I leaned back. My head was heavy with the whole truth of it. The chair twisted round slowly.

And there, behind me, was Mayor Anderson.

CHAPTER 28

I leapt up and headed for the window.

Lyle Parker. Looking in. His face squashed up against the glass.

“Oh, Cruise.” The mayor shook her head. “What did you go and do this for? Things have been looking so good for you.”

I glanced at the papers. Maybe she hadn’t seen what I’d been reading.

“I … I was just… I wanted to find the photo you tore up – the one of Una’s brother. That’s all. It doesn’t belong to you, Mayor Anderson. It belongs to Una and her dad.”

“Photograph? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Dirty.

Dangerous.

Deceitful.

She picked up the pile of papers from the desk. Looked over the first few sheets.

“Think you’re smart, don’t you, Cruise? Think you can judge me.”

“It’s not right.” My voice came out tiny.

“What’s that? Speak up, girl.”

“It’s not right, what you’re doing, trading eldests.” I was louder this time. “The war’s over, isn’t it? You’ve been lying to us.”

She opened the desk drawer and dropped the papers back inside.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. The only reason half the people in this town are alive is because of me. I have a system in place that means we continue to receive essential supplies, through good times or bad.”

“Essential supplies? Bananas and figurines?”

“I keep you safe, Cruise. You’ve got fuel for when your generators break down, and clothes to keep you warm.”

“I’d rather risk dying of cold than sell my brother.”

“You’ve lost one person, Cruise. Just one. D’you know how many I’ve lost? Both my sisters, my beautiful daughter – and then my mother. Do you know what she died of? The cold. No one should die of the cold, not in the twenty-first century. And I swore that no one else would. Not in our town. Not on my watch.”

“Your daughter went years ago, when there really was a war. You sent my brother away for bananas. Bananas and figurines. They aren’t going to keep us alive all winter.”

“And clothes. Warm clothes that I’ll be handing out to those who need them. I’ve kept my promise. I’ve kept everyone warm, every single winter.” Mayor Anderson pressed her hands to the sides of her head. “Every single winter,” she repeated.

Warm clothes? My fists hardened. “You think anyone’s going to want to wear any of those clothes or burn any of your gas when they find out how you got them?”

Mayor Anderson sighed. “‘No one’s going to find out, Cruise. Breaking and entering is a serious offence. Grif?” She called out to the hallway.

Grif Parker stepped in.