kwak, Hyunghwan Choi, and Nicolas Noh; Note This, by West Wind Fonts.

Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication Data

provided by Five Rainbows Cataloging Services

Names: Ford, Adam B., author.

Title: Unfound : Nonny, Book Two / Adam B. Ford.

Description: Wallingford, VT : H Bar Press, 2023. | Series: Nonny, bk. 2.

Summary: A 15-year-old girl takes on a corporation in a bid to save people and change the world. | Audience: Grades 7 & up.

Identifiers:

ISBN 979-8-9861522-6-4 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-9861522-7-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-9861522-8-8 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Young adult fiction. | CYAC: Ability—Fiction. | Superheroes—Fiction. | Inner cities—Fiction. | Self-actualization—Fiction. | BISAC: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Girls & Women. | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Superheroes. | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Class Differences. | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Magical Realism.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.F67 Unf 2023 (print)

LCC PZ7.1.F67 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903922

A note on the word i

Throughout this book, the word i is not capitalized. I’ve always found it odd that of all the pronouns, this one was, for some reason, written with a capital letter. It seemed wrong to me and i stopped capitalizing that word sometime in my youth. I’ve grown used to it, and i hope that by the end of this book, you will too.

Seera

This book is dedicated to Seera, who accompanied me for most of her life.

June, 2000 – November 11, 2016

Contents

1. A Celebration of Life 1

2. An Unexpected Guest 9

3. Spies and Secrets 17

4. Sneaky 27

5. The Hard Drive 37

6. A Note from Ernie 46

7. Kit 54

8. Ester 64

9. Unexpected Meetings 76

10. Contacts 87

11. Toddo 97

12. Teco 104

13. The Plan 111

14. West 116

15. Puerco 124

16. Sun and Rain 133

17. Dalton 144

18. Goodbye 153

19. Interrogation 160

20. Camp 6 169

21. Welcome Committee 175

22. Votes 183

23. The Desert 196

24. Norman & Grandma 208

25. Angelita 217

26. Home 227

27. Another Room 235

28. Oakwood 240

29. New Things 250

30. Boda 258

31. Spies 269

32. Mykenna 280

33. The Lemmelsons 291

34. Meetings 300

35. Another Bad Idea 308

36. The Unfound 314

37. Failure 323

38. Rescue 329

39. Home Again 339

Epilogue. A Normal Life 348

Chapter 1

A Celebration of Life

Paley stood in her bedroom, looking at her reflection in the cheap mirror on the back of the door. The image that looked back at her was just an ordinary fifteen-year-old girl—not glamorous, not cool, not special.

People wear black to funerals, but she didn’t want to wear black. She looked down at the card in her hand. "Please join us for a Celebration of Life, as we remember Peter Sebastian Kendall. Saturday, June 21st,

4 PM – Huntley Pavilion, Essex Park." It was a celebration, not a funeral. She’d wear something bright—something that represented the joy that Peter had. But none of her clothes made her feel joyous.

The image in the mirror spun away from Paley as the door swung open and her sister Mera came into the room. Mom says hurry up, said Mera.

Paley made a little grunting noise and went back to picking through the small pile of clothes on the floor. She glanced at Mera, who was putting a necklace on—a necklace that she wouldn’t have been able to afford if not for her boyfriend Anthony, who had bought it for her. Paley hadn’t seen Anthony in a while, which suited her fine. Mera had started her summer job at the state park and Paley was working at the local Census Bureau office. Due to their different schedules, the sisters didn’t see much of each other.

Paley pulled a pair of Cort’s old cargo pants out of the pile and held them up briefly.

"You’re not wearing those, are you?" Mera looked thoroughly disgusted at Paley’s choice. Paley turned her head and stared silently at Mera until Mera huffed and walked out of the room. Two minutes later, Paley joined the rest of the family in the kitchen, wearing the cargo pants, a light blue T-shirt, and her scuffed yellow sneakers with the drawings all over them.

Mom! said Mera, aghast. "Why does she get to wear... that?"

