The room got very busy. Girls scattered, they heated up water and prepared food and generally bothered themselves with every aspect of Sasha’s comfort. Soon she had coffee and buttered muffins and a heavy jug of gatorade. A fan was moved into position where it could blow more cool air on her face. The older woman sat down next to Sasha and started to speak.

“My name is Helen,” she said. “I watch over the newcomers here and I help them adjust to life in the Heavenly Kingdom. The most important thing for you to know is that you are loved and wanted here. You’ll have food and shelter and a purpose. Do you understand that, darling?”

Sasha tried to smile, but realized her face was still stuck in the same absent grin she’d worn since the greeting. After a long pause she managed to nod and speak, “Yes. Erm. Sorry. Sasha. My name is Sasha Marion. I’m from Virginia, in the American Federation.”

“Sasha,” Helen said. “Just Sasha. We have no last names here, and no nationalities beyond our allegiance to God and his Heavenly Kingdom. Do you understand?”

Sasha nodded. “Yes, I mean. Of course. I read every issue of Revelator before coming here. I know that nations and states are a worldly concept that only serves to separate us from God Almighty. I memorized Pastor–”

“It’s one thing to read the truth. It’s another to live it. Don’t worry, child. It’ll take some time to unlearn your old habits.” Helen had cut her off, but she’d done it so gently that Sasha didn’t even take it as a rebuke. She just nodded again. And then she remembered something.

“I need to find a young man. His name is Alexander. He’s in a mecha­nized infantry unit. I think he’s a corporal, and I have a picture of him printed out in my bag if it’ll help.”

“Dear,” Helen’s voice dropped an octave, “I know this is hard to hear, but the Martyrs have important work to do. They fight that we might build the Heavenly Kingdom. If the Lord sees to deliver him safe from the fray…”

Sasha really didn’t like the way she said “if.”

“…then we will find him, and reunite you two.”

“Re–?” Sasha gave a nervous laugh. “Oh, no. We’ve never met. Except for online. He convinced me to come. I mean, I didn’t come for him, but I was really on the fence until I met him.”

Helen’s expression shifted. She looked…was it anguished? Or angry? But Sasha didn’t detect any anger in her voice when she replied. “I know it’s hard, love. But you’re going to need to wait to hear from Alexander. For right now it should be enough that you’re here. You’re safe. You’ve done it. Do you know what this means?”