Marwan felt muddy water soaking through the knees of his jeans, like he was bleeding from the outside in. They stayed there in a shocked silence that wasn’t really silent: Crickets clicked. Birds squawked. A distant car horn whined.

Finally, Eden said, “It told me it wouldn’t break.”

Marwan stood and said, “Everything breaks.”

Eli said, “Let’s get out of here.”

Eden looked like she might cry or throw up or cheer. She nodded.

They headed toward the taxi; the driver saw them and flicked a cigarette onto the pavement. “I hope you’re not up to something illegal,” he said, oblivious to what had just happened.

“It’s nothing like that,” Eden said, sounding defeated.

He got into the car, and the three of them climbed into the back; Eden took the middle, her boots on the hump and knees perched high and close.

Traffic heading back to Astoria—and Manhattan beyond—was sluggish. The small screen on the taxi divider was playing local news, a story about a beloved Greenwich Village restaurant that was losing its lease and closing.

Marwan reached forward to hit the Off button. He had to hit it another three times before his touch registered and the screen cooperated. In a car next to them, two people were singing and pumping fists. Marwan felt maybe a little bit like dancing and singing now, too.

“We did it,” he said, and nodded slowly.

Eden said, “Well, we did something.”

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s over. That’s what matters.”

She got her phone out and typed and then his phone buzzed and so did Eli’s. She’d sent a group text to them and to Ilanka. It said, Svetlana’s not dead is she?

Dots showed Ilanka responding right away. No! God. Why would you think that?

Device said so.

I texted you all. Was a big misunderstanding. She witnessed an accident and called it in. A woman was injured but it wasn’t Svetlana. Some texts got lost or deleted so was unclear.

The TV monitor came on again. “What is wrong with this thing?” Marwan said, and he hit the Off button again and again and again until Eden reached out and touched his arm.

“Just leave it,” she said, and he rested his head back on the seat.

It sounded like a really nice restaurant.

Eden

EDEN

The taxi dropped them back at school, where they stood on the sidewalk for a long moment. Eli said, “I can’t believe it’s over. I’m so glad she’s not dead.”

“Me neither,” Eden said. “And me, too.”

Eli sighed. “I’m so tired.”

“Same,” said Marwan.

Eli looked around, then at the ground, then back up. “Well, I guess I’ll see you guys around?” He half laughed.

“For sure.” Marwan smiled.

“Definitely,” Eden said.

“I mean, what even was that that just happened?” Eli said, bewildered. “A drone?”