Paley can wear whatever she wants, said Liz with authority. Now let’s go. Your father has the cab waiting.

Mera huffed again and left the apartment, skipping down the stairs ahead of Cort, Zed, Liz, and finally, Paley.

Everyone was already in the yellow minivan when Paley exited the building, but she didn’t hurry out to them. She came down the steps at the same steady pace, crossed the sidewalk, and climbed into the second seat next to her mother.

I still don’t see why— began Mera, but Liz quickly cut her off.

Mera, this is a celebration, not a funeral. Paley has chosen what she feels is appropriate. Now drop it.

The rest of the cab ride was mostly in awkward silence. Paley was glad that her mother was sticking up for her, but she was also surprised that Liz was doing so with such force. Thinking back, though, Paley realized that she’d been given a lot of leeway on any number of things since she was in the hospital. She watched the buildings slide by and thought back to that day that she went to the hospital—the doctors and nurses, the fog of anesthesia, the ride in the ambulance. And of course she thought about what got her there. Her classmate Tor Bowman had shot her in the side, minutes after using the same gun to put a bullet into Peter Kendall—the bullet that went into his head and eventually killed him. This may be a celebration of life that she and her family were going to, but for Paley, it was a reminder of what she’d lost and yet another instance where she’d have to say goodbye.

The cab pulled up to the curb and the Curtis family got out while Wes was paying the driver. Paley looked around. There were other people walking toward the pavilion—most of them wearing black or muted colors, but some in brighter clothes. She was glad to see that some people had their dogs with them and she hoped that maybe Teco’s new family would bring him along.

Paley’s mother stepped up next to her as the rest of the family headed toward the pavilion. You ready for this?

Paley took a breath. No, she said. But she moved forward anyway and followed her family to a row of seats about halfway up the large semicircular amphitheater. Once settled, she scanned the audience for familiar faces. Most of the staff and teachers from Hayward Junior High were there and she picked out her best friend Jen, who was sitting with her family among a group of teachers near the front. Jen waved and Paley waved back. There were a lot of other students there but also a lot of people that Paley didn’t know and she was surprised by how large the crowd was.

After ten minutes or so, a woman got up on the stage and announced that they were going to show a short video about Peter, then there would be a few speakers, after which anyone who felt moved to say something would be encouraged to do so. The video started with pictures of Peter as a baby, then a young boy. There was some video of him in college, then a lot of pictures and video of him playing ultimate, hiking, canoeing, and having fun with friends. There were only a few candid photos of Peter at Hayward Junior High and it seemed strange to Paley that the version of Peter that she knew from school wasn’t at all how he was presented.

There was a round of applause after the video, then Peter’s sisters Lynn and Jennifer came up on stage. Lynn told a story of herself and Peter from when they were growing up. Jennifer tearfully described what a wonderful brother and person Peter was, then told a story about their family that was both sad and funny.

The next two speakers were friends from Peter’s ultimate team. They both called Peter P.K. Hearing Peter called something else and learning about all of these exploits that she’d never known about made Paley realize how little she really knew about him. She wanted to feel that she was special to him, but looking out at the size of the crowd, she realized that she was just a small part of his life and so many other people had known him so much better than she had.

The next speaker was Nikki, and there was a spontaneous wave of applause as she led Teco up onto the stage with her. Teco looked momentarily startled by the clapping, but sat obediently by Nikki’s side as she detailed the love that Peter had had for his dog. She told a couple of stories about Teco, then she introduced a second video, this one full of pictures and movies of Peter and Teco.

When the video was over, the woman who’d started the service came back up on the stage and invited people to share their stories of Peter. More ultimate players came up and told more stories of P.K. at ultimate tournaments. Most of them were funny and Paley couldn’t help but smile.

In the middle of a rambling narrative of Peter getting lost on the way to an ultimate tournament, Mera suddenly hit Paley hard in the arm. Paley turned toward her and found Mera staring wide-eyed past her, down the row toward the rest of the Curtis family. Paley spun her head around and her heart sank into her gut. Wes was hunched over—his skin turning black.

