Rovender approached Muthr. “Very well. Show me this place where your machine has told you to go.”

Muthr kept all five eyes fixed on Rovender. “Of course,” she said. In seconds a large holographic relief map of the surrounding terrain floated above the Omnipod’s central eye.

“Our location is approximately here,” Muthr said, pointing to a wooded spot on the edge of a wide river. “So the nearest human underground facility is on the other side of this river. About a twenty-seven-day hike from here if we keep a steady pace for eight hours a day.”

“Twenty-seven days!” Eva looked at the map. The location looked much closer when everything was shrunk down. “Twenty-seven days of walking is a long time—especially with all of the scary stuff out here trying to eat us.”

“We shall be fine.” Muthr handed Eva the Omnipod. “And if we ration accordingly and follow our practiced survival skills, we should arrive safely. How about it, Mr. Kitt?”

“Is there anyone even there?” Eva stared at the holographic map.

“I have sent them a distress signal and am awaiting a reply,” Muthr said. “However, their communications may be disabled and faulty, as ours were.”

“Or perhaps it no longer exists,” Rovender said.

“Mr. Kitt, will you or will you not lead us there?” Muthr asked. Eva’s eyes locked with Rovender’s for a beat, then she looked down.

Rovender snorted. “If that’s where you want to go, then I will bid you both farewell.” He pulled out one of his bottles and continued his trek. He called out over his shoulder, “Oh, and by the way, Eva Nine . . . according to your map, Besteel’s camp would have been underwater in the middle of your river. Good luck with your journey.”

Eva studied the holo-map. She could see the glowing pin dot that was her Sanctuary. It was nestled next to a wide river.

“I think he’s right,” Eva said, pointing to the map. “The only thing I saw yesterday, besides a lot of forest, was a big empty area full of rocks and gravel. I didn’t see a river or any water at all.”

Muthr was silent. Calculating.

Eva spoke. “We want to find the other humans, right? If we go to this city, there’s bound to be somebody there who can help us.” She glanced over as Rovender rounded a wandering tree. “Let’s see where he takes us, Muthr. Please?”

“All right, then, let us travel to Solas. It is closer than the nearest facility, and perhaps there we may learn how best to proceed,” Muthr said.

Eva smiled. “Good idea.”

“But, Eva.” Muthr’s voice was hushed. “I do not trust Mr. Kitt. There are no records of planet Orbona in the Omnipod. We must remain observant. Understood?”

“I understand. But so far he’s been really helpful. Right?” Eva said.

“Only time will tell.” Muthr patted Eva on the shoulder. “All right. Let us go.”