The Life Beyond Read Online Free Page A

face.
    Tyler moved closer, eyes flickering. “I’ve seen something like that before.”
    Joshua raised his eyebrows. “You have?”
    “In the lab,” Tyler said.
    “But what’s it for?”
    Geoffrey frowned. “I think the scientists might be using it to study the behavioural patterns of the Weepers … or maybe it transmits data about their synapses to a central computer. Whatever it’s for, it’s from the other side of the fence.”
    I was now more confused than ever. “So, they’re definitely doing research on the Weepers? For a cure?”
    “Maybe,” Geoffrey agreed but his focus was on the Weeper’s collar. “Either way this is outstanding technology. You need money and the necessary facilities for something like that. The government is working on
something
, that’s for sure.”
    Joshua stood. “I don’t like that Weepers found Safe-haven again. This is getting too dangerous.”
    “We have to leave,” I said, even though it meant moving further away from Dad. But I wasn’t giving up on him. I’d made my mind up I was going to talk to Joshua about the cure.
    “I’ll try to get the collars off, so I can analyze them,” Geoffrey said.
    “And I’ll tell the others we’re leaving.” Tyler hurried away.
    “I need to talk to you – alone,” I said to Joshua.
    He looked at me reluctantly. I could see the hurt simmering in his eyes. I held out my hand and after a brief hesitation, he took it. I led him away from the others and over to the brick wall surrounding the winery. We’d be able to get some privacy here. Ivy built an armor of green over the stone. We climbed up, using the thick vines as ladders, until we were sitting on top of the wall.
    “Joshua —,” I began.
    “I know what this is about,” he interrupted gently. “You want to get past the fence to search for the cure. I saw it on your face when Geoffrey mentioned the research program.”
    There was no use denying it. I linked our fingers. “I have to. For my dad. For everyone.”
    “I knew you’d say that.” He looked at me, a half-smile playing across his lips. “I’ve been thinking about the cure a lot since Geoffrey told us about it.” His grip on my hand tightened. “You know I’m coming with you, right? Just promise me you won’t do anything without telling me ever again.”
    His eyes were wide and intense, and for a moment, he looked so vulnerable. A stab of guilt rippled through me, followed by a feeling of tenderness. Joshua always worked so hard to stay strong and look out for other people; only I got to see this other side of him.
    “I promise,” I said, leaning over and brushing my lips against his. He edged toward me, kissing me back with just a little more force, his hand caressing the back of my neck. As he gently pulled away I could tell that he wasn’t angry with me any more; that he understood why I had left in search of Dad.
    We sat side by side, looking out across the vineyard.
    “I know it’ll be hard to get past the fence,” I said. “But I have to know if it’s true - if there really is a cure. We could save so many people.”
    “Sherry,” Joshua said, a new determination in his voice. “I will be with you every step of the way. I’m sick of all this killing.”
    I stroked his head. “I know.”
    He sighed. “You know … maybe this could even be my chance to save Zoe.”
    Joshua’s sister had been a Weeper for years. I nodded, but inside my heart sank. It sounded impossible. And besides, could a cure help her after all this time?
    I didn’t say it, though. Hope was such a difficult thing to find in this world. I couldn’t be the one to take it from him.
    “How quickly do you think we can find the fence?” I asked.
    Joshua shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to ask Tyler.”
    My feet carried me across the courtyard and through the garden toward the little meadow with wooden crosses. We hadn’t inscribed the newest two yet. Grandma and Grandpa deserved better, but now there wasn’t