Liz was quietly but urgently getting people out of their seats, clearing a path for Wes to get out of the row. Once he could move without touching anyone, Wes struggled up and slowly crept toward the aisle. It wasn’t fast enough. His skin was darkening and smoke was starting to rise from his clothes. Paley couldn’t move. She could see the people around them turning to stare. She heard the speaker pause in her story about Peter. A rumbling spread over the audience as people began to notice. Suddenly Mera pushed past Paley and Cort and stuck her hand out. Wes slid out of the row of seats, propelled by the force emitted from Mera, and nearly tumbled into Liz, who quickly stepped out of the way. Mera determinedly walked after Wes, pushing him with her tellie talent up and out of the pavilion. Cort followed Mera and held her up as she exhausted herself pushing her father. Liz turned to Paley, pointed at her brother and mouthed stay with Zed! but Paley had no intention of staying. As soon as Mera and Cort were out in the aisle, Paley and Zed ran after them. The din from the crowd and the silence from the stage burned into Paley and she focused on her family ahead of her, trying to blot out the hundreds of eyes on them all.

It seemed to take ages but it couldn’t have been more than a minute until they were out of the amphitheater. Mera collapsed into Cort’s arms, Liz frantically looked for a safe place to go, and Paley and Zed stood and stared at their father. There were flames creeping out of his suit—the only suit that he owned—and his skin was black streaked with bright orange, like lava. Paley wanted to scream—to do something to make this stop—to save herself, her father, her whole family from this horrible humiliation.

A flash of white whipped by and the tension in the air was suddenly altered as Marnie strode purposefully past Paley. She walked straight up to Wes and grabbed him by the arm.

No! Paley screamed, but it was too late. The heat and flame spread onto Marnie, blackening her hand. And then... and then Wes started to cool. A burst of flame erupted from Marnie’s other hand and she held it up, marvelling at what was happening. The flame surged and ebbed, and as it did so, the color came back to Wes’s skin. The flames on his body died down to nothing and he patted out the smoldering edges of his clothes. In no time at all, Wes was back to normal and Marnie let go of him. She toyed with the last bit of flames on her fingertips, then let them go out with a dull snap and a wisp of smoke.

Brilliant! she said, still marvelling at her hand in front of her. Everyone else stood stock still until Wes broke the silence, wrapping Marnie in a grateful hug and choking out thank you.

The tension broke and everyone but Paley crowded around Marnie to thank her and find out what had just happened. Paley knew. She knew that Marnie was a zorbie, but she didn’t know that zorbies could do what Marnie had just done. She didn’t know that anything—or anyone—could stop or control a nocon.

Paley felt a slight bump at her side and looked up to see Jen standing next to her.

Wow, said Jen. Good thing that was a short episode.

It wasn’t.

Paley, your dad’s out. How could it have been any shorter?

"No, i mean, i don’t know how long it was, or how long it could’ve been. Marnie put it out."

Whatdya mean she put it out?

She grabbed his hand and just... took the flames from him. And then she put it out.

The two girls stood and watched the rest of the family crowding around Marnie.

Huh, said Jen. Is she a six too?

Paley hadn’t considered this before. Marnie had said that she was powerful, but hadn’t said if she was a five, an exie, or a six. I don’t know.

You should probably find out.

–

Marnie, Jen, and the Curtis family stood at the top of the amphitheater while the last couple of speakers talked rather than returning to their seats and causing another stir. When all of the tributes to Peter were over, everyone was invited to a picnic supper in the park next to the amphitheater. Paley and Jen moved with the crowds to the prepared tables. There were people grilling food, a couple of tables full of various dishes, coolers of drinks, and a large cake in the shape of an ultimate field, with little figures playing on top of the green icing. People started lining up to serve themselves food but Paley and Jen decided to wait a bit before eating. They wandered over to where a group of celebration attendees were playing a very loose informal game of ultimate in an open area of the park.

Looks kinda lame-o, Pale-face, said Jen as she watched the goofy antics of the players.

