Jackie started. Ms. Cowan had sneaked up on her. Sadina’s mom asked the same question about forty times a day.

“No, sorry. Nothing.”

The woman let out a weary morning sigh. “Oh, well, that’s okay. I think we’re really on their trail for now. Pretty soon we’re gonna hit a river that Alvarez scouted last night. It’s really wide so I can’t fathom they tried to cross it. I bet we follow that thing north for a good long while. Come on, let’s get some of that food before all the dirt-free stuff is gone.”

Soon they were eating with the others in a big circle—the deer meat was charred after all, and Jackie tried to ignore the grains of dirt that kept grinding against her teeth—and she had more time to think. All of her life she’d heard about Cranks, the Flare, the devastated apocalypse of the sun. And yet for weeks now, once they’d gotten out of the city and its surroundings, they’d seen almost nothing but nature, beautiful nature. The planet seemed to be winning the battle. However, the eventual run-in with other humans was inevitable, and she’d be a fool not to know it.

“You know what my dad used to say?”

Miyoko had spoken, her empty canteen hanging from the hand she’d propped on her knee.

“What’s that?” Jackie asked. She took her last bite of venison and was glad to be done.

“A penny for your thoughts. I’ve never seen a penny in my life, but if I had one I’d give it to you. Where’s your mind at? I can tell you’ve started thinking again.”

Jackie was famous in the group for . . . dwelling on things. She wished she could be more carefree but it was in her nature to worry, to ponder, to reminisce, to wonder what could have been and question what’s coming.

“It’s all just so weird. I mean, why are we here? The whole reason we got on that boat was because of Kletter and now she’s dead. We’re wandering the wilderness like freaking Moses from the Bible. Or was that Joseph? Paul? Who the hell knows. Mr. Baxby never could shut up with his town-square preaching.”

“Mr. Baxby?” Miyoko repeated. “Guess I never met him.”

“You east-siders kept to yourselves, that’s for sure.” She didn’t mean it as rudely as it came out and she quickly moved on after a peace-offering smile. “Everything just feels . . . untethered right now. Make sense?”

Miyoko could say a lot with her eyes, and right then she showed she understood, very well. “I get it. But life doesn’t ever go the way you think, does it? Maybe we’ll go back and find Kletter’s people eventually. But right now, only one thing matters.” She nodded over at Trish.