Michael’s brown eyes flash defensively as he steps closer, his tall frame towering over me. “You know hardly anything about us, Ada. We have expanded beyond our insular society many times in history. We shared everything with the Matriarchy of the Isles and the Prophets of Naiot. We share with those who place the needs of humankind above their own wants. With those who actually make an effort to tap into their creative potential and contribute to the advancement of the world.”

The absolute nerve of him. “Newsflash, Sophist master.” I jab my finger at his chest and am met with the solid resistance of stubborn man. “Most people can’t use all their creative potential because they’re too busy devoting their energy to daily survival. It’s easy for you to celebrate yourself for advancing society when all your basic needs are met for free. When you don’t have to devote the majority of your time to whatever soulless job will pay the rent.”

“It’s a broken system. I don’t disagree.”

“A broken system you have the power to help! And it should be your top priority. Never mind individual suffering. Think of the planet. I saw those scrolls, Michael. That information could be used to battle pollution, global pandemics, climate change.” I think of all the information that Grandfather forced me to read up on, the suffering of our planet that I didn’t want to face when I was powerless to prevent it.

But I’m not powerless anymore.

“If the provincial world starts crumbling to the ground, you think your hidden communities will remain safe? If you ignore their problems, they’ll become your problems.”

“You think we don’t know that?” Michael responds, his voice rising. “You think more knowledgeable minds than yours haven’t been debating these very issues for decades? You think we haven’t tried sharing information about sustainability, medication, vaccinations? It doesn’t make anything better. Giving the provincial world quick fixes won’t change anything until they deal with inequality and corruption.”

“You have solutions for that, too!” I shout at him.

“Not ones they are willing to implement!” he shouts back.

Kaylie puts up her hands and tries to interject. “Why don’t we relax—” But we both ignore her. I’d practically forgotten she was here, my entire world shrinking down to just Michael and me, standing too close together. Yet there is a chasm between us that may be too wide to ever bridge.

Michael tries a little more calmly. “If you would let me explain—”

“There’s no explanation for selfishness.” I turn away from him. Before I had doubts that maybe the Makers didn’t actually know how bad it was. But they’ve known all along, and they’re still not willing to help.

Kaylie says to Michael, “Maybe she should meet Hilde.”

“I guess, maybe,” he says, exasperated.