"Well, this isn’t a real game, said Paley. If they had cleats and athletic wear and— She broke off as she saw Nikki and Paul approaching the field. Teco!" she called out.

Teco looked up and stopped in his tracks, then joyously bounded toward Paley. She knelt down and he nearly knocked her over in his enthusiasm to be as close to her as possible. He put his paws on her knees, licked her face, and playfully gnawed on her arm, alternating this with little yips.

I think he misses you, said Nikki as she and Paul walked up.

How is he doing? asked Paley. She was still petting Teco, but he was now sniffing the ground around Paley’s shoes.

He’s, uh... i don’t know, began Nikki.

He seems quieter than his usual self, said Paul.

Yeah, said Paley, as Teco moved on to sniffing Jen’s shoes. He probably misses Peter.

We all miss him, said Nikki. It’s weird to think that he’ll never throw me a pass again. She started to cry and Paul put his arm around her. Paley felt awkward in the quiet of the moment. She stood up and gestured to Jen.

This is my friend Jen.

Paul stuck out his hand. Nice to meet you, Jen. Do you go to school with Paley?

Uh huh.

So you know P.K. as well?

Oh yeah. Paley was pretty tight with him, so i kinda couldn’t help but know him.

Does everyone who played ultimate with Peter call him P.K.? asked Paley.

That’s all i’ve ever known him as, said Paul. Seems odd for me to hear him called Peter. But then, he always called me Pablito, so...

There was another awkward silence. Paley didn’t really want to talk about Peter, but he was the reason that everyone was here. She reached down to pet Teco again, who had been wandering around the area but had just swung back by them.

Paul broke the silence. You girls should get some food before they run out.

Sounds like a plan, said Jen.

And feel free to come over and visit Teco whenever you want, added Paul. You have our address, right?

Yeah, i got it from the Kendalls.

Well, nice to see you again. C’mon Teco! he called out. Teco looked up at him, then over at Paley.

Go on! she said, nodding at Paul and Nikki. Teco didn’t move, so Paley grabbed Jen by the arm and tugged her toward the buffet line. Come on, she said, trying not to look at Teco—Peter’s dog. He would always be Peter’s dog.

Paley felt uncomfortable taking too much food in the buffet line, but she saw Charles and June—Peter’s parents—standing nearby and Charles urged her to fill up her plate, so she did. Jen was always less concerned about things like this and had no problem piling heaping portions on her paper plate. When they’d both gotten their food, they sat down next to a tree a little bit away from the rest of the people there, who were sitting at the few picnic tables scattered around or standing in small groups, talking and laughing. Paley couldn’t help noticing how happy everyone seemed—as if this was just a normal Saturday afternoon picnic and not a memorial service.

How’s work going? asked Jen as they dug into their meals.

Kinda boring. How’s basketball camp?

Kinda boring.

How could running around playing basketball all day be boring?

Paley, it’s dribbling drills, then passing drills, then shooting drills, then some more dribbling drills.... I could probably run this whole camp in my sleep if i had to.

Maybe you’ll do that someday when your dad retires.

"No way, girlfriend! I’m goin’ off to college somewhere far away and staying there."

"Yeah, if any of them let you in! Ow! Paley winced a little, but smiled as Jen zapped her on the arm. She rubbed the spot briefly. You’re not sparking too much, are you?"

Jen let out a little exasperated sigh. No, i’m being careful.

Good. See that guy over there by the trash cans pretending that he’s stretching?

Jen looked around. The dude with the sunglasses and the T-shirt tucked into his shorts like a dork?

Yeah, said Paley, looking down at her food and pretending that she wasn’t paying attention to where Jen was looking. That’s one of the guys that’s been following me.

What? Following you? Like, stalking?

No, more like spying. Or surveillance. They probably work for Stan Lemmelson.

How long has this been going on?

Ever since school let out.

Since school let out? Paley! Why didn’t you tell me?

Paley set down her food and looked up seriously at her best friend. Because they think i’m a sparkie. And i just thought that, i dunno, if they didn’t see me with you, then....

