Chapter 29

Toshi and Christian entered last. They were both dressed in civilian clothes and looked in good shape, displaying their bruises and cuts with wolfish pride. They smelled good, healthy. They were the ones who had come out the best, after all.

The conversation took place in English, the “common language.” I still didn’t say much, but I didn’t feel like I needed to talk. They could surely sense how calm I felt and how happy it made me to see that my childhood friends were in one piece or on their way to being so. Between us, we don’t need to tell each other everything. Not always.

Hilda announced in her serious doctor’s tone that we only had fifteen minutes to distract ourselves a little and that after that they should let me rest. Despite protests and complaints, Hilda left and promised to return to take Rex for a walk around the plant. Nika and Chris sat on my bunk and Richie leaned on Rex’s, asking him all kinds of questions about his condition. Toshi approached me from