Pod smiles. “I don’t care about strangers remembering me,” he says. “I’m doing it for my friends.”

“I’m going to miss you, Pod.”

Pod nods his head. “I only wish I had a chance to say goodbye to Igby.”

I step forward, hugging the large boy one last time.

I dive into the cold water and drag myself forward, feeling the shock wave pass through me as the door slams shut for the final time. I use my arms and legs to drive myself through the water until I reach the stairs. I climb up, the water pouring out of my clothes.

I make it to the library, where everyone is gathered, away from the falling rain. The varnished floor is a flowing, shallow river of water. Tyco still stands in the doorway, watching.

Sam lies on one of the gurneys from the bathroom, smiling down at her daughter, who is wrapped in blankets. Abril checks mother’s and baby’s vital signs.

Everyone else is gathered around Igby, who is sitting up and rubbing his jaw.

“What happened?” he asks as I join the small group. “Where … ? Why am I up here? Where’s Pod?”

“He stayed behind,” Kina says.

“No! That was my job; he is not dying for me!” Igby gets to his feet and tries to run toward the trapdoor, but his brain refuses to control his legs. He falls back into the water, still dazed from the blow.

I run over to Tyco, who still stands in the doorway, smiling vacantly.

“Tyco, I’m begging you, don’t let Pod die.”

“Why not?” Tyco asks.

“He’s a good person. You hate me because I let your brother die, right? So how are you any better if you let Pod die?”

“I’ve already told you, Luka, you’re not going to change my mind.”

I yell, hold my head in my hands. I feel all my energy die inside me. Finally, I look up at Tyco. “I’ve told my friends that we’re going to make a run for it. They wouldn’t have let me go with you otherwise. I’m going to leave with them. Wait here for five minutes and I’ll be back. Promise me you’ll leave them alone, promise me Pod isn’t dying for nothing?”

Tyco nods. “It’s not my promise, Luka; it’s Happy’s. They want you.”

“I want you to know,” I say, leaning close to Tyco, “that you will regret letting that boy die. I promise, you’ll regret it.”

Tyco smiles. “I very much doubt it.”

I turn and walk back toward my friends, and as I cross the room, I notice the intercom at the library checkout desk.

I run to Igby and kneel down beside him.

“Igby, there’s nothing we can do to save Pod, but you can say goodbye.”