Then i’d be safe.

Yeah.

Paley, i can take care of myself.

I know, but— She broke off, seeing Mera approaching them.

You done eating? asked Mera.

Does it look like it? snapped back Jen.

Mera ignored her. That lady’s giving us a ride home but we can’t all fit in her car. Cort said he’d take the train. You wanna go with him?

That lady? echoed Paley. You mean Marnie Novak?

Yeah, i guess. The one who put Dad out.

That’s Marnie.

Okay, fine. Whatever. Are you taking the train or not?

Paley shrugged. Sure. Mera spun around and stalked off.

What’s up her butt? asked Jen as they watched Mera walk away.

I think she broke up with Anthony, said Paley. Or is going to, or something.

About time.

Yeah, i could do with never seeing him again for the rest of my life.

Yet it’s Mr. Kendall that we don’t get to see again. Unfair.

Paley looked out at the groups of people under the trees of the park, then down at the remaining food on her plate. I’m not hungry any more, she said. Let’s go.

They walked to the corner of the park where the bus stop was. The bus would take them to the train lines, which would take them home. Paley sat and didn’t say anything. Jen didn’t ask her to.

Chapter 2

An Unexpected Guest

Paley lay in bed on Sunday morning, looking at the ceiling. Mera had left for work already—since she’d gotten the day before off to go to Peter’s memorial, she had to work a double shift today. Paley could hear Zed and her mother in the kitchen. Cort and her father had probably gone down to the community garden. No one was bothering Paley. Her family had been giving her a wide berth for the past few weeks. Mera was working most days and when she and Paley saw each other, they didn’t talk much. Cort was taking summer classes and had a part-time job on campus. Wes was busy with the garden when he wasn’t at work. Liz spent most of her time finding things to do for Zed. But besides everyone being busy, no one was putting any demands on Paley. She could get up and go to bed whenever she wanted, she didn’t have to go to the garden, she hardly even had to help in the kitchen. The combined effect was that she almost felt like an outsider in her own family.

She lay in bed and stared at the ceiling—at the gray cement with the scattered bits of peeling paint—and turned over in her head the things that she could do today. She didn’t come up with much. It was Sunday, so she didn’t have to work, but that also meant that most of the stores were closed—the cool, interesting ones near her, anyway. Maybe the ones down on Proctor Street were open. Jen was busy with her family. She hadn’t heard anything from her friend Ti since her birthday. She didn’t have school or homework or even a dog to walk. So far, her summer was not what she had hoped.

She got up, threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and went into the kitchen. Her mother was washing the breakfast dishes. Zed was sitting at the table using his budding talent to heal two orange peels together.

Morning, honey, said Liz. There’s some orange slices for you on the table. Want some bread and honey?

Yeah, i guess, said Paley. She sat down opposite Zed and pulled the plate of oranges toward her. She watched Zed fiddle with the peels while Liz cut a slice of bread.

No talents in the house, said Liz softly to Zed as she set the bread and honey in front of Paley. She gathered up the peels in front of Zed and he gave Paley a grumpy look, as if it was her fault that he couldn’t use his talent. She dropped her gaze down to the food in front of her. Zed left the table and went into his room.

Any plans today, Paley? asked her mother as she went back to washing dishes.

No.

None at all?

I dunno. Maybe the park.

Why don’t you go visit your sister? She’ll be at work all day. She’d probably appreciate a break.

Maybe.

Your father could use help in the garden today, too, if you feel up to it.

I’ll think about it.

Well, let me know what you decide.

Mm-kay.

The kitchen got quiet, save for the clanks of the dishes as Liz washed them. Paley chewed her bread and continued to think about what to do today. She didn’t come up with anything else but she knew that she wanted to get out of the house. She finished the bread, ate a couple more orange slices, then went into her room and put her socks and shoes on. Before she left, she peeked out of the window to Clark Avenue below. The familiar dark blue car was parked in front of the next building.

