Away Read Online Free

urgency—that made the others in the room listen. “Is he alive or dead?”
    There was silence. Rachel felt all eyes on her. She met each person’s gaze, one by one, but none said anything to her. Finally she looked at back at Malgam.
    â€œI’m glad that you’re better. I didn’t mean to offend you. I think I’m just . . . I’m just tired, I guess.” Rachel felt tears in her eyes and fought them back. “I’ve been here three days and I haven’t seen him, and nobody will talk to me about him, but you know him, you know who he is. Pathik knew his name.” She looked at Pathik, and saw sadness in his eyes. It tipped the balance she had been struggling to maintain, and tears spilled onto her cheeks. “He’s my father. I just want to know if he is alive.”
    Malgam looked stricken. He leaned forward in the bed, and reached his hands out once more, smiling a gentle question to her. Rachel hesitated only a moment before placing her hands in his.
    â€œForgive me, Rachel.” Malgam bowed his head. When he looked up again he squeezed her hands gently and nodded.
    â€œWe will talk of Daniel. But first, I do need to thank you for saving my life. By our traditions it is important. And so I tender my thanks to you, Rachel.” He raised their joined hands up. “If ever I can help you, know that I will. For what you have done, you will always be welcome to my shelter, my fire, my water, my food.” He squeezed her hands once more and smiled at her. “Not so bad, was it?”
    She smiled back, despite her tears. “Not so bad.”
    Malgam released her hands. “Now. When was the last time you saw Daniel?”
    â€œI was little.” Rachel wiped her eyes dry. “I don’t really know if I remember him, or if I just remember what my mother has told me about him. He got a Call to Serve from the government, and they sent my mother a death notice only a short time after he reported for duty.”
    â€œCall to Serve?” Malgam looked at Indigo.
    Indigo nodded. “Daniel said it was one of the ways the government gets rid of people they suspect of being rebels. They summon them, as if they need them in some war effort. Then they get rid of them and claim they were killed in action. It’s what happened to him.”
    â€œYou spoke with him?” Rachel searched Indigo’s face. “When? Where is he?”
    Indigo’s eyes looked as sad as Pathik’s had moments before. Rachel looked from him to each of the others in the room, and they all wore the same expression.
    â€œHe’s dead, isn’t he?”
    â€œWe don’t know that, Rachel.” Nandy was the one who spoke. “He hasn’t come to camp in months, and that isn’t normal, even for Daniel. He’s always kept to himself, but he’s also always checked in, to see if all was well, or to trade for supplies. We didn’t know what to think for a long time, but now we have reason to suspect that the Roberts may have him.”
    â€œWho?” It seemed to Rachel that things had sped up; it was hard to keep up with what Nandy was saying through the thoughts that were racing through her mind. Daniel had been here. Her father. Alive. A few days’ walk from The Property this whole time.
    â€œâ€”just always called them that since then.” Nandy frowned. “Are you all right, Rachel?”
    â€œYes.” Rachel forced herself to focus on Nandy. “So, who is this Robert? What would he want with my father?”
    â€œNot Robert,” said Nandy. “ Roberts . Plural. It’s another group. In the beginning it’s said they were led by a man named Robert, and they’ve been called the Roberts since then. Their camp is less than a day away from here, but they keep their distance.” Nandy looked worried. “They’re no good.”
    â€œAnd you think they have my father? Why?”
    Indigo spoke.