Covington answered. “Well, judging from her behavior today, it looks like Jones is with him, whatever side he’s on. Given her position at the Schoolhouse, he’s probably going to win the Senate seat.”

I gasped. “He’ll join the Assembly and tip the balance one way or the other.”

“Well, you’re no genius, but you got it—eventually,” Covington said. “The thing is, if he’s on the right side, we want him to go to the Assembly. If not, we need to warn the right person.”

“Who’s the right person?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes and moaned, “Director Kumar, the leader of the New Seed Party!”

“We’re all New Seeders, Arika,” Jetson said, gently.

“I see,” I said. I thought for a moment. There was still one missing piece. I met Jetson’s eye. “Earlier, during the arrest, you said that the New Seed couldn’t come soon enough because the workers have been unmanageable since Voltaire’s last raid,” I said. “But you haven’t told me what the New Seed has to do with Voltaire’s Army.”

Jetson glanced at the others before answering. “You said you’d read about the uprising in Hannibal, right?”

I nodded.

“Do you remember reading who was killed?”

I thought back. “The White-Face soldiers killed a handful of Record Keepers.” I frowned. Jetson’s expression was grim. “I take it that wasn’t a coincidence,” I said.

“No, Arika, it wasn’t. Voltaire is a dangerous Rebel. The army he leads targets Record Keepers as well as the Loyalist workers who support the Record Keeper’s role under the Compromise.”

“Why would they want to harm us?” I asked.

“Jealousy. The White-Face zealots in Voltaire’s Army want power in the Kongo. They’re after our seats in the Assembly. They’re riling up the good workers and turning them against Hasting. Our plan—” he paused and looked at Covington, who nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“Our plan,” he began again, “is to persuade the workers to continue supporting the First Brother Record Keepers, by winning the New Seed battle. If the New Seed Bill passes the Assembly, the Second Brothers’ work will be cut in half. We’ll win back their favor and Voltaire’s rebellion will die a natural death. On the other hand, if Hasting can’t get Voltaire’s Army under control, the Assembly will eventually have to step in and create order. If that happens, Obi Solomon knows how the balance of power will shift, and what will happen to us and our Senate seats.”

“I see,” I said.

“So you understand how important it is that we know whose side the new kid is on?” Covington asked.

I nodded.

“And you’ll help us?” she added.