–

Ever since Paley had been arrested for breaking into the school and the police had ransacked their apartment, she’d been hyper-aware of anything suspicious or of anyone looking at her. When she’d started her summer job at the Census Bureau office, she’d noticed the same car when she walked across the park toward the train station. Every morning, it would be somewhere close by—always in a different spot—and it would pass by her as she entered the station. She hadn’t seen the car anywhere uptown as she walked from the station to the Census Bureau office, but she’d started to pay very close attention to all of the people that she saw every day. It was like a game to try to figure out which one of the hundreds of people—on the train, in the station, on the sidewalk—might be spying on her. It didn’t take too many days of slyly watching for her to identify the two different men who drove the dark blue car.

Paley decided what she was going to do. She left the apartment, hurried down the stairs, and marched determinately out the front door of the building. She kept tabs on the dark blue car out of the corner of her eye and sure enough, as she crossed the street on the other side of the park, it moved out of its parking spot and cruised down the street in her direction.

Just before Paley got to the train station, the car passed her and as she was putting her train pass into the turnstile, she saw that it had parked and a man had gotten out. It wasn’t the same man from the park the day before, but he was dressed similarly—casual clothes that looked a little too clean and new, baseball cap, sunglasses. She climbed the stairs to the train platform, then slowly walked up and down along the tracks, pretending to be lost in thought, but surreptitiously memorizing the features of the man in sunglasses every time she went by. She’d been doing this same routine before and after work for the past week.

Since Paley was only fifteen, she could only work a maximum of four hours a day. She’d take the train uptown, work from nine to one, then she’d have the rest of the afternoon to do whatever she wanted. For the first few days, she either went back home or to the library, but then she realized, with her train pass, she could go anywhere on the rail lines, so she started exploring. Today was going to be another day of that.

She didn’t have a plan as to where she was going. She changed trains at the Congress Street Station and got on the Red Line, heading toward the airport. The man in the sunglasses got on the train as well, but this time in a different car.

When the train stopped at the end of the line, Paley got out and followed the crowds toward the ticketing counters at the airport. She’d never been in an airport before and spent a while wandering about, watching people, looking at the art installations spaced along the long corridors, and fantasizing about travelling to exotic foreign places. She stood in front of the Departures board for a while, planning impossible trips in her head.

She passed by the man in the sunglasses a few times—he was usually sitting on a bench reading a newspaper—but she carefully made it look like she didn’t notice him at all. She didn’t know who this man was or who he worked for, but she didn’t want to let them know that she knew about it.

Finally, she made her way back to the train platform and boarded a train into the city. The man with the sunglasses got into the next car and as the train pulled away from the airport, Paley started thinking about how to get away from him without making it look like she knew that he was there. Four stops later, she put her plan into action.

She’d been keeping a count in her head of about how many seconds the doors stayed open at each stop. She sat in her seat as she counted down, then, right as the doors were starting to close, she jumped up and slipped through them out to the platform. Once out of the train car, she didn’t run and she didn’t look back at the car where the man with the sunglasses was. She just casually walked to the exit and went out and up to the street. She was generally aware of what part of the city she was in but was unfamiliar with it. She looked around for a place to wait and selected the steps of an apartment building, where she sat and kept an eye on the subway exit.

After a few minutes, Paley was satisfied that the man with the sunglasses hadn’t made it off the train in time. She figured that he’d probably get off at the next stop, so instead of continuing in the same direction as the train, she headed up a side street, angling toward downtown. Maybe she could catch a bus across the city and get back on the trains at a different station. She passed a pizza place and bought a slice and a lemonade. While she ate, she decided that she didn’t want to be the pawn in this little spy game. She didn’t want to sit around and wait for someone to arrest her. Paley needed to take the fight to Stan and Dillon-Cray Engineering and whoever else was after her. And to do that, she needed information, since she didn’t have any talent to save her. Step one would have to be reviewing all of her notes and files.

