There’s a familiar concert of honking horns, blaring sirens, and shouting pedestrians. It smells like street food, exhaust, and garbage—but in the best way. It’s so alive. The Maker population is tiny, nothing in comparison to the bustling life of New York City.

“You look happy,” Rafe says somewhat begrudgingly as he darts out of the path of an oncoming man who is texting aggressively without looking where he’s going.

“I love it here. Have you spent any time in Manhattan?”

“No. The only time I’ve spent in the provincial world has been in Europe.”

I feel my own grin stretching wide. “Well, then, I’m going to have to show you around.” Finally, we’re on my turf. I want him to see my world. I want him to see how amazing it can be and that the people have as much depth and creativity as Makers.

“Let’s first get to the hotel, clean up, and get rid of these bags.” Rafe booked us a hotel room, and though I have no idea how he managed to do so without internet, I’m glad for his foresight as we are a total disaster—sweaty and dirty from the climb, damp and muddy from the boat.

“Great. We can take the subway.”

“Let’s get a taxi.”

“The subway is a classic New York City experience, and today you are a tourist.”

“And slow and dirty. From my understanding, a yellow cab is also a classic New York City experience. And I have money that I’m willing to spend.” Despite the Maker world not using regular money, Rafe is fabulously wealthy in the provincial world. The Makers—the Vanguards especially—have numerous old business holdings for when money is necessary.

“Mass transit is better for the environment.”

He is silent for a beat. “Okay. But in this instance, I am willing to forgo my own personal morals for the sake of convenience. Let’s get a cab.”

For a boy who’s grown up in a world without proper money, he sure does know how to spend it. And for someone who has never been to New York City, he sure knows how to live it large here. The hotel we pull up to is the kind I’ve never noticed as a local, because I have never had reason to be on such a polished block.

As we walk in, I feel like a complete impostor, especially being so dirty and underdressed. I’m sure that at any moment I’ll be informed that this shiny lobby is only available to guests of the hotel, which I must clearly not be. But everyone is extremely polite.