I was glad Adam could not see my face, but I wished I could see his. I knew every cadence of his voice, from his gentlest kindness to his most towering anger, but at that moment, separated by a vast gulf of space, I could not tell what he was thinking. He had kept my family’s secret for ten years. Even when my mother died, he did not reveal to anyone that she had once been Mariah Dove, wife to Gregory Lago. But more and more as we prepared to leave Earth, Adam had brought it up in moments when we were alone, talking quietly by the fire or poring over SPEC data, or alluded to it when we were among others, his mouth twisting in a smile as he watched me squirm with discomfort. I knew he had been testing me, but I did not know why. He was testing me now.

My stomach was knotted, my jaw so tense my head began to throb anew. I took a breath before I spoke.

“There was a great deal of violence during the outbreak,” I said. “The virus drove them mad. They slaughtered each other.”

“They were cowardly and cruel in the hour of their greatest test.”

“I think it’s more than that. I think the virus drove them mad. We need to make sure it’s safe,” I insisted. “We lost our viral testing equipment in the explosion. You can’t bring anybody aboard until we know for sure.”

I knew at once it was the wrong thing to say. I knew from Panya’s sharp inhale, from Malachi’s startled glance. We all knew better than to tell Adam you can’t. But there were ten people dead, the shuttle destroyed, and SPEC stalking our presence with a ship we could not see, and House of Wisdom was nothing like the glittering ark of our dreams. It would not be safe until we banished every last reminder of the massacre.

“Adam, listen to me,” I said quickly. “I only mean we might need to keep everybody aboard Homestead for a—”

“Nothing has changed,” Adam said coldly. “You have your orders.”

“But we need more time—”

“Are you doubting us? Are you questioning the dream that has carried us this far? We have been chased like dogs from the Earth, and you allow doubt to infect you now?”

“No. No, Adam. The dream is true. The ship will be ours. I have no doubt.”