–

Paley plodded up the stairs to her apartment late in the afternoon, thinking about the day. She’d crossed half the city on foot, winding her way to the funky shops along Proctor Street, where she’d spent some time browsing. She found a nice smallish messenger bag that reminded her of the bag that Ti always carried, except that this one had a picture of a winged fox on it. She didn’t buy it though. She didn’t buy anything because she’d spent most of the money she had on her lunch. She’d be getting her first paycheck soon and until then she’d have to live the way she’d always lived—no money for fun.

When she’d walked out of the 116th Street station, the dark blue car was parked along the street and she saw it move to a spot near her building as she crossed the park. She couldn’t think what anyone had to gain by watching her, but she tried to put it out of her mind as she trudged up the last set of stairs to the fourth floor.

The apartment was a buzz of activity as Paley opened the door. She expected this, as it was nearly dinner time. What she did not expect to see was one extra person in the cramped kitchen of the Curtis home. Standing next to the refrigerator, talking with Cort as Wes and Liz were preparing dinner, was Marnie Novak.

Well, there she is! exclaimed Marnie, her face lighting up at the sight of Paley. All eyes in the kitchen turned toward Paley and she suddenly felt both confused and embarrassed.

Wh... what are you doing here? she stammered out.

We invited her over for dinner! said Wes. A small token of our appreciation for what she did for us—for me—yesterday. Of course, we probably can’t ever repay her, but....

Oh, it was nothing, really, said Marnie. I was keen to do it. And it was really quite fascinating!

Wes put his hand on his heart and nodded his head as if in thanks, then went back to what he was cooking on the stove. Paley couldn’t remember the last time she saw her father this giddy.

So what’d you do all day, sweetie? asked Liz.

Um, i just... rode the trains around.

All day? asked Zed, who was setting the table with the Curtis’s dingy and mismatched silverware. Paley felt horrible that Marnie had to see this—the cheap dishes, the cramped apartment, the rickety kitchen table. Plus, there was the heat. With no air conditioning, the only cooling came from the open windows and it was too early in the evening for the temperature to have dropped yet. Paley had worked up a sweat climbing the four flights of stairs to the apartment and walking into the heat of her kitchen only made things worse. She closed the door and leaned back against it, willing there to be more space around her—around everyone. At least there was only six of them there, as Mera was still at work.

I did some other stuff, too, Paley said to Zed. But Zed was getting glasses from the cupboard and had stopped paying attention.

Well, that sounds like a splendid way to spend a lazy summer Sunday, said Marnie. Your older brother was just telling me that he spent the day cleaning dried paint from the art room floor, which sounds ever so much drearier than seeing the city by rail!

Paley smiled and gave a little shrug. She still felt embarrassed by the run-down apartment that she and her family lived in, but either Marnie didn’t care or she was being exceedingly polite and not mentioning it. Either way, it made Paley feel slightly better, now that she’d gotten over the surprise of her being there.

–

Dinner went well. Marnie was a perfect guest—asking questions, showing interest in every member of the family, and relating humorous anecdotes about her life and work. As Paley watched the interactions with her family, she got the sense that her mother didn’t seem overly thrilled that Marnie was there, although her father was livelier than she could remember. All in all, it was a weird end to a weird day. To top it off, everyone was treated to ice cream after dinner. Dessert was a rarity in the Curtis household—mostly reserved for birthdays and special occasions—and Paley knew that this ice cream had to have come from the more-expensive local store (otherwise it would have melted on the trip home from Bossman’s supermarket). Maybe that’s why her mother wasn’t in the best mood.

When the evening was finally over, Paley followed Marnie out onto the landing and asked if she could accompany her down to the street.

Absolutely! said Marnie, with the same sincerity and enthusiasm that she always seemed to have. I was hoping that we could find some time together to discuss... things. She looked at Paley with a nod of her head as she said this, then started down the stairs. I suppose you have some questions.

Yeah, well.... Paley thought about how to phrase what she wanted to ask. I know you’re a zorbie, and—

You want to know how i did what i did with your father?

No. I guess i understand what you can do, but—

You want to know if all zorbies can do what i did?

Yes.

