The cabin had running water and a gas stove. The kitchen wasn’t stocked, but there was a coffeepot similar to the one James had used at camp and a few cups. Using a match from the box on the counter, I lit the stovetop burner. A few minutes later, I had made myself a weak tea from a dusty teabag I’d found in the cabinet. I returned to the sitting room and sipped my tea, watching the sunlight dance across the woods.

I was on my third cup of tea that was mostly hot water when I heard sounds outside the cabin. Gorbon’s rough voice, peppered with heavy breathing, was easily recognizable as he moved up the path. “Why do we have to have the meeting all the way out here?” he complained.

“For the same reason we do everything,” Arthur said. “Tradition.”

“Well, maybe it’s time we changed some things up,” Gorbon said.

“What’s your problem?” Arthur asked. “It’s a pretty day, and our load is light. In fact, I don’t think anyone signed up to speak to us at all. We shouldn’t be here for very long. You can get right back to your so-called research.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gorbon snidely asked.

“I know all about your interactions with the Extras,” Arthur said.

My skin crawled, thinking about Gorbon’s meaty hands on Krista or any of the other girls. I hoped Sarabeth had been able to keep her safe. Suddenly, the notion of being discovered by the Elders with no witnesses was a frightening prospect. I quickly threw the quilts on the chairs, then snatched up the Bound Book. It was too late for me to do anything about the coffeepot I’d left on the stove, but I carried the tin cup with me as I slid out the back door of the sitting room. I reached the safety of the woods seconds before the Elders stomped up the porch steps.

As soon as I heard the front door slam shut, I made my way to the house and crawled onto the back porch. I sat beneath one of the windows of the meeting room and peered over the windowsill, watching the Elders take their places behind the large table. They sat with their backs to me.

Arthur pulled a manila envelope from a drawer in the massive table. He removed a single sheet of paper. “Just as I thought,” he said, showing the paper to Zander and Gorbon. “Not one citizen has signed up for a hearing. All we have to do is wait for any last-minute speakers.”

“I move that we wait until sunset and then adjourn,” Gorbon said eagerly. “No need to stay here until midnight.”

“The motion is seconded,” Zander said.