25

NOAH

“I’m telling you, it’s a conspiracy!”

Toby tapped his temple. He and the others were gathered beside the Nolans’ van. Last bell had rung fifteen minutes earlier, but the lot was still packed, everyone fully freaked out about the news from India.

I tried to ghost past them, still rattled from my spy work that morning. I regretted going to school at all, but Black Suit would surely know someone had searched his room. Keeping up appearances seemed like the safest play.

But Ethan spotted me and waved me over. With no polite way around it, I joined them, hovering at the periphery. I’m better off with the group anyway.

“The government knows exactly what’s going on,” Toby was ranting, getting all riled up. “But they aren’t telling us jack! Meanwhile, I was in the liberty camp yesterday, and those guys have sources inside the military. Our troops are on high alert. They’re being deployed across the globe.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Jessica snapped, anxiously twirling her hair. “Soldiers are always moving around, right?”

“With all the crap happening, it’d be crazy if they weren’t doing something,” Chris Nolan said. Mike nodded, leaning back against their van. “Who knows? Maybe the Chinese are causing it all.”

“What about troops in our valley?” Toby countered. “More trucks came over the bridge last night. They drove right by the camp.”

“It’s true,” I said, before thinking better of it. “I saw them.”

Heads turned. Sarah smiled at me. I nodded as neutrally as possible. Saw her expression curdle in the corner of my eye.

“So where’d they all go?” Charlie asked. “You can’t hide a tricycle in Fire Lake, much less a whole strike force.”

“That’s the craziest part,” Toby said, trying to wrestle back the center of attention. “They drove onto the government land. There must be a buttload of soldiers in there right now, doing God knows what!”

Significant glances. What was beyond that fence had been schoolyard gossip for years.

“There are a hundred reasons why the army could be here.” Jessica rolled her eyes at Toby. “Maybe it’s a . . . a science place. They could be setting up sensors or something. Because of the earthquakes.”

“That’s what they want you to believe.” Toby elbowed Derrick, who shrugged. “Those dudes are probably causing the earthquakes.”

“You think the United States military deliberately broke Oregon in half?” Chris Nolan laughed out loud. Even his brother smiled. “Yeah, okay, Toby. That makes sense. Did they suck in the asteroids from outer space, too?”

“The timing is weird,” Charlie said, scratching a rash on the back of his neck. “Those troops must’ve already been on their way here during the Announcement. Seems like we’re not being told enough.”

Toby punched his thigh. “I’m telling you, they know about everything. All of it!”

Surprisingly, I found myself agreeing with Toby. Too much was happening at once. I’d seen the conspirators and troops myself.

“Whatever’s going on, we need to be ready,” Ethan said.

“Ready?” Derrick asked. “Like, how?” But Ethan only shook his head.

Glancing over his shoulder, I spotted Min standing on the curb a dozen yards away. Our eyes locked. She nodded left, toward the gym. Tack was slouching beside her, his gaze considerably less inviting.

I glanced at Ethan, found him watching me. “We boring you?”

Before I could respond, Spence Coleman ran over, his shaggy brown hair bouncing like a mop. “Guys, listen to the radio!”

Chris reached into the van. “What station?”

“All of them!”

Spence was right. The president’s voice floated from the speakers. Chris cranked the volume so everyone could hear.

“—the discovery was made just hours ago by NASA’s Near Earth Object Program. A cluster of comets have diverted from their usual orbits and entered the inner solar system. Five of these bodies appear to be on possible collision courses with our planet.”

Gasps. Shouts. Jessica began to cry. Sarah told her to shut up.

I listened, my jaw hanging open.

“—are small, ranging in size from basketballs to cars, but they are traveling at high rates of speed. I want to reiterate—these objects are not potential planet-killers like the Anvil. The Earth is not in any kind of existential danger. However, at this time we don’t know exactly where they will strike, except that the impacts will occur within the next forty-eight hours—”

“What the hell?” Sweat dampened Derrick’s temples. “Some outer space storm?”

“Shh!” Ethan’s whole attention was on the radio. “There’s more!”

“—therefore, in accordance with the powers granted to my office by the Constitution, I am declaring a state of emergency for all fifty states. Martial law will take effect beginning this evening at nine p.m. eastern standard time. That’s in two hours and thirty minutes. All citizens are ordered to remain inside their homes after dark. As of this moment, I am freezing prices. There will be no hoarding. There will be no lawlessness. Everyone needs to remain calm until the crisis has passed. This is a temporary—”

“Screw that!” Toby lurched back from the van, eyebrows climbing his forehead. “I’m not getting caught with my pants down.” He bumped into Derrick.

“What are you talking about?” Derrick snapped, pushing him aside. “You plan on leaving town now? Y’all need to remember what happened after the Announcement.” He clicked his tongue. “City people are gonna lose it. Up here in the valley is the safest place to be.”

“Supplies, you idiot!” Toby ripped his keys from his pocket. “I’m stocking up, now. Go ahead and follow orders like a bunch of sheep, but it’s about to hit the fan!”

Toby ran to his car, triggering a flood. Students bolted for their vehicles. Doors slammed and cars raced away, some bouncing over the curb in an effort to escape more quickly.

Ethan and Sarah had their heads together, seemed to be arguing. They cut off abruptly when Jessica and the Nolan brothers approached. Derrick and Charlie lit out, and suddenly I was free. I ducked my head and slipped away. Where had Min gone?

I jumped into my Tahoe, started the engine, and shifted into reverse.

Nearly backed over Min and Tack.

Min marched to my window and rapped on the glass. “We need to talk.”

“I know. Listen, sorry about yesterday. I didn’t—”

She circled the SUV and opened the passenger door. Slid inside. Secured her seat belt. A back door opened and Tack jumped in. “Afternoon, slick.”

I blinked, momentarily nonplussed.

Min waved a hand. “What are you waiting for? Go.”

I reversed from my spot and joined the line of cars exiting the parking lot.

“Okay.” More to myself than to them. I caught Tack smirking at me in the mirror.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Someplace we won’t be interrupted,” Min answered curtly.

I sighed.

“My place it is.”