Marnie stopped on the third floor landing and looked Paley in the eyes. "And you want to know if zorbies can not only transfer talents from a person, but to a person."

Paley looked down at the floor. Yes, she said quietly.

Marnie put her hands on Paley’s shoulders and Paley looked back up at her face. Marnie closed her eyes and gripped Paley tightly for a moment, then relaxed.

No, she said, opening her eyes and letting go of Paley. I can’t transfer talent to you. She held up her hand and snapped her fingers a couple of times. And i can’t make flame. Last night for a while, i could produce a small orange flicker on my fingertips, then it was just a wisp of yellow, then nothing. She snapped her fingers again. Gone.

But in the desert....

Ah, yes, the desert. Marnie looked up in the air for a couple of seconds, then turned and continued down the stairs. Paley followed.

"In the desert i was dehydrated, under-nourished—my stickie talent was gone. I should have been dead. It should have been my bones that they collected three months later." Marnie paused, then continued down the steps in silence. Paley glanced at her and saw that she wasn’t the always-chipper person that she’d been. Her lips were pulled tight and it looked to Paley that Marnie was trying not to cry. Finally, as they approached the ground floor, Marnie spoke again.

That healing talent healed me—kept me alive. And i took it from Callin.

Paley gasped and stopped short. Marnie continued to the bottom of the stairs, then turned and looked up at Paley. Oh yes, i took it. Callin didn’t give it to me. He was a sweet soul and perhaps he would have given it to me if he could have, but no, i took it. I’ve lived with that fact for years, Paley. It haunts me. I can see Callin’s face, clear as the sun on a brilliant day, smiling. Even as he slipped away, smiling.

Marnie looked down and wiped a cheek with her finger. I’ve justified this a thousand different times in a thousand different ways, but the fact is, i’m here right now and Callin is not.

They stood in silence for another moment until Paley said i’m sorry, her voice almost cracking.

Marnie looked up at her and smiled—the smile that Paley remembered, the smile that said confidence and determination and joy. Many years have passed since then, she said. I can remember the events in precise detail, but time has a way of making you forget the pain. Come here. She beckoned to Paley and Paley went down the last few steps to where Marnie stood. Marnie embraced her in a long hug. Hold on to your pain for now, Paley Curtis. But don’t be surprised one day down the road when you look for it and it’s not there.

She gave Paley one last squeeze, then stepped back. "And by the king’s crown, Paley, if you learn one thing from this conversation, it’s this: question everything you read!" She smiled again and this time Paley smiled back—a big genuine smile. She hadn’t been smiling much lately and this felt good.

Keep me in the loop, said Marnie.

I will.

Marnie pushed open the door to the building and walked out into the summer evening. Paley sat down on the first step of the stairs and thought about what she’d just learned. Maybe Marnie wasn’t exactly who she expected she was, but that hug made it seem like she was the kind, giving, wise person that Paley had come to know. But how well did she know her, really? And that hug, was it real? It felt genuine and it reminded Paley of the hug that Ti had given her on that rooftop three days before she’d left the city without warning. Paley remembered the light touch of Ti’s lips against her neck—the briefest kiss under a darkening sky.

Paley wanted to talk to someone. She wanted to talk to a best friend. Ti was in a car with her mother somewhere far away. Jen was with her family on Sunday. Paley would have to wait until after work the next day.

She stood up and headed back upstairs.

Chapter 3

Spies and Secrets

Mera was still asleep when Paley got up the next morning. It felt weird to Paley that she was up first, but Mera didn’t have to be at work until ten and Paley’s workday started at nine. Cort was sometimes there when Paley got up, other days he was gone—his schedule was pretty flexible. Wes had to be at work at eight, so Paley usually didn’t see him in the morning.

Paley quietly got dressed and went out to the kitchen, where her mother was sitting, eating half a grapefruit. Paley got some leftover rice from the fridge and added milk and brown sugar to it, then sat down at the table with her mother.

What’d you think of Marnie? asked Paley between spoonfuls.

She seemed very nice, said Liz, not looking up from her