“Mom,” Sadina said. “We want him to be part of it. If he wants to, of course.”

The truth dawned on Isaac. Everyone in this little group knew what was going on. Everyone except him. He could tell by the looks on their faces. Even Miyoko, who had a sheepish, guilty expression that she couldn’t hide.

He made an obnoxious, exaggerated shrug, holding it in place for a few seconds. “So. Who’s gonna let me in on the big secret?”

The others exchanged a few glances, but eventually they turned their undivided attention to Ms. Cowan. Not only was she much older, she was literally the leader of the entire island. Well-spoken, smartest person ever, quick to anger and quick to smile. She’d always intimidated the hell out of Isaac—when he was little, he’d begged Sadina to come to his house instead of the other way around.

The woman had focused her eyes on him. “I always liked you, Isaac. You’re a good person and you’ve gone through a lot of tragedy. I just . . . I don’t want you to—”

Sadina interrupted her. “Mom, that’s exactly why he needs to go with us. He’s one of the few that doesn’t have any family to leave behind. We’re his family. Trish and I love him like a brother no matter how many times he bugs the shit out of us. We . . . I can’t go without him.”

Her words were too much to take in all at once. All that came out of his mouth was, “Go? Go where?” For a few seconds, the shallow waves washing up on the sandy beach were his only answer. But then Ms. Cowan stepped closer to him. Although she was a few inches shorter, he stepped back a little. Why did this little lady scare him so much?

“Okay, listen to me,” she said. “We had a massive disagreement in the Congress. It was split almost down the middle, but let’s just say my side lost. I honestly don’t get it. At all.” She closed her eyes and sighed, flushed with frustration. Then she looked at him again. “The woman. From the boat. Her name is Kletter. I spent hours with her—more than anyone else. I would bet the life of my own daughter—”

“Nice!” Sadina yelped.

“—that Kletter is telling the truth. I’ve lived a lot of years and been around a lot of people. I’ve swum through enough bullshit—pardon my language—that I’ll never get the stink out. And this woman, from that boat, is telling us the truth. And, frankly, I want to do something about it.”

“But the things you said on the podium . . .” Isaac trailed off.