He decided to be direct, at least in part. Maybe they could trust Calix more than Kira thought. “We’re trying to help the Partials,” he said. “They have a problem of their own, a sickness that’s killing them, and if we can cure it, it might mean a chance at peace between our species. That’s why we came to the ParaGen complex, to see if we could find something to help us—and to help them.”

“You’ll have to talk to Dr. Vale,” said Calix. “He knows all kinds of stuff about RM and disease. Maybe he knows something about what’s happening to the Partials.”

“We have very similar doctors at home,” said Samm, thinking of Morgan. Do Vale and Morgan know each other? Is Vale truly a part of the Trust?

“But Dr. Vale cured RM,” said Calix, “like, twelve years ago. Your doctors haven’t been able to do that yet.”

“Does that seem odd to you?” asked Samm. “He had a cure for RM almost as soon as it appeared? Within weeks?”

“I guess no one really asked,” said Calix. “I’m not sure what you’re suggesting . . . that he had sinister motives? How could saving people’s lives be sinister?”

If he already had a cure prepared before the Break, Samm thought, and kept it for himself and his “Preserve.” But the rest of the Trust didn’t have it, did they? Morgan or Nandita, or Trimble from B Company—where was their cure? It didn’t make sense, and Samm found the discrepancy intensely troubling. There was more going on here than he could grasp, and he didn’t like it.

“I’m sorry you had to live so long without a cure,” said Calix, leaving Bobo and stepping toward Samm. “Naturally immune or not, that must have been horrible, to watch everyone you know die, to watch all those babies, year after year. . . .”

“Yes, it must have been,” said Samm, almost immediately realizing what he’d said—his phrasing made him sound like an outsider from the human society. But Calix didn’t seem to notice; instead she took his hand in her own, rough and calloused but warm and gentle. He tried to smooth over the mistake with a firmer statement. “Every infant has died since the Break.”

“You have no children at all?” There was a look of deep sadness in her eyes as she contemplated the life in East Meadow. “No wonder Kira seemed so overwhelmed.” She paused a moment, looking at Samm’s hand. “Are you . . . ? Are you and Kira . . . ?”

“Leaving?” asked Samm.

“Together?” asked Calix. “Are you . . . married? Dating?”