“There’s usually a break in the summer, but I understand the Others wanting the children corralled for part of each day,” Eve said. “And while I want my kids to be safe, and would prefer more snarl and less teeth, I appreciate that the whole pack raises, and disciplines, the pups, and they see our children as two-legged puppies.”

“They would see them that way because their pups run around on two legs part of the time,” Meg said.

“It’s not the studying during summer that I find troubling. It’s the Business Association wanting me to order all the coursework for all the grades,” Ruth said. “Is that their way of saying that human children connected to the Courtyard will never be able to go to school with the rest of the children in Lakeside?”

“Maybe. Or maybe there will be less paper available to print books and that will make it harder to buy schoolbooks.” Merri Lee met Meg’s eyes. “Or maybe the Others are saying something else. Meg?”

She hadn’t intended to tell them. When she hesitated, Merri Lee added, “Girls only, need to know?” Meaning no sharing, not even with partners and husbands.

“Future undecided,” Meg said quietly. “When I asked what would happen to Lakeside, I picked a card that had a big question mark and nothing else.”

“Have you told Simon or Henry?” Ruth asked.

Meg shook her head. She’d have to tell Simon now that she’d told the girls. Then she told her friends about the other three cards—and watched them pale.

“Gods,” Merri Lee said. “Captain Burke called a big meeting, all his officers, all shifts. Michael called to say he was going in and didn’t know when he’d have a chance to swing by.”

“Let’s call Steve Ferryman.” Meg turned toward the counter and the phone. “He can give us the name of someone who works at one of the schools in Ferryman’s Landing. They’ll already have the lists of books they use for each grade. And a teacher from that village will talk to us.”

“Maybe we should ask about books that would be relevant for the kinds of things learned at the technical college too,” Ruth said. “We should find out how people learn trades among the Intuits. Plumbers, electricians, that kind of work.”

Meg made the call. Steve was helpful, but she could feel him thinking hard about what she was asking and why she would be asking. After all, the Courtyard wasn’t the only place that would need schoolbooks. So would the five young cassandra sangue who were living on Great Island. So would any children in the new River Road Community, even if they were meant to attend schools in Ferryman’s Landing.